Activate Indomitable! A Terrifying Boost

Although he had anticipated it, the Shimotsuki Nine Dragon Flash he had just unleashed still failed to inflict even the slightest injury upon Dunn.

Dunn, watching his own health bar drop to half, also marveled at the fact that Koshiro had been holding back.

Those countless slashes, each imbued with Haki and striking from every direction, must have been a unique technique.

However, Dunn had now realized something.

Koshiro was no match for him.

Because he had yet to truly unleash the power of the Flame-Flame Fruit.

Seeing Observation Haki combined with a Logia ability, it was a terrifying combination for any opponent.

Hoo!

Dunn took a deep breath, and the flames coiling around his blade receded entirely.

While it might be foolish not to use the power at his disposal, he had come to Koshiro specifically to become a powerhouse without relying on the Flame-Flame Fruit.

Even though the weaknesses of the Flame-Flame Fruit had vanished due to the digitization of his body, the immense power of a Logia was something one couldn't help but grow dependent on.

The renowned educator Kaido once said that Haki is everything.

Although that statement was somewhat extreme, it wasn't wrong.

To become a top-tier powerhouse in the near future, formidable Haki was indispensable.

It was for this reason that Dunn had completely suppressed the power of the Flame-Flame Fruit.

Seeing Dunn's actions, Koshiro's expression turned guarded.

The previous strike had consumed a significant amount of stamina and Haki; if not for the fact that he had sparred with Dunn many times over the past year, allowing his body to recover to a much better state during this period, he might not have been able to withstand such a drain.

And now, Dunn's expression and movements made Koshiro realize something.

Whoosh!

Dunn's figure flashed, and he and his weapon were already closing in.

He took the initiative to attack, swinging his sword according to his body's instincts, and unleashed a strike toward Koshiro.

With just this one sword stroke, Koshiro, a top-tier Swordsman, understood Dunn's intentions and swung his own blade to meet it.

Their figures crossed and flickered, with scattered slashes flying in every direction.

The two engaged in close-quarters combat, their Haki-imbued blades carrying a dangerous aura as they struck at one another.

In terms of pure swordsmanship, Dunn was certainly no match for Koshiro.

One could not expect someone who had only been learning the sword for a year, and who had only recently found their own path in swordsmanship, to defeat someone who had been immersed in the craft for decades.

But Dunn possessed greater strength and a larger reserve of Haki.

His powerful physique, or rather his constitution, allowed Dunn's physical stats to far exceed those of Koshiro.

The offense-only, no-defense sword style left Koshiro feeling flustered for a moment.

This guy, relying on his trait of not sustaining injuries, had abandoned defense entirely?

Koshiro was speechless.

He felt that Dunn hadn't learned a single thing from his swordsmanship; he had certainly never taught such a style.

But he had to admit, it suited Dunn perfectly.

Meanwhile, Dunn had been keeping a close eye on his own health bar.

In truth, the battle with Koshiro should have ended by now.

Because Koshiro did not have a digitized body like his; if he were truly wounded too heavily or struck in a vital spot, it would result in either a severe injury or death.

Having served as his sparring partner for nearly a year, Dunn couldn't bring himself to do such a thing.

Right now, Dunn simply wanted to try reducing his own health to trigger the conditions for Indomitable.

After all, he would be leaving soon, and he needed to fully understand what kind of power he possessed once Indomitable was activated.

This way, he would be prepared when he encountered powerful opponents in the future.

Koshiro, unaware of all this, assumed that Dunn was unaffected by his sword strikes and cooperated by helping him whittle down his health.

10%!

5%!

1%

[Your health has dropped to the minimum, Indomitable activated]

Abruptly, this prompt appeared before Dunn's eyes.

Subconsciously, Dunn raised his left hand, and the incoming Wado Ichimonji was gently pinched between his left thumb and index finger.

Abundant Haki surged from Dunn's body as if it were beyond his control, dancing behind him like Flame Clouds.

A terrifying aura pressed down upon everything in the surroundings.

Koshiro, holding Wado Ichimonji, stared in shock at Dunn as his aura underwent a sudden transformation.

Through the keen perception of his Observation Haki, Dunn, standing right before him, seemed to have transformed into a terrifying monster; that oppressive sense of dread caused cold sweat to instantly cover his body.

The shift in Koshiro's emotions was clearly sensed by Dunn.

He could distinctly feel the fear emanating from Koshiro.

"It's over!"

Dunn said this after releasing his two fingers.

"You?"

Koshiro found it difficult to speak.

The terrifying pressure radiating from Dunn made it nearly impossible for him to utter a word.

"My trump card!"

Dunn spoke, and the Haki surging from him receded, causing the oppressive aura from just a moment ago to vanish.

Koshiro let out a long breath, his eyes filled with shock and confusion as he looked at Dunn.

He did not understand what exactly had happened to Dunn.

"Zanka no Tachi, West: Zanjitsu Gokui!"

Dunn spoke softly, leaving Koshiro stunned.

But the next moment, he was blown away as a scorching heat rushed toward him.

With Dunn at the center, terrifying flames surged outward and shot into the sky; within the fire, Dunn appeared to be wearing a trench coat manifested from flames.

The space around them began to distort due to the extreme heat.

"Taimatsu!"

BOOM!

A massive fire tornado appeared, instantly engulfing half the island.

"Kaka Jūmanokushi!"

Above the sea, a palm of fire larger than the island itself closed shut, the terrifying heat evaporating the seawater; in an instant, mist completely shrouded the surrounding ocean.

However, the hot winds generated by those terrifying flames blew the mist away, repeating the cycle over and over.

"What on earth is this?"

Koshiro retreated again and again until he reached the boat by the shore, his eyes filled with shock as he gazed at the endless flames enveloping the island and the sea.

"Tenchi Kaijin!"

A voice seemed to ring in his ears, and then, he saw it.

A terrifying slash cleaved half the island in two; he could not see the true form of the strike, but he saw the ocean being split apart.

The parted sea could not close back up, and the surrounding water was evaporating, the incoming tide unable to withstand the rate of evaporation.

This horrific sword scar continued to expand.

Until the flames all receded and the seawater rushed back to fill the scar, the churning waves causing the boat beneath Koshiro's feet to rock violently.

However, Koshiro could not care about that now; his eyes were fixed on the center of the island.

In the center of the scorched island, Dunn stood quietly.

And the blade in his hand made Koshiro's Observation Haki perceive an unprecedented, immense terror.

But Dunn did not swing that blade.

That terrifying sensation came quickly and vanished just as fast.

Afterward, Dunn leaped up and landed on the boat.

Koshiro looked at the returning Dunn, his lips moving, but he could not bring himself to say anything.

"It's a pity that Kyokujitsujin wasn't swung. I can feel that if I had unleashed that strike, Flame might not have been able to withstand it. To swing that blade, it needs to truly become a Black Blade."

Dunn looked somewhat regretful.

"What would happen if you swung that blade?"

Koshiro was silent for a moment before asking.

"That? The island would likely be destroyed."

Dunn turned his head to look at the island, now ravaged and unrecognizable from his flames, and spoke.