"Shiki-san,"
Ian flicked his Leviathan in his hand, and the golden holy sword instantly turned a deep crimson, "You can start thinking about your last words now."
If he directly used his Conqueror's Haki Infusion around the sword, it wouldn't unleash the full destructive power, after all, it would turn into a baseball bat.
So, he needed to inject the two-types of Haki directly into the sword, causing the crimson blade to ripple with black streaks.
Threads of black lightning crackled, like black mist emerging from the sword, adding a touch of ominous energy to the already menacing fiery demon sword.
"Destructive flame, huh?"
Shiki laughed loudly, "Well then, let me see! Can your flames destroy me?"
"Alright."
Ian nodded lightly, "Shiki-san, I'm coming to kill you."
The golden wings forged from gold flapped, flames erupted from every joint in his body, and Ian turned into a meteor streaking toward Shiki.
Fast!
Extremely fast!
In an instant, Shiki realized that there was no way he could escape from Ian's pursuit. This guy's speed was far faster than his own flight speed.
But...
Shiki's mouth curled into a grin.
He never intended to run!
Kid, do you know who I am?!
"Hehehehe! Come on, kid!"
Shiki's twin swords were also wrapped in two-types of Haki, charging forward without fear.
"Seems like this is the final moment."
Shanks commented.
"Do you think Ian will win?"
Ace asked nervously.
"We'll win."
Law confidently said, "Ian has never been defeated."
Of course, this doesn't count the sparring sessions with Kaido.
"Right now," Mihawk's expression was complex, "In front of Ian, it's Shiki who is the challenger."
"..."
Dragon quietly watched everything below.
It's almost over.
"Kuzan," Among the two Marine Vice-Admirals looking up at the final clash from below, the hero Garp suddenly spoke up, "How long until Borsalino arrives?"
Even after Shiki is taken down, the battle can't be considered over.
"Ah, well, I don't know about that."
Kuzan scratched his head, "But, Garp-san, even if Borsalino does arrive, I think it's going to be tricky."
The pirates are fine for now, and Mihawk has been severely injured by Shiki, and his combat power has been greatly weakened.
However, there's still Dragon floating in the sky.
Can Garp really rely on their father-son bond to get the leader of the Revolutionary Army to help them fight the pirates?
Hiss—
Kuzan couldn't help but gasp.
If that's the case, maybe it's not such a bad idea.
But he shook his head, knowing it was probably impossible.
After all, his teacher had often complained to him about his son's rebelliousness long ago.
Under everyone's watch, the two figures in the sky finally collided.
"Kid! Lion's Roar—"
Shiki senior spun his body, his dual blades swirling into a whirlwind.
A pitch-black whirlwind.
"Thousand Peaks Split!"
Ian's eyes glowed red, and the scenes of the next few seconds were already clear in his mind.
He swung his sword.
He put everything into this strike.
Armament Haki, Observation Haki, Conqueror's Haki, his Devil Fruit ability—no holds barred, going all out!
"Die, Shiki!"
The sword of destruction in this form was called—
"Branch of Annihilation!"
The cursed black aura of the sword of destruction slashed out.
The next moment, it directly pierced through the pitch-black whirlwind!
Time slowed in that instant.
The spinning, pitch-black whirlwind gradually came to a halt, and the wild swinging of Shiki's twin blades also became slow.
From this perspective, it was clear that the sword of destruction was not swung in a straight line; it gracefully avoided the black twin swords.
This was the Observation Haki that foresaw the future.
The attacks of the future had already been seen in his heart, so it was only natural to respond with the perfect counter.
However, if one can foresee the future, one can also change it.
Just as Ian's destructive sword was about to strike, Shiki sensed the danger approaching.
Instinctively, he pulled back his twin swords, intending to block Ian's blade.
Then, in the next moment, the three swords finally collided.
Shiki's expression changed drastically in an instant.
The Haki that wrapped around his swords was easily pierced through!
That crimson great sword cleaved directly into his beloved twin blades.
Then.
The weight in his hands suddenly lightened, and Shiki saw the crimson shadow coming straight at him.
His pupils shrank to the size of pinpricks in that moment, but quickly expanded again.
Did I lose?
Roger, I'm going to lose to someone other than you!
What an impressive little brat.
My last words?
Since he was the man who defeated me, it's only natural for him to stand at the top of the world!
In an instant, two figures crossed paths, leaving behind a narrow, crimson streak in the air.
But when the moment passed, only Ian remained floating in the sky.
Ian turned around with a hint of melancholy, finding only emptiness behind him.
Shiki had completely disappeared without a trace.
Using his Observation Haki to foresee the future, Ian evaded Shiki's attack.
As Shiki tried to block in a hurry, Ian easily shattered his Haki with his own, and with a single strike from his Destruction Sword, he severed Shiki's dual swords.
The beauty of mastering Conqueror's Haki is that you can use it to pierce through the opponent's Haki, letting the destructive power of the Destruction Flame reach its fullest potential.
Shiki's body was cleaved in two at the waist by that one sword strike.
The hastily summoned Haki couldn't block the Destruction Sword's slash.
Then, the spreading destructive force obliterated everything about Shiki, leaving no trace behind.
Rest in peace, Shiki.
Personally, I would have preferred to let you go, allowing you to continue drawing the attention of the World Government.
But you really went too far.
Everyone here wanted to take you down, and I had no choice.
"What happened?"
Ace couldn't understand. "Where did that guy go?"
Where did Shiki go?
"Terrifying!"
Shanks couldn't help but exclaim, "Is this the legendary Destruction Flame? It's truly beyond exaggeration!"
Mihawk's eyes twitched.
Thankfully, the night before, he had blocked that very sword for him. Otherwise, if Ian's sword had struck him directly, he might have ended up like Shiki.
But, this bastard's ability is too exaggerated, right?
He just defeated Shiki on his own!
"Destructive Flame?"
Ace was confused.
"A flame that can destroy everything in the world, the crimson fire unique to Ian!"
Law's tone was excited.
Destroy everything in the world?
Ace was stunned.
This sounds a bit scary.
But, they won!
Ian took down Shiki!
"Shh—"
Kuzan still took a deep breath, "Although I already knew that Zephyr-sensei lost to this technique, seeing the destructive power of this move firsthand is a first for me."
"Isn't that a bit too exaggerated?"
That's Shiki!
Even though Shiki was much weaker than in his prime, his strength might still be weaker than Ian's, who had mastered the Conqueror's Haki.
But that still shouldn't be the reason he was slashed to death by Ian with a single sword, right?
It should've been a battle of equals, yet the actual result felt more like an adult fighting a child?
"I absolutely cannot let that kid's crimson flame hit me!"
Garp's tone was extremely serious.
In the sky, Dragon also had a serious expression.
Should they be thankful? Thankful that someone like him is on the opposite side of the World Government?
"Let's go."
Ian flapped his wings and descended, the crimson sword in his hand turning back into a little fire spirit, lying on his shoulder, playing dead.
"It's time to go back."
The curtain fell, and people dispersed—
Or not?
At this moment, light gathered in the sky, and a figure emerged from the light.
"Aiya, I'm late, or maybe I'm too early?"
Ian looked up, another troublesome guy had arrived.
There's still the second round, it's not over yet.
**********
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