The Star Train's Journey Through the Heavens

Chapter 196 World's Greatest Swordsman, Sangetsu-shichi
"Give me your name," Mihawk said calmly, looking at March 7.

"Nameless passenger on the Starry Sky Train, March 7th, please enlighten me." March 7th struck a pose.

Judging from this, he was instructed by a master swordsman, and he had never seen anything like it before when he challenged so many swordsmen.

Mihawk's interest grew even stronger, and he took the small cross-shaped knife from his chest.

“I’m sorry, I don’t have a smaller knife than this,” Mihawk said.

Everyone was slightly taken aback. Goodness, Xiao Sanyue is challenging you. You don't actually think Xiao Sanyue is no match for you, do you?

"I would call you the ultimate cool guy." Xing gave Mihawk a thumbs up.

Everyone tried their best to hold back their laughter, except for March 7, who was somewhat annoyed.

"Looking down on me?" On March 7th, a sword aura was unleashed, using more force than planned.

Danger!

When things really started to get serious, March 7th's true strength was fully revealed.

Mihawk's expression changed drastically. He instantly drew the black sword Yoru from his back, a dense aura of dominance swirling around the blade as he slashed at March Seven's sword energy.

"boom!"

Mihawk retreated several steps, his black blade covered in frost. With a slight tremor of his domineering aura, he shook off the frost.

“Miss March 7th, I underestimated you, Jorah Mihawk. Please enlighten me!” Mihawk bowed slightly and said earnestly.

"Hmph, come on then." March 7th snorted softly.

March 7th used only energy to protect the blade from being cut, controlling his power to a level similar to Mihawk's, and engaged in a pure swordsmanship contest with Mihawk.

Although March 7th's swordsmanship level wasn't particularly high, his swordsmanship was undeniably exquisite.

Mihawk was struggling against a cross-shaped sword that was as tall as a person, as he was not as fast or strong.

He could only barely cope by relying on his superior swordsmanship and understanding.

Before reaching a certain level, the difference is not actually very obvious.

Moreover, the stronger one's power, the greater the boost from their realm.

This is the pinnacle of combat power in the world of One Piece.

Mihawk's swordsmanship surpasses that of March 7th, but within this combat power range, it is clear that he cannot bridge the gap between his swordsmanship and the Cloud Cavalry swordsmanship improved by Mirror Style.

Everything breathes!

On March 7th, they finally caught a breath from Mihawk's black knife.

The sweeping longsword instantly pierced through Mihawk's parried black blade and stopped in front of Mihawk's neck.

"You lost," March 7th exclaimed excitedly.

With strong backing and a commanding perspective, March 7th learned a great deal from Mihawk in just one battle.

Mihawk looked at March 7 with a complicated expression.

He imagined all his challengers falling to his sword, and that he was the undisputed world's greatest swordsman.

He had thought that someone might surpass him in swordsmanship in the future, but he never expected that person to appear so quickly and so abruptly!

And she's a young girl who seems a bit naive and innocent!

"Do it!"

Mihawk straightened up, sheathed his black knife, straightened his tuxedo, and faced March 7th without any guard.

How can I prove that I have defeated the world's greatest swordsman?
Of course, the corpse of the former world's greatest swordsman will be used as proof.

Countless swordsmen have died by his sword; now it's just his turn.

Kneeling and begging for mercy, then fleeing in a sorry state?
He wouldn't allow himself to become the kind of person he despised the most.

"Huh? What do you mean by 'take action'?" March 7th blinked and asked, puzzled.

“Kill me the way a swordsman would,” Mihawk said.

"Huh? No, no, it was just a friendly sparring match, why would I kill you?" March 7 shook his head like a rattle drum.

I'm lucky; my opponent wasn't a bloodthirsty person, which means I'll have a chance to challenge them again in the future, but...

Mihawk examined his body, which was completely unscathed after the battle, and said with a complicated expression, "At least you have a scar, which proves that you have defeated the former world's greatest swordsman."

This scar will also be a driving force for me to continue to become stronger!
“If we won, we won. What need is there to prove it? No need,” March 7th refused.

Mihawk's expression grew increasingly complicated. How could such an innocent and kind little girl have cultivated her swordsmanship to such a high level?

Is this reasonable?

“In that case, thank you for showing mercy, Miss March. I will declare to the World News that you defeated me, and the title of the world's greatest swordsman is now yours,” Mihawk said solemnly.

