"You still haven't used Haoshoku Haki!"
Imu said with a hint of annoyance.
This ant in front of him, facing him, actually dared to hold back, not unleashing his full power. Was he looking down on him?
"You haven't used Haoshoku Haki, so naturally I won't either!"
Nox chuckled.
If the enemy didn't use it, he naturally wouldn't. If he did, wouldn't that mean he was inferior to the other party?
"Very well, I hope you're still this stubborn when you die later!"
Imu snorted coldly.
Clearly, in terms of verbal sparring, Imu was no match for Nox. Even after living for eight hundred years, his talent in this area was something time couldn't compensate for.
After all, he was once the World King, and no one dared to talk back to him. Now, encountering someone like Nox, who liked to use verbal attacks to influence his state of mind, how could he possibly compete?
As the battle with Nox continued, Imu's combat instincts were continuously reviving, and his power became increasingly terrifying.
At this moment, although Imu was calling Nox an ant both verbally and in his heart, he was now truly treating Nox as an opponent.
This could be seen from the fact that after his battle with Nox reached a stalemate, he didn't use more powerful strength to crush Nox. Instead, he used the continuous exchange with Nox to restore his combat instincts.
Although Imu was very arrogant, even conceited, he wasn't stupid.
He knew that Nox still had more powerful strength he hadn't used, and he also had more powerful strength he hadn't used. This meant that things might turn out differently from what he imagined later. Therefore, he chose to first further restore the instincts he had lost and strengthen his power. This step was taken steadily!
Imu's past combat experience might have been strong, but compared to the current Nox, Imu still had a gap, especially now that Imu's power couldn't suppress Nox. This gap would be magnified!
During the continuous battle, Nox suddenly dodged Imu's fist and slashed at Imu's chest with his sword.
At the same time, the moment the blood-colored light surged on the Seven Star Sword, it directly washed towards Imu's chest, suppressing the dark devouring power covering Imu's body, allowing the Seven Star Sword itself to completely cut through Imu's body without its power being dissipated by the dark devouring power!
This time, Imu wasn't as careless as before. Just as Nox was about to strike him, he covered his chest with Busoshoku Haki.
However, even though Imu's Busoshoku Haki technique was very strong, it was only strong when used for attacking with his fists, but it was much weaker when used for body defense.
"Rip!!!"
Even though the essence of Imu's Busoshoku Haki was a layer higher than Nox's Busoshoku Haki, the Seven Star Sword still tore through Imu's Busoshoku Haki defense and directly slashed into the flesh and blood of Imu's chest.
As the powerful slashing force swept across, Imu's entire body flew out like a cannonball. This was the first time Imu had been knocked back head-on by Nox; before, it was always Nox who was sent flying!
"Damn ant!!"
Looking at his chest, Imu found that some of his divine blood had been absorbed by the opponent again, and Imu was completely enraged.
The vast black Haoshoku Haki perfectly fused with his own dark flames, and his entire body surged out like a fiercely burning volcano.
The dark Haoshoku Haki was unleashed recklessly, spreading out in all directions from him as the center, forming a tangible wind pressure that filled the entire world!
"Anyone who doesn't know would think you're a dark Super Saiyan going berserk. It's just a Haoshoku Haki burst, who can't do that!!"
As he spoke, Nox's entire body's Haoshoku Haki also erupted from within. The blood-colored radiance enveloped his entire body, and even his hair stood on end due to the violent aura.
The black and red Haoshoku Haki collided in the sky, and the sky was instantly split into two colors.
Countless lightning bolts were born at the intersection of the two sides of the sky, and the thunder rolled like dragons. The entire sky instantly turned into a world of lightning.
Lightning surged and struck down recklessly from the sky onto the battlefield of Mary Geoise below. Huge cracks appeared on the ground where the lightning struck.
"Hey, hey, hey, what's going on with Captain's Haoshoku Haki? It's so strong! Even from this distance, I feel a lot of pressure!"
"Who says it isn't? The void lightning generated by ordinary Haoshoku Haki basically doesn't have such powerful damage, but after a unlucky guy was struck by it earlier, he was directly knocked into the ground!"
"Hahahaha, Captain is invincible! Defeat that Imu from the old era and become the World King of the new era!"
"Captain definitely held back when he joined us in resisting Imu's Haoshoku Haki before, otherwise how do you explain this Haoshoku Haki now!"
