c9: 0-step Flying Sword Finally Unsheathed
The two stood still with a huge difference in body size the height of the other party was nearly 3.5 meters. In terms of the current Dongze he must be a brat.
Dongze didn't move his eyes and replied in a cold tone: "The person who killed you!"
The Second Master laughed wildly upon hearing Dongze's words.
"Only by you?"
"I don't know how many little brats like you I've crushed into pulp! This is the first time I've heard such insane words today!"
"It's really laughable!"
"Boy! Just die already!"
The huge iron mace gripped like a toothpick in the hands of the transformed Zoan user swung down at an exaggerated speed, like a hammer from the heavens. The sheer pressure swept the air aside kicking up violent wind and surged toward Dongze.
Faced with this Dongze was not afraid his calm rooted in his proficiency with Kenbunshoku Haki.
Three-color Haki Busoshoku, Kenbunshoku, and Haoshoku!
Busoshoku Haki (Armament) strengthens both defense and offense able to coat the body or weapons in invisible armor and capable of striking even Logia-type Devil Fruit users.
Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation) sharpens the senses allowing the user to sense the presence, strength, and emotions of others and at its peak, it can predict the opponent's next move, as seen with Katakuri and Luffy during their duel.
Haoshoku Haki (Conqueror's) the rarest of all the spirit of a king. It cannot be trained or inherited. Only one in several million is born with it. It can knock out the weak-willed with sheer presence and when fully mastered it can clash violently, splitting the skies, as with Shanks or Whitebeard.
Though it appears the most subtle it is the most overwhelming of forces in the Grand Line and even more so here in the East Blue.
As the mace came crashing down Dongze's eyes sharpened he pivoted slightly on his heel and let his body slide backward exactly 1.2 meters. The iron mass sliced through the air missing his nose by a hair's breadth.
"What?!"
Erdangjia didn't expect the kid in front of him to dodge such a swift and powerful attack.
Unwilling to believe it he followed up with a second swing.
This one was even faster the sonic boom of displacement cracking the air but once again, it failed to land.
Enraged the transformed Second Master increased the pace each strike faster more furious the sound of his roars mingling with the sound of crushed stone and wind. He swung again and again determined to turn Dongze into blood and dust.
But Zoan-type Devil Fruits especially standard ones do more than alter the body they affect the mind. Users grow more aggressive more instinct-driven quick to anger and even quicker to violence.
Like now Erdangjia was becoming more beast than man.
Dongze, however, remained calm his blade unmoving. He was not afraid. He was watching adjusting matching rhythm with rhythm.
"A fierce dragon has regrets" too much force, too long, and even beasts will slow. This is the law of nature.
After a flurry of wild swings the Second Master's pace began to dull moment by moment.
Noticing this Dongze gripped the hilt of his blade tighter.
A silver flash erupted an arc like a full moon shot out from his blade clean and sudden.
The Second Master's pupils shrank he had assumed the brat before him was all dodge and no bite he hadn't expected such a fast, decisive attack. It came as suddenly as lightning struck like a thunderclap sharp, precise, and fast beyond imagination.
This was Iai a sword-drawing technique. A style of single, fatal strikes meant to end battles before they begin. Dongze had been building momentum from the beginning never wasting energy. This first strike was faster and heavier than any he had delivered before.
But Dongze didn't stop he jumped back immediately.putting distance between them.
Something about that strike felt wrong. The blade had met with unusual resistance.
"So hard!"
Almost as if in reply a cruel grin twisted across Erdangjia's face.
"Haha! I'm a chimpanzee who ate the Hito Hito no Mi: Model Chimpanzee! This kind of attack? Feels like a back scratch! If we're going long, you'll lose! I'm not afraid of your blade but if you take just one of my hits you're done!"
"Don't try to run when I catch you I'll eat you alive!"
Dongze's gaze turned cold again killing intent poured from his body. In times of chaos monsters rise. He hadn't expected the one before him to be this far gone to threaten cannibalism like some mad beast from the Grand Line.
Just then Dongze squinted slightly as a translucent light curtain flickered before his vision.
His Sword Draw Proficiency jumped by fifty points now reading 551/10000. He stared at the transformed gorilla before him and licked the corner of his mouth.
To Dongze the one in front of him was no longer just a threat he was a resource.
That's right a tool.
A walking, roaring, muscle-bound proficiency farming machine.
So far he was the best Dongze had found fifty points in a single blow.
"Heh…"
"You sure about that?"
Dongze smirked coldly.
After all the sword in his hand was no ordinary blade it was one of the 21 Great Grade Swords (Ō Wazamono) a class of blade rarer than even Devil Fruits legendary weapons like Mihawk's Yoru, or the late Oden's Ame no Habakiri and Enma.
