Although he had expected as much, the Shimotsuki Nine Dragon Flash he had just unleashed still hadn't managed to harm Dunn in the slightest.
Dunn, looking at his own half-full health bar, was also impressed that Koshiro had been holding back.
Those countless slashes from a moment ago, with Haki wrapped around their blades and striking from every direction, must have been some kind of unusual technique.
But Dunn had already figured it out.
Koshiro wasn't his match.
That was because he still hadn't truly used the power of the Flame-Flame Fruit.
Observation Haki combined with a Logia ability was an extremely terrifying combination for any opponent.
Whoosh!
Dunn took a deep breath, and all the flames wrapped around his blade drew back.
It might have been foolish not to use his power, but he had come to Koshiro's to become strong without relying on the Flame-Flame Fruit.
Although the fruit's weakness had disappeared thanks to the data-based system, the immense power of a Logia would always tempt him to rely on it.
The famous educator Kaido had once said that Haki was everything.
That might have been an extreme statement, but it wasn't wrong.
To become one of the top fighters of the age, powerful Haki was indispensable.
That was why Dunn had completely suppressed the power of the Flame-Flame Fruit.
Seeing Dunn's actions, Koshiro grew wary.
That last attack had consumed a great deal of stamina and Haki. If he hadn't spent nearly a year fighting Dunn repeatedly, and if his body hadn't recovered considerably during that time, he might not have been able to withstand such a drain.
Now, Dunn's expression and actions made Koshiro realize something.
Whoosh!
Dunn flashed forward, closing in with his weapon in hand.
He launched the attack first, swinging his sword by instinct and slashing at Koshiro.
With just that one strike, Koshiro, a top swordsman, understood Dunn's intentions and raised his sword to meet it.
Their figures crossed and flickered as slashes scattered in every direction.
They clashed at close quarters, their Haki-wreathed blades carrying a dangerous aura as they struck at each other.
As far as swordsmanship alone went, Dunn was certainly no match for Koshiro.
You couldn't expect someone who had only studied the sword for a year and had only recently found his direction in swordsmanship to defeat someone who had devoted decades to it.
But Dunn had greater strength and more Haki.
His powerful physique gave him physical abilities far beyond Koshiro's.
Dunn's sword only attacked and never defended, leaving Koshiro scrambling for a moment.
Had he abandoned defense because he couldn't be injured?
Koshiro was at a loss for words.
It felt like Dunn hadn't learned a thing from his swordsmanship. He had never taught him to fight like this.
But there was no denying that it suited Dunn.
Dunn kept his attention on his health bar.
In truth, his fight with Koshiro should have been over.
Koshiro didn't have a body governed by stats like Dunn's. If he were badly hurt or struck in a vital spot, he would be seriously injured or killed.
After all, Koshiro had spent nearly a year training him. Dunn couldn't bring himself to do that.
For now, Dunn only wanted to try lowering his health until he met the conditions to activate Indomitable.
He was leaving soon, after all. He needed to find out exactly what kind of power he would gain once Indomitable was activated.
That way, when he faced a powerful opponent in the future, he would know what to expect.
Unaware of all this, Koshiro assumed Dunn was unaffected by his sword and went along with him, steadily wearing down his health.
10%!
5%!
1%
[Your health has reached its minimum. Indomitable activated.]
Suddenly, a notification appeared before Dunn's eyes.
Almost without thinking, Dunn raised his left hand and lightly pinched the incoming Wado Ichimonji between his thumb and forefinger.
An abundant surge of Haki poured from Dunn's body as if beyond his control, dancing behind him like a Flame Cloud.
A terrifying aura pressed down on everything around him.
Koshiro, holding Wado Ichimonji, stared in shock at Dunn, whose aura had suddenly changed.
To his keen Observation Haki, Dunn, standing right in front of him, seemed to have transformed into a terrifying monster. The oppressive force made cold sweat break out all over Koshiro's body.
Dunn clearly sensed the change in Koshiro's emotions.
He could feel Koshiro's fear.
"It's over!"
Dunn released his grip and spoke.
"You..."
Koshiro struggled to get the words out.
The terrifying pressure radiating from Dunn made it almost impossible for him to speak.
"My trump card!"
Dunn spoke, and the Haki pouring from him subsided. That intensely oppressive aura vanished.
Koshiro let out a long breath, looking at Dunn with shock and confusion.
He didn't understand what had happened to Dunn.
"Zanka no Tachi, West: Zanjitsu Gokui!"
Dunn spoke softly, and Koshiro froze.
But in the next instant, he was blown away as a scorching wave of heat rushed toward him.
Terrifying flames surged out from Dunn, rising into the sky. Within them, Dunn seemed to wear a cloak made of fire.
The space warped in the intense heat.
"Taimatsu!"
Boom!
A massive Fire Tornado appeared, enveloping half the island in an instant.
"Kaka Jūmanokushi!"
Above the sea, a hand of fire larger than the island came together. The terrifying heat evaporated the seawater, and in moments, mist completely shrouded the surrounding waters.
But the hot wind raised by those terrifying flames blew the mist away, only for it to gather again, over and over.
"What is this?"
Koshiro retreated again and again until he reached the ship by the shore. He stared at the endless flames engulfing the island and sea, his eyes full of shock.
"Tenchi Kaijin!"
A voice seemed to ring in his ears. Then he saw it.
A terrifying slash cut through half the island. He couldn't make out the slash itself, but he saw the sea split apart.
The severed sea could not close again. The surrounding water evaporated, and the incoming seawater couldn't keep up with the rate of evaporation.
The terrifying gash kept widening.
At last, all the flames drew back, and the surging seawater rushed in to fill the gash. The sea churned, making the ship beneath Koshiro rock violently.
But Koshiro had no time to worry about that. His eyes were fixed on the center of the island.
Dunn stood quietly in the island's center, which had been burned to nothing.
The sword in his hand filled Koshiro's Observation Haki with an unprecedented sense of dread.
But Dunn hadn't swung it.
That terrifying feeling had come and gone in an instant.
Then Dunn leaped through the air and landed on the ship.
Koshiro watched him return. His lips moved, but he couldn't say a word.
"Too bad I couldn't unleash Kyokujitsujin. I can feel that if I swung it, Flame probably couldn't take it. For me to unleash that strike, it needs to truly become a Black Blade."
Dunn looked somewhat regretful.
"What would happen if you unleashed that strike?"
Koshiro was silent for a moment before asking.
"Well, the island might be destroyed."
Dunn turned to look at the island, now left unrecognizable by his flames, and spoke.
Before you continue