NOVEL NEXT Chapter 30: 30: Flowing Sakura—The Divine Weapon of Fate!
"Since a thousand blades aren't enough, let's try ten thousand."
Mihawk's calm words sent shockwaves through the thousands of swordsmen watching the live broadcast. What did he mean?
Was he really going to control ten thousand blades simultaneously using Ryuo?
This was beyond belief.
Zoro stood still, his head lowered, lost in thought. A distant memory surfaced—the image of her from his childhood, the one he could never surpass. That frustration had set him on the path of Santoryu (Three-Sword Style).
If one sword wasn't enough, he took up two.
If two weren't enough, then three.
That was Zoro's conviction. The first time he had encountered Mihawk, he had been utterly humiliated—defeated by nothing more than a simple fruit knife.
Unlike single-sword masters, Zoro understood all too well the complexity of wielding multiple blades. It wasn't as simple as just adding another sword.
The swords had to be in harmony. They needed perfect coordination to unleash their true potential. His mind had to be split into three parts to control them.
Mihawk had never shown any inclination toward multi-sword techniques. Yet Zoro knew that if Mihawk ever did adopt a three-sword style, he would undoubtedly surpass him.
But now, Mihawk had already demonstrated his control over a thousand blades—a feat beyond comprehension.
And now, he spoke of ten thousand.
Zoro clenched his fists.
Three swords were already overwhelming. The idea of controlling a thousand was something he wouldn't even dare to dream of.
But Mihawk was aiming for ten thousand.
Was that even possible?
It defied imagination.
---
"Oi, oi! My Thousand Blades aren't enough for you? What kind of crazy talk is that?"
Ah Qi, lounging on his drifting boat, frowned in irritation. After all, Thousand Blades was his personal treasure, a weapon he took immense pride in.
And yet, in another world, it seemed… inadequate?
"Wait a minute…"
If Mihawk could truly wield ten thousand blades, then that would mean controlling ten sets of Thousand Blades simultaneously…
A chill ran down his spine.
Was his main account really that overpowered?
Maybe… being a barber was the better choice after all.
---
"Hahahaha! A weapon that can generate a thousand blades was already insane. But now there's talk of ten thousand? This is getting ridiculous!"
Inside the Hero Association, Atomic Samurai leaned back in his chair, one foot resting on the table, smirking in disdain.
"Never heard of this guy before. Think he's been hiding somewhere all this time?"
Across from him, Superalloy Darkshine raised an eyebrow.
"If you fought him, who would win?"
Atomic Samurai's expression instantly darkened.
"Are you mocking me?! A true swordsman needs only one blade, honed to perfection! This guy is just playing tricks!"
From the side, Silver Fang (Bang) watched quietly, arms crossed.
"A monster like that would make for a good punching bag."
He wondered if his Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist could even leave a scratch on that thing.
---
"Everyone, regarding the dragon-like entity in the broadcast—our initial analysis classifies it as at least Above-Dragon level."
A sharply dressed official stepped forward, addressing the gathered S-Class heroes.
A murmur spread through the room.
"Above-Dragon?"
The official nodded.
"Our battle assessment system has reached its limit. If such a creature appeared in our world, it would be an unprecedented catastrophe."
Hovering above them, Tornado (Tatsumaki) scoffed, arms crossed.
"Hmph! You morons are overthinking it. Who cares if it's Above-Dragon? One psychic blast, and it's gone."
The official hesitated.
"Actually… our system can't accurately gauge its strength. If this monster truly entered our world…"
He took a deep breath.
"It could lead to an extinction event."
Tatsumaki clicked her tongue, unimpressed.
"Then bring it on. I'll make sure it never leaves."
---
"Controlling ten thousand blades at once? This brat is even more dramatic than me."
High above a battlefield, Madara Uchiha gazed at the screen, expression unreadable.
Below him, wave after wave of the Shinobi Alliance charged forward. But his thoughts were elsewhere.
Watching Mihawk's display, irritation flickered across his face.
"Hmph. He's not stronger than me… yet somehow, he's even more theatrical."
It was annoying.
If fate allowed it, Madara would personally educate Mihawk on what it meant to wield true power.
For now, he had other matters to attend to. Raising a single hand, he called forth another meteor from the heavens.
"Experience the wrath of a god."
Panic spread among the shinobi as the massive rock descended.
Still, deep inside, Madara sighed.
"If only Hashirama were still here…"
---
"…Ten thousand blades? Are you serious?"
Even Shanks, who rarely questioned Mihawk, couldn't help but speak up.
In all the years they had crossed swords, he had never seen Mihawk wield more than one blade.
Today, Mihawk had shattered that notion—controlling a thousand blades with ease.
And now, just minutes later, he spoke of ten thousand?
Shanks narrowed his eyes.
Even if Mihawk was the world's greatest swordsman, this was absurd.
Forget whether it was even possible—where would he even find that many swords?
Could a human mind even split its focus ten thousand ways?
That level of control had never been heard of in swordsmanship.
Even Mihawk's own body—could it withstand such strain?
Just as Shanks was about to voice another concern, a shadowed figure stepped forward from the distance.
Gasps erupted among the gathered swordsmen.
The legendary swordsmith—Tenguyama Hitetsu.
Standing with hands on his hips, he let out a triumphant laugh.
"Fools! Witness my greatest creation—Ryuo Ban Kiri (流樱万切, Flowing Sakura: Ten Thousand Cuts)!"
Unlike the 12 Supreme Grade Blades, this was something entirely new—a revolutionary artifact.
Hitetsu had recently discovered a naturally magnetic ore, perfect for an innovative forging method. But it was Mihawk's arrival that had brought everything together.
This was fate.
The Ryuo Ban Kiri wasn't just a weapon.
It was a legend.