*Buzz—!*
The blade trembled violently, letting out a mournful wail, as though it could no longer endure the burden it carried.
Ancient patterns along the steel came alive, pulsing with an ominous crimson-gold glow. The air itself twisted and collapsed around the weapon, light devoured into a heart-palpitating void of absolute darkness.
This was not energy radiance. It was space itself—crying out beneath the weight of the Emperor's Will and the Destructive Spirit, both forced beyond their limits.
Behind *Kaito*, a dark-golden phantom of an Emperor emerged, sharper and more solid with every heartbeat. It was as if it had walked across the river of time, its majesty towering over all living beings—perfectly overlapping with Kaito's stance, blade poised to strike.
A million slashes.
The true essence of "Slash," forged under relentless gravity, etched into flesh, soul, and bone until it became instinct itself.
Now, it all converged into this one strike.
No roaring momentum. No dazzling theatrics.
Kaito simply stood before Melzargard, who raged like a supernova on the brink of collapse. And with a calm, downward stroke, he swung the blade—fragile, boundless, and carrying the weight of an Emperor's Spirit.
*Annihilation · Soul Sever.*
The blade's light flashed.
Not silver. Not gold. But an ultimate crimson-gold, as though condensed from the deepest void of the universe, burning with a will fierce enough to tear chaos apart and bring all to an end.
Wherever the slash passed, space itself split open like fragile cloth.
No sound. No shockwave.
Time paused.
Every S-Class Hero watching—from Atomic Samurai to Flashy Flash—felt their pupils constrict to pinpricks. Their instincts screamed. An indescribable terror gripped their souls, as if that blade had not cut through space, but carved straight into the deepest chambers of their being.
This was a slash that annihilated the spirit.
Melzargard, swollen to his monstrous peak, brimming with destructive energy, froze. His expression was caught between madness and horror. Inside him, his five regeneration cores quivered in panic, accelerating wildly in a desperate attempt to flee.
But the moment they touched that crimson-gold slash—
*Silence.*
As if thrown into the singularity of ultimate annihilation.
From particles to flesh, from carapace to energy, even the very information that defined his existence…
All of it was erased. Conceptually. Absolutely.
No explosion. No ashes.
The beast that roared like the apocalypse one heartbeat ago was gone the next—wiped clean, as though reality itself had taken an eraser to the canvas.
Only a deep, lingering scar of crimson-gold remained in the sky, twisting and writhing before slowly knitting itself back together.
The platform fell into dead silence.
A crisp sound broke it—Kaito's blade shattering, shards scattering like dust. His Emperor Engine rumbled one last time, its ancient war drum resonance fading into quiet.
He didn't even look at the closing rift, as if swatting away a mere nuisance.
"Alright. Obstacle cleared."
Kaito's tone was casual, eyes sweeping across the stunned S-Class Heroes. "So. Who's coming with me to face the real culprit?"
No one spoke. Their gazes remained fixed on the dark-golden scar in the sky, unable to find their voices.
[Ding! The S-Class Heroes are in awe of the host's unparalleled sword skill. Deterrence Points +800!]
Atomic Samurai's hand shook on his sword hilt, palm drenched in cold sweat.
And for the first time, in Tatsumaki's emerald eyes, the tsundere defiance was gone—replaced with raw shock… and the faintest, unspoken flutter.
---
[Ding! Congratulations, host, for unlocking the hidden achievement: Haki Infusion! Successfully infused Spirit into a weapon and annihilated a monster, acquiring the skill: Three Colors of Haki!]
The system prompt left *Kaito* momentarily stunned.
A holographic projection unfolded before his eyes, visible only to him:
[Haoshoku Haki: Suppress enemies with sheer willpower, forcing weaker foes into unconsciousness. (Beginner: 0/50)]
[Kenbunshoku Haki: Sense and foresee enemy attacks briefly. (Beginner: 0/50)]
[Armament Haki: Strengthens both offense and defense, coats weapons to enhance power, or fortifies the body to resist enemy strikes. (Beginner: 0/50)]
"It's you again… Haki system!" Kaito chuckled inwardly. "So now you're even handing me the Three Colors of Haki from that Pirate King next door."
He tried mobilizing the new powers and immediately felt three distinct energy streams awaken within him.
Haoshoku Haki was like a slumbering ancient beast, lurking deep within his Spirit Sea.
Kenbunshoku Haki spread outward like an invisible net, covering a ten-meter radius with seamless perception.
Armament Haki pulsed through his muscle fibers like flowing steel, solid and unyielding.
A flash of excitement crossed Kaito's eyes. These additions made his combat system even more complete.
Especially Kenbunshoku Haki—layered atop the Emperor Engine's mental perception, it was like giving wings to a tiger.
Just as Kaito was savoring this breakthrough, the S-Class Heroes on the platform finally stirred from the shock of his slash.
"Is… is this King's true power?" Superalloy Darkshine's obsidian muscles trembled involuntarily, sweat beading across his brow. His absolute defense suddenly felt as fragile as paper compared to that crimson-gold rift.
"What an astonishing slash…" Flashy Flash rarely widened his eyes, but now they gleamed with disbelief. As a speed-based swordsman, he understood better than most—this was not just speed or strength. It was something higher. The very essence of the blade itself.
"Haa—!" Atomic Samurai exhaled sharply, stepping forward. His voice shook with awe and hunger: "That slash… has completely surpassed the level of my Atomic Slash!"
His hand gripped his katana, knuckles white, yet his eyes blazed with burning resolve. "But I, Atomic Samurai, will not give up! One day, my sword will also reach that realm! Mark my words!"
Kaito glanced at the passionate swordsman, about to reply, when a shrill, childish voice cut in:
"So cool! So cool! King-san's move just now should totally be called—'Dark Prison Emperor · Final Annihilation Slash'!"
Child Emperor's small face flushed bright red, hands flailing as he blurted out name after name with manic energy. "Or maybe 'Chaos Genesis · Emperor's Blade'! No, wait—'Eternal Nightfall · Return to Ruin'! Yeah! That's even better!"
Kaito's mouth twitched. Good heavens… these names were even worse than my 'Inferno Unrivaled Blazing Wave Cannon'.
"Hey, brat!" Tatsumaki floated over, cutting him off with an unimpressed glare. "Those names are lame! If you ask me, it should be called—"
Her emerald eyes darted around, her lips twitching as she struggled. A beat passed. Her cheeks flushed crimson when nothing came to mind.
She stomped her foot, huffing in frustration. "Anyway! Whatever it's called, it's still a million times better than your nonsense!"
The tense atmosphere lightened for a heartbeat.
Then—
*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*
The sharp, piercing hiss of air being torn apart rang from high above!
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