The blow was terrifying—an embodiment of ultimate strength.
The dragon man tightened his grip on the weapon formed from his tail, his gaze fixed on Zenkichi's conjured blade. A deep sense of dread swelled in his chest. This sword was not ordinary. Its sharp, unyielding aura carried a killing intent that threatened his very existence. Instinct screamed at him not to confront it, yet he had no choice.
Taking a step back, he gathered his strength. Energy surged throughout his body, condensing into his palm and then into the jagged blade in his hand.
With a roar, he swung.
Steel and energy clashed in mid-air. The collision was deafening, as though the sky itself had cracked open.
Ripples of force spread outward in violent waves.
"Move!"
The air rippled like water, shockwaves spilling into the world around them. The seaside beach shuddered, sand blasted apart and stripped away to reveal the surging tides below. The wind howled from the impact, lifting debris and tearing through the coastline.
The two warriors stood their ground amidst the storm. Zenkichi's coat snapped in the gust, but his expression remained calm, while the dragon man's teeth clenched as he resisted the devastating force pressing against him.
"This guy… he's stronger than I thought!" The dragon man's voice trembled with frustration.
He shifted his stance, and for a brief moment, the crack along his forearm became visible—thin but jagged, bleeding freely. His body was not unscathed.
Zenkichi's eyes narrowed. "So, you managed to endure. Impressive."
His tone was calm, almost cold, but there was no mistaking the confidence behind it. By his calculations, the dragon man should have fallen under his last strike. He had unleashed a technique with power enough to fell even the most resilient foe, yet his opponent had blocked it—though not without cost.
The dragon man gritted his teeth. Only he knew the truth. Though his wound was hidden at first, the pain gnawed at him with each passing moment. The sarcasm laced in Zenkichi's words only made his blood boil hotter.
"You talk too much… Watch closely, human!"
He stepped forward, fury burning in his eyes. Power once again surged through his veins, channeling into his weapon.
"The Sky-Burning Flames!"
The dragon man's blade erupted with fire. Crimson flames surged across the weapon, the heat distorting the air as though the world itself was set ablaze. The inferno carried with it a destructive will, a declaration to consume all that stood before it.
Zenkichi's gaze sharpened. His senses told him everything—this attack was far greater than the one before. The heat was suffocating, the energy unrestrained. For the first time, the dragon man was showing the full depth of his strength.
Even so, Zenkichi did not falter.
The sword of energy, which had vanished after his previous strike, reformed in his hand as if it had never left. His entire body radiated a boundless force. Power surged through his limbs, steady and controlled, ready to answer the challenge before him.
He raised his blade, his voice steady and resolute.
"Dragon Slayer Sword—again."
The technique erupted forth once more. This time, it carried even greater weight. The energy surged and expanded, the blade lengthening, its edges gleaming with overwhelming brilliance. The aura it emitted was sharper, heavier, and infinitely more dangerous than before.
The dragon man's heart tightened. His instincts screamed in warning, but anger drowned them out.
"Die, Arakawa Zenkichi!"
Both strikes collided in a blinding storm. Fire met pure energy, and for a moment, the world seemed to collapse under their clash. The two forces condensed at a single point, light and heat surging in every direction.
The very fabric of space trembled, unable to withstand their power. The sea roared as towering waves rose in response to the tremors. The coastline split, the earth cracking and breaking apart.
The force of their clash was so immense that even distant lands would feel its echo.
Neither combatant yielded.
And as their powers raged, the battlefield itself bore witness to the truth—this was no ordinary fight. This was the kind of battle that carved legends into history.