"Waaah—!!"
"So hot! Hiss, aaah!!"
A heart-wrenching wail echoed above the island.
The Boro Breath from the azure dragon directly blasted a hole in a corner of the skull-shaped giant rock that Pizarro had transformed into. The edge of the hole glowed a scorching red.
In a stone room inside the skull, a stone statue with Pizarro's appearance was also missing a corner. He howled loudly, his face extremely pained.
The Isle-Isle Fruit allowed him to merge with the entire island, giving him immense power to control the entire island. At the same time, the side effects were obvious. Damage to the transformed body would be transferred to the main body.
From the information he had, that azure dragon was undoubtedly the undead of Kaido. Faced with an individual of this extremely powerful strength, his ability was difficult to bring into play, and instead, it only exposed his greatest weakness to the enemy.
"Damn it! Damn it!!"
"Why! Why does this old me have to face this kind of opponent! Straw Hat crew! What exactly do you want!!"
Pizarro's eyes looked as if they would split. The rock skull's eyes were fierce as it roared at the ground below.
"Gomu Gomu no... Whip!!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Luffy forcefully stretched his leg and, with a whip kick, swept away a dozen or so charging pirates. He looked up at the giant skull above and shouted:
"Hey! You stinky rock! Hurry up and hand over Hancock!"
"Hancock? I see."
Pizarro was stunned for a moment, and after reacting, he glared at Luffy.
"Are you crazy! You're going to war with us just for a pirate? Besides, she's not here, you bastard!"
There is a culprit for every crime, a debtor for every debt. Teach captured Hancock, why are you hitting me!
"Shut up! Anyway, she's in your hands, right? If you don't release her, we'll just go on a rampage here!"
Luffy took a step forward and shouted, as if venting. He sank into a crouch, pushed off with both feet, and shot into the group of pirates.
These bastards!
Pizarro gritted his teeth. Seeing the azure dragon charging up another Boro Breath, he absolutely did not dare to take it again and directly deactivated his ability.
The eyes of the giant skull on the island dimmed, and it turned back into a motionless, inanimate object. Pizarro picked up a Den Den Mushi and was about to run.
However, Reiner still had no intention of letting him go. The hostility from the other's attack just now had already exposed his hidden position. After his Observation Haki had locked onto his aura, the Boro Breath brewing in the azure dragon's mouth was mercilessly sprayed down!
Boom!! The crimson pillar of flame pulverized the building and blasted Pizarro into the ground.
As the azure dragon slowly turned its head, that beam of Boro Breath was like a giant red blade, easily tearing through the earth as if cutting tofu. Everything in its path was turned to ashes.
"Are you kidding me..."
"What exaggerated power. It's just like a natural disaster."
The pirates in the distance who had seen this scene were all rooted to the spot in shock. It wasn't until a heatwave washed over their faces, and they looked at the approaching, scorching dragon's breath, that the pirates who had come back to their senses fled in panic!
"Run!"
"How are we supposed to fight this guy!"
Although they had a huge numerical advantage, the gap in individual strength was too great. The battle line on Hachinosu could be said to be steamrolled all the way.
Any single member of the Straw Hat crew was a great pirate with a bounty of four or five hundred million Berries. Once the few cadres who were left to guard the island were suppressed, the remaining forces were quickly torn apart.
Reiner and Nami had transformed into magic cannon turrets, continuously bombarding with wind, thunder, fire, and lightning.
On the other side, on a certain street, the two-story earthen buildings on both sides were sparsely surrounded by pirates, all holding their breath as they watched the clash between the two powerful swordsmen in the center.
Clang!
Clang!
The longswords clashed violently, creating sparks. The pitch-black blade glinted with a cold light. Several cold blades were locked in a stalemate, vibrating and creaking!
Holding the famous sword [Raiu], its hilt crimson, its pitch-black blade imprinted with a scarlet pattern like a flame, Shiryu's expression was teasing.
"The swordsman Roronoa. I've long heard many of your deeds. You really live up to your reputation."
"Oh? Is my fame that great?"
Clang!
Zoro exerted force on his sword, sending Shiryu flying back. A corner of his mouth lifted slightly as he seriously sized up the other.
"I haven't heard of a character like you, though. You don't look like a nobody."
After just a few exchanges, Zoro could clearly feel the other's powerful and bloodthirsty sword skills.
With his current strength, there were not many swordsmen who could make him use his full strength. Basically, all of them had a considerable reputation on the sea, but he had never heard the name 'Shiryu of the Rain'.
"It's normal that you haven't heard of me. After all, I've been in a place like Impel Down, where you can't see the light of day, for so many years. If I hadn't come out, I would have become a rat in a stinking ditch."
