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Auguro quickly spun around, fiercely bringing his Zanpakutō down!
Clang!
The Zanpakutō struck something, but Auguro saw nothing in front of him. Something is strange!
Auguro intensely focused his Observation Haki (Kenbunshoku Haki). Instead of a broad, rough scan, he initiated a small-range, detailed search. As the intensity of his Observation Haki broke through a threshold, the scene before Auguro instantly changed.
Perov stood before him, holding a long sword, his blade locked against Auguro's Zanpakutō. The figure that had supposedly fallen to the ground was gone, and even the indentation in the wall had disappeared. There was no trace of the previous confrontation!
"An illusion? It seems your Devil Fruit ability is stronger than I imagined!" Auguro said, his eyes chilling.
Perov smiled smugly.
"Have you heard of the Dream-Dream Fruit? It can enter and influence others' consciousness through their dreams."
"You think you hit me, but in reality, it was just the image I wanted you to see. As long as enough time passes, all consciousness will be under my control, and even their memories will be replaced with content of my choosing."
"At that point, the person will completely become my devoted follower and puppet!"
Auguro frowned slightly. The Dream-Dream Fruit?
It was certainly aptly named!
He had been using his Observation Haki the entire time, yet he couldn't detect any abnormality. Its only flaw, perhaps, was that it required sufficient time to completely control a target.
Perov said proudly, "The so-called Observation Haki is merely the strengthening and extension of senses and consciousness; it still cannot escape the reach of my ability!"
Auguro's expression remained calm after listening.
"It is indeed a formidable ability, but relying on this alone to defeat me is probably not enough!"
Perov's gaze turned cold.
"Heh! This is the only time you can put on a show! I've encountered many individuals who possess both types of Haki, but not one escaped my grasp!"
As Perov finished speaking, his figure vanished from Auguro's sight again. Even Auguro's intensely focused Observation Haki could not precisely locate him.
"How about we negotiate a deal?" Perov's voice came from all directions, flawlessly concealing his true location.
"You leave now, don't interfere with the matters here, and we can all live in peace. Wouldn't that be wonderful!"
Auguro was so infuriated that he laughed. You tried to ambush me first, and now you want me to leave as if nothing happened? Where do you get off being so arrogant?
"If Marineford couldn't make me retreat, what makes you think you can?"
"Is it because you play around in dreams so often that you can't wake up from your own delusions?"
Swoosh!
A slicing wave suddenly appeared. By the time Auguro's Observation Haki registered it, it was only a hair's breadth away!
Flash Step (Shunpo)!
Auguro vanished in a flash, narrowly avoiding the slicing wave. The wall behind him shattered instantly.
"If Devil Fruit power alone can't subdue you, how about adding a swordsman?" Perov's smug voice came through.
"How long can you maintain that focused Observation Haki?"
"Once your stamina is depleted and your Observation Haki fails, you'll be nothing more than a lamb waiting to be slaughtered!"
"Tell me, if I take your head to the World Government, will they waive a few years of my Heavenly Tribute?"
This kid! He wants to use me as trade currency?
A sinister smile appeared on Auguro's face.
"Your ability is strong! But who told you that I can't break your ability?"
A white light burst from Auguro's eyes.
RUMBLE!
Captain-level Spiritual Pressure erupted for the first time without reservation. This immense power, originating from the soul, instantly completed a thorough sublimation of Auguro's spirit, elevating his mental state to its most perfect form!
To Perov's horrified gaze, everything before Auguro became crystal clear.
"To try your simplistic mental manipulation on a Soul Reaper, whose foundation is the soul, is utterly laughable!"
Auguro's eyes gleamed with cold light as he slightly raised his Zanpakutō.
"Look! I found you!"
What? Perov's eyes widened. He was completely dumbfounded. What kind of ability was this?
It actually nullified his Devil Fruit's primary effect!
Auguro raised his hand and unleashed a Sword Pressure. Because his Spiritual Pressure had reached the Captain-level, even the space around the slicing wave groaned and trembled!
"Damn it! Don't underestimate me!" Perov raised his long sword, the blade immediately coating itself with pitch-black Armament Haki.
"One-Sword Style: Mad Lion!"
The sword light flashed, and the sword aura formed a several-meter-tall fierce lion, charging fearlessly toward Auguro's Sword Pressure.
BOOM!
A terrifying shockwave erupted. The lion let out a roar of frustration but was ultimately crushed by Auguro's Sword Pressure. Perov sensed danger and preemptively dodged to the side. The Sword Pressure flashed past, instantly slicing off a third of Perov's incredibly luxurious mansion!
Cold sweat poured down Perov's forehead. As expected of the man who could cause havoc at Marineford and leave unscathed!
His strength was truly beyond what Perov could contend with!
However, this didn't mean he was defenseless!
"Hmph! Even if you can resist my ability! What about your subordinates?" A dangerous smile appeared on Perov's face.
"Staying this close to me is very dangerous!"
The next second, countless strands of gray energy surged from all directions, surrounding Soi Fon and the others. Soi Fon reacted fastest, using a Flash Step (Shunpo) to escape the gray energy, but Matsumoto Rangiku and the others were a step too slow. The gray energy wrapped around them, forcefully infiltrating their minds!
"You bastard! What did you do?" Auguro roared, pointing his Zanpakutō at Perov.
Perov sneered. "If the distance is far, I need physical contact to fully influence their dreams!"
"But if the distance is this short, I don't need to!"
"I should truly thank you! For bringing these people right to me!"
As a massive amount of gray energy was forcibly drilled into Matsumoto Rangiku and the others' minds, their eyes became utterly vacant.
Swoosh!
Matsumoto Rangiku and Kuchiki Rukia used Flash Step, their figures instantly vanishing.
Slash! Slash!
Both of their Zanpakutō swung toward Auguro simultaneously! Auguro retreated in a panic, shouting, "Rangiku, Rukia! Snap out of it!"
However, the two were deaf to his pleas, launching wave after wave of continuous attacks at Auguro!
"It's no use! It's no use!" Perov laughed triumphantly.
"They can't hear your voice now!"
"Although this method can only control others temporarily, it's enough to deal with you! Unless you can be ruthless enough to kill your own subordinates with your own hands!"
Soi Fon tried to provide backup but was entangled by surging gray energy and couldn't get close!
"Dance! Sode no Shirayuki (Sleeve of White Snow)!"
"Second Dance: White Ripple (Tsugi no Mai: Hakuren)!" Kuchiki Rukia directly used her ultimate technique.
Auguro ultimately couldn't bring himself to kill them and could only retreat awkwardly.
"I've got you!" Perov's figure suddenly appeared behind Auguro. His long sword, coated in Armament Haki, slashed across Auguro's back!