The battle situation became increasingly intense and deadlocked.
Although Katakuri was extremely powerful, and his Observation Haki had become exceptionally strong after receiving Orin's guidance,
Luffy was like an unkillable cockroach. Even after being bombarded relentlessly by mochi rain, he could still wipe the blood from his nose and stand back up.
Not only could he stand up, but his Observation Haki was also gradually growing stronger through the battle with Katakuri.
His developed Snake-Man form could occasionally evade Katakuri's attacks, and at the same time rely on its unpredictable trajectory to land punches on Katakuri.
His Gear Fourth Ryuo punches, carrying internal destruction properties, caused Katakuri to spit blood with every strike.
Orin watched with his brows tightly furrowed.
Just because Luffy could keep getting back up didn't mean Katakuri could do the same. In fact, comparatively speaking, Katakuri was actually somewhat fragile.
The reason he could still keep standing was purely due to his physical foundation, along with his unwavering will for his younger sister.
The two exchanged blows back and forth, and the battle remained fiercely stalemated.
The distant spectators watching the fight didn't dare claim which side would last until the end.
Only Orin, whose strength vastly surpassed both and whose vision extended far beyond theirs, saw an extremely distant future in the crimson glow of his eyes.
Under the premise that both sides had reasons they absolutely could not lose, neither stopped the fight due to exhaustion like in the original story.
The final outcome was…
Katakuri was beaten into the worst possible state, half-dead.
Luffy lost a leg.
"What's the point of crippling him…"
Orin shook his head helplessly. It was also thanks to the combined influence of Keek and Rayleigh, who had built up Luffy's foundational stats and durability far too well.
Even though he had strengthened Katakuri's Observation Haki through teaching, he was still ultimately worn down to death by Luffy.
"In that case…"
The battle on the field was still ongoing. Luffy, transformed into Gear Fourth Ryuo form, had already begun to gradually grasp Katakuri's movements.
On one side was the Elastic Giant with high attack and defense.
On the other was the mochi man with high evasion and agility.
After enduring countless brutal beatings, the scales of victory began to tilt toward Luffy.
"I see it…"
With his eyes closed, for a brief moment, Luffy truly saw clearly. He saw the direction of Katakuri's attack.
Katakuri clearly hadn't reacted in time to the fact that Luffy's response differed from what future prediction had shown, and he took a Ryuo Fire Fist Gun head-on.
In Orin's Observation Haki perception, the two had already fought beautifully at the Yonko Commander level.
Every second was filled with details, accompanied by clashes of Observation Haki and the application of Devil Fruit abilities.
"That's enough…"
Just as the battle was about to enter its final decisive moment, Katakuri suddenly heard a voice in his ear. His attention was distracted for an instant.
Luffy's fists struck Katakuri like a torrential storm, blasting him straight backward.
He slammed into the ground, kicking up massive clouds of dust.
"Hah… hah… what happened…"
Panting heavily, Luffy looked toward the distant dust cloud with a stunned expression.
He was certain that Katakuri could have dodged most of those punches just now.
But it was as if something had interfered with him, causing him to be blasted away in that instant.
It felt like he had landed a sneak attack, and it left him extremely dissatisfied.
"Hey!!! What happened?!!!"
But no voice responded.
Instead, an extremely dangerous feeling surged through his entire body, as if he could die at any moment.
"This is…!!!"
Luffy's expression froze for a moment.
This was the instinct of someone with advanced Observation Haki—the ultimate warning of imminent danger.
And his perception was correct.
At this moment, a pair of calm eyes was already locked tightly onto him.
"What a tenacious will~"
"So then…"
A slightly sinister smile appeared from within a pitch-black spatial crack.
Threads of black substance flowed out from the void, gathering toward the dust cloud.
Within the darkness, invisible giant hands slowly spread open, manipulating mysterious black threads and pushing the grand drama toward another climax.
"What is this…"
Katakuri, lying in the dust, struggled to open his eyes.
He wanted to stand up and continue fighting Luffy, but found he couldn't move at all.
Instead, he saw a scene—
Luffy with a severed leg.
Himself lying on the ground, life and death uncertain.
"I… lost?!!!"
Katakuri began to doubt everything, but this was indeed a possible outcome.
At the same time, with his powerful Observation Haki, he sensed a force invading his body.
"This is… the power of space???"
Because he had sensed Orin's power before, Katakuri could identify the source of this force.
He understood something.
"How unsightly… a battle between men ending in such a dishonorable way."
With Katakuri's pride, he would rather lose or die than borrow someone else's power to win.
But…
Katakuri panted heavily, staring blankly at the black energy gathering around him. His eyes carried apology, helplessness, and relief.
"But… if it's for my sister…"
"I'm sorry, Straw Hat."
[King Turn — Domination]
Like invisible hands pulling puppet strings, a tall man slowly walked out of the dust cloud.
But unlike before, Katakuri now looked like a demon walking out of hell. His eyes were completely black, and his entire body radiated an incomparably powerful aura.
"The effect looks quite good…"
In the void, behind the spatial crack, Orin stroked his chin while observing his newest technique.
This was a move created by referencing Imu's [Black Domination].
Unlike the simple spatial control Orin used when he was younger, which was more like Doflamingo's string control—stiffly manipulating the body—
His now highly developed awakened spatial ability could, like Black Domination, completely dominate everything about the original host.
Including Haki, physical techniques, and even Devil Fruit abilities.
And on top of that, it would elevate them to an even higher level.
For example, right now…
"How is this possible?!!!"
Facing the chaotic barrage of Snake-Man punches, Katakuri's body shifted.
As he slowly walked forward, he evaded every single punch.
Under Orin's control, his Observation Haki rose to yet another level.
At the same time—
Clang—
The advanced Armament Haki application of Ryuo appeared on [Peerless · Mighty Mochi].
With a single punch, he sent Luffy's consciousness scattering again.
A cold, emotionless voice slowly emerged from the mouth of [Black · Katakuri].
"You're finished, Straw Hat."
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