The Unarmed Sun God

The clash above the ice field intensified.

Luffy hammered down with his giant fists again and again. White flames drove their force into the dark-gold barrier. Cracks spread. Shards of ice flew. He drew back and struck again, but the power of the earth surged, sealing the cracks in an instant. It was a wall of despair he could not break through.

Behind it lurked a deadlier edge.

The Codex Sword.

The slightest pause in his assault gave the Codex Sword an opening. It darted in like a viper. The dark-gold tip sliced through the air without a sound, its bone-deep chill piercing him first. Luffy forced his rubber body to fold, twisting his waist into an unnatural curve to evade the fatal thrust. He stretched to his limit and sprang away. Every dodge burned through his reserves, and fresh wounds opened in his flesh.

A dark-gold flash grazed his right ribs.

Luffy grunted. A shallow cut split open, and black-red patterns spread savagely along it, corroding his flesh. He gritted his teeth and fought his retreat to a halt. Pain drove the muscles of his right arm to swell, and his white-flamed fist slammed down. The entire barrier was shoved back more than ten meters.

Imu stood steady in midair, without the slightest tremor.

The barrier slid back under the force. The Codex Sword came across Imu's chest, dark-gold patterns pulsing along its blade with murderous intent. Luffy's fists could shatter the defense. His strength could drive a god back. But that sword kept the distance between them locked in place, an abyss he could not cross.

Luffy refused to retreat. He gave a low roar.

Five punches flew. The first shattered the barrier. The second tore through the dust. The third went straight for Imu's face. White flames