"Is that so?"
Shano scratched his head with a bit of frustration and turned to Lucci, "Then we'll just have to find another place to fight."
"Are you negotiating with me?"
Lucci sneered coldly, "A pirate, and you actually care about the life and death of those ants? You don't have the demeanor of a strong person at all, why should I..."
The word "agree" hadn't even left his mouth.
He was suddenly grabbed by the chest by Shano, who yanked him upwards, directly through the broken window, to the rooftop of the tallest building in the manor.
Shano looked around, his gaze finally landing hundreds of meters away, on the open space of Carrera Company Dock One.
No ships were under construction, and the boatmen were on leave. The vast dock was empty except for scattered pieces of wood, making it a perfect place for a fight.
He casually tossed Lucci aside with ease.
Whoosh—!
Lucci's body shot towards the empty space in the dock like a javelin!
And Shano disappeared in a flash, firmly landing on Lucci's chest, standing with his hands behind his back, facing the wind.
Before you could say "quick as a flash," these consecutive actions were completed in a flash of light.
"..."
Lucci was momentarily stunned, furious with shame, and as he came to his senses, his body plummeted with a crash onto the open space below!
Dust flew up as Shano leisurely walked down, turning to look down at Lucci.
"You—?!"
Lucci's face contorted with rage, and the anger in his eyes was almost ready to explode!
He was being stepped on, used like a conveyance, like a surfboard?!
"You're looking to die!!"
Lucci roared in fury, his entire body tensing abruptly. His figure blurred and vanished from sight!
This time, he was even faster than before, almost too quick to capture even a shadow. In the next instant, he appeared high above Shano's head.
"Rankyaku: Armour Bird!"
Lucci hung upside down in mid-air, his legs cutting down like a giant bird spreading its wings!
Whoosh—!!!
Two intersecting blue vacuum slashes howled down, shaped like a giant bird soaring with outstretched wings, tearing through the night wind, rushing straight for Shano's crown!
This was a deadly move, perfectly combining Rankyaku with the "Kami-e Martial Body" form. Its power was so great that it could instantly cut through the largest giant battleship.
Yet Shano only yawned, not even bothering to lift his eyelids.
Don't dodge?
Compared to the previous Finger Gun which focused on attack efficiency, this move, although unable to fire in quick succession in a short time, was purely known for its destructive power!
Joy burst in Lucci's eyes, he was about to succeed!
Clang!
The blue vacuum slashes hit the skull, emitting a metallic clink, yet not even a white mark was left... No! It couldn't even cut a single strand of the opponent's hair!
How is that possible???
What on earth is this guy's body made of!!!
Lucci's throat went dry, and at last, horror rose in his eyes.
...
At the center of Water Capital, atop the giant fountain standing at its highest point.
Bruno held his breath, crouched at the edge of the fountain, completely concealed, cautiously peeking out just half of his head.
Lucci! Go for it!
Bruno clenched his fist, whispering encouragement to his comrade in a voice only he could hear.
Only if you win, their hard work in this covert operation won't be wasted, and there will be a chance to save Kaku and Kalifa later!
But...
Upon seeing the current scene in the dock, a cold sweat trickled down Bruno's temple.
Does Lucci really stand a chance?
...
On the other side, in the open space of the distant dock.
Under the fear and panic, Lucci had slipped into a frenzy, his figure flickering like a phantom, using every body technique at his disposal, madly attacking Shano with Rankyaku, Finger Gun...
Each strike was delivered with full force, creating deafening explosions in the air.
Yet, the black-haired youth stood unmoved, never shifting even an inch.
Bruno watched every moment from start to finish with his own eyes.
How could this happen, how could this happen?!
Bruno's cold sweat kept dripping, his pupils trembling fiercely.
He had never seen Lucci in such a pathetic state.
That strongest genius Lucci of CP9 in eight hundred years, that forever cold and powerful Lucci in control of everything...
Now a helpless child, struggling futilely in the night, unable to harm the opponent in the slightest.
