"Rare to find someone who knows my race."
The tall man said indifferently, "The Blue Sea People, when they see me, will only say I'm an angel and worship me..."
He glanced at Lily and said, "As expected, the Pirates have more well-informed news. You're Bienta Lily, aren't you? The pirate with a bounty of eighty-six million. I'm Cham, the Guard Captain of the Anu Kingdom, sent by the King to handle you all."
As soon as he finished speaking, those Stone Statue Knights arrived behind Lily, blocking her retreat.
Lily glanced back, her lips trembling slightly, and saw Cham shaking his head, "Even at this moment, you want to gather information, but you're about to die soon. I'll tell you anyway, this is our King's ability, you can't kill them, as they're essentially dead things."
Lily's pupils narrowed as she gripped the White Thunder tightly.
She did want to know what those Stone Statue Knights were, to gather intelligence.
Premonition?
Heart Scale?
Is this perhaps...
"Observation? Do Blue Sea People call 'Heart Scale' this way? But it seems you don't have it, so you're very surprised."
Cham seemed to predict, not letting Lily speak at all, and said, "Since you understand, you should know that all your movements can be foreseen by my eyes."
"Is that so?"
Lily's eyes turned cold as she thrust White Thunder forward, her steps moved, and she turned into a phantom, with blade light like thunder, charging straight to Cham.
"To the left."
Cham curled his lips and swiftly blocked to the left with his weapon.
Clang!
A spark flew off, and the weapon, resembling an iron bludgeon with eight sharp blades on an iron stick, was raised against the Rapier Blade, blocking the attack.
Whoosh!
Missing the strike, Lily's figure flashed again, her sword light circled around Cham, continuing to attack.
"To the right."
Clang!
Cham just blocked with the iron bludgeon to the right, once again blocking Lily's sword.
"Above."
Clang!
"Right in front."
Clang!
No matter from which direction Lily attacked, he seemed to have foreseen it, blocking with the iron bludgeon one by one, no matter how fast, as long as blocked in advance, the attack couldn't reach him.
The sword aiming for the throat was blocked, Lily retreated quickly to the rear, withdrawing the White Thunder Blade to the sheath, striking an Iaido stance.
"Breaking the Sky..."
Screech!
"Slash!"
A black thunder appeared abruptly, darting rapidly towards Cham, about to slash through his body.
Right before that moment, as Lily's figure just disappeared, Cham fiercely swung the iron bludgeon towards the front, coinciding with the black thunder blade.
CLANG!!
The crisp sound echoed in the vast corridor, the iron bludgeon securely raised against the Rapier Blade, making Lily's eyes show a shocked expression.
At this moment, the White Thunder Blade was covered with a layer of dark black.
Armament Haki couldn't even cut through this weapon?
"Of course it can't!"
Cham grinned wickedly, twisting to the side with his iron bludgeon, the gaps between the eight sharp blades clamping the blade, causing Lily's movement to pause temporarily. At this moment, Cham pushed forcefully with his arm and slammed with the iron bludgeon.
Lily, startled, instinctively twisted the sword handle, detach from the control of the iron bludgeon, her figure flashing backwards.
"No use!"
Cham shouted while swinging the iron bludgeon, "I know where your landing point is! Whip Dance!"
The iron bludgeon, while wielding, seemed to melt, suddenly deforming and extending, resembling a whip, brushed to the spot where Lily moved, jumping like a rope, lashed onto Lily.
Hiss!
A few drops of blood splattered onto the ground.
Lily's figure flashed to the other side, turned her head to look at the wound on her shoulder, and her face turned calm.
Her shoulder clothing had been torn, with several cuts on the white jade-like skin, the same happened to the outer thigh, the skirt armor broken, stockings lifted, revealing wounds similar to the shoulder, blood flowing out.
The whip abruptly contracted, reverting into an iron bludgeon, and Cham grinned, "What is that 'Armament'? No wonder the strength increased a lot. You can even cut through steel, quite strong indeed. But no matter how strong, it's not stronger than this weapon, granted by the King, made of high-density iron, regular swords can't cut through it."
"You're not my match nor can you escape, just obediently wait here to die!"
Behind her, the position had been surrounded by Stone Statue Knights, making it impossible for this woman to escape.
"Who do you think I am?"
Lily said coldly, "As a swordsman, I won't run away; instead, I'm grateful that you're the 'strong enemy' Sage mentioned. I will cut through that weapon, and your head!"
Only a strong enemy is worthy of a death match!
A death match is the path to growing one's strength!
"Oh? Not afraid to die..."
Cham laughed, "That's not impressive, whether fearing death or not, it's the same result! Whip Dance Spin!"
Whoosh!
The iron bludgeon transformed into an iron whip, vibrating at high speed with Cham's arm, heading straight for Lily.
Lily's figure flashed away, just as she reached a spot, the whip seemed to wait there, spinning the eight sharp blades, striking Lily's left arm.
Hiss!
Even as Lily dodged quickly, the moment the high-speed rotating blade akin to a chainsaw hit her, it left a cut on her arm, blood flowing.
No matter how she flashed, the whip seemed to foresee, finding Lily's landing spot and striking.
Hiss!
Sizzle!
Even though Lily tried to use her sword to block, it was as if her moves were anticipated. No matter how fast her sword was, it couldn't cut this flexible, snake-like iron whip. Just in a few seconds, she had more cuts on her body.
Though the injuries weren't deep, her armored skirt was shredded and her skin was grazed.
