Rowen knew very well that Lirisk understood him.
From the very beginning, their relationship had shifted, from superior and subordinate to rivals and troublesome friends, and finally, to enemies. They knew each other all too well.
Once he revealed himself, exposure was inevitable. Even if he disguised himself, it was only a matter of time. But the Straw Hats were absolutely no match for Lirisk. Sure, anyone could die, but to die here so pointlessly would be a complete waste.
So, in conclusion…
"Tie him up!"
After all, the other party was a Zoan Awakening user. Killing someone like that in a short time was impossible. To avoid his own presence being leaked, Rowen decisively laid out a plan, use the Straw Hats as bait to draw Lirisk's attention, while he prepared to strike.
From the results, it was working out quite well.
Boom!!
Lirisk smashed into the ground like a cannonball. The terrifying impact instantly tore apart the land within a circular radius of dozens of meters, sending dirt and shattered vegetation flying into the air.
Under that immense collision force, Lirisk bounced upward in the opposite direction, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
"Puh… haah!"
But he never closed his eyes, because he knew that Rowen's greatest specialty was pursuit, killing you while you were down. To shut his eyes now was the same as suicide!
'But… why was he here?'
'When had he arrived?'
With confusion and doubt flickering in his eyes, Lirisk's ears suddenly twitched. He spun and swung his fist downward.
Shua!
Rowen appeared almost simultaneously at his right side. Faced with the incoming punch, he neither dodged nor evaded, his fist shot straight for Lirisk's chin.
"No! This one's fake!"
Green iguanas could hunt by detecting pheromones in the air with their tongues. In that instant of suspicion, Lirisk immediately discovered the problem.
The "Rowen" before him did look like a solid body, but it lacked the most important trait of a living being, a scent!
"Which means…"
"Behind me!"
Realizing the key point in a flash, Lirisk swung his tail like a steel pillar, sweeping it out behind him.
Fortunately, he guessed right.
Rowen's illusory form gradually shimmered into view behind him, fist aimed straight at the most fatal of vital points, the back of his skull! Even if his reaction couldn't fully block the strike, it was enough to drastically weaken the power and reduce the damage.
But then---
"It's been so long… you've gotten even faster." Rowen's calm, almost reflective voice sounded, from directly above his head!
"What?! Both of them were fakes?!" Lirisk's expression changed drastically.
The next second--
Kuāng Dāng!!!
Armament Haki-clad foot crashed down against his hardened scale armor, Rowen's kick slamming onto the crown of his skull. The impact made Lirisk's head spin.
The shock was so violent that even the pain itself was numbed.
"Guh!!"
Every bone in his body screamed in protest. The force coursed through his spine, radiating across his body in a wave of indescribable agony.
Though it all sounded complex, it had taken less than half a second.
This was why Rowen said Lirisk had become faster, he had just managed two consecutive changes of direction in such a short span, something he couldn't have done before.
Bang… Rumble!!
A dark-green figure was sent flying high, shooting like a cannonball straight into the ruined city walls of Oden City. The violent force shattered the stone with ease, embedding him deep inside like a rock sinking into mud.
The ground quaked violently, making it hard for anyone to stand.
Only then did the Straw Hats and Kanjuro snap back to their senses.
Komurasaki's eyes widened in terror. "Th-that was… who? He actually sent that Lirisk flying…!"
Blown away!!
Hearing her words, Sanji spat out a mouthful of blood and forced a wry smile.
"Him, huh… forget it. You'll find out soon enough."
Then he turned back toward Luffy, calling out: "Luffy, the plan worked. Let's fall back first!"
"Yeah! Got it!"
Luffy shook off his shock, responded firmly, then once more turned his gaze toward the dust-shrouded ruins of Oden City.
"This… is this the power of the world's Top Level?"
One day, I'll also have to face such an opponent!
"Shinobu, I'm leaving the rest to you!" Kanjuro entrusted him solemnly.
