"The secret behind your ability to withstand my strikes lies in your body being as hard as steel. If I cannot cut steel, I cannot defeat you."
Erza stated coldly, her sharp eyes fixed on her opponent.
"That's right," Daz Bones sneered, his metallic arm gleaming. "I am the one who ate the Dice-Dice Fruit. Hitting and slashing are useless against me! Fairy Queen Erza, I'll admit you're strong, but…"
His voice deepened, brimming with arrogance.
"Since I obtained this power, no swordsman has been able to harm me. No swordsman can defeat me!"
Mr. 1's tone carried absolute confidence.
"Oh?"
Erza raised an eyebrow.
She had already seen through the mystery of his ability. With the power to turn his body into blades of steel, normal swords were indeed meaningless against him. Even her Heaven's Wheel Armor couldn't pierce his defense.
But… Erza Scarlet was not one to falter.
She possessed countless armors, each with its own terrifying might.
The Yūen Armor, which had already crushed Mr. 3, could sear him with fire. The Thunder Emperor's Armor crackled with lightning strong enough to overwhelm steel. The Star Armor's beam cannons could blast through almost anything. And if she truly wished, she could simply summon the Purgatory Armor—an armor of overwhelming destruction capable of obliterating a single target with sheer force.
Even more fearsome were her ultimate armors—the Celestial Armor, the Heavenly God Armor unlocked by her second magical source, and at the pinnacle, her strongest state: the Purity Heart Garb.
There were countless ways to cut steel.
The vaunted defense of Daz Bones was nothing but a paper wall before the arsenal of the Titania. With a single change, she could end the battle in an instant.
And yet…
Erza could not ignore his arrogant declaration: "No swordsman can defeat me."
It struck a chord.
Though she had countless armors and abilities, her pride as a swordswoman demanded that she defeat him with the blade alone.
It might be difficult if she fought only with her usual strength.
But things were different now.
In the ten days since arriving in this world, Erza had sparred constantly with Sugisawa Yuuto, learning the mysterious power of this sea. She had become adept at channeling Armament Haki into her blade.
"Come on then!" Daz Bones taunted, mistaking her silence for hesitation. "Put on that flame armor from before. Maybe that fire could harm me."
"Thanks for the suggestion," Erza said firmly, gripping her sword in both hands, "but it won't be necessary."
Onboard the Fairy Tail ship, Vivi's hands clenched nervously.
"Why doesn't Lady Erza change her armor?" she asked in worry.
"Because of what Mr. 1 said," Sugisawa Yuuto replied calmly, watching the duel unfold with a faint smile. "She wants to defeat him with the sword alone. Let's wait and see."
"I've already warned you," Daz Bones growled. "If you don't listen, don't regret it when you lose."
In an instant, his figure blurred. His fingers sharpened into gleaming blades, flashing toward her.
"Steel Shredder!"
Clang!
Erza intercepted his charge, her sword crossing against his bladed hands. Sparks burst from the impact.
She exhaled slowly, then focused. A dark aura spiraled around her blade.
Armament Haki—successfully invoked.
Daz Bones' eyes widened in disbelief.
From the edge of Erza's now-blackened sword, he felt a dangerous pressure. Just a moment ago, her blade was harmless against him. Yet now… even the steel of his body ached.
Startled, he leapt back, only to see thin lines of blood seeping from his fingers.
"What—?!"
His pupils shrank in shock. "Impossible… you actually cut me!"
"What are you staring for?" Erza snapped. Her blade gleamed with black light as she swung down in a flawless arc.
Slash!
Blood sprayed. Daz Bones staggered back, clutching his arm where a deep wound now marked him.
"What… what power is this?! What's on your sword?!" His arrogant expression was gone, replaced by fury and disbelief.
"Isn't it obvious?" Erza's gaze was steady, almost pitying. "This is the power of your own world. You should know it better than I do."
"You… you mean… Haki?"
"That's right." She nodded.
For the first time since obtaining his steel body, Daz Bones' composure cracked.
"…I see. Then I cannot treat you as a mere swordswoman any longer." His voice hardened, and his arms twisted again into whirring blades.
"Spiral Slash!"
The rotating steel storm surged forward, its sheer sharpness forcing Erza back momentarily. Crimson strands of her hair fluttered in the air as the blades grazed her.
But she did not falter.
"Haaah!"
Her voice rang with resolve as her concentration deepened. Haki flickered across her blade—unstable, but enough to cut. Each clash pushed her mastery further.
Sugisawa Yuuto watched from the deck, his calm eyes glinting.
"It's over," he murmured, already certain of the outcome.
Then, turning to Marianne at his side, he added casually, "Now… shall we continue our conversation? Tell me, do you wish to join Fairy Tail?"