Whenever an overwhelmingly powerful individual appeared that the World Government could not handle, Imu's personal bodyguard would intervene to neutralize the threat. To keep the existence and abilities of the Celestial Dragons, Imu, and the Sword Saint secret, the World Government concealed everything meticulously.
Consequently, only a handful of high-ranking officials knew of Imu and the Sword Saint's true abilities. Most of these legendary figures were buried by history, disappearing into the long river of time.
Over centuries, the Sword Saint, wielding the Holy Sword, had slain countless peerless opponents. Even legends like Roger and Rocks had not earned his attention. Facing the Revolutionary Army, the Sword Saint had deliberately held back, never unleashing his average strength.
"Everyone who has glimpsed my true power has perished," the Sword Saint said coldly, a hint of disdain curling his lip.
The Revolutionary Army's expressions darkened. They knew the devastation their attacks could wreak, yet under the Sword Saint's strange ability, their strikes seemed as if they had never existed. Any attack that entered his barrier vanished completely, leaving no trace.
As the Revolutionary Army struggled to process this, the Sword Saint raised his Holy Sword. A blinding white light erupted, radiating an overwhelming presence.
"Be careful! He's about to attack again!" Dragon shouted.
Dragon summoned a whirlwind infused with Armament Haki and launched it toward the Sword Saint.
"You really don't stop, do you!" the Sword Saint said, his patience waning. He drew in energy from his surroundings, causing the Holy Sword to glow brighter than ever. Objects nearby seemed to converge toward the radiant blade.
"Go!" he shouted, releasing a strike at the Revolutionary Army below.
In an instant, a colossal slash, capable of reaching ten thousand meters, surged forward. The ground erupted upon impact, splitting apart with a deafening roar. Dust and debris filled the air, and a massive fissure stretched endlessly, a bottomless chasm carved by the Holy Sword.
"Hmph… clowns. I haven't even used thirty percent of my strength, and yet you falter," the Sword Saint said disdainfully.
Reinserting his Holy Sword, he prepared to descend. But suddenly, a flock of Crows appeared behind him.
The Sword Saint's brow lifted in surprise. Crow had been obliterated by one of his earlier strikes—why had he reappeared?
It mattered little. Such an attack was insignificant, incapable of harming him. He readied another strike, but his hand was suddenly seized by an impossibly dark Dragon Claw.
The Crows reverted into Revolutionary Army members. Sabo, with Armament Haki maximized, had transformed his palm into the shape of a Dragon Claw, gripping the Sword Saint firmly.
Ivankov struck with a kick from her black high-heeled shoe, a sharp black arc slicing through the air to collide with the Sword Saint's other arm.
Even with Crow's Devil Fruit ability and the sudden transformation of the team, the Sword Saint reacted with lightning speed, defending against the unexpected assault.
Yet, four hands were more than two fists, and Revolutionary Army Dragon prepared his attack.
"Sword Saint, we've analyzed your ability. Your Holy Sword is powerful, and your barrier repels attacks, but it cannot defend from behind. Your defense isn't 360 degrees like Night Feather's, and you rely too much on your weapon. This strike will end you! Originally meant for Imu, but now, it's your turn," Dragon roared, his fury palpable.
Two massive tornadoes spun violently in Dragon's hands, infused with Conqueror's Haki. With the Sword Saint using both arms to defend, the twisters slammed into his stomach at point-blank range, generating an intense wind pressure.
Even Sabo, Ivankov, and the others struggled to maintain their positions in the sky against the aftershock.
The Sword Saint's expression shifted. The super whirlwinds, imbued with Conqueror's Haki, inflicted tremendous damage. He spat blood, his body spinning through the air before crashing heavily to the ground. His clothing was torn by the overwhelming rotational force.
The battlefield itself transformed. Massive peaks of earth rose, pinning the Sword Saint between them. As he tried to break free, two additional forces descended from the sky.
Dragon and Sabo slammed their hands into the ground simultaneously, their attacks creating fissures, tremors, and ravines. The surface cracked violently, releasing deep, unsettling sounds from beneath the earth.
The Sword Saint, trapped at the bottom, endured a pressure far greater than anything above.
Dragon's martial art, the Dragon Fist, had been refined from Garp's Rokushiki techniques. Sabo, having trained under Dragon, could unleash nearly half of Dragon's full power. Combined, their synchronized strike magnified the force exponentially, demonstrating that the Revolutionary Army's teamwork could rival the strongest martial techniques in the world.
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