Clash!

Tiger Shark Island, North District.

Boom—

Under Onigumo's crushing blow, Rod's body was sent flying like a cannonball. He plowed through several shops, boards and stones whistling through the air, before crashing heavily into a pile of rubble and raising a cloud of dust.

Whoosh—

But in an instant, Rod charged back out, gripping his weapon tightly and launching a fierce assault on Onigumo with unstoppable momentum.

This brat!

Onigumo held his swords crosswise to block Rod's attack, feeling a terrifying force travel through his weapons and into his body.

He was even stronger than when they'd first started!

Although his combat skills were still a little rough, and he lacked battle experience, he was poor at adapting to sudden changes in a fight.

But there was no denying that monstrous physique!

Using Life Return, Onigumo controlled his hair, making it act like six arms, each wielding a sword to form his unique Eight Sword Style.

Ordinary enemies couldn't even withstand the two swords in his hands, let alone the other six.

But this brat in front of him...

Onigumo set aside two swords and used them along with the ones in his hands to resist the terrifying force coming from Rod's weapon.

His two hands alone could no longer hold back Rod's attacks.

"Ha!"

Seeing Onigumo's movements, a wild grin appeared on Rod's face.

Sure enough, fighting was the best way to improve!

Especially fighting against an opponent this strong!

After only a brief exchange, Rod could clearly feel that he had gained better control over his strength.

His body hadn't grown stronger, but he was able to bring more of his strength to bear in battle!

Onigumo's response made that obvious.

Before Onigumo could attack with his remaining four arms, Rod took a small step back. With his advantage in strength, he could retreat more freely.

Then he pushed off the ground again and charged at Onigumo, black Haki coiling around his weapon.

His Haki still flowed a little clumsily.

Feeling the Haki coursing through his body and weapon, Rod had that thought before bringing his blade down in a fierce slash.

He had already awakened Armament Haki, and had practiced for several days, but it would still take time to use it smoothly in real combat.

Especially when it came to coating a weapon with Haki. That was a completely different challenge from coating one's body.

"Brat, your Haki is still too green!"

Onigumo's swords were also coated in Haki. But unlike Rod, he had immersed himself in Haki for years, and could wield it as easily as his own limbs. In an instant, he coated all eight swords with it.

And unlike Rod, who simply coated his weapon in Haki, Onigumo seemed to fuse it into his blades, turning several of them completely black.

"In this world, there are Asura with three faces and six arms! And those with eight arms are called Eight-Armed Asura!"

Onigumo spread his arms, black Haki surging around him. The six arms formed from his hair each held a blade, making him look like a demon from hell.

Seriously? You recite poetry too?

Though the timing was all wrong, Rod couldn't help thinking that.

"Eight Sword Style Secret Art—Asura Demon Slash!"

With Onigumo's low shout, his two hands moved in concert with the other arms controlled by Life Return, setting all eight swords in motion. Like an eight-armed Asura from hell, he attacked Rod.

Something was different!

Alarm bells rang in Rod's head as he watched Onigumo charge.

Onigumo had been using the Eight Sword Style all along, but this attack was clearly different from the ones before.

It wasn't just the Haki coating his weapons. Even the hair controlled by Life Return had changed.

It was not only coated in a considerable amount of Haki, but was also controlled with far greater ease than before.

But that was perfect!

A fierce glint flashed in Rod's eyes. He tightened his grip on his weapon as more and more Haki surged from his body.

"One Sword Style—Slash!"

He didn't recite poetry or use any fancy techniques. He simply poured all his strength into that one strike.

Boom!

Their attacks collided with a thunderous crash, and a terrifying shockwave erupted.

Crack—

As if unable to withstand the aftershocks of the battle, the hair Onigumo controlled with Life Return suddenly snapped. The swords held by that hair fell with it.

Something was wrong!

Seeing this, Rod felt no joy. Instead, a sense of foreboding rose within him.

Sure enough, the instant Onigumo's hair snapped, even more strands surged forward and suddenly wrapped around Rod's weapon.

"You've lost!"

Onigumo looked up, a vicious grin spreading across his face. Combined with his fearsome features, he looked just like a demon crawling out of hell.

It wouldn't budge, and he couldn't cut it!

Rod felt the force pressing against his weapon, and his expression changed.

With Onigumo putting all his strength into Life Return, his hair had terrifying power. He had also coated it in a large amount of Haki, binding Rod's weapon tightly. Rod's own Haki-coated weapon couldn't cut through it.

"Even when two people use the same Haki, the difference between them can be like heaven and earth!"

Onigumo put all his strength into his hands, pressing the blade against the top of Rod's weapon and forcing it down. At the same time, he made his hair surge, yanking Rod's weapon upward with tremendous force.

Whoosh—

Under the combined force, Kashu was wrenched from Rod's grasp and spun through the air.

"It's over!"

Onigumo gripped his swords in both hands and slashed down hard as Rod lost his weapon.

A swordsman without his weapon was like a tiger without its teeth!

Bang!

A pair of black fists suddenly swung out with terrifying force, slamming into Onigumo's swords.

Rod grinned at Onigumo.

"Did that Marine earlier not report our intel accurately?"

"I'm not just a swordsman!"

As Rod's fist struck Onigumo's swords, even stronger Haki surged from his body. The black Haki rolled forth like a raging tide, crashing against Onigumo in wave after wave.

Boom!

An overwhelming force erupted, sending Onigumo flying. Rod rolled his neck, and the Haki coating his arms vanished in an instant.

"The fight's only just begun!"

He looked down at his arm and frowned slightly.

Although he'd sent Onigumo flying just now, he hadn't escaped unscathed.

As his fist struck his opponent's swords, Rod felt an invisible force pierce his fist.

Moreover, that force hadn't just struck the surface. It was a much deeper kind of attack.

Was it Haki emission? Or internal destruction?

As expected of a seasoned Marine. He really was strong!

Watching Onigumo get back to his feet, almost unharmed, Rod felt a surging battle lust rise within him.

Round two, begin!