One Piece: Investing In Whitebeard At The Start.

Ghost Spider's blade and Mole's blade clashed violently. They tried to flank him, but Vane vanished mid-attack.

"High-speed movement!"

Ghost Spider and Mole were caught off guard.

"You both use blades, so I'll use my blade too."

A slash descended from above, the wind howling with it. The chill in the air made both vice admirals flinch and leap back. The slash struck the ground, slicing through it like tofu before detonating in a powerful explosion. They couldn't retreat fast enough and were both thrown back four or five meters.

Smoke billowed, and when it cleared, there was a trench three meters deep and nearly ten meters long carved into the earth.

When it came to swordsmanship, Vane wasn't lacking. The sword skills he inherited from Captain Yamamoto had reached the level of a great swordsman.

"That slash… was that swordsmanship? Is he a swordsman?"

Ghost Spider and Mole exchanged glances in disbelief. They knew his full name was Fire Sword Vane, but no one had ever seen him wield a sword before.

And yet, that slash… it had genuinely terrified them.

"He's a swordsman too?"

"Whatever—doesn't matter now."

Ghost Spider launched forward, leaping into the air and bringing down both blades in a coordinated strike.

"Kid! Today, both the Marine Headquarters and Admiral Akainu are stationed at Sabaody. Even if you can fly, you won't get away!"

Ghost Spider shouted.

"Is that so? Even if Akainu shows up, you'll just become a stepping stone on my path to fame! The monsters of the New World will laugh at your Marine Headquarters!"

Clang!

The sound rang out as Vane blocked both of Ghost Spider's swords with just one hand using his blade, Ryuken no Honō. His expression remained calm.

"All things shall turn to ashes… the blade is fire."

[Activation: Ryuken no Honō]

Ghost Spider, frustrated that a mere pirate blocked his attack, suddenly saw Vane's sword ignite with intense flames—far hotter than before. Even from over a meter away, he could feel the blistering heat. The air shimmered, rippling with visible waves of heat.

"So this is the power of the Fire Sword God? A blade that ate a Devil Fruit? What insane flames!"

Unable to withstand the heat, Ghost Spider retreated.

But Vane was already upon him, bringing his flaming blade down.

"Damn brat!"

Ghost Spider's expression shifted. Though he tried to block, Vane's sword cleaved clean through both of his blades.

"What?!"

He was stunned. They weren't legendary blades, but they were tough and had served him for years. Watching the broken pieces fall, he froze.

"You getting careless, Ghost Spider?"

Mole surged in from behind Vane, blade poised to strike—but Vane spun and slammed his left fist into Mole's chest.

'Shock Fruit'

The air cracked. The ground exploded. The vibration hit Mole square in the chest.

Pffft!

Mole coughed up blood, his body flying uncontrollably from the impact.

"Don't lose focus!"

Ghost Spider yelled, tossing away his broken blades. He still had four more tucked into his hair.

He drew two more and launched a flurry of slashes. The force uprooted the turf, slicing the air with violent gusts.

"Flame Repulsion!"

Vane's Ryuken no Honō released a wall of fire that spiraled outward, forming a ring that expanded rapidly. The incoming slashes were neutralized and scattered by the flames.

Then, Vane swung his blade and the fire vanished.

"I'm done playing around. You vice admirals are truly weak. Aside from the admirals, candidates, and maybe Garp… you're all dead weight."

Vane chuckled.

"You—!"

"Don't think just because you have some power, you can belittle the backbone of the Marines!"

Ghost Spider shouted, his pride wounded. As a veteran Vice Admiral, being mocked by a pirate stung. Mole was back on his feet too, still shaken. That last blow to his gut nearly turned him inside out.

"Is that the Shock Fruit? Or something even more terrifying?"

Mole staggered to a ready stance. He didn't believe both of them combined could lose to one pirate.

They nodded silently to each other. Team up. Overwhelm him.

But Vane wasn't clueless.

Still, he had no intention of wasting time.

"I hope you can withstand my next move."

The flames on Ryuken no Honō vanished. It was time to test his real swordsmanship.

Vane narrowed his eyes, raised the blade, and released a massive golden slash that tore across the ground. The force carved deep into the earth, racing straight toward Ghost Spider.

Ghost Spider didn't dodge.

As a Marine, as a Vice Admiral, he wouldn't show his back to an enemy.

He crossed two blades and braced himself.

"Arrrghhh!"

He roared as the slash struck. Sparks erupted from his blades. His arms trembled violently—the pressure was immense. He shouted, resisting with all his might, but his swords were slowly forced apart.

Vane turned his back just in time to hear the sharp slice of flesh, followed by blood being spat and a heavy body collapsing.

"Ghost Spider!"

Mole's anguished voice rang out. He charged forward in a frenzy.

"At a time like this, you should stay calm, Vice Admiral Mole."

"You're full of openings."

Vane appeared beside Mole in a flash.

"What… your speed! That's not even Soru…"

Before he could finish, Vane's fist slammed into Mole's chest. His ribcage buckled, and his body was launched hundreds of meters away.

Two Vice Admirals. Defeated by Vane.

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