One Piece: Nobody knows Devil Fruits better than me.

Chapter 273 is both regrettable and fortunate.
Just as mentioned before.

The greatest significance of the existence of the 'Sword God', or rather the 'Snake' clone, to Roy is the practice of 'Fruit Creation'.

All he needed was fame; he had no real knowledge of swordsmanship.

So when Roy realized that the swordsmanship of Shimotsuki Ryoma, which was merely stitched together using Bagingom's corpse-stitching technique, was insufficient to defeat Hawkeye, he was neither surprised nor disappointed.

After all, it's just a remnant of instinct within the body, so it's normal that it can't compare to the strongest swordsman of this era.

But the problem is...

"Clang!"

As the battle continued, the sounds coming from above the autumn waters were so clear and full of longing.

But that's precisely the problem.
Because before this, the Snake had never understood the thoughts of the 'knife'.

"clang!"

And once again, he clashed with Hawkeye in a single strike, another instant when their blades collided.

At this moment, the Snake could even sense that some fragmented and blurry images seemed to have appeared in his mind.

They were like treasures sunk to the bottom of the sea, and with each clash of the two black blades, the wolf peaches that were swept up were washed ashore on the beach of consciousness.

In the mind of the Snake, he seemed to see a series of images.

"You greedy ones who come here in pursuit of gold, may you perish by the sword at sea; this is the retribution you have chosen."

As the winter snow fell, he seemed to see countless ships coming from the distant sea.

He wielded his sword, its blade flashing as clear and cold as moonlight, repelling all enemies.

That was the first image.

Subsequently
"Roar!"

A roar from some enormous creature could be heard, and the Snake seemed to be able to see the magnificent buildings and city below.

He saw himself wielding the long sword in his hand, slicing open the scales of some enormous creature.

Hot blood spurted out, its crimson color reflecting the flower capital below.

That's the second picture.

Then and then
"cough cough cough cough"

It was winter snow again, and he saw himself sitting in a small hut, quietly putting down the knife in his hand.

A swordsman will only completely lay down his sword at one time.

That was when he died.

What a pity!

Yu Si Snake seemed to hear the other party's sigh filled with endless regret.

That's not enough.

He wanted to swing his sword again.

He still wanted to fight.

That was the third image.

And by this time, the Snake understood.

Those memories did not come from him, but from the body itself.

"Frosty Moon Dragon Horse".

The Snake knew very well that a chaotic and disordered consciousness would be born within the 'creature' created through Bakingom's corpse stitching technique.

Those are most likely the shattered souls created by the stitched-up corpse's obsessions and bodily instincts before death, similar to the type of 'Edward Weevil' or 'Vinsmoke Weevil'.

Because Bagingom's stitching skills were not perfect, the stitched creatures he created caused intense pain, resulting in both Weevil becoming violent monsters.

However, the body of the Snake is different—after being stitched together using the 'Sewing Fruit,' this body will not feel pain.

Therefore, the Snake originally believed that the chaotic consciousness inside this body might have ceased to exist as a result.

But now it seems that this is clearly not the case.

The Snake could sense that the consciousness dormant within him was being awakened amidst this epic sword battle at the pinnacle of the ocean.

That lingering regret belongs to the original owner of this body—the Sword God, Shimotsuki Ryoma.

But the regret was clearly mixed with excitement and longing!

At this moment, beneath the mask of the Serpent, Roy had already recalled what Brook had said when he handed him the corpse of Shimotsuki Ryoma after the Thriller Bark incident.

Those were the words spoken by the swordsman before Brook's shadow was removed from Shimotsuki Ryoma's body.

"Are there so many worthy of being killed on the seas of later generations?"

"Unfortunately, your shadow is too weak."

That was what he said to Brooke.

The meaning of this was very clear to the Snake at this moment.

"He is a worthy opponent to be defeated."

Therefore, the autumn waters are calling out.