"Um...no need, I don't belong to this world," March 7 said somewhat embarrassedly.

Mihawk suddenly realized that she was neither a pirate, nor a navy officer, nor even a bounty hunter, nor someone from the underworld.

“I understand. I will announce to the world that any swordsman who wants to challenge you will have to get past me first! I won’t let them bother you,” Mihawk said.

"Uh... no..."

"The title of the world's greatest swordsman will temporarily remain with you. I will work hard to hone my swordsmanship and then challenge you again to reclaim this title!" Mihawk said passionately.

He felt as if he had returned to his youth when he was challenging swordsmen everywhere.

The passion that had been dormant since reaching the summit was reignited.

He has found a new goal!

Without waiting for a reply from March 7th, Mihawk, having finished his announcement, jumped back onto his small boat, unleashing a flurry of sword energy, and quickly disappeared from everyone's sight.

"Wow, the world's greatest swordsman! That's so impressive!" Hoshi exclaimed enviously.

"I'm not the greatest swordsman in the universe, what's so impressive about that?" March 7th's pretty face flushed slightly.

"When the two worlds connect, companies, immortal ships, bountiful people, and wandering knights will arrive in this world. Upon inquiring, they'll find out that the world's number one swordsman, March 7th, will surely tremble with fear," Meng Huaifeng said.

"Stop talking, stop talking!" March 7th covered Meng Huaifeng's mouth.

It's just fishing in the local world, nothing to brag about, it's embarrassing!

"Huaifeng, besides the world's greatest swordsman, what other awesome titles are there in this world?" Xing asked.

"The world's strongest creature, the world's strongest man, the world's number one scientist, the world's most dangerous criminal, the world's most beautiful woman, the world's number one transvestite..." Meng Huaifeng counted on his fingers.

"Danheng is the most suitable candidate for the world's strongest creature," Xing analyzed.

"I agree!" March 7th hurriedly said, hoping that everyone's awkwardness would be resolved.

"...Thank you, but I don't need it," Dan Heng said speechlessly.

“The world’s strongest man, it’s a pity Uncle Yang didn’t get out of the car. The world’s number one scientist is of course Sister Himeko. As for the world’s most dangerous criminal, there’s nothing we can do about that. We can deal with him while we’re at it…” Xing continued to analyze. “The world’s most dangerous criminal is Dragon, the leader of the Revolutionary Army,” Meng Huaifeng said.

"Uh... never mind. Sigh, it seems like there's no suitable title for me. It seems like only the title of 'World's Most Beautiful Woman' is somewhat fitting," Xing said, frowning.

"You? More like the world's number one abstract woman," Meng Huaifeng said disdainfully.

"I think I'm more suited to the title of the world's most beautiful woman," Yan said.

"What are you saying? Is that how you see me? Although I've never cared about looks, my appearance is still right here," Xing said.

"Who do you think is prettier, me or Ah Xing?" Yan winked at Meng Huaifeng, reminding him not to forget his previous promise.

“Of course, Sister Yan is prettier,” Meng Huaifeng said.

"What about me and March?" Yan asked again.

"The weather is nice today, Himeko-nee, let's continue. I'll go hoist the sails."

……

With a map in hand, the train crew did not follow the seven internationally recognized routes, but instead went to whichever island had the most unique features.

For example, special products or special creatures that don't exist on other islands.

On the fourth day, the World News published a report.

The world's greatest swordsman, Shichibukai Dracule Mihawk, personally admitted that he was defeated by someone using swordsmanship, and the title of world's greatest swordsman has changed hands.

The current world's greatest swordsman is the nameless passenger of the Star Train, March 7th.

He also stated that if anyone wanted to challenge March 7th, they had to defeat him first.

Morgans, the president of the News of the World, was indeed resourceful; he managed to obtain a photograph from March 7th and attach it to the document.

I wonder if it was taken secretly by a news reporter.

At the Naval Headquarters, because March 7th had changed his clothes and wasn't using the Glass Sword, Tsuru didn't recognize him as one of the patrolling rangers she was looking for, the Glass Swordsman.

Momousagi Gion stared blankly at the words "Star Train." Dan Heng, who went to exchange bounties, was also a member of the Star Train, and his strength was even a bit stronger than hers.

Is it possible for an unknown force to have two experts comparable to generals?
Momousagi Gion still chose to report the matter.

However, since they were not pirates, Sengoku could only order people to keep an eye on the Star Train and not to offend them before they did anything bad.

