Mission complete
Kaku's giraffe-like Human-Beast Form looked particularly eerie under the pale moonlight.
His once slender neck was now twisted and stretched like a steel whip, while his limbs were short, thick, and comical due to excessive compression. His entire body resembled a twisted beast with over-compressed muscles, far removed from the word "swordsman."
"Sickle Kirin!!"
He roared and leaped up, his long neck, several meters long, swinging downwards with astonishing elasticity, crashing down like a firecracker hitting the top of his head!
"Bang--!"
The ground collapsed instantly, sending debris flying and dust billowing everywhere!
Zoro had anticipated this, and with Flash movement, he retreated, narrowly avoiding the edge of the whip, his eyes burning with an even more intense fighting spirit.
"Hmph, this is interesting."
He stomped his feet heavily on the ground, wielding three swords in a crisscrossing motion, unleashing a continuous barrage of strikes like a flock of crows soaring through the sky!
"Three-Sword Style: Crow - Demon Hunter!!"
The blade flashed like Crow swooping down, black shadows darted about, precisely locking onto Kaku's swinging neck!
"Ughhh--!"
Kaku roared in pain as several deep, bone-revealing gashes were instantly slashed across his neck, spurting blood like a jet!
He quickly pulled his neck back forcefully, his face darkening, a mad glint flashing in his eyes, and the next moment—
"Tekkai - No Dead Angles!!"
With a series of cracking sounds as his bones folded, Kaku seemed to be forcibly compressed, his long neck and limbs shrinking wildly inward, forming a square steel box!
This is precisely the unique enhanced Tekkai state under the "Ox-Ox Fruit - Giraffe Form"!
Its entire body is compressed into a cubic three-dimensional structure, making it impossible for attacks to penetrate, and due to its structure, it has no "blind spots"!
Seeing this, Zoro's forehead veins bulged, and he roared in disbelief, "Hey! Are you even a swordsman?! What does turning into an iron box mean?!"
From within the Tekkai, Kaku's voice rang out, calm and composed. "In battle, there are no styles. Winning is the only true measure."
The next second, a cold light flashed from all four corners of the metal box!
"Tempest Kick - Four Directions Slash!!"
"Shuashua--!"
Four sharp, Tempest Kicks erupted simultaneously from the four corners of the box, sweeping across like swirling blades and blocking all of Zoro's escape routes!
"Tsk... what a shameless way to play!"
Zoro gritted his teeth and forcefully parried with three strikes. The blades collided with the Tempest Kick, creating a piercing metallic sound, and he was forced to retreat repeatedly!
Kaku relied on his "Tekkai: No Blind Spot" to firmly suppress the enemy, constantly launching harassment attacks with his Four- Tempest Kick while rotating, making him look like a moving blade wheel turret!
"As long as you can't get close, you won't have a chance to use your killing move," Kaku said calmly.
But amidst this storm of steel, where Tempest Kick raged and blades whistled—
Zoro suddenly retreated to escape the range of the Tempest Kick attack, sheathed his swords, and all three swords clicked back into place at the same time!
The clamor of the entire Battlefield seemed to be instantly sucked away, leaving only his straight back and the chilling aura that seemed to freeze time.
He lowered his head, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. The Haki and sword intent within him seemed to solidify as if sinking into a mountain. The floor beneath his feet trembled slightly, and a suffocating pressure appeared in the air.
Kaku was taken aback, then became alert, his voice hesitant. "What are you doing... giving up?"
There was no response.
Only the night wind sobbed in his ears.
The next second--
"Clang!!"
Three swords were drawn simultaneously!
Instantly, the sword energy surged!
His left hand held a knife that spun like a windmill, his Right Hand swung forward like thunder piercing the clouds, and the Yubashiri sword in his mouth traced a path of death between light and force!
In an instant, the three swords spun rapidly like windmills, unleashing a terrifying sword pressure tornado that swept across the surrounding area with a thunderous roar!
Space itself seemed to tremble from this rotation! A domain of wind seemed to have been born at the center of the Battlefield!
Zoro slowly opened his eyes, his gaze like that of Shura Awakening in the wilderness, his domineering Haki surging like a raging torrent, and a fierce wind rising from his body, sweeping across the entire deck!
"Nine mountains and eight seas, one world,"
"When a thousand worlds are gathered, a 'small thousand worlds' is formed."
"In this world, there is no one who transcends the three realms, and none who transcends self..."
"Three-Sword Style Secret Technique: Three Thousand Worlds!!"
"Whoosh--!"
As soon as he finished speaking, his figure seemed to vanish from the spot!
In the next instant, three slashes simultaneously erupted in space--
Like three silvery Meteors streaking across the night sky, they converged in front of Kaku from three different angles in an instant!
Kaku's pupils constricted sharply; he had no time to react.
"What...?"
His Tekkai defensive stance was hit head-on!
"Ughhh--!"
The sword energy, Haki, and saber intent combine to create an unparalleled and invincible force!
Kaku's box-like form shattered instantly, like a fragile sheet of metal!
"Boom--!"
The entire iron box shattered, and Kaku screamed as he flew backward, his body reverting to its giraffe-like Human-Beast Form in mid-air, blood splattering everywhere!
He flew in an arc like a limp rag doll, crashing heavily into the center mast of a wrecked ship!
"Crack--!"
