Even Kaido back in the day couldn't shatter his barrier, but… he was no longer the man he once was.
At 83 years old, he had truly aged!
And no one understood his own body better than he did.
Forget intense battles—even in these peaceful times, he didn't have long to live.
At most, half a year… and he would die of old age.
His bodily functions had long since deteriorated.
Were it not for his inherently robust physique, he would have long since collapsed.
Now, he had to face a powerhouse comparable to Kaido. How could he possibly hold him off?
His Barrier-Barrier Fruit was formidable, yet activating its power still relied on his physical body.
Though Devil Fruit Ability Users didn't expend stamina like martial artists or swordsmen, the human body remained the foundation of one's strength.
He glanced at Kurozumi Orochi, a trace of helplessness in his heart, and softly said.
"Lord Shogun, you must leave quickly! With my current condition, I cannot hold him off for long."
"What did you say?" Kurozumi Orochi couldn't help but exclaim, his eyes filled with disbelief.
After all, Kurozumi Semimaru had always been his steadfast reliance.
Yet now, Kurozumi Semimaru was telling him he could no longer endure.
This struck him like a bolt from the blue.
The relief Kurozumi Orochi had felt moments earlier vanished, replaced by a sharp intake of breath, his heart leaping into his throat.
"Gulp…" Kurozumi Orochi swallowed hard, staring nervously at Kurozumi Semimaru, forcing a strained smile.
"You're not joking with me, are you?"
Kurozumi Semimaru's expression shifted again, his pupils contracting sharply as he urgently urged.
"Hurry and go! He's spotted us."
"What?" Kurozumi Orochi gasped, then turned to look in Lancelot's direction.
With just one glance, he froze in place.
Because, from a distance, the man was indeed turning his head to look their way.
No one would believe he wasn't watching them.
"How is this possible?"
Fearing discovery, they had changed locations, no longer in the main hall of the shogun's palace but hiding in an inconspicuous corner.
Yet, unexpectedly, they had still been found. And so quickly at that.
Kurozumi Semimaru's pupils contracted once more. "It's Observation Haki... This guy is far stronger than we imagined. Go…"
As he spoke, he shoved Kurozumi Orochi.
The powerful push sent Kurozumi Orochi stumbling backward. Only then did Kurozumi Orochi snap out of it...
He gave Kurozumi Semimaru a deep look, gritted his teeth, and sprinted away at full speed.
As he fled, he shouted, "Semimaru, no matter what happens, I won't let him get away with this... I'll spare no expense to take him down."
Kurozumi Semimaru could only offer a bitter smile in response.
In his view, that would be exceedingly difficult... Not everyone was a fool like Oden.
"BOOM…"
Lancelot pushed off with his legs, propelling himself skyward, then rapidly stomped through the air.
The immense force generated sonic booms.
Lancelot shot forward explosively, his speed so immense it was as if he had teleported.
In the blink of an eye, he appeared before Kurozumi Semimaru.
It had to be said, Kurozumi Semimaru truly lived up to his reputation as a seasoned veteran—he had already created a barrier and enclosed himself within it.
A hint of contempt flashed across his face as he provocatively taunted, "No matter how strong you are, what does it matter? With me here, you won't get past."
"Kekekekeke…" Lancelot let out a sinister chuckle, then glanced dismissively at the rapidly fleeing Orochi.
A look of scorn flickered in his eyes...
'That guy's strength was utterly pathetic.'
He wasn't even worth comparing to Oden, who could fight Kaido to a standstill.
Even one of the Nine Red Scabbards under Oden's command could easily cut him down.
Twenty-eight years ago, when Kozuki Sukiyaki, the shogun of Wano Country, was critically ill, Kurozumi Orochi conspired with Kurozumi Higurashi to murder him.
Using the power of the Mane Mane no Mi, Kurozumi Higurashi transformed into Sukiyaki's and appointed Orochi as the acting shogun.
Some time later, she again impersonated Sukiyaki to officially appoint Orochi as the full shogun.
Twenty-five years ago, Kurozumi Orochi formed an alliance with Kaido, intending to destroy Wano Country and suppress those who resisted.
Later, when Kozuki Oden returned to the country and stormed the Flower Capital, Orochi was terrified out of his wits.
With the help of Kurozumi Semimaru, he narrowly escaped death.
Kaido then arrived to confront Oden, and Orochi revealed the hundreds of hostages he had captured.
He proposed that if Oden performed a naked apology dance for the Kurozumi family at a designated time each week, he would spare 100 lives each time.
Oden agreed to the demand.
In other words, this guy is nothing but a despicable scoundrel.
Not that Lancelot is some saint who would never use underhanded tactics against others—even Akainu and Sengoku employ schemes.
In the original story, during the Summit War, they used deceitful strategies against Whitebeard.
However, the prerequisite is that you must have strength.
Otherwise, all that remains is pure vileness.
And in the face of absolute power, everything else is insignificant.
For instance, if Oden had possessed Akainu's ruthless approach, Kurozumi Orochi would have been dead countless times over.
Even Kaido would have had to tread carefully.
Thus, in Lancelot's eyes, Kurozumi Orochi is merely a walking Devil Fruit.
Instead, he holds Kurozumi Semimaru in higher regard.
When Lancelot's gaze returned to Kurozumi Semimaru, he looked at the barrier enveloping Semimaru's entire body, and a rare expression of gravity appeared on his face.
"Back then, Kaido couldn't break your barrier, and even Oden, who could pierce Kaido's defenses, failed to shatter it. But... that doesn't mean I can't."
As soon as he finished speaking, Lancelot's body began to change.
His hair started growing wildly, and his muscles bulged dramatically.
His entire being transformed like a Super Saiyan.
This was the first time he had entered this state since obtaining the Seven Star Sword.
His aura surged instantly, making him resemble an unsheathed divine blade—not only razor-sharp but also exuding the imposing presence of a Sword God dominating the world.
This state is a powerful form that allows even a swordsman who hasn't reached the Great Swordsman level to unleash flying slashes.
Now that Lancelot is already a Great Swordsman, how strong he is in this state... Only Lancelot himself likely knows.
"What kind of ability is this?" Seeing the changes in Lancelot's body, Kurozumi Semimaru's already grave expression grew even more solemn.
But immediately, his pupils contracted to pinpricks, trembling as if shaken by an earthquake.
Because Lancelot's body underwent another transformation.
Horns sprouted from his head, and golden dragon scales covered his body.
Then, his hands turned into dragon claws.
Finally, he transformed into a Dragon Human... the dual state of sword form and Dragon hybrid.
This was Lancelot at his strongest form.
He hadn't even used this state during his previous confrontation with Kaido.
"What... what is this?" Kurozumi Semimaru stood frozen in place, staring at this Dragon Human form that closely resembled Kaido's.
His heart leaped into his throat.
Coupled with Lancelot's earlier physical changes, he couldn't help but mutter to himself.
"What is this now? Could it be... a dual Devil Fruit ability?"
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