Boom! Boom! Boom!
The two clashed with their fists like machine-gun fire, exchanging countless blows before finally separating.
The place where they stood had been blasted into a crater over ten meters deep and nearly three hundred meters wide!
Creed was slightly out of breath, while Katakuri remained calm and composed.
Creed's strength was at SSS-level, but ultimately still fell short of Katakuri's SSS+-level.
With Creed's current SSS+-level power, defeating Katakuri would take more time.
In Creed's eyes, Katakuri's strength, defense, and agility had all reached SSS+, and his spiritual power had even risen to the terrifying level of SSSSS.
This shocked Creed—Katakuri's strength was incredible!
Among many SSS+-level fighters, Katakuri was clearly no ordinary opponent.
Perhaps the strongest Creed had faced so far!
But Katakuri's face was serious, not showing the slightest pride.
Because he realized Creed's evasive ability was not inferior to his own.
Against hundreds, even tens of thousands of strikes, Creed was able to dodge every single one—always just barely slipping past, yet every time perfectly avoiding them.
This was not something that raw strength could achieve. It required an incredible ability to foresee danger.
To do this, Katakuri's own Observation Haki was already at SSS+, yet Creed's had completely surpassed his own.
It was unbelievable.
He even felt that Creed's Observation Haki had reached the legendary realm.
Katakuri possessed the power to see the future with his advanced Observation Haki, a perfect match with his Mochi Mochi no Mi.
Yet the opponent seemed to dodge his future-sighted attacks with nothing but lightning-infused swordplay? Comparable to his own foresight of the future?!
"Your control over lightning… is that a Devil Fruit power?"
Katakuri couldn't hold back his curiosity.
"No!" Creed replied.
Shocking Thunder Slash!
Creed drew his sword—one swing turning into lightning, covered with Armament Haki, thundering down upon his foe.
Strength and Observation Haki could not overpower Katakuri, so to clash with Armament Haki would be folly. Instead, with a supreme Great Blade and SSS+-level swordsmanship, he could exploit Katakuri's weakness in swordplay and physical technique.
Strike the opponent's weakness with one's strength—that was the way of kings!
"Hmm?!"
Mochi Thrust!
Katakuri, never defeated before, spun his trident—wrapped in mochi—and stabbed forward, blocking the lightning sword strike.
This trident was his personal weapon: Mogura, usually hidden within his wrist.
Clang!
Zzzzt!
Although Katakuri blocked, powerful currents ran down the weapon, numbing his body instantly.
Boom!
Armament and Conqueror's Haki erupted as Creed forced him back several steps. Lightning flashed around Creed as two more sword strikes came slashing down.
Rinne Ningen-dō (Rinne Human Path)
Rinne Gakidō (Rinne Hungry Ghost Path)
Shadows of Creed split forth, ghostly figures appearing amidst falling rain, claws gleaming with terrifying malice.
The chilling, ghostly aura flooded the entire town. Ordinary men would be horrified, their sword hearts shattered; only true swordsmen could resist.
Since unleashing the Extreme Evil Sword, Creed's swordsmanship had grown ever more refined. He could now freely merge the six Rinne sword styles two by two.
And faintly, he began to glimpse a new possibility—the Perfect Sword, born from uniting the Human Path, Asura Path, and Deva Path.
Yet unlike the Extreme Evil Sword, the Perfect Sword was its opposite extreme. Without fully mastering the Extreme Evil Sword, Creed was still grasping in the dark, unable to comprehend its true essence.
But under Katakuri's pressure, something stirred within him.
A flash of inspiration excited him—his attacks became endless.
Rinne Shuradō + Chikushōdō (Rinne Asura Path + Animal Path)
Rinne Tendō + Jigokudō (Rinne Deva Path + Hell Path)
Thousands of blades of light surged with lightning, creativity flooding forth like a tidal wave.
Zzzt!
Katakuri struck desperately, breaking through the sword-light to retreat, his arm wounded, face flushed.
Even his Armament Haki couldn't block Creed's sword energy, infused with creative force.
"Katakuri, if you don't fight seriously, you won't be able to withstand my next strike."
Creed's sword brows furrowed, evil aura surging as the sky darkened.
A vision of hell arose—ghosts boiling in frenzy, appearing vividly real above him!
Though Katakuri knew it was the manifestation of Creed's sword intent, he was still shaken. "This level of creativity… only swordsmen like Mihawk or Shanks could achieve this!"
"Creed, today you've shocked me greatly! Given time, you'll surely take the title of the world's greatest swordsman! Mihawk will eventually fall behind you!"
"So, from this moment, I'll fight you with the highest respect!"
Vertical Mochi!
Peerless Donuts!
Granite Mochi!
Katakuri unleashed the full might of his awakened fruit, turning the entire town into flowing mochi and attacking with three powerful skills.
But they were only a setup—the true killing move came as the Donuts and Granite Mochi combined into the ultimate strike: Power Mochi!
A move strong enough to blow Luffy's Gear Fourth away!
As Katakuri unleashed his awakened might, Creed merged three sword paths into one, releasing the Extreme Evil Sword once more.
Boom!!!!!
Power Mochi vs. Extreme Evil Sword!
Light exploded as the entire island trembled and collapsed.
Mist in the skies, dark clouds, raging winds—all were blasted away by their clash.
From the mountain, Ain and the others trembled, barely able to stand as the earth shook beneath their feet.
What kind of power was this?!
"Creed won't lose to my second brother! My brother has never shown his back to anyone, and never will!"
Bandaged all over, Oven screamed, cheering for Katakuri.
But Ain's lightning nearly fried him, hair standing on end, tongue sticking out as he howled.
"Waaahhh!"
Ain and Falkor tried to shield themselves, wanting to rush forward to help Creed.
But even they were stunned—Creed had truly met his match.
"Don't worry, he'll win! He's never let us down."
Ain gazed at Creed's upright figure, whispering softly.
…
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Their battle raged on endlessly, as if it would last forever.
"You still have techniques you haven't used! Why not bring them out?!" Katakuri rasped, eyes locked on the scarred Creed. He could tell Creed still held back, despite being at a disadvantage.
But Creed couldn't say the truth: Sorry, you're still useful—I need you to temper my swordsmanship.
By clashing the Extreme Evil Sword against Katakuri, Creed noticed its mastery percentage rising rapidly. So he deliberately fought using Rinne sword arts and lightning control, without revealing all his powers.
Yet once the Extreme Evil Sword hit 66%, the growth stopped—as if reaching its limit.
"Could it be that only by raising my swordsmanship to SSSS, or by gaining greater spiritual power, can I push further and glimpse the Perfect Sword?"
Creed considered another possibility.
Then!
"Katakuri, since you so badly want to see my other techniques… I'll grant your wish!"
(End of Chapter)
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