At the highest peak of Onigashima, the air screamed as legendary weapons clashed. Each collision between the two fighters unleashed visible shockwaves that rippled outward, tearing roof tiles away in giant sheets and scattering gravel and wood splinters like a violent downpour.+2
King's speed was nothing short of extreme. The black wings on his back flapped with a sudden, powerful gust, transforming him into a blurred shadow that zipped through the air. He moved in bizarre, jagged patterns, launching surprise attacks from angles that an ordinary person couldn't even imagine. Every time he drew his sheathed sword, it was instantly swallowed by scorching, swirling flames. Wherever his blade passed, the air itself seemed to ignite, letting out sharp, crackling explosions.+2
However, Dracule Mihawk's sword was faster—and far quieter. The World's Greatest Swordsman didn't even bother to move his feet. He stood firmly in place, the massive Black Blade, Yoru, held in his hand as if it were a living extension of his own will. Facing a fiery slash aimed at his back, Mihawk didn't even turn his head. He simply swung his arm back, using the blunt side of his blade to precisely deflect King's sword with a metallic ring. When a fierce thrust came from above, he merely raised his golden eyes slightly, tipping his blade upward to effortlessly neutralize the strike.+4
There were no extra movements with Yoru. Every block and every counterattack was incredibly simple, yet each one contained the absolute, unresolvable truth of peak swordsmanship.+1
"Your race is quite interesting," Mihawk finally spoke. His tone was as calm and detached as if he were simply commenting on the afternoon weather. "Is the flame on your back a switch used to alternate between defense and speed?" +4
It wasn't a question; it was a cold statement of fact. King's heart sank. In such a short, intense exchange, this man had already seen through the greatest secret of the Lunarian race. The Lunarians, once worshipped as "gods," possessed incredibly hardy bodies that could survive in any environment. Their most famous feature was the eternal flame burning on their backs. When that flame was lit, their defense reached a level that was practically invulnerable, but their movement speed was lowered. When the flame went out, their speed surged to its absolute limit, but that god-like defense vanished along with it. This was King's ultimate trump card as a Lead Performer of the Beasts Pirates.+4
"So what if you know!" King roared. The shock and anger of being exposed made his attacks even more frantic. He tried to overwhelm Mihawk with faster, denser slashes, hoping to leave the swordsman no room to think.+4
"It's useless," Mihawk said, shaking his head slowly. "Your struggle is entirely meaningless." +2
Suddenly, Mihawk's gaze sharpened. In that exact heartbeat, the flame on King's back extinguished. He poured every ounce of his power into his speed, and his figure vanished from sight. A second later, he reappeared directly in front of Mihawk, his burning blade thrusting straight for the swordsman's heart. This was his fastest possible strike—a fatal blow that sacrificed all defense to stake everything on a single kill.+4
But Mihawk didn't retreat, and he didn't even move to block. He simply took one small step forward, shifting his body at a tiny, calculated angle. That single sidestep was all it took for King's lightning-fast blade to narrowly miss, grazing only the fabric of Mihawk's clothes. At the same time, Yoru traced a dark, elegant arc from the ground up.+4
Pfft! +1
The sound was so quiet it was almost impossible to hear. Without warning, a spray of blood erupted from King's chest. His forward momentum stopped instantly, his pupils shrinking in shock. He looked down stiffly, staring at the terrifying, bone-deep wound that now ran across his torso.+1
He had been hit. In the presence of this man, his proud speed and his racial talents were treated like child's play. His fleeting weakness had been seized the moment it appeared.+1
"You..." King gasped, clutching his bleeding chest as he staggered backward. For the first time in a long time, an emotion called terror flickered in his eyes.+1
Mihawk stood there with his sword lowered, a single drop of crimson blood sliding down the black steel and dripping onto the broken tiles. He didn't chase after his opponent; he just watched King silently with a look of unconcealed disappointment.+2
"Show me your true abilities," Mihawk said. "Otherwise, this battle is going to be far too boring." +3
The humiliation of being looked down upon reignited King's fury. "You bastard... don't you dare get arrogant with me!" +4
He let out a roar, and the flames on his back flared up with a fierce intensity. Under the incredible heat of those flames, the wound on his chest began to seal and heal at a visible rate.+1
"Truly a remarkable race," Mihawk praised, though his expression remained as calm as ever.
While the fight between Mihawk and King reached a brief pause, the other battlefields were just as chaotic. Gekko Moriah was having the time of his life.+4
"Mwahahaha! You fat bastard! Go to hell!" Moriah screamed.+2
Queen had transformed into his massive Brachiosaurus form, using his humongous body as a brutal wrecking ball with every charge.
"Gishishishi! It's useless, Queen! Your attacks are way too clumsy!" Moriah taunted. He manipulated his shadow, skillfully weaving it beneath Queen's massive frame. Suddenly, Moriah's shadow overlapped with Queen's own. A second later, Queen realized with horror that his body was no longer under his control.+3
"You... what the hell did you do to me?!" Queen barked in shock.+2
"Gishishishi! I'm just... borrowing your body for a bit!" Moriah cackled. He forced Queen's body to move, making the massive dinosaur ram head-first into a nearby mountain wall.+3
Boom! +1
The rocks collapsed and dust filled the air as Queen slumped over, dazed and seeing stars from his own strength.+1
"Did you see that, Kaido!" Moriah screamed, standing atop the ruins and spreading his arms wide. He laughed wildly at the giant dragon fighting in the sky. "I, Gekko Moriah, have crawled back from the depths of hell just to get my revenge on you!" All the years of resentment and humiliation were finally being poured out.+4
Meanwhile, the fight between Donquixote Doflamingo and Jack the Drought looked more like a cruel puppet show.+1
"Parasite String!"
Doflamingo's fingers twitched, and invisible strings wrapped around Jack's massive limbs, turning him into a giant marionette.+1
"Fufufufu! You're just a big brute who only knows how to swing his arms," Doflamingo laughed. "Let me show you what true art looks like!" He forced Jack to move, using the brute's own sharp tusks to stab the Beasts Pirates standing nearby.+4
"You bastard!" Jack roared in a fury, but he was helpless. He could only watch as his own body gored the very allies who had come to help him.+4
Seeing his elite "Lead Performers" falling into such a disgraceful disadvantage, Kaido—who was locked in a fierce battle with Aaron Kyle in the sky—was beyond furious.+2
"KYLE!!!" Kaido roared, trying to break away to help his crew.+2
"Your opponent is me," Kyle's voice echoed in his ear. Kyle's black-gold naginata whistled through the air, striking Kaido again to keep him pinned.+4
Mihawk looked back at King, who had reignited his fighting spirit, and slowly raised the Black Blade, Yoru. "It seems you are ready now," he said. A hint of genuine seriousness finally appeared in his hawk-like eyes. "Then, as a reward for your courage, I will show you the world's greatest slash." +4
As soon as he spoke, a deep emerald-green glow ignited on the ink-black blade of Yoru, and an unparalleled sharpness soared toward the heavens.
----------------
You can read advanced chapters here: patreon.com/GregariousLion