Shiryu gave a cold, self-deprecating laugh. With a single step, he flew out, dragging his crimson longsword on the ground, scraping up sparks and leaving a long scratch.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Clang! The two clashed again. The field flashed with the light of swords, and sparks flew. The blades left countless afterimages in the air.
"So strong..."
"To actually be able to fight on par with Shiryu."
The surrounding pirates stared intently, watching the fierce clash in the arena. They couldn't help but swallow.
That was the head jailer, Shiryu of the Rain, whose strength was comparable to Magellan's. Impel Down was called an impenetrable iron wall precisely because of the existence of these two.
"Blood Rain: Thousand Swallows!!"
Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!
A cold glint flashed in the depths of Shiryu's cigar-holding eyes. He swung his sword continuously and thrust forward rapidly. Countless blood-red slashes, like flying swallows, streaked across the ground at high speed.
Zoro pushed off with his toes and retreated, weaving and dodging among the blood swallows. The slashes were very dense, and those he couldn't dodge, he just swung his sword to deflect.
The flying slashes tore through all the buildings in their path, and even the surrounding pirate onlookers were affected.
"Uwaah—!"
"Lord Shiryu!"
In an instant, the field was splattered with blood.
The rusty, bloody smell pierced their nostrils. The wails, far from stopping Shiryu's movements, only stimulated him to swing his sword more fanatically.
"Hahaha! Let's dye the sky red with blood!"
Hiss—!
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Zoro spread his legs into a half-squat, and as he slid back several dozen meters, he crossed his two longswords in front of him, continuously blocking the slashes and creating a shower of sparks.
"...This guy... he doesn't care about his companions at all?"
Seeing the tragic state of his surroundings, Zoro couldn't help but frown.
To say he was bloodthirsty was an understatement. He was no different from a madman.
Clang!!
Zoro fiercely swung his two swords, shaking off the continuous barrage of slashes. He then leaped high at the other, his eyes hardening. He crossed his arms, his two swords held vertically at his sides.
"Three Sword Style: Rengoku Oni Giri!!"
Clang!!
Like a streak of green light flashing in the dark night, the sword light flashed, and Zoro's figure instantly appeared behind Shiryu.
Squelch!
A spray of blood flew. Shiryu froze in place, shocked. His sword, which he had subconsciously raised to block, was still humming.
His chest had been cut open, and blood was seeping out. This one slash from Zoro made his heart pound.
"Interesting. As expected of a swordsman with a bounty of 1.7 billion. The outside world really is better."
He swiped his thumb across his chest, smearing the blood. Shiryu grinned and licked it, then turned around, a scarlet glint in his eyes.
"Speaking of which, I haven't cut down a criminal with this bounty in Impel Down yet."
"This is bad! Shiryu is starting his slaughter again!"
"We'll be affected!"
"Get out of here quickly!"
Seeing Shiryu's state, the surrounding pirates' expressions changed, and they showed panic, all of them retreating.
"Let me show you the new power I've obtained."
A cold smile appeared on the corner of Shiryu's cigar-holding mouth. From his clothes to the blade in his hand, all the color on his body gradually faded, and his entire person slowly faded into the air.
"Hmm? He really is an ability user."
Zoro frowned.
The fact that Blackbeard was plundering Devil Fruits from everywhere was well-known on the seas. He had expected this.
"Looks like it's invisibility."
"That's right. A simple ability, isn't it?"
Shiryu's cold laugh came from the air. Only his voice could be heard, not his person.
But such a simple ability, when placed in the hands of an already powerful swordsman, was inevitably troublesome.
Zoro's focused pupils continuously darted around, vigilantly observing all the movements in his surroundings. At the same time, his Observation Haki spread out to capture the other's presence.
Clang!!
This is bad!
Suddenly, a whistling sound of a sword tearing through the air came from his side.
Zoro was instantly shocked. Fortunately, he was vigilant enough and had already used his Observation Haki to defend. At the critical moment, he timely raised his defense.
Ding!!
Shiryu's sword tip struck his blade, creating a shower of sparks. Shiryu's fierce blow sent Zoro flying back, and his back crashed heavily through a wall, into a house.
Again!
A large amount of dust and smoke was kicked up. Just as Zoro's feet landed on the ground, his peripheral vision caught sight of the abnormally violent swirling of the dust. He activated his Observation Haki and at the same time, quickly swung his sword, sending out two flying slashes.
Boom! Boom!
The two green slashes were dodged and struck the wall, shattering it.
Shiryu's eyes were ruthless. He held his sword with both hands and, coming before Zoro, he thrust its sharp blade fiercely at his heart!
