Duel

Iron Body: Hollow Wood was practically a suit of thorn armor.

If Luffy had not possessed a rubber body in the original story, that thorn armor alone would have crippled both his hands.

Bang...

The next second, Jinbe's fist slammed fiercely into Ener's chest.

"Six Powers: Iron Body?"

For a moment, Jinbe made a guess. Ener neither dodged nor evaded, much less counterattacked. He was like a wooden dummy!

Only by using Iron Body from the Six Powers would someone act like that.

But in the next instant, he felt an incredibly terrifying recoil force from the fist that had struck Ener.

It shook his fist loose, and he even felt an agonizing pain like his bones had cracked.

"What kind of move is this?"

Even the knowledgeable Jinbe could not immediately see through the move Ener was using.

"Iron Body: Shatter!"

Ener instantly entered a full-body Iron Body state, then threw a full-force punch at Jinbe.

Jinbe did not dare take it lightly.

He crossed his arms before him and blocked the punch. Under the powerful impact, Jinbe was blasted back seven or eight meters before steadying himself.

At the same time, Jinbe's feet dragged two deep grooves through the ground.

The way Jinbe looked at Ener changed. If he had previously only cared because Ener carried Fish-man blood—

Then now, he acknowledged Ener's strength.

Jinbe rolled his neck a few times, immediately producing a series of cracks. Then he smiled. "Be careful now. This old man is going to get serious... Fish-man Karate: 7,000 Tile Roundhouse Kick!"

A roundhouse kick powerful enough to split seven thousand tiles flew toward Ener.

It was incredibly fast and packed with overwhelming force.

Even Ener's expression grew more solemn.

"Iron Body: Steel..."

He knew Jinbe had no intention of killing him, so he wanted to use him to test just how powerful and durable these Iron Body techniques really were.

That way, he would not encounter some kind of "illusion" effect.

This move strengthened Iron Body's defensive power to withstand an opponent's attack, and it was known as the Iron Body with the strongest defense.

Of course, being called the strongest did not mean it could not be broken. Any attack far beyond its limits of endurance could naturally shatter it.

However, this move also depended on the user.

The stronger the user, the stronger its defense. Against someone at the same level, its defense was absolutely unbreakable. Otherwise, it would not be called the strongest Iron Body!

Bang...

Under the tremendous force, Ener was sent flying. However, he flipped in midair and landed steadily back on the ground.

"Water Shot!"

Jinbe pressed his advantage, launching a water projectile from afar.

In Jinbe's hands, this move was as powerful as a cannonball—absolutely formidable.

"Paper Art!"

Ener's body seemed to undergo a strange transformation, becoming as light as a sheet of paper. More importantly, when Jinbe's Water Shot arrived, he dodged it at precisely the right moment.

Observation Haki combined with Paper Art was truly the best choice for evasion!

"Cough, cough..."

Ener then coughed a few times.

He felt an intense pain in his chest. That punch had landed hard. Still, he had not truly been injured. It just hurt...

He now had a rough assessment.

This move could block all Vice Admiral-level attacks. But against a Shichibukai, it fell somewhat short. However, if he used this move after transforming into a beast—

And added Armament Haki—

Then he could block even a Shichibukai's attacks.

Jinbe raised an eyebrow. Ener had used Iron Body to defend against two consecutive moves, but the two were rather different.

The first had not only blocked his attack, but had also injured him through the recoil.

Of course, the biggest reason was that Jinbe had not used his full strength before. It had merely been a probing attack!

The second move...

Ener gave him no chance to think further and immediately launched a counterattack.

"Shave!"

With a low shout, Ener's figure vanished from where he stood in an instant, like a ghost.

At the sight, Jinbe's heart tightened sharply. His bell-sized eyes narrowed into slits involuntarily. A powerful sense of danger surged through him, setting off frantic alarm bells in his mind... At the same time, he pushed his Observation Haki to its limit.

Just then, Jinbe suddenly sensed something unusual. He tilted his head slightly to the left and swiftly swept his gaze in that direction like lightning.

Sure enough, Ener had already appeared there!

The corner of Jinbe's mouth lifted imperceptibly, revealing a confident smile. "Water Shot: Rainstorm!"

As his words fell, dozens of thick water columns shot out like arrows loosed from a bow, howling straight toward Ener. These water columns contained immense power and impact, their might far beyond ordinary attacks. If it were someone even slightly weaker, they would likely be riddled with holes in an instant and turned into a veritable honeycomb.

Yet Ener showed no trace of panic in the face of the oncoming water columns.

His right hand gripped the hilt at his waist tightly. With a slight flick of his wrist, Sandai Kitetsu, which had lain quietly in its sheath, instantly flew free. Its coldly gleaming blade carved a frigid arc through the air.

Then Ener softly uttered, "One-Sword Style: Ice Tiger!"

In an instant, an extremely cold aura burst from his body and rapidly gathered upon the blade. Then, a tiger-shaped special slash, perfectly fused from sword intent and frost, roared forth and charged toward the incoming water columns with the force of a tiger descending the mountain.

Where it passed, a thin layer of frost seemed to form in the air, and the surrounding temperature plummeted.

When those water columns came into contact with the tiger-shaped slash, they stopped advancing as though they had been struck by a binding spell.

Then, a series of crisp cracks rang out as the water columns froze into solid blocks of ice. But it was not over. In the next moment, unable to bear the enormous impact, those ice blocks suddenly exploded, scattering countless tiny ice crystals in every direction like a dazzling feast of icy blossoms.

"Hmph!"

Jinbe narrowed his eyes slightly at the sight. Then he snorted coldly, lowered his stance, and threw a straight punch.

He forcibly altered the direction of the Ice Tiger slash.

Then he looked at Ener and said, "Again. Let me see exactly what level your strength has reached."

After saying that, Jinbe's eyes flickered.

Ener caught it instantly.

Suddenly, he understood something. Perhaps Jinbe had been sent by someone to test his strength. But who—

Had the strength and authority to make a Shichibukai personally test him?

Sengoku?

Or perhaps the Five Elders?

For a moment, Ener could not be sure. But regardless—

He truly should reveal some of his strength. Only then could he gain greater authority and a higher position.