"You can't escape! I can hear your heart's voice. I know where you'll move next, where your sword will strike. As long as I dodge ahead of time, you'll never hit me!" Cham shouted loudly, his expression growing increasingly fierce.
In terms of speed, he indeed wasn't faster than this woman, but that didn't hinder his attacks. The weapon bestowed by the King was not only of high strength but could also extend.
Surrounded by Stone Statue Knights in this confined space, whatever move this woman made would be attacked by him.
In this chaotic Dance of the Whip, Lily continuously used 'Soru' to move, trying to evade Cham's attacks, even attempting to counterattack. But whenever she made a move, the whip blocked her path, forcing her to give up attacking and instead retreat, thus falling into a vicious cycle.
It wasn't that she lacked the determination to live through the seemingly hopeless situation, but she knew that the sharpness and force of these tools would harm her, and even focusing Armament on her body to forcefully break through was useless if entangled by this whip...
The Armament Haki would be consumed completely.
This guy is indeed a strong enemy.
Yet, in the midst of this, Lily's heart grew increasingly tranquil. She wasn't anxious but was instead thinking.
Sage was getting stronger, yet her training progress was still limited.
She didn't need to learn all Six Styles; mastering Soru and Moon Step was enough. As a swordsman, even techniques like Kami-e weren't necessary. Although those moves could dodge attacks, like Tekkai, they had drawbacks when used.
Using Tekkai, you can't move.
Using Kami-e, it's a technique for unloading force, so doesn't exert strength, leaving no chance to counterattack immediately.
For a swordsman, the sensitivity to counterattack immediately was crucial, thus unsuitable for her.
As for the other Six Styles, it wasn't worth spending time on compared to swordsmanship.
After deciding not to learn the Six Styles, her only goals were to enhance speed as much as possible and to cut open the Poneglyph.
Yet progress-wise, her use of Armament Haki was increasingly proficient, but not sufficient to cut through this steel, and her 'Iron Cutting' realm hadn't advanced.
Only by comprehending Observation along with the 'Iron Cutting' realm could she achieve dual 'Iron Cutting' and defeat this guy.
The more she thought, the more tranquil her heart became, and familiar sounds began to faintly resonate in her ears.
Not the figure with the slightly blurry memory, just Sage.
"Observation? First ensure absolute calmness during battle, then focus, fully concentrate all your energy, just as sometimes when focused, you'll notice many details. Only absolute focus can transform into your willpower, then become Observation. Lily, you excel in this; you're calmer than I imagined, and should already be in 'touching' state. Come, pay more attention to this Poneglyph, use your full concentration to cut it!"
His words still lingered in her ears, prompting Lily to instinctively close her eyes, not letting the whip swinging chaotically, aiming at her, bother her, letting it swipe past.
"Dreaming woman!"
Her thoughts were entirely perceived by Cham.
Cham laughed heartily, "Breakthrough during battle? Deadly fight with a strong enemy? That kind of thing will just make you die faster. Who do you think you are? Just a Pirate! Shut up!!"
He swung his arm, the iron whip blade meant to strike her body now sweeping towards Lily's head. As long as it catches her, swipes her throat, it's sure to be fatal!
Silly woman who believes every word, that's as far as she goes! Heart Scale isn't that easy to learn!
A chilling wind crooned around her neck, yet Lily's heart remained unperturbed, without any fear of dying from an impending strike. Her inner calm and focus continued to rise.
Who was she?
She was Bienta Lily, a swordsman dreaming of a world free from oppression, a navigator wishing to help Sage fulfill his dreams, a navigator of the Disaster Pirates!
Someone destined to follow closely behind Sage.
Also, someone unafraid of death.
If unable to meet these requirements, she'd never be able to set foot in the New World with Sage or accomplish her dreams.
Death?
What does it matter?!
Clang!
In the frenzied dance, a black streak pierced the whip, swaying it sideways, revealing a gap.
"Only with absolute will can there be absolute resolve."
Lily sheathed the white thunder enveloped in Haki, slightly bending her knees, staring steadfastly at Cham, "So, who do you think I am?"
Whoosh!
The iron whip still swung outward, yet Lily had already made her move. Her sword's light, resembling black thunder, quickly dashed toward Cham.
Yet, Cham anticipated this, swiftly condensed the whip into a baton, raised it vertically, and twirled it around.
He was about to pin her sword again, then transform it into a whip and strangle her alive!
Charging Lily stared intently at the iron baton, as if nothing else existed in the world, the surroundings turned blank, leaving only the baton.
Upon the baton, from nothingness, gradually emerged a pinpoint of light in the middle section.
It not only made Lily feel breath, but there was also a mysterious sense of focus, making the pinpoint of light gradually spread, covering the entire baton.
Each pinpoint represents every point that can be severed.
Up next...
Just cut through it!
"I can see it."
Beneath the black thunder, Cham's ear caught a crisp voice. A pair of eyes adorned with red dots materialized in Cham's sight.
Slash!!
The black thunder streaked past the baton and Cham's body.
Lily appeared behind Cham, crouching slightly, slowly sheathing the white thunder that was losing its Haki, standing up.
Cham blinked, cold sweat trickling down his face. He touched his neck, gritted his teeth in a sinister smile, and turned to raise the baton and strike.
Ka.
The sound of the sword blade entering the sheath echoed. Lily nonchalantly spoke, "Extreme Thunder."
Smack!
The baton behind burst apart, crashing to the ground, along with Cham's head, still frozen in its smile.
Done cutting!
Lily's body slightly swayed, gently resting her palm on her forehead, her dewy lips curling into a lovely arc, she mumbled, "Didn't let you down, Sage..."