The mast broke, Kaku was smashed into the hull, creating a deep crater. He was unconscious and his fate was unknown.
The Battlefield fell silent.
Amidst the sandstorm, Zoro slowly sheathed his sword, the tip still dripping with droplets of blood.
He stood on the shattered deck, his figure as tall and straight as an iron tower. The pale moonlight cast a cold and hard shadow on his silhouette, as if he were one with the fighting spirit.
His voice was deep and firm. "A swordsman should let his sword speak for itself."
The three swords were sheathed, but the fighting spirit remained undiminished.
On the other side of the Battlefield--
Moonlight spilled onto the charred and shattered deck, where a tall, menacing figure stood amidst the smoke and dust.
In his Leopard- Human-Beast Form, Lucci arched his back and growled like Shura, his golden vertical pupils narrowed to slits, and his leopard-striped fur stood on end in anger, his killing intent almost tangible!
"Rokushiki Ogi: Leopard King Spear!!"
Before the roar had even faded, Lucci sprang into action, his claws wreathed in jet-black Armament Haki, tearing the air apart with sonic booms as his deadly attack aimed straight for Kuina's throat!
"Clang--!"
Wado Ichimonji blade and claws clashed, sending out blinding sparks!
The two Haki collided fiercely, creating a shockwave that sent surrounding rocks flying!
Kuina, however, remained calm and composed, her eyes as still as water, showing no sign of panic.
With a flick of her wrist, the blade deftly deflected the force, tracing an arc along the leopard's claws.
"Whoosh--!"
The Razor, sharp as water, sliced through Lucci's chest!
"Ugh!"
Lucci staggered back three steps, another shocking bloodstain appearing on his chest!
"Hateful...!"
"Why... why can't I touch her?!"
He was breathing heavily, his eyes filled with disbelief. He had already entered his strongest human-beast form, yet he still couldn't hurt her?
Right now--
A devastating explosion echoed in the distance!
"Boom--!"
Kaku's roar came to an abrupt halt as his "Tekkai: No Blind Spots " square form was torn apart head-on by Zoro's "Three Thousand Worlds." Blood splattered everywhere, and he flew backward like a meteor, crashing heavily into the wreckage of the ship!
Upon sensing Kaku's defeat, Lucci's expression changed drastically, and his pupils contracted sharply!
"Kaku lost too?!"
He caught his breath, and the last shred of composure in his heart was completely ignited, his anger erupting like a volcano!
"Roar--!"
He let out a deafening roar, his murderous aura surging to its peak, and his leopard tail suddenly lashed out like a steel whip, instantly wrapping around Kuina's ankle!
"Maximum Wheel - Rokuogan!!"
He brought his fists together in front of his chest, gathering all his strength, Shockwave distorted the air, solidifying into a tangible form!
"Got it!" Lucci's eyes flashed with murderous intent.
But the next moment-
Kuina swept her cold gaze across the room, Wado Ichimonji chilling light!
"One Sword Style: Lunar Eclipse!!"
"Whoosh!!"
The blade flashed like the moon falling from the sky, instantly severing the leopard's tail that was wrapped around his ankle, and blood splattered everywhere!
"Ugh!!"
Lucci roared in pain as his fists slammed towards Kuina's face!
However, Kuina showed no intention of dodging; instead, she met the attack head-on!
"Too close, you can't dodge!" Lucci roared.
Kuina coldly whispered, "I have no intention of hiding."
She thrust her sword straight at his fist with a backhand motion!
"Boom--!"
The blade collided head-on with the terrifying Shockwave of the "Maximum Wheel Rokuogan"!
The terrifying blast wave swept in all directions, and the entire Battlefield seemed to be razed to the ground, with the deck within a radius of 100 meters completely shattered!
Amidst the billowing dust, only a blade's shadow emerged!
"Shuashua--!"
Kuina moved like Phantom, her blade flashing five times, precisely slicing through Lucci's shoulder, back, waist, abdomen, and leg.
"Ugh... Ah...!"
Lucci's movements suddenly froze, blood gushed out, and he was severely injured all over his body!
"You... lost."
Kuina slowly sheathed her sword and stood there, her tone cold and indifferent, as if she already knew the outcome.
Lucci's knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, covered in blood, his eyes glazed over, his consciousness fading.
Just moments before he lost consciousness, he suddenly realized—
A crimson light flashed silently in Kuina's eyes!
"What is that...?"
His consciousness was blurred, and fear and confusion welled up in his mind.
"Was she... not serious at all?"
"This guy... has even greater power?!"
Bang!
His body collapsed to the ground with a thud, and he lost consciousness completely.
Kuina slowly sheathed her sword, her expression still cold, and muttered to herself, "As expected of someone hailed as the strongest member of 'CP9' in eight hundred years..."
The smoke of Battlefield still lingered in the distance. Luo raised "Kikoku" with one hand and whispered, "ROOM: Circle Domain."
"Whoosh--!"
A blue circular space instantly expanded, and the CP9 members lying on the ground were moved to one place like pieces of chess pieces.
"Mission accomplished."
Luo sheathed his sword, his gaze sweeping over the ruins like a mirror.
Under the moonlight, only ruins and lingering traces of battle remained on the ground.
And the wind—
The wind is still blowing.
(I had to rush back to my hometown to deal with some family matters, so I'm writing this urgently in the middle of the night... I'll be back in a few days.)