Slaying

What's so interesting?

Swords, Haki, abilities...

And "destiny."

If Crocodile had never left Alabasta, Doflamingo wouldn't have been able to exploit the opening.

If Doflamingo hadn't exploited the opening, King would naturally have rendezvoused with Kaido and received no intelligence.

Furthermore, if the Poneglyphs hadn't appeared, this conflict wouldn't have erupted.

This is the so-called "destiny."

People with great fortune stir up trouble, disturbing the entire sea, pushing everything forward until the future!

And at this very moment, two "fortune bearers" clashed, tearing through the surrounding clouds and wind...

Clang--!

Two pitch-black blades collided once more, emitting an even more ear-piercing sound.

The opponent's monstrous strength was transmitted through the blade and hilt to King's hands.

"Huh?!"

His pupils constricted slightly, the whites of his eyes behind his goggles filled with ferocious bloodshot veins.

A sword?

His gaze shifted downward, fixed on the weapon in Lindsey's hand.

It's a sword.

A "black blade" imbued with an unknown Armament Haki!

Although there are countless people on the Grand Line who possess Armament Haki, only those who can use this technique can be called true swordsmen!

It was precisely for this reason that King felt so...

Angry!

"I'm really being underestimated!"

The giant katana hanging from his waist was no mere decoration.

Even setting aside his Zoan Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit ability, King alone was sufficiently qualified to be called a "Great Swordsman" based on his swordsmanship alone!

How sharp were his eyes?

Just by observing Aiven Lindsey's grip on the sword, he could discern its utter crudeness!

A swordsman's every move and stance is inseparable from the "line" running through the center of their posture; it is the origin of all sword techniques, the swordsman's lifeline.

And when Aiven Lindsey gripped his sword, that centerline was practically twisted and warped, even showing signs of discontinuity!

A Demon with a black blade?

Is he worthy!

"Such low-class swordsmanship, don't embarrass yourself!"

King swung his long sword and attacked again.

Swish!

Lindsey raised his sword to block.

The instant the two blades clashed, the blade of King's long sword suddenly deformed, becoming uneven and serrated!

With a slight twist of his wrist, accompanied by a "snap," the serrated blade snagged Lindsey's black blade.

King then gave a forceful swing, and Lindsey's black blade was instantly flung away.

The Ancient Armament Haki dissipated, and the massive blade reverted to a pool of mud.

"Show me your true skill, [Demon]!"

Along with an angry roar, King's greatsword was wreathed in flames as he slashed horizontally towards Lindsey's body.

Swish!

Cold light and raging flames mingled, less than half a meter from Lindsey's body.

But at that very moment, a muffled thud suddenly echoed in King's ears--

Thump!

The ground beneath his feet vibrated with a force like a beating heart!

Following the sound, he saw Lindsey stomp a foot onto the earth.

Thump!

With a word, the ground began to tremble, then completely "boiled" like water!

Dozens of hard earth spikes erupted from the ground, stabbing towards King.

The latter flapped the wings on his back, stirring up a great wind, propelling his body forward, and easily dodging the dense attacks.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM...

The tips of the earth spikes collided, like exploding cannonballs, splashing countless rocks and soil.

Seeing this, one of King's arms transformed into a wyvern's wing, and he swung it with all his might.

A large number of wind blades, wreathed in flames, shattered the rocks and soil, and in turn struck Lindsey's body.

Blade Twin Emperors!

BOOM—WHOOSH!

A massive explosion kicked up a heatwave, engulfing Aiven Lindsey.

His huge body burned uncontrollably, and only a massive dark silhouette could be seen within the flames, devoid of any life.

"Hmph!"

Seeing this, King felt no sense of carelessness.

Compared to the other two major figures, King's personality was extremely steady, and he never left any loose ends when doing things.

Even if the Demon was burned to death, he had to personally chop off its head!

He swung his sword.

He stepped forward!

But in the next second, Lindsey in the flames opened his eyes.

His pupils reflected a crimson gaze, staring intently at King before him, his flame-wrapped form changing simultaneously.

A streamlined body was covered in emerald scales along his spine.

He slammed his hands forward, landing on all fours, and opened his maw filled with fangs.

"ROAR!"

Earth Fiend Howling Wind—Composite Form.

He roared!

The immense gale, coupled with the vibrations, dispersed the flames around Lindsey and struck King's body directly.

