Natsuya wore a smile.
By opening the Gate of Heart, he had successfully caught Hawkeye off guard, leaving him with significant internal injuries.
In fact, Natsuya's earlier finger strike had been aimed straight at Hawkeye's heart.
But at the critical moment, Hawkeye's Observation Haki had still come into play, allowing him to shift slightly the instant the Finger Pistol struck inside his body and avoid his heart.
Of course, even so, such internal injuries could not be underestimated.
At the very least, Hawkeye's previous advantage of being completely unscathed had vanished.
Like Natsuya, Hawkeye's combat power would definitely be affected while injured.
Thus, at that moment, Natsuya saw hope of defeating Hawkeye.
As for Hawkeye, he naturally became serious.
He had thought he already valued Natsuya highly enough, but it seemed he had still underestimated this young man!
Buzz!!!
Without further hesitation, Hawkeye swung the World's Greatest Black Blade, unleashing a heaven-shaking slash that swept toward Natsuya!
Amid the sword's cry, the sea split apart once again, and the surrounding shipwreckage suffered further devastation.
But while such an attack was imposing, it was still very difficult for it to hit Natsuya.
Natsuya flashed away, instantly evading the massive slash.
However, his expression changed slightly in the next instant.
Hidden beneath the sword light, Hawkeye was lightly stepping across floating debris, leaping nimbly toward him!
Clearly, Hawkeye also understood that grand, sweeping slashes were not very effective against someone as fast as Natsuya.
He had to fight at close range.
So, while Natsuya's attention was drawn by the sword light, Hawkeye hurriedly leaped in to close the distance.
Coming back to his senses, Natsuya did not meet him head-on. Instead, he jumped backward.
At this point, there was naturally no need for him to engage Hawkeye in close combat.
Now that he had a way to deal with Armament Haki, he could attack Hawkeye from a distance!
Thus, Natsuya retreated, widening the distance between them before repeating his old trick.
A red phantom finger appeared eerily behind Hawkeye once more, about to open his Gate of Heart again!
Hawkeye seemed utterly unaware as another gate appeared behind him!
Through the gate, Hawkeye's internal organs could be seen!
Delight flashed across Natsuya's face, and he immediately unleashed another Finger Pistol.
But in the next instant, something completely unexpected happened!
The red finger shot forward, yet instead of succeeding as before, it stopped at the surface of Hawkeye's heart.
At that critical moment, the surface of the heart turned jet-black!
"Armament Haki!?"
Natsuya's pupils contracted sharply.
Without question, what had blocked his Finger Pistol was Armament Haki!
Hawkeye had actually coated his heart in Armament Haki!?
"Right. Since Armament Haki can cover the entire body, coating the internal organs doesn't seem strange either. After all, this power also bursts forth from within the body."
Natsuya quickly came back to his senses, his expression darkening.
He had never expected that the method he had just devised to counter Armament Haki would be broken by Hawkeye in the blink of an eye!
Of course, thinking about it carefully, it was not strange.
Since Natsuya could think of a way to deal with Armament Haki, it was perfectly normal for Hawkeye to think of a way to counter it.
After all, for Hawkeye to reach such heights, he was clearly a combat genius as well!
But this put Natsuya in trouble.
If he could not deal with Armament Haki, then his situation had returned to square one.
And what was even more troublesome was what came next.
While Natsuya was distracted, Hawkeye abruptly closed in, the black blade in his hand suddenly chopping down.
Swish, swish, swish!!!!
In an instant, the black blade in Hawkeye's hand slashed more than a hundred times!
The blade light released by Yoru directly formed a Black Sun, as though it would swallow Natsuya whole!
Natsuya's expression changed drastically. Without the slightest hesitation, his legs blurred violently.
"Tempest Kick: Chaos Moon!!"
At that moment, Natsuya unleashed his ultimate attack speed, his legs kicking out countless Tempest Kick slashes!
Azure light flashed, and in a blur, it seemed to form an azure crescent moon that met Hawkeye's blade light head-on!
Boom!!!!
Inside the Different Dimension, although Nami was separated by the dimension itself, she still heard that earth-shaking crash.
When the Black Sun and Azure Moon collided, even the sea churned wildly!
The force swept outward, thoroughly pulverizing the surrounding shipwreckage into dust.
Then, under Nami's worried gaze, a figure was sent flying backward from the surging force.
The suit on his body had become tattered, and a clear gash had appeared across his chest, with fresh red blood seeping out.
It was Natsuya!
Nami's heart sank.
At the same time, Natsuya's expression became extremely grim.
It was worth mentioning that he had indeed injured Hawkeye earlier, even while Hawkeye was defending himself with Armament Haki!
But that did not mean he could contend head-on against attacks enhanced by Armament Haki!
Just like that instant earlier, the countless Tempest Kick slashes he had unleashed with all his might could probably contend with the power of Hawkeye's ordinary slashes.
But Hawkeye's slashes also contained Armament Haki!
Thus, Natsuya unsurprisingly fell into a disadvantage, and his chest was even split open by the slash!
Although the green energy formed by the Gate of Life was already urgently repairing his wound, Natsuya's expression remained exceptionally solemn.
Then, as the force ahead subsided, Hawkeye's figure appeared elegantly once again.
He then raised Yoru and pointed it at Natsuya. "Use whatever abilities you have left as soon as possible. Otherwise, you won't get another chance!"
As his words fell, the World's Greatest Swordsman charged at Natsuya once again!
Natsuya frowned and finally stopped hesitating, opening the fourth of the Eight Inner Gates once more!
"Gate of Hurt: Open!"
The green energy surged even more violently. Veins bulged across Natsuya's body, while his handsome face began to twist into a ferocious expression.
Without question, opening the Gate of Hurt again before his injuries had healed would leave Natsuya with even more severe injuries afterward.
But at this moment, he naturally could not worry about that.
Clenching his fist and feeling the power in his body expand once more, Natsuya stomped forward and charged fearlessly toward Hawkeye!
After opening the Gate of Hurt, Natsuya's situation immediately improved.
For a time, Hawkeye could not even capture his figure.
But the advantage did not last long.
Hawkeye's strength at this moment was indeed inferior to Natsuya's.
But his swordsmanship was simply too powerful.
Combined with his formidable Armament Haki, his attacks meant injury upon contact and death upon a solid hit for Natsuya.
As for Natsuya, after Hawkeye had cracked his method of dealing with Armament Haki defenses, he was left somewhat helpless.
To Natsuya, Hawkeye was like a hedgehog. Charging in recklessly would not hurt his opponent at all, and carelessness would only get him pricked.
Thus, after the battle had stalled for a moment, Natsuya suddenly leaped far away, opening the distance between himself and Hawkeye before opening a Door of Different Dimension beside him.
"Oh? Planning to run away? It won't be that easy!"
Seeing this, Hawkeye sneered and immediately prepared to pursue.
But at that moment, Natsuya suddenly smiled. "Heh, who said I was running away?"
As he spoke, he suddenly reached into the Different Dimension and took something out!
At that moment, Nami, inside the Different Dimension, could not help but freeze.
She vaguely saw that the thing Natsuya had taken out seemed to be a Devil Fruit!?
At the same time, Hawkeye naturally noticed Natsuya's action.
What appeared in Natsuya's hand was an oval, golden fruit covered in spiral patterns!
It was actually a Devil Fruit!
What was Natsuya planning by suddenly taking out a Devil Fruit?
Facing Hawkeye's puzzled gaze, Natsuya immediately chuckled.
"This is my trump card!"
Before you continue