Kane hung in mid-air, his expression indifferent. To him, that thrilling duel seemed to be nothing more than a pre-meal activity. He looked down at the two panting legends below. There was no respect in his eyes, only a cold and calculating scrutiny. The dark sky above completely transformed into an abyss at this moment. A super cyclone, covering the entire island and even extending to the distant horizon, formed out of thin air.
The center of the cyclone was where Kane stood. It was calm and peaceful, like a sleeping lake. But beyond that silence were terrifying air currents with speeds exceeding the sound barrier. These winds spun frantically and ground against the atmosphere with ear-piercing shrieks.
What the hell is that? Rayleigh pushed his cracked glasses. The pupils behind the lenses shrunk to their limit. Roger clutched his chest and coughed violently twice. A splash of startling crimson appeared in his palm. But the light in his eyes grew increasingly fervent. It was the excitement of encountering a powerful enemy. Rayleigh, be careful! This kid's fruit ability... something is wrong!
Kane did not respond to their shock. He simply and slowly raised his right hand. He spread his five fingers and then gently made a fist. One movement, one thought. It announced the beginning of the judgment.
Wind's Extreme: Eternal Fall.
In an instant, billions of tiny, invisible wind blades separated from the violent cyclone at the typhoon's periphery. Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish! There was no earth-shattering roar. There was only the faint wail of air being densely shredded. The entire world was pulled into an invisible shredder. Countless wind blades swept toward Roger and Rayleigh from all directions. They came from heaven and earth, every angle, and every gap. These wind blades were as thin as a cicada's wing yet possessed the sharpness to cut diamonds. More terrifyingly, they rubbed against each other at high speeds, generating staggering heat.
Rayleigh! Back to back! Roger's Observation Haki foresaw that desperate future. He roared, and his somewhat hunched body instantly straightened. At this moment, his illness seemed to be forcibly suppressed by the will of a King. Pitch-black Armament Haki, mixed with suffocating Haoshoku, erupted from his body like a volcanic eruption. It firmly protected the three-meter radius around the two of them.
Alright! Rayleigh did not dare to hold back either. The famous blade in his hand instantly turned into a silver curtain of light. As the peak of those without fruit abilities, he pushed technique to its absolute limit. The next second, destruction descended. The area where Roger and Rayleigh were located turned into a glowing cyan cocoon.
Screech! The ear-piercing sound of friction echoed through the clouds. That was the sound of the wind blades slicing through Haki. It was like using countless saws to cut through a piece of hard steel. This intensity... you have got to be kidding me! The muscles in Rayleigh's arms bulged. He had to swing his sword thousands of times every second. Each strike precisely shattered the vacuum slashes approaching his vitals.
It is not over yet. Kane looked indifferently at the struggle below and lightly flicked his finger.
Rumble! In the thundercloud layer above the cyclone, the long-accumulated violent lightning finally found an outlet. Hundreds of purple-black lightning pillars, over five meters in diameter, pierced through the cage made of wind blades. The world turned deathly white in an instant. Then came the delayed roar, loud enough to shatter eardrums. The foundation of the entire island let out an overburdened wail. Rock layers shattered, and seawater poured in. Before the execution by wind blades could end, the lightning bombardment followed.
Damn it! Roger roared to the sky. He swung his famous blade, Ace, to unleash a flying slash condensed from his unyielding will. He was attempting to carve out a path to survival. Rayleigh also fought back desperately. His sword light flashed as he shattered several lightning pillars.
But their resistance appeared so pale and weak in the face of this true natural disaster. As one lightning pillar was shattered, ten more immediately filled the void. The wind blades were infinite, and the lightning was ceaseless. The frantic bombardment lasted for a full minute. Only then did Kane slowly lower his hand. The violent air currents around them gradually subsided. They turned back into a gentle sea breeze.
The ground below had disappeared. In its place was a giant crater dozens of meters deep. The bottom of the pit was charred black. The rocks had been melted by the high temperature into glass-like crystals. They emitted wisps of blue smoke.
Cough... cough cough... A weak coughing sound came from the bottom of the pit. Rayleigh leaned on his long sword, kneeling on one knee. Most of his originally neat hair was scorched. His clothes were in tatters. His exposed skin was covered in burn marks and sword wounds. Blood dripped from his arm onto the scalding ground, making a sizzling sound.
Beside him, Roger's situation was even more tragic. Half of the Pirate King's body was stained red with blood. His signature Captain's hat was nowhere to be found. Half of his mustache had been burned off. He gasped for breath. A large amount of blood foam spilled from the corners of his mouth with every breath. But he was still standing. That was the final stubbornness of a King.
That is really... too much... Rayleigh gave a bitter smile. With just one move, the two of them had been driven into such a pathetic state. The two of them looked up at the figure slowly descending from the sky.
Kane was still spotless. His pure white Justice mantle fluttered gently in the sea breeze. There was even a hint of a satisfied smile on his face. Kid... Roger struggled to stand straighter, but his legs lacked the strength. What... kind of monster are you?
Just three short years had passed. This was the young man whom he could have handled with a single Divine Departure during the Battle of Edd War. Now, he had actually grown to the point where the two of them together had no power to fight back. This speed of growth could no longer be described as a genius.
Kane walked up to them. Tensa Zangetsu reflected a cold light in the sun. I am not a monster, Mr. Roger. I am just a Marine who loves justice and is willing to give everything for it. His voice was calm, yet it carried a sense of pressure that made both legends feel their hearts skip a beat.
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