Among the many properties of the Shadow-Shadow Fruit,
whether it was the control of Shadow Step or the instant-kill strike of Shadow Slash,
both were extremely formidable abilities in close combat.
Maud slashed backhandedly at the shadow beneath Ace, intending to use Shadow Slash.
Unlike Shadow Step, which required one's strength to surpass the opponent's in order to exert control, Shadow Slash could be completed with the help of a sharp weapon.
However,
Shadow Slash had a prerequisite.
The target's shadow cast on the ground had to have a clear outline.
Under this condition, if Shadow Slash succeeded, the battle could end in an instant.
A flash of sword light swept past.
Shusui's tip successfully touched Ace's shadow.
However,
before Shusui could cut the shadow open any further, Ace seemed to sense something and turned his entire body into an element a step ahead of time.
In an instant, Ace's body transformed into a mass of blazing flames.
As Ace fully elementalized, the shadow that had originally been the actual target vanished.
Maud's Shadow Slash consequently missed.
Moreover, the blazing flames of Ace's elementalized body surged straight toward Maud, who was within arm's reach.
At that moment, Maud was in the midst of slashing toward the ground, making it difficult for him to withdraw his blade and defend himself in time.
But Maud still had Beli.
In that lightning-fast instant, Maud did not even need to issue a command.
Beli, who possessed an independent mind, seemed to sense his thoughts and changed from flintlock-rifle form into longsword form ahead of time.
Armament Haki!
Haki burst from Maud's body and coated Beli's blade, instantly dyeing the snow-white, jade-like blade pitch-black.
"As long as my 'attack speed' is faster than yours, elementalization is meaningless."
Red light gleamed in Maud's eyes as he