Chapter 300: Conclusion
A shower of stars fell, shaking heaven and earth.
Such a magnificent sight was a once-in-a-century event, rarely witnessed in the world.
The entire nation of Vastaya focused its attention in this direction, their faces filled with deep fear. Some elders, believing someone had angered the heavens and incurred divine punishment, prayed incessantly, begging for divine forgiveness.
In fact, Issho's first summoning of the meteorite had already attracted attention, even from surrounding islands.
People initially thought it was an accidental meteorite fall.
While rare, such events weren't uncommon, often accompanied by the forging of renowned swords and blades, as meteorites were often made of rare metals suitable for crafting exquisite weapons.
However, the simultaneous fall of dozens of meteorites was truly terrifying.
If they were to impact, while they might not sink a great nation like Vastaya, it would still be a horrific natural disaster, triggering earthquakes and tsunamis that would threaten lives on surrounding islands and endanger fishermen!
"They've actually fought to this extent?"
In the distance, CP0 Captain Gurado showed a hint of surprise.
A technique of this caliber, like meteor shower bombardment, ranks among the strongest even at peak level. Using such a move usually signifies the final moments of battle!
Those two were fighting to the death!
"That's right, both are swordsmen—high offense but low defense—so the intense battle is understandable."
Gurado muttered, slamming his feet down, activating his Devil Fruit ability.
Whoosh!
The air around him blurred, a strange power appearing, instantly increasing his speed to a terrifying level, like lightning.
On the battlefield.
As Rhodes's will spread, the surrounding lightning surged rapidly, then condensed into lightning weapons tens of meters long, each as thick as a barrel, their light blinding and terrifyingly intense, like weapons of the gods, infinitely fearsome.
"Haha, let's see whose ultimate technique is more powerful!"
Rhodes laughed heartily, swinging his arm violently like a divine general issuing commands. The giant thunder weapons instantly pierced through the void, brazenly meeting the meteor shower before everyone's astonished eyes.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
When the thunder spears collided with the meteor shower, it was like a cataclysmic collision of heaven and earth, massive explosions in the void.
The greatest sound is silence!
In everyone's eyes, only magnificent shockwaves and dragon-like lightning surged and traversed the heavens, severing the very fabric of existence!
"Too terrifying!"
"It's like a cosmic collision!"
"Is this really power that humans can possess?"
The spectators were all speechless, muttering in disbelief.
Even the Celestial Dragon, who considered himself a god, was stunned, feeling his worldview shatter.
Under everyone's shocked gaze, the meteorites were pierced, the thunder weapons shattered, and the two continued colliding for a full half minute before gradually subsiding.
Looking up, the entire sky was filled with dust and debris, along with streaks of electricity.
Under gravity's influence, the debris and dust fell, obscuring the sun, and the air was thick with heat—the result of the meteorites and electric arcs.
"Who won?"
Everyone craned their necks, eager to know the clash's outcome.
In that darkened battlefield, Rhodes and Issho faced each other, hundreds of meters apart.
Rhodes had blood at the corner of his mouth, a wound from the meteorites' impact, but it wasn't serious—the Thunder Giant had blocked most of the force.
Issho's face was pale, not from physical exhaustion, but from mental fatigue—weariness from within.
The demands on Kenbunshoku Haki to locate and manipulate meteorites in space are immense, especially considering Issho summoned dozens at once. His mental reserves were severely depleted, impacting his combat effectiveness.
The battlefield was a scene of devastation, littered with debris and fragments. The ground looked as if struck by meteorites, riddled with deep craters and cracks.
In the recent clash, Issho's long-prepared ultimate technique ultimately gained the upper hand, with some impact penetrating the ground, injuring not only Rhodes but also damaging the surface.
Of course, Issho knew the actual situation.
"A victory, yet a defeat,"
Issho sighed inwardly. His ultimate technique, which consumed tremendous energy, even to the point of affecting his combat power, should have severely injured his opponent, even if it couldn't kill him. Instead, he only managed minor injuries, undoubtedly a huge loss.
If battle continued normally, given this momentum, he would be defeated without doubt.
Combat power is always a zero-sum game.
This is especially true in battles at peak level.
Whoever suffers an injury significant enough to affect their combat power first will fall into a disadvantageous position.
And with peak-level experts' experience, a comeback is almost impossible.
"As expected of the monster who defeated Fleet Admiral Sakazuki..."
Issho knew he'd been overconfident, but among fellow peak-level fighters, who felt weak?
A brief silence followed.
A communication device on Issho's chest suddenly vibrated. His expression shifted slightly, and he launched a fierce attack first.
Jūryokugatana - Mōko!
Twisted gravity, condensed by swordsmanship, swept through the air.
Wherever it passed, the void twisted, forming a clear path.
"Hmm?"
Rhodes frowned slightly.
Issho couldn't possibly be unaware of the power differential between them, yet he still attacked first. There was only one reason.
"Is another peak-level combatant here?"
Rhodes realized, cleaving the gravity blade in two with his sword. He glanced around, but found nothing, no trace of any special aura.
He felt a chill. This situation could only mean the hidden expert's Kenbunshoku Haki was incredibly strong, evading Rhodes's senses.
Otherwise, at close range, it would be difficult for experts of the same level to hide their presence.
A peak-level expert, hidden in shadows and undetectable, was undoubtedly extremely terrifying.
Rhodes weighed the situation in his mind.
This time, obtaining Heavenly Tribute and testing Issho's strength had already yielded pleasant surprises. There was no need to stay and take risks.
He was decisive—once the decision was made, he sprang into the air and sprinted away into the distance.
"He's escaping?"
Issho's expression changed, and he immediately gave chase, but sharp pain shot through his chest. Already no match for Rhodes's speed, the gap widened even further, and in the blink of an eye, Rhodes was a thousand meters away.
Gurado, hidden in shadows,
was speechless.
He hadn't expected this young, renowned Thunder God Swordsman to be so pragmatic, so unpretentious, leaving without hesitation, completely disregarding any established patterns.
"Never mind."
In the treetop, Gurado held his two-meter-long high-tech rifle, aimed momentarily, then shook his head, lowered his weapon, and decided not to snipe.
The chances of hitting were too low, and even if he did, he might not hit a vital point, failing to capture the Thunder God Swordsman.
There was no need to expose his abilities for such an attack.
As a top CP0 agent, Gurado knew perfectly well that unknown abilities were the most terrifying.
"I thought Marine Headquarters was overestimating him by making such elaborate preparations for a decisive battle with the Thunder God Swordsman. I didn't expect this guy to be even more terrifying than imagined,"
Gurado muttered to himself.
Could it be that another super monster comparable to Whitebeard is about to appear?
This is not good news.
Back when Whitebeard was alive and at his peak, even CP0 didn't dare enter Whitebeard's territory.
Because Whitebeard possessed the strength to kill even weaker peak-level fighters!
Of course, that refers to the weaker peak-level combatants, like certain agents.
As for the stronger ones, like Sakazuki, even if he couldn't kill them, he would leave indelible wounds.
Gurado shook his head, putting these chaotic thoughts aside. He jumped down from the tree to deal with the aftermath of the stolen Heavenly Tribute.
(End of Chapter)
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