"Hmm?"
As the oppressive aura of a king swept over him, Fire Cloud's expression shifted, his eyes widening in surprise.
"What incredible momentum!"
He had never encountered such a forceful presence before. The sheer weight of Fenric's aura was so intense that it slightly shook his own willpower.
At that moment, Fire Cloud's curiosity about Fenric deepened.
"Boy, momentum alone won't scare me. If you've got guts, come at me!"
His sharp eyes locked onto Fenric like a predator sizing up its prey.
Seeing Fire Cloud's unwavering stance, Fenric sighed inwardly.
So, my Conqueror's Haki isn't strong enough yet.
Even though his presence was overwhelming to most, Fire Cloud's willpower was as solid as iron, reducing the aura's effect on him.
"Senior," Fenric said with a faint smile, retracting his aura, "be careful."
The moment his words fell—
Swish!
Fenric's figure vanished.
When he reappeared, he was already in midair, descending like a missile toward Fire Cloud, his body coated entirely in Armament Haki.
His fist tightened like black steel as he drove a powerful punch directly toward Fire Cloud's face.
This time, Fenric was going all out.
Seeing the incoming strike, Fire Cloud's face hardened.
The sheer pressure of Fenric's punch was palpable—even before it reached him, he could feel the violent wind buffeting his face, his hair whipping wildly.
With a roar, he clenched his fist and countered head-on.
BOOM—!
The clash of fists echoed like thunder.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Fire Cloud staggered three steps back before regaining his footing, his right hand trembling slightly and the back of it reddening.
Fenric, however, stood unmoving, his arm steady as stone.
From this, it was clear—
In pure strength, Fenric had the absolute advantage.
And with Armament Haki reinforcing his body, even Fire Cloud's explosive internal force couldn't harm him.
"Good!" Fire Cloud grinned fiercely. "Now take a punch from me!"
With a powerful stomp, he exploded forward, his clawed hand lashing out in a move known as 'Black Tiger Steals the Heart,' aiming directly at Fenric's chest.
The old killer's speed was terrifying—nearly at the limit of human capability.
In the original story, he had thrown two punches in a blink, effortlessly defeating the bizarre two 'Harpies Heroes.'
But Fenric was not slow either.
His agility was now 25 times that of an ordinary human, his reflexes enhanced to superhuman levels.
No matter how fast Fire Cloud was, Fenric's eyes could follow every movement.
Whoosh!
Fenric's hand shot out, intercepting the attack and gripping Fire Cloud's wrist.
The old man's face twitched in surprise—he hadn't expected Fenric's speed to match his own.
But Fire Cloud was a seasoned killer. He twisted his wrist, slipping free of Fenric's grip, and countered with a catching technique, attempting to throw Fenric off balance.
The move, though simple, carried deadly precision in Fire Cloud's hands.
In the next instant, he lunged in close, driving his shoulder forward in a crushing strike—
'Shoulder Strike as Steadfast as a Mountain!'
Poom!
Fenric felt the impact slam into him like a speeding truck, pushing him back slightly.
But his Armament Haki had long since covered his body.
Truck? Even a tank wouldn't leave a dent, he thought with a smirk.
On the other hand, Fire Cloud felt as if he had rammed into solid iron. The recoil numbed his shoulder.
"Boy, what kind of iron-body technique are you practicing?" Fire Cloud demanded, his eyes narrowing.
Fenric merely smiled and replied, "Senior, you should use your 'Toad Skill.' Otherwise, you won't even scratch me."
"Arrogant brat!!"
With a snarl, Fire Cloud shot forward again, no longer testing the waters but going all out.
BOOM—!
His fist hammered into Fenric's abdomen.
Fenric didn't dodge. He deliberately took the hit, letting Fire Cloud feel the difference.
From their earlier exchange, Fenric had already gauged his opponent's strength—powerful, far beyond ordinary humans.
But still, it wasn't enough to surpass Fenric's own raw strength, and certainly not enough to break through his Haki.
"Hmm?"
Fenric felt a strange force following the punch into his body, probing and vibrating his insides.
Internal energy?
His eyes glinted with interest. This is unique… but if you think that'll hurt me, you're mistaken.
With a slight twist of his torso, Fenric unleashed a shockwave of counterforce, sending Fire Cloud stumbling backward.
Even without Armament Haki, Fenric's body was monstrously resilient.
His muscle density had tripled compared to normal humans, his mass compressed into a slim but incredibly heavy frame.
By now, even pistol rounds would barely scratch him.
For Fire Cloud to hurt him with internal energy alone would be… nearly impossible.
"Boy, what kind of monster are you?"
Fire Cloud's voice carried genuine shock.
In all his life, he had never met anyone with such an overwhelming natural physique.
Fenric smirked. "Senior, if you don't use your Toad Skill soon, I'm afraid you might actually get beaten to death."
The words struck a nerve.
Despite his outward bravado, Fire Cloud feared death.
In the original story, when the Landlady unleashed her Lion's Roar and nearly destroyed the Axe Gang casino, Fire Cloud instantly surrendered—only to strike again when the chance arose.
It wasn't honor he cared about—it was survival.
"Beat me to death? Come!"
Fire Cloud's face twisted into a snarl, his fists creaking from the force of his grip.