A powerful individual capable of defeating Hawkeye Mihawk possesses strength comparable to that of a top-tier pirate in the New World.

For the next period of time, Morgans began frantically collecting information about the Star Train.

Not much is known about the Star Train's origins from beyond the world.

Morgans only collected information about how many good deeds the train crew did along their journey and how many pirate crews they wiped out.

Furthermore, everyone's names and appearances were all exposed.

There was no way around it; too many people had seen them on the various islands along the way.

The train crew's reputation began to spread along the Grand Line.

The train crew encountered two giants in the small garden. Xing used his magic to grow larger and fought the two giants, completely defeating them.

While passing through the Kingdom of Alabasta, Danheng, on a whim, taught the Kung Fu Manatees a set of boxing techniques. The Kung Fu Manatees generally ignored ordinary people and only bothered those with some strength to spar.

Hopefully, the powerful figures and pirates who pass by in the future won't be beaten too badly.

At this time, the crocodile had not yet come here to pretend to be a hero, and people were doing fairly well.

Meng Huaifeng and Xing, relying solely on luck and without any ability, gambled away all their money at the casino in Yudi on March 7th.

Casino Bewitching Star and March 7th bet themselves on the game and even cheated secretly, which led to the three of them turning the place upside down after they couldn't stand it anymore.

In the end, the regular army was alerted and chased the two for dozens of miles.

Following Meng Huaifeng's clues, Ji Zi found the Poneglyphs of Alabasta. After reading them, she found that the contents were not particularly exciting and was somewhat disappointed.

The Kingdom of Alabasta is a vast desert kingdom with scarce rainfall, and it is the home ground of sand crocodiles.

Defeating the Logia-type Crocodile here would be very difficult; it's not something that can be done simply with a Devil Fruit or super genes.

Moreover, this country doesn't seem to have any particularly talented people; the one with the most potential appears to be Princess Vivi.

Meng Huaifeng easily found the still-young Princess Weiwei. The blue-haired princess was playing with a group of commoners. She didn't look down on them with a haughty attitude. She looked very well-behaved, cute, and lovable.

Moreover, she has already begun to think like a king, and has a unique understanding of her identity and responsibilities as a princess.

So Meng Huaifeng talked to Xing about the future crisis of this country and got the ordinary Wisdom Fruit from Xing.

Then he gave the Vidyadhara Fruit to Little Vivi.

“If you want this country to become better and no longer plagued by drought, eat it and strive to become stronger,” Meng Huaifeng said to Xiao Weiwei.

While the ordinary Wisdom Fruit's ability to control rain is not as strong as the True Wisdom Fruit, it is only used to maintain favorable weather for a larger island nation.

If the strength reaches a certain level, it will be more than enough, and at least it can greatly alleviate the drought problem.

To benefit the people, this little princess with the country in her heart will surely work hard to cultivate and become stronger, right?

Crocodile's successful and memorable portrayal of a hero a few years ago was because he genuinely acted as a hero and did not do anything wrong.

Water overcomes sand, and seawater overcomes Devil Fruits.

If Crocodile wants to cause trouble again ten years later, with this double restraint, even if Vivi is still no match for Crocodile, she can still deter him and thwart his plot to artificially create drought using dancing powder.

The kind and lovely little Weiwei had no reservations about not being able to eat things given by strangers.

She believed Meng Huaifeng as soon as he said it and took a bite of the Devil Fruit.

"Wow~"

Weiwei's cute little face contorted in pain as she looked at Meng Huaifeng and cried, "Waaah, you liar, it tastes awful!"

"Haha, I'm outta here."

Meng Huaifeng and Xing, who had made the child cry, ran away on March 7th.

"Princess, what's wrong with you?"

Upon hearing Weiwei's cries, the guards rushed over and asked what was wrong.

"Someone tricked me into eating something that tastes awful, boohoo~" Weiwei cried.

The guard's expression changed drastically. Who was this person? Could they be poisoned?

Some of the guards dispersed to search, while others escorted Weiwei back to the palace.

When Cobra saw Vivi, Vivi already had a pair of small blue-green horns on her forehead, like a dragon girl.

"Your Majesty, this is... a Devil Fruit! Princess Vivi ate a Devil Fruit!" The adjutant of the guard, who had also eaten a Devil Fruit, congratulated Cobra as he looked at the remaining Devil Fruit.

(End of this chapter)