"[Aestus Domus Aurea: The Maiden's Radiant Imperial Rule]? Naming a sword technique after one's empire... It seems that this emperor you speak of was quite an extraordinary swordsman," Mihawk remarked.
"However, since you were able to recreate Shooting Hundred Heads, why can't you replicate Aestus Domus Aurea?"
Clearly impressed by Shooting Hundred Heads, Mihawk's curiosity was piqued by any mention of sword techniques from the original wielders of Arton's blades. If possible, he wanted to witness them all.
"Even I can't do everything," Arton said with a shrug, planting the fiery red sword into the ground. He then raised his right hand, gesturing toward the sky.
Moments later, a double-edged sword descended from above, landing gracefully in Arton's hand. As soon as he gripped it, the blade radiated a brilliant, sun-like glow.
With a casual swing of the sword in Mihawk's direction, a crescent-shaped flame slash shot toward the world's greatest swordsman.
Mihawk raised an eyebrow, quickly countering with a flying slash of his own.
The two attacks collided, creating a whirlwind of fire and wind that rippled outward in all directions.
Breaking through the fiery tempest with his Black Blade, Mihawk dashed toward Arton with remarkable speed.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
In mere moments, they exchanged dozens of blows.
"This sword… it seems even more formidable than the last one," Mihawk said as he continued to engage Arton in combat.
"What is its name, Arton?" he asked, his curiosity evident even as their blades clashed.
"This is Excalibur Galatine: Sword of Revolving Victory," Arton replied with a smirk.
"Earlier, you said my previous sword seemed like the sun itself," Arton continued.
"But in truth, the sword that truly embodies the sun is this one I now wield."
With that, Arton unleashed a powerful swing that pushed Mihawk back slightly.
"A sword that symbolizes the sun, huh?" Mihawk mused.
"So, its flames burn even hotter than the previous one?"
As Mihawk spoke, his expression revealed his growing fascination.
"Yes, Mihawk," Arton said with a faint grin.
"You wanted to see the Sword of Promised Victory, didn't you?"
"While I can't fully replicate Excalibur, the most I can do is project its degraded version within Unlimited Blade Works—the Sword of Distant Golden Radiance."
"Indeed, even Caliburn: The Golden Sword of Assured Victory is still a sword of the holy caliber," Arton declared, gripping the Sword of Revolving Victory tighter.
"While I cannot replicate Excalibur, I can project and wield its sister sword," he added with a determined expression.
"So, the sword in your hand is the sister sword to Excalibur?" Mihawk asked, raising an eyebrow, his gaze now fixed on the radiant blade in Arton's grasp.
"That's correct!" Arton nodded.
"This sword, like Excalibur, was bestowed by the Lady of the Lake. If Excalibur symbolizes the stars..."
"Then the Sword of Revolving Victory symbolizes the sun."
"Though its brilliance may have been overshadowed by Excalibur, its power remains nothing short of that of a true holy sword," Arton explained as a surge of magical energy began swirling around him.
The intensity of the aura emanating from Arton grew with each passing moment.
"Fascinating. In that case, let me witness the power of this sun-symbolizing holy sword," Mihawk replied, lifting his Black Blade, his focus sharpening as he braced himself.
"You will see it, Mihawk," Arton said with a faint smile.
"But I suggest you focus with everything you have for this strike," he warned.
Then, Arton hurled the double-edged sword high into the air.
Mihawk's expression initially turned puzzled, but that confusion quickly morphed into astonishment.
"This sword is a replica of the sun."
"Its flame shall cleanse all the impurity of this world."
"Excalibur Galatine!"
As Arton's voice echoed across the battlefield, the Sword of Revolving Victory erupted in dazzling light midair.
From afar, it resembled a second sun suddenly appearing in the sky.
In an instant, an overwhelming wave of heat swept across the entirety of the Unlimited Blade Works realm.
Though Mihawk endured it with his formidable strength, those further away—like Zoro, Sanji, and the others—couldn't escape the sweltering heat.
Sweat poured down their faces, and their bodies were gripped by an almost unbearable discomfort.
Gion, Charlotte Smoothie, and the other diary copy holders watched from afar, yet the intense sunlight felt as if they were standing right in the middle of the scene, enveloped by its scorching heat.
"This sword embodies the sun's flames, burning away all impurities," Arton declared, raising his right hand high into the sky.
Suddenly, the radiant "sun" above began to stretch downward, transforming into a long, fiery line that connected directly to Arton.
Grasping the blazing end of the line with his right hand, Arton appeared to be wielding the sun itself—a colossal, fiery blade extending tens of meters into the sky.
"This... this is truly exciting," Mihawk muttered, his excitement plainly visible as he watched Arton seemingly seize the sun.
Taking a deep breath, Mihawk raised his Black Blade high.
A sharp and imposing aura surged around him, gathering on the blade.
The energy condensed into an immense, bladelike force that pulsed as if ready to unleash at any moment.
"This sword is called the Sword of Revolving Victory!" Arton declared, his right arm sweeping downward with force.
The enormous fiery blade, the "sun sword," followed the path of his swing, slicing through the air at an incredible speed toward Mihawk.
"It's as if the sun itself is falling," Mihawk murmured, his voice low as he raised his black blade and swung upward.
In an instant, a mighty flying slash, rivaling the radiant Sword of Revolving Victory, erupted from Mihawk's blade.
The two forces collided, creating a shockwave that radiated outward with a deafening roar.
"Such a strike capable of countering a city-level noble phantasm—Mihawk truly deserves the title of the world's greatest swordsman," Arton said, admiration in his tone as he pressed down with greater force.
Crack!
A sharp, glass-shattering sound broke through the battlefield.
Mihawk's sharp gaze fell on his own flying slash, now splintering with visible cracks.
Moments later, the fiery sun sword shattered through the fractured green slash, plummeting toward Mihawk's location.
Boom!
A deafening explosion followed, and an enormous mushroom cloud rose from where Mihawk had stood, completely engulfing him in a storm of fiery destruction.