"He was a powerful figure from later generations."

Therefore, the blood is burning.

"I really want to try out his sword!"

Therefore, the body is trembling.

Of course—it's just a remnant of consciousness, which can be easily suppressed by the Snake.

But
"You really want to swing your sword?"

At this moment, the Snake could hear the will emanating from within him, a will that even the Jacket Fruit could not suppress.

The lingering obsession within this body is pleading with him.

He wanted to swing his sword.

Whether in life or after death.

then
"Never mind."

After pondering for a moment, the Snake sighed inwardly.

He withdrew his original plan to use that 'trump card' and instead responded softly in his heart.

"I was already using your body." "If you can collect the final part of this 'wish' for me in the end, it would be reasonable."

As the murmur in my heart faded away.

His aura changed abruptly at that moment.

In the void, a certain force began to spread.

That was the power I glimpsed in Dressrosa.

[The Fruits of the Underworld - This is the Underworld Land]

【Soul Recall - Frost Moon Dragon Horse】

Accompanied by that invisible force surging.

Inside the body of the snake, within the body controlled by the Jacket Fruit.

That consciousness that returned from the underworld has already returned.

Thank you.

In a short while, he clearly understood the current situation.

He knew he was dead and his body had been taken.

He also understood that the other party wanted to use his reputation to achieve certain goals.

He also knew that he could only return for a very short time before he would die again.

it's fine.

He doesn't care.

Just like before.

The world only thought that he killed the enemy in order to protect his country.

Everyone says that he killed the dragon to protect the Flower Capital.

But that's not the case.

The real truth is—he did indeed kill the enemy, and he did indeed slay the flying dragon.

But all of that was simply because...
Those enemies and that behemoth are worthy adversaries to be slain.

He didn't care about fame or prestige, nor did he care about power or status.

He only wanted to wield his sword.

And coincidentally, right now, there was such an opponent standing in front of him.

And it is precisely at this moment.

"boom!"

Hawkeye, who was about to thrust his 'Night' straight at the heart of the 'Sword God,' saw it.
"clang!"

The jet-black blade of Qiushui was already blocking the way in front of 'Night's' blade.

The blades clashed, and the two swords exchanged blows countless times in an instant.

"boom!"

As the ground crumbled and the island was shattered, both figures retreated backward simultaneously.

But at this moment, Hawkeye looked at the figure in front of him in disbelief.

The knife is still the same knife.

The person is still the same person.

But
"you"

At that moment, Hawkeye could clearly sense that indescribable tremor.

In the clash of those blades just now, he sensed a subtle change—something Hawkeye couldn't comprehend but was immensely pleased with.

The opponent's sword had reached the same level as his for a brief moment.

That transcends the realm of 'skill' and surpasses the realm of a great swordsman.

Did he break through during the battle? Or was it something else?

Hawkeye thought to himself.

But he didn't really care—it was an unimportant thing.

The only important things are...
"A single strike?"

"One strike."

They spoke almost simultaneously, uttering the same words.

Yes.

At this moment—their sharp auras contrasting each other made them both understand the truth.

The previous anxiety will no longer exist.

When the 'Sword God's' swordsmanship also reached that level.

The next strike will decide the outcome.

The outcome of a swordsman's battle has always been the same.

"Black Blade 'Night', chaotic blades and overlapping patterns in the shape of a T."

Hawkeye raised his knife again.

"The black sword 'Qiu Shui', a chaotic blade with a big reverse T shape."

The Sword God also raised his sword.

Before today, in the past, these two swords and the two people who wielded them had never met.

It is both a regrettable and a fortunate thing.

The unfortunate thing is that both suffer from the loneliness of being the 'strongest'.

Fortunately, it is precisely because we have never fought that we are in this situation.

"Night Flow - Great Secret Technique - Eternal Night!"

"Frost Moon Style: Great Secret Technique - Rising Dragon Slash!"

(End of this chapter)