Whitebeard's assault had barely ended when Rocks appeared high in the air, brandishing his longblade.
Crackle~~~
Dark red arcs danced wildly over the blade in his hand, its ringing rising from low to high like a beast growling deep in its throat.
Hum, hum, hum~~~
Rocks swung several times in succession, sending waves of sword energy pouring down like a torrential rain over the spot where Imu had crashed into the ground.
Each wave blasted a deep crater into the ground, layers of dust piling up like ink repeatedly splashed across a gray canvas.
Rumble~~~
The explosions rang out without end.
Whoosh!
Amid the billowing dust, two arrows of black mist instantly pierced the haze like snakes darting out of an abyss, shooting straight toward Whitebeard and Rocks overhead.
Immediately afterward, Imu burst out of the dust as well, following close behind one of the black mist arrows, his sights set squarely on Whitebeard.
Whitebeard's gaze darkened, and he reacted swiftly.
He whipped his right hand forward.
Crack~~~
The barrier of air shattered again, dark red arcs flickering and dancing through the cracks.
An invisible shock wave surged toward the black mist arrow, and the two forces locked in a stalemate in midair.
Meanwhile, Imu had already swept past the clashing forces, his Black Mist Longblade driving straight toward Whitebeard's face.
Without hesitation, Whitebeard gripped his naginata with both hands and slashed down hard.
Boom!
Their weapons collided, unleashing a violent shock wave.
Whitebeard gritted his teeth, the muscles in his arms bulging as he held firmly against Imu's blade.
On the other side, after suppressing the black mist arrow flying toward him, Rocks turned without the slightest pause and lunged at Imu from the side.
Imu glanced sideways, and the dark red eyes within the ring of black mist