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"Where are we? And who is that man?" Violet's beautiful eyes widened as she looked at Ikki with suspicion.
"This is an illusion to demonstrate the capabilities of this sword," Shyarly, a mermaid who had gone through a similar experience not long ago, explained from behind her. "Please believe Captain Ikki. You are about to witness something truly amazing."
"Watch that warrior carefully. He will show you the strength of the sword that Captain Ikki intends to give you. The power will soon belong to you."
Violet, hearing this, turned her full attention to the man, Siegfried. A burst of electricity flashed across his body, and his sword, which had looked like a simple katana, transformed into a cold, gleaming two-handed blade.
"That is the Noble Phantasm, Balmung," Ikki began, as the group watched from a distance. "It is the holy sword that Siegfried used to slay the evil dragon, completing his legend."
"For other reasons, this sword can also be called a demonic sword, depending on its wielder. But whether it's a holy or demonic sword, it holds immense power. Because of its history, it becomes even more powerful when facing enemies with dragon attributes." Ikki chuckled, a thought crossing his mind. "In this world, there are many people who have eaten Devil Fruits with dragon attributes, such as X Drake, Queen the Plague, and even Kaido the Beast. I wonder how effective Balmung would be against Kaido."
"A Dragon Sword... is there really such a thing?" Kyros asked, his voice filled with disbelief.
"Of course there is," Ikki replied. As his voice faded, the scenery changed once again. The desert transformed into a forest, and a massive two-winged dragon with an ominous aura appeared before Siegfried.
"A dragon... a real dragon!?" Rebecca cried out, stumbling backward. Nami had to grab her to prevent her from falling to the ground. Even in this illusion, the dragon's presence was terrifying.
The dragon's appearance marked the start of the battle. Siegfried and the dragon clashed with incredible force, and in a flash, the ground around them collapsed. Towering trees were uprooted and scattered by the shockwaves. Rebecca, Kyros, and Violet had never witnessed such power before; even Doflamingo's strength paled in comparison to this.
"As a legendary hero, Siegfried excels in both strength and speed," Ikki explained. "And Balmung is equally powerful. When the two are combined, Siegfried can even kill a dragon."
As Ikki spoke, the battle reached its climax. The dragon flew high into the sky, gathering a powerful breath attack in its mouth. The air around them grew scalding hot. Facing the dragon's breath, Siegfried gripped his sword tightly. A massive surge of magical power erupted from him and his sword, forming a blade of light dozens of meters long.
"The evil dragon will eventually fall. The world is now at sunset. I will shoot you down—Balmung: Phantasm of the Lost!" Siegfried shouted, swinging his sword with all his might. The blade of light shot toward the dragon. Sensing the immense danger, the dragon abandoned its breath attack and instead fired it at Siegfried.
Boom!
The two magical powers collided, creating a chaotic explosion of energy that tore through the sky, instantly clearing all the clouds. The dragon was thrown back by the blast. A second later, Siegfried burst through the magical flow, appearing almost instantly beside the dragon. His armor had been shattered, and his body was covered in deep wounds, but his eyes were still bright with determination as he held his sword firm.
Screech!
With a heart-wrenching sound, Balmung pierced the dragon's vital point. A torrent of blood sprayed out, bathing Siegfried's body. Unbeknownst to him, a single leaf had landed on his back, leaving a small patch of skin untouched by the dragon's blood.
"After bathing in the dragon's blood, Siegfried's body became as hard as steel," Ikki continued. "This is known as the 'Evil Dragon's Blood Armor.' It makes him immune to ordinary attacks. However, the small patch of skin under that leaf did not receive the defensive bonus, which eventually led to his downfall."
As Ikki spoke, the scene changed again. Siegfried was now at an ancient and magnificent castle. He was walking along a path when a person approached, pleading for his help. Siegfried, a hero who would never refuse a request, worked tirelessly to help everyone he could, eventually sacrificing himself for others.
"This is the power of Balmung. With it, he could easily fight an army. And its original owner, Siegfried, was a true hero, just as you saw," Ikki said.
"Violet, I intend to give this sword to you. If you can understand Siegfried's will and are recognized by the sword, you may not only gain the power of Balmung, but also the 'Evil Dragon's Blood Armor.' But first, you must immerse yourself in this illusion and experience Siegfried's life more deeply."
Ikki raised his hand, and the illusion dissipated. Balmung returned to his hand, resuming its original form as the famous sword Thunderstorm. He turned to face Violet, who was now staring at him in complete shock.