One Piece: Getting Stronger by Writing a Diary

"I am the bone of my sword!"

"[Rho Aias: The Seven Rings that Cover the Burning Heavens]!"

Arton raised his right hand forward. With the surge of magical energy from his body, a sacred shield shaped like a flower with five petals appeared before him, instantly intercepting Mihawk's slash.

"Oh? Another new power?"

"But this doesn't seem to be a sword, Arton."

Mihawk smiled faintly and unleashed several more flying slashes at Arton. However, just like the first attack, all of them were effortlessly blocked by the shield.

Seeing this, Mihawk's brow furrowed slightly, a trace of surprise appearing on his face. Although his slashes weren't at full strength, they were still powerful enough to cut through a Navy warship with ease. Yet, these same slashes were stopped by Arton's shield, which showed no signs of damage.

Not only was Mihawk surprised, but so were the diary copies holders witnessing everything unfold.

Kujaku: "Arton used this ability against Shiki before."

Violet: "But back then, Arton seemed to summon only a four-petal shield."

Boa Hancock: "So this means Arton has indeed become stronger now?"

Gion: "Five petals now. If this shield is shaped like a flower, how many petals will it ultimately have?"

Doll: "Wait, what's the card Arton is holding?"

Mihawk, seeing his slashes intercepted, stepped forward and directly delivered a close-range slash at Arton's shield.

This time, his strike had an effect.

With a crisp crack, one of the petals shattered.

However, there were still three petals remaining, forming a shield that stood firmly between Arton and Mihawk.

"The slash I just delivered was enough to cleave through a stone wall," Mihawk said, his sharp gaze fixed on Arton.

"Yet against your shield, it only managed to break a single petal.

Arton, your shield is really durable."

Arton nodded slightly, a faint smile playing at his lips.

"Thank you for the compliment. Rho Aias may be a shield, but it is also a Noble Phantasm integrated into the [Unlimited Blade Works].

"Moreover, it's not just limited to five petals."

As he spoke, Arton raised the Heroic Spirit Class Card in his hand before Mihawk's eyes.

"Phantasm Summon!"

As Arton chanted, the card in his hand emitted a radiant glow, enveloping his entire body.

At the same time, Mihawk noticed the shield separating them beginning to tremble violently.

Moments later, the previously shattered petal reformed itself.

Not only that, but an additional petal materialized on the shield, forming a six-petal shield in total.

The glow surrounding Arton dissipated, revealing his new appearance: a striking outfit of tight-fitting red and black with a sleeveless right arm, a red scarf tied around his head, and brown hair.

*

Gion: "Six petals. Has Arton become even stronger?"

Doll: "Was that card the source of his new strength?"

Kujaku: "Arton's current look is somewhat reminiscent of the red shadow that appeared before him during his battle with Shiki."

Charlotte Smoothie: "So this time, Arton has borrowed the power of that red figure using the card as a medium?"

Black Maria: "It seems this time Arton has drawn even more strength, making his shield not only sturdier but also more formidable."

*

"Interesting, truly fascinating." Mihawk's lips curled into a smile.

"With that card absorbed into you, your power has grown stronger. The scent of swords around you is even more intense now."

"I believe, however, that this shield is no longer necessary. Arton, let me witness your Unlimited Blade Works."

Mihawk's sharp eyes gleamed as he observed the overwhelming aura of swords radiating from Arton.

In his excitement, Mihawk raised his black blade and delivered a powerful strike against the shield before Arton.

This slash, Arton could sense, was no weaker than the one Mihawk had used to counter Musou no Hitotachi earlier.

As expected, with a thunderous boom, cracks began to spread across the shield.

One petal, then two, then three…

Arton's eyes narrowed at the sight. He began chanting the incantation for Unlimited Blade Works:

"This body is made of swords!"

"Blood flows as iron, and the heart is glass!"

"I have crossed countless battlefields without retreat!"

"Neither known defeat, nor known victory!"

"A lone inheritor, standing atop the hill of swords, shattering frozen dust!"

*

Hina: "It's coming, the world known as Unlimited Blade Works."

Tashigi: "Finally, we'll see that awe-inspiring world again?"

Kujaku: "Didn't Arton's chant change this time?"

Gion: "No doubt about it, Arton's incantation has indeed changed. Does this mean the Unlimited Blade Works we're about to see will also be different?"

Charlotte Smoothie: "Arton is stronger now than when he previously used Unlimited Blade Works, so maybe this time it'll be even more powerful?"

*

Noticing the altered incantation, the diary copies holders who had already been closely following Arton's actions focused even more intently.

Meanwhile, Mihawk began to sense the changes radiating from Arton. The aura of swords emanating from him spread in every direction.

"Interesting!"

Mihawk's lips curled into a smile. He poured more strength into his black blade, accelerating the fractures in the shield.

Before long, cracks spread across all six petals.

Arton, his expression calm, continued the chant for Unlimited Blade Works:

"Yet, this life has not yet ended!"

"Even this false body is still made of swords!"

With a crisp crack, the shield finally shattered.

At that moment, a sound akin to shattering glass reverberated throughout the world.

The next instant, as the shield before Arton disintegrated into fragments, the world itself seemed to shift.

The entire world was engulfed in blinding light.