"..."
The many members of the Limitless Pirates fighting in Mary Geoise, witnessing Nox's true aura, even though they were pressured by this aura, they still began to cheer excitedly. After all, this was a manifestation of their Captain's strength!
"How is this possible? Lord Imu's Haoshoku Haki can't suppress Nox!!"
"Golden Lion has been defeated for so long, yet Nox still hasn't been defeated. Has his strength already become so powerful that it far surpasses Golden Lion and even Lord Imu can't do anything to him?"
"Impossible, Lord Imu is the strongest, absolutely no one can defeat Lord Imu!"
"Lord Imu is the World King, he has lived for eight hundred years, it's absolutely impossible for Nox to win!"
"..."
Compared to the cheers of the many pirates of the Limitless Pirates for Nox, the World Government side was more worried.
Imu's quick defeat of Golden Lion earlier had already made many World Government powerhouses, in this state where the World Government was about to be destroyed, believe that it was not unacceptable for a World King to appear and stand above all of them.
At least it was better than the destruction of the World Government, and they sincerely hoped that this World King hidden behind the scenes could defeat Nox.
But they didn't expect Nox's strength to be so powerful. Just the aftermath of the collision between Imu and Nox, even tens of thousands of meters away, could make them feel pressure. This level of strength had already surpassed their cognitive range of individual strength!
However, what everyone didn't know was that Nox's Haoshoku Haki itself was inferior to Imu's, but Nox had integrated his most powerful Limitless Sword Soul into the Haoshoku Haki.
It was precisely because of this that Nox was able to contend with Imu in the confrontation of Haoshoku Haki, each occupying half of the sky!
Seeing that his Haoshoku Haki could previously contend against the entire Pirate Alliance, but now couldn't suppress Nox alone, Imu even doubted whether Nox had used his full strength before!
"This world doesn't need an anomaly like you!!"
This time, Imu's anger was even greater. His Haoshoku Haki, which had once suppressed the world, was insufficient to suppress an ant, so such an ant didn't need to exist in this world!
"If you want me to die, then show me the power to kill me. You don't think you can kill me just by talking, do you!!"
"Also, didn't you say you wouldn't use Haoshoku Haki if I didn't? Why are you using Haoshoku Haki first now? Could it be because you can't kill me without using Haoshoku Haki!"
Nox smiled slightly.
However, laughter aside, at this moment, Nox's entire body's Haoshoku Haki had been completely contained and compressed onto the body of the Seven Star Sword, making the Seven Star Sword at this time as terrifying as a blood-colored lightning abyss!
It seemed that despite hearing Nox's verbal attacks many times, Imu's heart was still angered by Nox!
It was unclear whether Imu was angry because he had been lonely for eight hundred years, or because he had been accustomed to looking down on others for eight hundred years, making him so easily angered!
"Die!!"
Imu instantly disappeared from his spot and rushed forward at high speed, his fist burning with dark flames smashing over without hesitation!
"Good timing!!"
Nox didn't hesitate either, flapping his wings and rushing forward at high speed, gathering all his strength on the Seven Star Sword, and slashing out with a sword!
Sword and fist clashed again. After both of them used Haoshoku Haki, their power instantly increased by a level. The terrifying aftermath spread out in all directions without restraint, and the entire sky began to tremble, as if this piece of sky was about to collapse!
Sword and fist met in the air. As their Haoshoku Haki clashed in the air, neither the fist nor the sword approached each other.
However, the next moment, Imu's Haoshoku Haki erupted with power exceeding Nox's Haoshoku Haki, directly shattering Nox's Haoshoku Haki!
After all, when he forced a tie in Haoshoku Haki before, Nox had added the power of Limitless Sword Soul to contend with Imu. Now, in a real confrontation, Nox was naturally sent flying over a thousand meters by Imu's punch.
"This Haoshoku Haki is truly worthy of the World King!!"
Nox's hands trembled from Imu's punch, and his chest was significantly dented. He almost spat out blood!
However, as the power of the blood surged within his body, this injury quickly healed itself, but the pain was real!
"Since Haoshoku Haki and Busoshoku Haki are inferior, I'll make up for it with the purest strength!"
After stabilizing his body in the air, Nox's muscles bulged again, and his blood vessels seemed to be about to burst through his skin and muscles!
