Chapter 243: The Black Devil and The White Sage
"Hahahahaha!!! Foolish little devil actually daring to plot on this Sage's woman? The hell do you think you are, ahhh?? This is the perfect chance to crush you, insect." An arrogant and disdainful voice filled with overwhelming confidence echoed out as the figure who spoke glared directly at the black devil.
"YOU!!!!" The black devil shrieked as its unstable power surged at an alarming rate. Much further behind him, Zoro trembled heavily in pain as he was forced awake from his unconscious state.
"Oh… so it was you… Thank you for saving me." Christy's earlier excitement faded as she realized the person who appeared was not truly Elton himself but rather the arrogant entity within him. He looked similar to Elton on the outside, yet everything else was entirely different. His demeanor, his movements, his gaze, and the weight of his presence were unmistakably not the real Elton.
"Don't be like that little girl. It's good that you followed my instructions while mastering those arts I taught you. Now look! I was able to save you, so be grateful to this sage." Inner-voice Elton arrogantly chided her before shamelessly ignoring her grumbling as he turned toward the Black Devil. "Alright then, let's play now shall we?"
"I will make you suffer before I swallow you whole!!" The Black Devil roared as four katanas manifested in his hands through a dense concentration of black, red, and white ki.
—Kokutō Kyanon—
(Black Sword Cannon)
One of the devil's arms swung downward as a massive blast of dark sword ki exploded outward like a heavy cannon, ripping through white lightning and flames as it burrowed toward 'Elton' and Christy.
Christy paled in dread. 'Elton' merely sneered as a mass of flaming white lightning rapidly condensed into his left hand. He aimed toward the incoming Black Sword Cannon with unmatched confidence.
—White Lightning Ignition Shot—
A blazing sphere of white flaming lightning erupted from his hand. Within a split second, both attacks collided, producing a violent explosion that rattled the entire domain with suffocating force. 'Elton' laughed boldly as he waved his hand, unleashing a massive barrage of lightning spears.
—White Lightning Spear Barrage—
Thunderous explosions echoed as countless lightning spears cascaded downward. The Black Devil moved like a phantom, avoiding and deflecting the barrage with eerie precision as each brief teleport produced a flickering distortion. Every deflection sent sparks flying while several spears pierced his body, making him snarl in fury.
Once the devil landed in a steadier position, it shifted into another stance as black flames erupted around its body.
—Nitōryū: Kuroma no Shio—
(Two Sword Style: Black Devil's Tide)
Two of its four arms sliced forward with incredible pace, forming a violent storm of black currents that swallowed the lightning spears. The Black Devil charged forward with relentless ferocity toward 'Elton' and Christy.
"Hahahaha very good! Try handling this now!" 'Elton' said arrogantly as his body erupted with white flaming lightning.
In a single instant he vanished. A thunderclap echoed as he appeared directly before the devil, taking a deep breath before unleashing a devastating shockwave.
—Roar of the White Sage—
The Black Devil barely managed to coat its body with black ki while crossing its blades defensively. Even so, it was blasted far into the distance as its skin tore open and black blood gushed out.
With a wicked grin it inhaled deeply and retaliated.
"You damned insect! Let me return the favor!"
—Maō no Hōkō—
(Roar of the Devil Lord)
A surge of black force erupted and slammed into 'Elton'. A shimmering white barrier manifested around him, diminishing the attack before shattering. The Black Devil immediately raised two of its katanas and unleashed two rapid overlapping pillars of black sword ki.
—Sōkokutō Kyanon—
(Dual Black Sword Cannon)
'Elton' blurred backward with extreme speed and summoned the projection of the Blue Heavenly Star Destroyer Sword in a flash of brilliant blue light. Lightning erupted around him as he swung downward with a ferocious strike.
—Storm Breaker Starfall Slash—
A towering pillar of blue star-filled light mixed with flames and white lightning smashed downward. The two black sword pillars shattered as explosive shockwaves tore through the domain.
The devil roared and charged again. 'Elton' moved with blinding speed as the air rang with thunder.
Claaaang!
Cl-cl-cl-claaaaaaang!!!
Sword clashed against sword. Fists slammed into blades. White ki exploded outward while black corrosive ki devoured everything it touched. The domain trembled violently as both forces clashed without restraint.
—Black Shadow Collision Strike—
A heavy black slash tore through the air.
—White Dazzling Horizon Cut—
A shining white arc of sword ki smashed through the attack. More black blades struck forward.
—Nitōryū: Yami Kage Danshu—
(Two Sword Style: Dark Shadow Decapitation)
The two blades blurred toward 'Elton', seemingly cleaving through space itself.
—Star Lightning Steps—
He vanished and reappeared far away.
—White Lightning Spear Barrage—
Another barrage erupted toward the devil.
"Not this time!" The devil barked as it spiraled forward in a cyclone of black wind blades smashing through the volley of White Lightning Spears.
—Nitōryū: Kuroi Rasangiri—
(Two Sword Style: Black Spiraling Cutter)
'Elton' leapt back repeatedly, unleashing further volleys of spears. Suddenly the devil warped within its cyclone of black sword winds, unleashing a devastating technique.
