Vix, the Zoan Cat-Cat Fruit: Leopard Form User

Chapter 18: Vix, the Zoan Cat-Cat Fruit: Leopard Form User

"Hmph, it's only Conqueror's Haki. Having Conqueror's Haki doesn't mean you get to act so arrogant!"

"I'm a Zoan Cat-Cat Fruit: Leopard Form user!!!!"

"Roar!!!!"

Vix let out an enraged roar as his entire body began to swell, growing taller and larger. Then, before Li Yuan's eyes, he transformed into an upright, humanoid leopard.

Although Li Yuan knew Devil Fruits existed in this world, this was only the second Devil Fruit user he had seen. He was still rather curious about Vix's transformation.

After transforming into a humanoid leopard, Vix was able to withstand Li Yuan's Conqueror's Haki.

Seeing this, Li Yuan withdrew his Conqueror's Haki as well.

"Leopard Claw!"

After transforming into a humanoid leopard, Vix dropped onto all fours and suddenly exerted force, shattering the ground beneath his powerful limbs.

In an instant, Vix charged before Li Yuan at extreme speed. His sharp Leopard Claw, gleaming with cold light, was coated in Armament Haki.

Among New World Pirates, anyone with even a little reputation generally knew some Haki.

It was basic qualification for a New World Pirates Captain. Without Haki, one simply could not survive long in these chaotic seas.

Clang!!!

A Longsword coated in Armament Haki blocked the Leopard Claw. Li Yuan steadily received Vix's attack without taking even a single step back.

"Is that all you've got?"

Feeling the force transmitted through his Sword Body, Li Yuan made a rough estimate. This strength was about the same as Rear Admiral Jessno, whom he had slain before.

The Zoan Devil Fruit merely made Vix a little more durable than Jessno.

"Kid, you've got some nerve!"

Hearing the disdain in Li Yuan's tone, Vix bared the sharp fangs protruding from his leopard maw. His other Leopard Claw, likewise coated in Armament Haki, attacked from the side.

Clang!!!

Li Yuan forcefully drove back one of Vix's Leopard Claws with his sword, then immediately blocked the sneak attack from the other.

Suddenly, Vix retracted his Leopard Claws and took the opportunity to kick at Li Yuan's abdomen with a Leopard Leg.

However, before Vix's Leopard Leg could strike, Li Yuan flashed aside and evaded the attack.

The instant Li Yuan dodged, Vix charged forward again. His pair of vicious Leopard Claws were like throat-slitting sickles as they clawed toward Li Yuan's neck.

"Hmph, I gave you an inch and you took a mile!"

Seeing his opponent press forward at every turn, Li Yuan snorted coldly. The Sword Qi of a Swordmaster erupted from his body as his sharp eyes fixed on Vix, who was closing in.

"Limitless: Cross Slash."

He exploded forth at supersonic speed, and the sword in his hand sliced through the air with incredible swiftness.

Two dazzling white sword lights formed a cross and struck Vix before he could react.

Slash, slash!!!!

Vix instinctively used Armament Haki to defend himself, but even with his Armament Haki and the formidable defense of a Zoan Devil Fruit, the Cross Slash forcibly cleaved through them.

A crisscrossing sword wound sank to the bone, hideous and horrifying as blood streamed continuously from it.

Boom!!!

Vix's body was also blasted more than a hundred meters away by the powerful slash.

"Double Soru!"

Li Yuan did not stop just because Vix had been sent flying. Instead, his speed increased.

After bursting forward with two Soru steps, he reached Vix's rear before Vix had even landed.

"Limitless: Half-Moon Slash."

The Longsword slashed out in an instant. Its intense Sword Qi seemed capable of cutting down even the full moon in the night sky, and a crescent-shaped slash came straight down toward Vix's head.

Vix could not use Geppo. With no foothold in midair, he forcibly twisted his body and kicked the Half-Moon Slash with a Leopard Leg coated in Armament Haki.

Boom!!!

The ultimate sharpness of the Half-Moon Slash instantly cut through the Armament Haki and defense on his Leopard Leg, even slicing halfway through the leopard bone within.

At the critical moment, Vix kicked out with his other foot as well, blocking the Half-Moon Slash.

It saved one of his Leopard Legs. Otherwise, the Half-Moon Slash would have severed it!

Boom!!!

Vix was sent flying again. The moment he landed, he immediately rose to his feet, enduring the pain in his legs as he stared fixedly at Li Yuan.

He had not expected his opponent's sword to possess such terrifying lethality, capable of cutting through even his double-layered defense.

That kind of slashing power was far too terrifying. It was practically the bane of Zoans.

"If that's all you can do, you'll die very quickly."

Li Yuan charged forward with his sword again. This time, he was not holding back as he had when fighting Rear Admiral Jessno, nor was he using the battle to temper his Armament Haki.

After all, Vix was much weaker than him now and could not offer much in the way of training.

"Bastard, don't look down on me!"

Vix was furious. His crew had all been knocked unconscious, and as a Devil Fruit user, he could not possibly enter the sea.

If he wanted to survive, he could only defeat the man before him.

Vix's speed was terrifying when he unleashed his full power, but to Li Yuan, who was proficient in Soru and Geppo, it was still slower than his own.

With greater speed and stronger attacks, Li Yuan firmly held the upper hand throughout his battle with Vix.

As the Limitless Sword Technique unfolded, Vix found it difficult to fend off. Every strike from Li Yuan's sword inflicted horrifying injuries upon him.

Were it not for the powerful physique, vitality, and regenerative ability granted by his Zoan Devil Fruit, he would have long since suffered severe injuries, his strength greatly diminished before Li Yuan cut him down.

Meanwhile, throughout the battle with Vix, Li Yuan's swordsmanship and combat experience continued to grow.

His sword strikes became faster and faster, the edge of his Sword Body sharper and sharper, while the martial arts techniques of his legs melded ever more perfectly with his swordsmanship.

"Is this what a battle between strong fighters looks like?"

"They're really so strong. My eyes can't even keep up with their speed."

"So that's a Devil Fruit user? His vitality is so tenacious. Eldest Senior Brother has cut him so many times, yet he still hasn't died."

"..."

The members of the Limitless Pirates who had already finished their battles and boarded the ship watched the battle between Li Yuan and Vix from afar. They were all rookies who had only just set out.

This battle between powerful fighters was an eye-opener for them. It made them clearly realize their own insignificance and gave them far greater reverence for the powerful figures of the Great Sea.

When they had been on Fei Qing Island, they had seen Li Yuan train before.

But they had never known just how powerful he truly was. Now, they had finally witnessed it for themselves, and they believed in Li Yuan even more.

Lazuli clenched her fists tightly, her beautiful eyes fixed on Li Yuan as he continued fighting.

She had once followed Li Yuan in pursuit of strength. Now she realized that the great power she sought was right before her eyes.

She did not possess such great power, nor did she have the talent to pursue it. Then she would pursue the monster who possessed such power instead.

And then obtain him. Wouldn't that mean she had gained power indirectly?