Shusui clattered to the ground with a crisp clang. Then, Viscount Solmen, like a spinning pinwheel, traversed dozens of meters in an instant, smashing heavily into a high wall on the other side. With a thunderous boom, a powerful shockwave and swirling dust rose into the sky.
The high wall seemed to spontaneously collapse into a circular crater nearly ten meters in diameter, with most of Viscount Solmen's body embedded within. The area was covered in spiderweb-like cracks, and the hundred-meter-thick wall itself vibrated violently.
"Hoo—"
Cross exhaled lightly, casually shaking his head. His silver hair, as if gnawed by a dog, rapidly grew, like tentacles, picking up the fallen Shusui and returning it to his hand. Simultaneously, all the shadow bats returned, coalescing behind Cross into a female-shaped shadow.
"A good punch. I underestimated you somewhat!" Marquis Mankervis's eyes were chilling, his golden vertical pupils filled with icy killing intent.
"Don't be so arrogant!" Cross turned around, meeting Mankervis's gaze without fear, a hint of mockery in his expression. He spoke calmly, "Don't think that just because you ate a decent Devil Fruit, you can look down on others! Power and victory are decided by the person, never by the ability!"
"That just means the ability isn't strong enough!" Marquis Mankervis declared proudly, "Having eaten the Mushussu Fruit, I am the chosen one!"
With that, Mankervis wasted no more words and lunged directly at Cross.
Clang—!
Almost simultaneously, Cross swung his sword with lightning speed, striking Marquis Mankervis's chest directly, creating a sound like metal clashing. However, Cross saw with his own eyes that Shusui's sharp blade, striking the golden snake scales on the opponent's chest, merely slid across with a slish and a shower of sparks, leaving only a white mark.
It caused no other damage.
Instead, the force contained within the strike instantly sent Mankervis flying.
"Such tough scales!"
Cross frowned deeply, exclaiming involuntarily. Although it was only a probing attack, not a full-power strike, and he had no malicious intent to linger. This single slash contained seven or eight-tenths of his strength. Yet, not only did it fail to break through his defense, it didn't even shatter a single scale. That was truly exaggerated!
Marquis Mankervis fell several meters away, then effortlessly flipped and stood up again. He shook his body, completely unharmed, and continued to charge at Cross.
Cross's face hardened. He held Shusui in a reverse grip and charged out like a ferocious lion, instantly closing the distance with Marquis Mankervis.
"One-Sword Style: Absolute Severance!!!"
"Mushussu's Assault!!!"
In an instant, a sharp, cold gleam flashed, and from behind Marquis Mankervis, a dazzling golden light shot out like lightning. The two collided with lightning speed, producing a crisp clang like clashing metal. Not only did sparks fly in the air, but a ripple of air waves also spread out.
"A tail?!"
Cross halted his forward charge, staring intently. He discovered that the golden light was a long, slender golden scorpion tail. It appeared metallic and incredibly hard, yet it was as flexible and soft as a whip, and the stinger at its tip was exceptionally sharp.
Marquis Mankervis threatened menacingly, "My Mushussu's tail can pierce through anything! Let me poke a few transparent holes in you!"
With that, he began to run circles around Cross, accelerating to full speed in just a second, moving so fast that he created whipping winds.
"Faster than a cheetah!"
Cross's expression was surprised. He quickly turned his head, looking around. Suddenly, from thin air, the Mushussu's tail, like a golden lightning bolt, attacked Cross from behind. Almost simultaneously, Cross twisted his waist, and the Shusui in his reverse grip slashed fiercely backward, moving so fast that it left an afterimage.
Clang—!
A metallic clang. Sparks flew in the air. The Mushussu's tail, attacking from behind Cross, was once again deflected. This parry seemed to enrage Marquis Mankervis. His running speed suddenly increased by several points, almost forming a golden whirlwind that enveloped Cross.
"Mushussu Thunderstorm!"
The next moment, golden lightning bolts, as if bursting forth from the air, attacked Cross in the center from all directions. Even the air itself produced dense whooshing sounds.
"They're all solid?! No, they're just too fast!"
Cross's expression was startled, but he immediately snapped out of it. His body reacted accordingly, spinning at high speed like a top and rapidly swinging the Shusui in his hand.
Clang, clang, clang, clang... clang, clang, clang, clang...
Clang, clang, clang, clang... clang, clang, clang, clang...
The golden lightning bolts raining down struck the rapidly spinning blade-top, producing a continuous series of dense sounds, like the clashing of swords and metal. Powerful shockwaves rose higher and higher, kicking up billowing dust.
The ever-changing scene left Duke Attawa and Countess Shanna, who were watching from not far away, dizzy and unable to clearly see what was happening.
After continuously attacking for over ten seconds, Marquis Mankervis suddenly ceased his assault, and the golden lightning bolts vanished. Cross, who had been on the defensive, also immediately stopped spinning.
"One-Sword Style: Eagle Strike!!!"
But the next second, Cross suddenly charged forward, the Shusui in his hand seemingly piercing even the air as it shot straight towards Marquis Mankervis's head.
Clang—!
Marquis Mankervis didn't panic. The scorpion-like Mushussu's tail behind him lashed out like a whip, directly deflecting Cross's thrust.
His attack thwarted, Cross was not angered but instead delighted. His gaze shifted to Marquis Mankervis's back. It turned out that Scáthach had, at some point, circled behind the opponent and materialized from the ground.
"Not good!"
Marquis Mankervis sensed the anomaly. Just as he was about to control his tail to attack the enemy behind him, Scáthach grabbed it firmly.
"You forgot, I have another helper!" Cross sneered, "Scáthach, Shadow Box!!!"
As soon as his voice fell, Scáthach's body transformed into a large black cloth, wrapping Marquis Mankervis within it, then forming a black box-like cube, trapping the opponent inside.
"Hehe~"
Cross scoffed disdainfully, "What 'ultimate attack'? Is this it? It's far too..."
Whoosh—!
However, before Cross could finish his sarcastic remark, the black Shadow Box was pierced by a golden scorpion tail, interrupting his words.
"You think this thing can trap me?!"
Marquis Mankervis's furious voice echoed from inside the Shadow Box. Then, a pair of lion-paw-like hands tore the opening even wider. But before Marquis Mankervis could completely escape, Scáthach transformed back into a mass of shadow, voluntarily disengaging from the opponent. The Shadow Box seal had failed; there was no need to maintain it any longer.
"Hm?!"
At this moment, Marquis Mankervis's gaze was astonished as he stared at his own shadow. He realized that the shadow-like creature had actually merged with his own shadow.
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