"Life Return - Full Body Extreme Enhancement!!!"
If the previous enhancement was based on his own self-healing, then the current enhancement was an enhancement that surpassed his self-healing ability.
He raised his strength to a level beyond the limit and continuously drew upon the power of the blood within the Seven Star Sword to constantly repair the muscle damage that occurred due to the enhancement exceeding his own limit!
"Let's fight!!"
Nox looked at the charging Imu with fiery eyes, and swung the Seven Star Sword with all his might, slashing out again!
Fist and sword collided once more!
This time, relying on Nox's powerful and invincible pure physical strength, he completely blocked Imu's attack with both types of Haki.
"What? What kind of monster is this guy? His strength is so powerful!"
Imu looked at Nox, who was blocking his fist, in shock. He didn't expect that even though his Haoshoku Haki and Busoshoku Haki were stronger than the opponent's, the opponent didn't play by the rules and forcefully blocked his fist with that brute strength.
Imu really wanted to say now, shouldn't top-level battles be about Haki and Devil Fruit abilities?
What the hell is this pure physical brute force burst?
Normally, top-level battles are indeed about Haki and Devil Fruit abilities. Generally, even if your strength is stronger than the opponent's, it won't be by much. Even Mythical Zoan types cannot simply rely on strength to close the gap between the two types of Haki.
But coincidentally, Nox liked to use brute force to make up for his shortcomings and elevate his combat strength level.
"Observation Kill!"
Nox accurately captured Imu's momentary distraction. Immediately, Haoshoku Haki covered all parts of his body. At the same time, he forcefully pushed away Imu's fist and then dodged Imu's sight at an extreme speed.
"Gone!"
The moment Nox disappeared, Imu subconsciously used Kenbunshoku Haki to search, but he couldn't find Nox's figure immediately.
"Behind!!"
The next moment, a sudden chill ran down Imu's spine. His body's instinct was warning him of great terror behind him!
Without any hesitation, Imu turned around and punched out based on his feeling.
"Bang!!!"
With one punch, Imu directly shattered Nox's Seven Star Sword, and even shattered Nox's body along with it. At this moment, Nox turned into a pool of blood that splattered onto Imu.
"Not good!!"
Feeling the unreal touch on his fist, Imu immediately knew he had been fooled!
However, it was too late now!
As Imu shattered the blood clone and it turned into a pool of blood, Nox rushed out from that pool of blood and slashed at Imu's throat with his sword.
Imu subconsciously blocked the Seven Star Sword's slash with his other fist, but at this moment, that unreal feeling came from his fist again.
This Nox, upon striking Imu's fist, turned into a pool of blood again.
And at this moment, the real Nox, from behind those two pools of blood, held the real Seven Star Sword and assumed a drawing sword stance.
Realizing that he had been fooled again, Imu wanted to block the real Nox, but he no longer had the chance. Two incorrect judgments caused his body to stiffen for a moment, and that was all Nox needed!
"Limitless Sword Soul - Heaven-Shattering Sword Drawing Technique!"
A sharp Sword Soul power erupted, and the entire sky was instantly enveloped in blood-red light.
In an instant, Nox, who was originally in front of Imu, suddenly disappeared, and the world fell into a state of silence.
The next moment, a flash of white sword light split this silent blood-red world in half from the middle, causing all the blood-red color in the sky to dissipate, restoring it to its original state.
And Nox's figure reappeared fifty meters behind Imu, but at this moment, his hands holding the Seven Star Sword were trembling slightly.
"As expected of someone who has also cultivated a tough body like me, your bones are really hard. Even with my current strength, I can't cut through them!"
The power of blood surged into his hands, restoring his trembling hands.
And at this moment, Nox's sword had broken through Imu's double defense of dark ability and Busoshoku Haki on his chest, exposing a terrifyingly jagged wound in the air, revealing the stark ribs.
However, his ribs were not white, but black. Those were ribs tempered with Busoshoku Haki, and with just a thought, he could cover his ribs with Busoshoku Haki.
And because they had been tempered with Busoshoku Haki, these ribs were as hard as Supreme Grade Swords.
After Nox's Seven Star Sword successively broke through the dark energy and Busoshoku Haki covering Imu's muscles and skin, its power had been weakened a lot, so this sword couldn't cut through Imu's ribs.