A Cruel World

Saint Somaz's pupils shrank to pinpoints. He watched his thorns melt away like snow before a flame, watched the slash tear through every obstacle and come straight for him. Roaring, he brought his mace down. His Armament Haki surged to its limit, extending several meters beyond his body to form an invisible suit of armor.

Clang!

The deafening crash of metal on metal was followed by a sharp snap.

The Armament Haki armor shattered like glass. The mace broke in two. Kikoku's blade did not slow in the slightest as it cut through Saint Somaz from his left shoulder to his right side, splitting him in two.

Saint Somaz hung motionless in the air. The fury in his eyes gave way to disbelief, then fear.

Dawn landed behind Saint Somaz, his back to the "god" he had cut in two. A purple-black vortex welled up in his palm once more, ready to finish his enemy for good.

Just then, resolve flashed through Saint Somaz's eyes, and he screamed inside his mind.

"Lord Imu! Save me! I've encountered the Darkness Man!"

Almost at once, a Pentagram Magic Circle appeared beneath him. Black lightning surged from it, enveloping the two halves of his body and turning them insubstantial.

Dawn's gaze sharpened. The purple-black flames on Kikoku suddenly flared, changing from a steady burn to a violent eruption. Gripping the sword with both hands, he slashed at the center of the Magic Circle with all his strength.

"You're not getting away!"

A tail suddenly thrust out of the Magic Circle. Its tip was shaped like an arrowhead and wreathed in dense Conqueror's Haki lightning. It met Kikoku, blade and tail colliding without touching.

Boom!

Black-and-red lightning exploded outward, scattering into countless electric serpents that raced across the deck. A shock wave swept through