Although his Observation Haki could capture the other's presence and attacks, Shiryu still held a huge initiative advantage. With no time to retract his sword to parry, Zoro could only forcefully twist his body.
Squelch!!
"—Ugh!"
Zoro let out a muffled grunt, a pained expression on his face. The longsword had viciously torn through the flesh and pierced his shoulder, bringing out a spray of scarlet blood that splattered on the wall.
The intense pain made two veins pop on his forehead, extending all the way up his brow.
Zoro gritted his teeth, his expression fierce. He endured the intense pain, using his bone to clamp the blade in his shoulder, and with his right arm, he swung his sword in a fierce chop!
"Hmm?"
Shiryu, feeling the resistance as he tried to pull his sword, frowned. His eyes were instantly stunned.
Zoro's ruthlessness was far beyond his expectations. Shiryu exerted force on his hand, pulled his sword out, and quickly retreated!
Squelch!
Another spray of blood flew. Shiryu's chest was still cut with a not-so-shallow wound, which made his expression become grave.
It should have been a one-hit-kill advantage, but in the end, he had been forced to trade a blow. This guy's eyes...
...they were just like those of a wild beast.
Staring at Zoro's fierce gaze, Shiryu's grip on his sword subconsciously tightened a little. He activated his ability again, and his figure faded into the air.
"Tch. This is troublesome. Even more troublesome than I thought."
Zoro's eyes hardened. He tore off his sleeve and wrapped it tightly around his shoulder.
His Observation Haki could capture the other's presence and even predict the other's attacks. This made the invisibility ability seem a bit weak. But it also depended on who was using it.
Without a doubt, Shiryu's invisibility had now become the key to suppressing Zoro.
Zoro had Observation Haki to predict, but the other could also predict his movements. Unless his Observation Haki could far surpass the other's, he would not be able to completely eliminate the advantage brought by invisibility.
What's more, relying on vision in battle had already become an instinct. Relying on Observation Haki alone would definitely be unfamiliar. The other would always have the initiative.
Shiryu was an extremely strong swordsman to begin with, and now he couldn't even see the other's sword.
To be able to seize the initiative in every move... in a close-quarters fight between two evenly matched swordsmen, this was already an exaggerated advantage.
If this goes on...
"Since I can't see anyway, this eye is useless."
Zoro's breathing slowed. He untied the green bandana that had been unused on his left arm for a long time, closed his one open right eye, and tied it over his eyes.
"To give up your sight in exchange for enhancing your other perceptions... should I say you're wise or foolish?"
Shiryu sneered coldly.
Blocking one's vision could indeed make the brain focus more on processing other perceptions, but doing so also had side effects.
A person's body cannot adapt to the effects of losing sight in an instant. Without the aid of vision, physical coordination and balance would also be weakened.
This was equivalent to weakening one's own combat effectiveness in exchange for more sensitive perception.
A scarlet glint flashed in the depths of Shiryu's eyes. He couldn't help but feel a little annoyed. He sneered coldly:
"Do you think this is enough to defeat me? It seems I'm being looked down upon."
"Ah. Bring it on."
A corner of Zoro's mouth lifted. He spread his legs and took a firm horse stance, his two longswords held out to his sides.
It was indeed inconvenient to move after being blindfolded. Since he had lost the advantage of the first move, he wouldn't take the initiative to attack. He would just parry first and then counterattack.
"I see."
Seeing his defensive posture, Shiryu understood his intention. He sheathed Raiu into its crimson, somewhat demonic scabbard.
Shiryu took a step forward, his hand on the hilt, gathering his sword energy.
The two of them, separated by a dozen meters, faced each other. Even the air at this moment became heavy, filled with a murderous aura.
ZING!!
The next moment, Zoro's ear twitched. In his dark mind, a cold blade light appeared without any warning!
Zoro, having captured the trajectory of the blade, had a calm expression, unchanged. He just slightly tilted his head.
His movements seemed slow, but in fact, they were so fast they left an afterimage. The blade grazed past, leaving a small cut on his face and bringing out a few beads of blood that floated in the air.
Before the two of them had crossed paths, Zoro's sword had moved slowly.
Shiryu's eyes widened in shock. He suddenly felt a bone-chilling cold, as if he were surrounded by a dense web of slashes with no way to dodge!
"Three Sword Style: Slow Sword: Snail Step."
Zing! Zing! Zing!
With a light cry, countless sword lights and shadows flashed like a startling light, and then, in an instant, they all disappeared.
"Urk!"
The two crossed paths. Shiryu's pupils were unfocused and trembled violently. Countless blood marks instantly appeared on his body.
How is this possible!
Bang!!
Countless pieces of rubble flew. Shiryu's figure lost control and was sent flying, smashing heavily into a house in the distance behind Zoro.
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