If they stayed, they would only become a burden, so they had to retreat first. But with such a loud battle, people would soon come to investigate. As a ninja, clearing out those small fry was Shinobu's natural quest.
"Don't worry. Without my permission, no one can get close to this place." Raising her kunai, Shinobu spoke with confidence.
"Yosh, let's go. Take Komurasaki back."
The Straw Hats began their retreat, while Rowen's battle was only just beginning.
After slamming Lirisk into the city wall with a single blow, Rowen stomped down, his legs erupting with explosive force, propelling his body forward like a cannonball.
BOOM!!
With an ear-splitting explosion, he shot straight into the tunnel he had smashed open.
Just as Lirisk thought he could catch his breath, his face twisted in alarm. Gritting his teeth, he ignored the hard stone pressing around him and swung his arm in a counterattack.
Pa!
Ka-cha!
A terrifying power surged forth. Rowen seized Lirisk's arm with one hand, then kicked toward his stomach. But Lirisk twisted away at the last second, his tail whipping out instead. The steel-like appendage ripped through stone and came crashing down against Rowen's waist.
Zzzzz… Crackle!
Electricity erupted, Lirisk's eyes widened in shock as he realized he had struck nothing!
"Elementalization!"
Wedged within the wall's rock layers, Lirisk's speed was hampered. Rowen had more than enough leeway to actively elementalize and evade the blow.
"Correct."
Rowen sneered, swinging his fist.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Boom! Boom!
Crashhh…
Amid splintering stone and grinding rock, the two of them burst straight through the thick Oden City walls, crashing outside. The dark green tail lashed out again, but Rowen stomped down hard.
BOOM!!
He pinned the tail deep into the ground, embedding it in stone.
"Raghhh!"
Feeling the bones groan in protest, Lirisk roared. His fingers straightened into blades, slashing in rapid succession.
"Heh, you think I'd be scared?"
Though they were only bare hands, under Lirisk's fearsome martial prowess, a violent storm of sword energy exploded outwards.
The shockwave blasted everything around them away, even towering boulders couldn't get close.
'Lightning Fist Blades!'
Crackling arcs of electricity wrapped around Rowen's hands, forming gauntlets that transformed into blades. Once a Logia user reached the second stage of Awakening, they could condense intangible elements into tangible weapons, just like Kizaru shaping light itself. Rowen was no exception.
One side, Lirisk's arm-blades hardened with Armament Haki. The other, Rowen's thunder-forged fists.
When the two clashed, the air screamed with piercing noise.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sparks flew, and as the exchange dragged on, the point of balance slowly but surely edged toward Lirisk's side.
"Damn it!" Lirisk grew angrier with every clash. If not for Rowen's earlier sneak attack that dealt him severe damage, how could he be losing in hand-to-hand combat?
Martial arts were his specialty. Rowen's specialty was Devil Fruits!
Noticing Lirisk's unwillingness, Rowen grinned broadly.
"Regret won't save you. I once told Kaido this, and now I'll tell you as well. This… is what we call WAR! Hah!!"
Rowen's speed surged. Lirisk fought desperately, but he was falling behind. Suddenly, Rowen's fists exploded with current. A violent electromagnetic surge burst forth, knocking Lirisk's strike off its path.
Just a centimeter, no more.
But at this level, a centimeter was the difference between life and death.
BOOM! KUAANG!!
Rowen shoved Lirisk's blade-hand upward with both arms, then pulled back his right fist. A crushing, tyrannical aura poured off his body.
'Military Wrist · Deep Gate!'
His Armament Haki-hardened fist turned pitch black, blue lightning crackling wildly across its surface. Rowen aimed straight for Lirisk's face and brought the blow down.
DOOOOM!!!
(End of Chapter)
This novel is finished and I have posted all the advanced chapters on my Patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395
Hey Guys I have picked up 2 new Fanfiction
New Novels- 1. One Piece- Maxed Out Conqueror's Haki!
2. One Piece- Master Of Devil Fruits
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