The pull of the blade drew a muffled groan from Kozuki Oden.
Blood ran down the blade and spread across Werther's palm, slick against his skin.
Kozuki Oden let out a beastlike roar and lunged forward.
Werther was gripping the blade near its tip. Even with Armament Haki coating his hand, he could not match Kozuki Oden's strength. Oden tore himself free.
Kozuki Oden staggered a few steps, then gritted his teeth and pulled the blade from his abdomen.
A long, narrow wound ran across his abdomen to his spine.
If Kozuki Oden had not reacted in time, his spine might have been damaged.
The wound on his abdomen was severe, but the one on his back was worse. Werther had slashed his entire back open, leaving a gash like a dreadful maw spilling blood.
Werther watched Kozuki Oden from a distance. He was badly injured too, but his wounds were nothing compared to Oden's.
Just as Werther prepared to finish off the wounded Kozuki Oden, a strange change came over Oden's body.
"Life Return: Funeral."
The edges of Kozuki Oden's wounds began to writhe, as though his entire body had gained a will of its own.
Five seconds later, Kozuki Oden's injuries had healed. Only the blood covering him remained.
But the hair at his temples had begun to turn gray.
Werther realized that Kozuki Oden had forced his wounds to heal by consuming his own Life Force.
Kozuki Oden exhaled and looked at Werther with murder in his eyes.
"Trading wounds with me was your worst possible choice. As long as I'm not dead, I can heal myself without limit."
Though Kozuki Oden's injuries had healed completely, Werther felt no alarm. Intent Blood was feeding him Life Force, healing his wounds as well.
"I hadn't planned to use