"Self-haha, self-haha—HAAHAHAHA!!"
In response Erdangjia laughed maniacally.
"DIE!!"
Dongze having fully adapted to the transformed brute's combat rhythm now began to retaliate.
Each new arc of light from his blade grew larger.stronger.the crescent-shaped trails evolving from a waning moon to a perfect full moon.
At the same time, the sword in Dongze's hand grew ever steadier and the aura of his Iai technique became increasingly complete.
Until that moment when the arc light reached fullness the darkness deepened and it seemed as if two moons coexisted in the sky and then a scream pierced the night.
A deep wound cut to the bone marked the chest of the Second Master blood pouring without restraint.
"Impossible!"
The chimpanzee Zoan-user before him simply couldn't comprehend how the kid in front of him had broken through his hardened defense the same technique that barely tickled him earlier had now
Yet Dongze wasn't surprised by the strike because within his vision his sword-drawing proficiency had surged to 5000/10000 an internal voice echoed mockingly "What kind of sword training is that! Just go home, wash up, and sleep!"
Without hesitation Dongze pressed his advantage attacking the downed opponent relentlessly he knew Zoan-types were renowned for their resilience their robust bodies and regenerative stamina making them the tanks of the battlefield though the wound wasn't fatal it could regenerate if given time.
Sensing that the brat in front of him wasn't someone to mess with the Second Master's eyes darted calculatingly he was clearly contemplating retreat.
"Kid! I take back what I said you can indeed hurt me but I'm a Zoan and your endurance doesn't compare to mine how about we call it even and walk away?"
Dongze didn't respond he understood that if he allowed this to become a battle of wits he'd lose against the oily schemer before him talking too much leads to mistakes silence is golden.
So Dongze didn't halt he intensified his assault with cold determination and with each slash his sword-drawing proficiency rose chilling and murderous.
Several fresh wounds slashed across Erdangjia's body.
Seeing the youth ignore his attempt at negotiation bitterness brewed in his heart he had intended to test the other's reaction to decide whether to fight or flee.
If the opponent stopped but remained silent he'd know the youth was likely at his limit he could outlast him with his Zoan endurance.
If the opponent replied he could use words to sow hesitation and find an opening to escape.
But he hadn't expected someone like Dongze who refused to speak a word.
As another full moon-shaped arc of light glimmered in the sky his heart trembled if he couldn't block it, it would be another deep, bone-cutting wound.
Suddenly Dongze frowned, he noticed his sword-drawing proficiency had reached 8500/10000 and then stopped climbing this confused him.
But swiftly he made a new choice his gaze changed and he flung his sword Wado Ichimonji into the air.
The Second Master blinked in surprise then a cruel smile crept across his bloodied lips.
He licked the corner of his mouth with bloodlust if his opponent was now unarmed he had the upper hand.
But before his joy could peak he froze because Wado Ichimonji had moved too fast so fast he couldn't follow it with his eyes.
Even with all his strength poured into his mace he couldn't match the velocity of the sword's arc.
Dongze gripping the sword hilt with his right hand launched himself toward the airborne blade in perfect synchronization.
Erdangjia reflexively tried to swing his mace wanted to intercept the attack but the closer the sword came the faster it felt his instincts screamed and then all he saw was a glint of icy light followed by complete stillness.
At that moment he realized his body wouldn't move.
"Damn it!! What kind of sword move is this?!"
Then a chill touched his throat and all strength drained from his limbs his vitality ebbed away.
"Impossible!"
This wasn't an ordinary slash it was the second sword skill Dongze had unlocked the ultimate strike of his vertical sword style, The Hundred-Step Flying Sword.
In the blink of an eye another perfect moon arc flashed and the chimpanzee's head was sent flying into the air.
Dongze sheathed his blade.his heart heavy with reflection though the Hundred-Step Flying Sword was the most potent of his vertical sword techniques its proficiency had stalled forcing him to create and integrate another sword-drawing method just to surpass the enemy and deliver the final blow.
As the battle ended Dongze's stamina gave way he collapsed onto the ground the strain of unleashing high-level sword skills in rapid succession overwhelmed even his reinforced body.
He leaned against a large rock breathing heavily gasping at the open night air.
As he stared up at the shining moon he whispered internally, "Four years five months and six days my path of vengeance ends here."
Thenhe slowly turned to glance at the data on his status panel.
Sword Drawing: 8500/10000
Hundred-Step Flying Sword: 1500/10000
Tai Chi Sword: 150/10000
"Unlock the lottery today and send you to the underworld!"
But in that moment Dongze's pupils shrank sharply.
"This is…"
At the foot of the mountain a man with round glasses let out a long sigh then turned with a twisted smirk and disappeared into the heavy darkness.
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