With Enel out of the way, Gusion shot upward, stepping on spirit particle footholds, leaving rings of air behind, and in a flash was at Body Killer's side.
He didn't know why Black Lily was helping, but it was a perfect chance to kill Body Killer. As for Enel, he'd leave his fate to luck.
If Black Lily could kill Enel in that time, he'd consider it her mercenary fee. If not, he'd claim the kill himself.
He struck at Body Killer's throat with a blade infused with Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki, golden thunder and crimson lightning swirling around him like a true thunder god.
Body Killer, feeling the threat, didn't dare block directly. He tore a page from his book and crushed it without chanting.
Boom—
A huge light shield appeared, but Gusion's overwhelming slash shattered it instantly.
Gusion's blade continued toward the retreating Body Killer, who used the shield's buffer to judge the attack's path and elementally split himself to dodge.
At the same time, he countered with a light cannon aimed at Gusion's back.
Boom—
A barrier appeared behind Gusion—Kido #81: Dankū. But unlike Enel's lightning, Body Killer's light cannon was better at piercing barriers. The difference in spiritual stats made Dankū last only a moment before shattering.
Both barriers broke in an instant, and neither hesitated—they both turned and attacked again.
"You think you're invincible in melee?!"
Body Killer was furious. He had higher stats and multiple bloodline abilities, yet was losing these exchanges.
With Enel unreliable and the Origin Seed at stake, he had to consider killing Gusion solo.
He gritted his teeth and tore out a golden page. "Holy Word: Divine Armament!"
Just as Gusion's blade reached him, golden light enveloped Body Killer. Suddenly, the Mazuko was blocked by a knight's sword.
Body Killer was now clad in a light-armor suit, wielding a shining knight's sword—an energy construct, not real equipment.
With Divine Armament, his wings beat powerfully, forcing Gusion back and smashing him into buildings below.
After several crashes, Gusion steadied himself and emerged from the ruins, grinning unsettlingly.
Despite his injuries, Gusion showed no discouragement—his fighting spirit was stronger than ever.
"Now this is more like it."
He spat blood, hefting the Mazuko on his shoulder, looking up at Body Killer. "With no one else interfering, let's see what you've got."
His meaning was clear—Body Killer understood and smiled back. "You still don't get it. Even one-on-one, you're not my match."
Divine Armament was Holy Word's trump card—a one-use, short-duration power-up. For ten minutes, his stats soared, and his magic damage doubled.
"Showy."
Gusion stepped onto the sky. "Who's stronger? Only a fight will tell."
He accelerated. Though behind on stats, he was faster—Body Killer knew only two of the Navy's Six Powers and, while flying, couldn't boost speed much. Gusion's Shunpo had no such limits.
Seeing Gusion charge, Body Killer stopped talking. As Gusion said, whoever survived would be the stronger.
Boom—
With a wave, a massive roar shook the sky. At Sky Island's edge, the white sea surged upward like a tsunami, casting a shadow over the coastal houses.
The residents had barely escaped Enel's Raigo and now faced another disaster.
Body Killer's Water-Water Fruit power was dominant wherever water existed. The white sea, being low-density water, was even easier to control.
But because of its low density, it wasn't as destructive as a real tsunami. He didn't expect to drown Gusion—just to obscure vision and change the battlefield.
Gusion charged at Body Killer, who retreated toward the rising white sea. As they moved, a hole opened in the tsunami, letting Body Killer through while the wave crashed at Gusion.
Facing this disaster-like wave, Gusion's gaze was calm and battle-hungry. He spun his blade—water and mist parted, then wrapped around the blade, which shone silver and red, like yin and yang.
He slashed, drawing a red-and-white arc in the air—the boundary between tide and sunset!
Secret Sword Technique: Tidal Sever!
With a tremor, the tsunami was split, the spray turning to fresh rain in the air, then mist from the burning buildings below.
Gusion, wreathed in purple mist and energy, looked like a demon from the underworld, his killing intent filling the sky. He spun and struck again at Body Killer behind the white sea.
With his Soul Devourer's active, Gusion's blade became even sharper.
His movements felt natural—his Soul Devourer's passive triggered, making this strike deal a critical 200% damage!
Boom—
The Mazuko clashed with Body Killer's holy sword. In the shockwaves, Body Killer was shocked—he was being forced back.
Worse, Gusion's blade pressed his sword toward his own shoulder.
At the last moment, Body Killer abandoned the clash, using his wings to retreat and avoid being cleaved by his own sword.
His judgment was correct, worthy of a pioneer, but he still got hit.
A burst of blood erupted from his shoulder—corrosive and stealing energies invaded him, causing significant real damage.
The injury itself was bad enough. Since the first time Gusion cut him, he'd noticed something: being shot by Gusion did nothing, but being cut made his spirit disappear—stolen by some mysterious force.
That critical hit had cost him 10% of his spirit in a single slash.
Body Killer quickly realized it was the blade—the Mazuko could absorb spirit and transfer it to Gusion.
Gusion wasn't about to explain. He pressed his attack—Soul Devourer's true damage triggered with every strong move, even if blocked.
With the active skill on, he could deal 15% of the target's max spirit as true damage per hit, plus the Executioner Ring's bonus and his own power. Even if Body Killer blocked with everything, he'd still lose around 30% per hit.
Gusion's damage was so high that even a heavily boosted pioneer like Body Killer suffered from every blow.
And as long as Body Killer was wounded, Gusion could heal his own spirit via the Mazuko's released power—effectively making him a perpetual motion machine.
Body Killer didn't yet know the details, but he understood that direct melee with Gusion—even with Divine Armament—was a losing game.
It wasn't just a matter of base stats. Every clash meant losing mana—unfair!
Understanding this, Body Killer beat his wings and transformed into a flatworm beastman.
Even in this form, his Water-Water Fruit powers worked, allowing him to elementally dodge attacks. If Gusion didn't use Haki, his attacks would pass through.
In beastman form, his recovery and speed improved, but he avoided fighting Gusion in the air.
Gusion's death god abilities gave him an overwhelming advantage in the air. Body Killer could only use his wings for limited support—on the ground, he could use Shave for speed and pair it with his wings, leveraging his stat advantage.
He dove, dispersing the white sea into dense fog to disrupt Gusion's senses.
He, however, could sense Gusion perfectly via the water mist—he'd learned this trick from Enel.
Enel's Observation Haki wasn't overwhelming, but paired with his thunder, he could monitor all of Sky Island.
Body Killer hid in the mist, suppressing his light, waiting to ambush Gusion with holy light cannons.
Though Devil Fruit bloodlines were strong, nothing matched his main bloodline's potential and versatility.
The Angel's bloodline was especially strong in spirit recovery. Under the right conditions, it was almost limitless.
That's why he could keep using skills after being wounded—now, calm, he figured he could wear Gusion down by controlling the field.
As long as Gusion couldn't get close, he'd be fine. Even being shot by arrows was no problem—his flatworm fruit let him heal quickly. In a war of attrition, he had the upper hand.
Gusion stood in the mist, using Observation Haki to sense Body Killer's location, sneering: "Weren't you hunting me? Why not show yourself?"
Through the mist, Body Killer's voice came from all directions: "No point provoking me. Struggle as long as you like."
Gusion counter-slashed, cutting apart the light cannon. "I waited so long, and you're nothing like me after all."