The mist from the fountain drenched his back, icy and bone-chilling.
Bruno glanced at the Tachi in his hand, finally realizing a terrifying truth he couldn't deny.
They were wrong, all wrong.
The man known as Shano is nothing like an ordinary Sword Master whose strength would significantly diminish without his sword.
Even without the tachi that has become his nickname and made him famous worldwide, this opponent remains a terrifying existence with a physique as formidable as a monster!
Isn't the battle in front of us precisely proving that point?
No, wrong, it should be said—this isn't a battle at all, but a one-sided torment!
The black-haired youth isn't even taking it seriously, much like a cat toying with a mouse, casually playing with Lucci's life!
...
Inside the dock.
Lucci is still attacking furiously, with elbows, legs, feet, forehead, tail... all becoming weapons in his hands, yet unable to break Shano's defense.
And Shano initially watched with genuine interest.
After all, the opponent's self-created techniques are indeed numerous and dazzling, making him genuinely curious to see if he could learn and benefit from Lucci's techniques.
But unfortunately...
It seems not.
Flowery but useless moves, not worth referencing at all.
He finally grew impatient.
"Enough."
With a casual wave of his right hand.
Boom!!!
A terrifying shockwave erupted suddenly, sending Lucci flying backward like a ragdoll, plowing through a hundred meters of trench before finally stopping with all his strength.
"Didn't I tell you? I'm not interested in these kiddy play moves."
Gazing at the heavily panting Lucci, Shano frowned slightly and said, a bit displeased:
"I'll give you one last chance; show me your strongest hand, or this battle is over."
Lucci's complexion turned extremely gloomy.
Is it still the same words?
How arrogant!
But having fought until now, he had no choice but to admit the opponent indeed had the right to be arrogant, with a demonstration of astonishing physique strength that even made him fearful.
It seems...
He really has no choice but to use that technique!
Lucci's eyes turned crimson, filled with blood threads, his muscles stretched to the limit, fists suddenly cradled at his waist, gathering all his strength there, and then with the momentum to overturn mountains and seas, he slammed both fists together!
"Rokushiki Secret Technique: Rokugan!!!"
Thud!
The air compressed to the extreme, forming a visible shockwave that roared out like an angry tide, crashing onto Shano's body!
This attack is the pinnacle of his lifetime body techniques, his strongest trump card he could unleash!
The released shockwave could penetrate the toughest physiques, even smash the opponent's internal organs directly through the skin!
He just couldn't believe Shano could still stand there motionless and take this blow!
Boom——!!!
The shockwave of Rokugan hit solidly on Shano's chest, erupting into a deafening roar, piercing the skies, and sweeping in all directions!
"What's going on?"
"Such a huge explosion... What's happening?"
"It seems like it's over at Carrera Company's Dock No. 1! Let's go have a look!"
In an instant.
Half of Water Capital was alarmed by the commotion.
Many citizens in nearby waterways couldn't suppress their curiosity and started heading this way, driving their Broo from various directions.
And on the open space of the dock...
Lucci panted heavily like bellows, almost draining all his remaining energy with that single strike, his hands braced on his knees, preventing himself from collapsing.
His gaze was firmly fixed on the smoke in front of him.
The smoke took a long time to gradually dissipate, finally revealing Shano's figure.
This time.
Under his ultimate strike of Rokushiki Secret Technique, Shano truly couldn't continue standing motionless and took a half-step back.
But it was just that—a mere half-step back.
His whole body was unscathed, even his breath remained perfectly calm, without the slightest disturbance.
"..."
Lucci stared blankly at this scene.
His strongest strike... Really only caused his opponent to step back half a step?
Gave it his all, yet still couldn't harm him the slightest!!!
Lucci trembled all over, falling into complete despair.
The body techniques he was so proud of, the strength of his physique he boasted about, in front of this man, were just laughable and worthless...
"Can't even muster strength to hit someone?"
Shano also sighed, grabbing hold of Lucci's hair, and glanced down at him in disappointment, "So this is really all you're capable of..."