The Black Dragon was in little better shape than Werther. A huge wound gaped across his neck too. Any other creature might already have died.
But he was a member of the Dragon Race. His bloodline might not have been pure, and he might have been born under unusual circumstances, but a dragon was still a dragon.
Watching the human approach again, the Black Dragon could only groan inwardly. This madman.
Werther's vision was starting to blur. He couldn't drag this out any longer. It was time to settle things with the Black Dragon. I'll use that.
He slid one Intent Blood back into the Sword Sheath and kept the other in his right hand.
Gripping Intent Blood, Werther poured all his remaining Haki into it. The blade gleamed an intense black.
Then he channeled every last bolt of lightning from the Thunder Core into Intent Blood. A dazzling orange-yellow light spread across its surface, as though the sword had become a sun.
Werther drew a deep breath, flashed in front of the Black Dragon, and swung.
"Sky-Splitting Sword: Single Line!"
An orange-yellow Sword Glint appeared right before the Black Dragon.
But the Black Dragon was ready. He had sensed trouble while Werther was preparing the strike and had gathered all his Haki into his foreclaw.
"Demon Dragon Claw!"
The Black Dragon actually shouted the attack's name before striking. It sounded absurdly theatrical, though his voice was heavy with grief and fury.
Boom. A deep sound rolled across the island.
Countless hairline cracks appeared in the space where sword met claw. Most came from the Sky-Splitting Sword; only a few were caused by the sheer force of the collision.
Roar!
The Black Dragon bellowed. Dense cracks spread across his foreclaw.
Boom! An enormous explosion erupted.
The impact hurled Werther backward.