"Ngh?!"

King braced himself to resist, but the ancient Armament Haki mixed within it tore through his body.

Instantly, bloody marks appeared all over King's body.

It's just a superficial wound!

King's gaze darkened as he flapped his wings against the impact, calculating inwardly:

But at this level of power, continuing to endure it won't be good...

I need to find a way!

As he pondered, Lindsey voluntarily ended his roar.

"?! "

King was stunned for a moment, then saw a large hand reach out and grab his head.

Aiven Lindsey chose to abandon suppression and launched a surprise attack.

He grabbed King's head with one hand, scooped up a handful of dirt with the other, and slammed them together forcefully!

BOOM!

There was no skill involved, only pure savagery and violence!

King took the blow head-on, feeling his head spin.

When he opened his eyes again, he found his vision completely black, as if something was blocking it.

"What..."

Before he could react, Lindsey's voice rang out.

It turned out Lindsey had taken the opportunity to condense the dirt and rocks onto King's head, while simultaneously gripping King's collar with one hand and clenching the other into a fist.

In his Earth Demon Form, Lindsey's ability was essentially the "destruction" of the earth.

Therefore, when the element of "earth" was attached to King's head, the essence of "destruction" would spread along with it!

And so—

He threw a punch!

BOOM!

The dirt covering his head exploded.

King let out a pained grunt from behind his mask, blood seeping from the cracks in his goggles.

The flames continued to burn.

Lindsey's movements hadn't stopped either!

He slammed King's body towards the ground, and a large amount of earth and rock surged over, burying King completely.

Lindsey raised both hands, fingers interlaced and clenched into fists, then aimed at King on the ground and smashed down heavily.

BOOM!

Earth and stone flew, like giant waves!

A tsunami-like surge of earth rolled out, completely leveling the ground of the entire deserted island!

"Hoo… hoo…"

In the swirling dust and smoke, Lindsey panted lightly.

Suddenly, his expression changed as he sensed something was wrong.

He raised his hands to look, and sure enough, where was King's shadow directly below?

Where did he go?!

Lindsey looked around, but found he couldn't sense any trace of King on the ground nearby!

If that's the case, there could only be one place—

Above!

Lindsey looked up and indeed saw that sturdy figure in mid-air.

King!

He flapped the wings on his back, flying high into the sky, gripping his greatsword with both hands as surging flames engulfed it.

He bent forward—

Downwards!

King had realized that Lindsey's Devil Fruit ability allowed him to control earth and stone, and its power and flexibility were terrifying.

If that was the case, there was only one thing he had to do first.

"Haa—"

With a low roar, he aimed the massive blade directly below him and swung with all his might.

But King wasn't aiming at Lindsey, but at the entire deserted island beneath them!

"There are ways to deal with Devil Fruit users, naturally!"

Sharp, cold light filled the air, accompanied by raging flames, piercing through the sides of the deserted island.

"Fall into the sea!"

CLANG!

The blade fell.

BOOM!

The deserted island wasn't large to begin with and couldn't withstand King's full-power attack.

The slash hit, and the entire deserted island resisted for only a moment before completely shattering, turning into countless chunks of earth.

Under the immense impact, the deserted island disappeared, replaced by a massive whirlpool that was swallowing the island's remains!

"Hoo… hoo…"

King was also panting.

The continuous offense and defense was indeed very draining.

But now, everything was settled. No matter how strong that [Demon] was, it ultimately couldn't overcome the fundamental weakness of Devil Fruit users.

Once they fall into the sea, there's no chance of victory!

"?!"

Suddenly, King's Observation Haki sensed something around him.

He didn't fall into the sea?

But without a place to stand, how could Aiven Lindsey possibly remain suspended in mid-air?

King turned his head and saw a scene that confused him.

From Aiven Lindsey's back, a pair of huge, membranous wings had unfurled, fluttering occasionally, allowing his body to hover in mid-air.

"……"

King's pupils constricted, and he asked in shock, "What did you do?"

Lindsey thought for a moment.

He shook off the last bits of dirt and stone from his body, reforming them into a large dirt-and-stone blade, which he gripped tightly in his hand.

The tip of the blade drooped slightly toward the sea.

"..."

Lindsey tilted his head, his unusual pupils opening. He flapped his wings and said expressionlessly:

"I'm learning from you."

The Demon of the Heavens—

West Wood!