—Shitōryū: Maō Enbu Zetsumei—
(4 Sword Style: Devil Lord's Flaming Dance of Death Blow)
Hellish black and red flames spread as the devil unleashed a barrage of devastating sword strikes.
"Heh! How exciting!" 'Elton' laughed as a swirling lotus of flaming white lightning bloomed around him.
—Thunder Lotus Radiance Dance—
Sparkling white lotus petals exploded outward with each slash of the Blue Heavenly Star Destroyer. They collided violently with the devil's hellish blades.
To Christy, it looked like two worlds colliding. White lotus petals blooming like stars against a cyclone of devilish flame and swordsmanship. The entire domain trembled on the verge of destruction.
CLAAAANG!!!
BOOOOM!!!
After countless explosive clashes, 'Elton' was knocked backward. He growled in pain before smirking arrogantly once more. The devil instantly closed the distance, moving like a murderous shadow.
—Shitōryū: Ashura no Shundan-shi—
(4 Sword Style: Asura's Instant Cutting Death)
Four blades tore through the void as they converged toward 'Elton'.
—Heaven-Piercing Radiance Fang—
The Blue Heavenly Star Destroyer grew 2 sizes with a concentration of thunderous energy as it pierced the void in return. 2 of its blades were pierced through as the devil was blasted away as a gaping hole tore through its chest, engulfed in white lightning flames.
'Elton's' arm and chest were deeply slashed open as invasive black ki spread. His spirit began chanting at over one hundred times the normal rate as a gold and green magic circle appeared above him. A torrent of cleansing winds eradicated the corruptive devil ki and slowly healed his body to an extent.
"Hahaha! Not bad at all devil. Why don't you try handling this next one?"
'Elton's' aura erupted past the Late Stage Mortal Lord level, approaching a Soul Tier Mortal Lord. The devil instantly panicked. It roared and gathered every last ounce of power.
—White Star Smash—
A massive beam of blue and white flaming light exploded forward, filled with star-like radiance.
The black devil roared fiercely in alarm as it transformed while attempting to recover from the earlier damage. It continued growing larger with overwhelming power as It entered a sword stance raising its 4 arms. Shocking black flaming red and black ki coalesced its 4 swords while its aura enshrouded the skies.
—Shitōryū: Daikoku Kyanon—
(4 Swords Great Black Cannon)
A titanic pillar of black and red sword ki collided with the White Star Smash as the domain crumbled violently.
Christy by this time was on the brink of losing consciousness as she could no longer hold out for much longer. She suddenly glanced to the side as her fading gaze landed on a horribly injured Zoro bleeding profusely while he struggled to move. With a small point of her finger Christy released a thin beam of energy that pierced straight toward him through the chaotic realm of the Red Star domain. The beam moved unhindered despite the horrific clash of power between the inner voice in the form of Elton and the black devil.
The moment it struck Zoro the black devil instantly noticed as a pool of black blood burst from its body as it convulsed. Its eyes became glassy with shock and fury as it roared.
"You damned bitch!!! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!"
Zoro staggered to his feet, smiling darkly. "Thank you Christy for helping me."
Christy faintly heard his voice before smiling and losing consciousness. Zoro gathered every bit of ki he had to suppress and seal the raging devil.
The devil's attack faltered. The White Star Smash overwhelmed it and swallowed the devil roaring in pain within a brilliant explosion.
Moments later everything fell silent until the echo of constant shattering spread throughout the collapsing domain.
'Elton', arrogant from beginning to end, suddenly vanished from sight before instantly reappearing beside a black shadow that had surfaced near Zoro.
"Damnit! If only I had my full power and a proper body I would have destroyed you today!" the devil snarled.
A beam of flaming lightning shot from 'Elton', striking the devil.
"ARRRGHHH!!!"
'Elton' scoffed proudly. "My original self before reincarnating would have erased you with a flick of the wrist. Why brag, devil? And kid your willpower and methods to control this trash is admirable, but still useless."
Zoro calmly replied, "Regardless of your opinion, my method has worked. I will continue until I find something better."
"Hahahaha I knew you would answer like that. Why was it that the devil was blessed with someone like you while I had to end up stuck with this guy instead, hah? Since this Sage is in a generous mood I will give you a hint. It was through me influencing that devil that you broke through and touched those barriers you reached until now without losing yourself. There is a far better method waiting for you, but it will demand a state of death and rebirth if you dare to take that path. Until next time kid. Hahahaha!"
After speaking with such confidence while tossing out those hints of wisdom, 'Elton' roared with laughter as he swung both of his arms. A pure destructive aura violently erupted from his body, causing the entire void to tremble before the domain rapidly began to shatter. In the blink of an eye he had already appeared before the unconscious Christy, pressing a finger onto her forehead as power was rapidly channeled into her body.
The black devil shrieked in faint terror as it trembled and shouted in disbelief, "How is this possible?! Why does he have the conqueror's spirit?!"
As if fleeing from a natural predator the black devil turned into a cloud of black mist before pouring back into Zoro, who was also completely shocked by that unquestionable might and could only fight the urge to kneel before he finally fell unconscious.