The air was violently shattered with a deafening sonic boom. Dawn burst out of the Air Door in an instant, appearing directly in the path of Saint Nusjuro's slash. Kikoku, wrapped in two types of Haki, lay across his body and precisely blocked the vicious sneak attack.
Clang!
The thunderous crash of metal against metal made the entire ground tremble. Blinding sparks erupted from where the two cursed blades collided, and a savage shockwave spread wildly in every direction, sending every stone and splash of mud on the ground flying.
Taking advantage of that opening, Nami summoned the last of her strength and dove headfirst into the Air Door behind her. The green spatial door slammed shut at once, completely cutting her off from the danger outside.
Dawn's blade and Saint Nusjuro's blade pressed tightly against each other. Their Haki clashed and canceled each other out wildly between the blades, while the invisible pressure made the surrounding air as thick as cement.
Feeling the terrifying, tsunami-like force transmitted through First Generation Kitetsu, Saint Nusjuro's heart sank sharply, and a chill shot from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.
He had nearly exhausted all his strength and pushed his abilities to their limit to unleash that long-planned sneak attack. His goal had been to kill Nami in a single blow, to completely eliminate Dawn's weakness.
Of course, he had long prepared for Dawn to step in and block the attack. Rather, forcing Dawn to reveal himself had been part of his plan from the start.
The only thing he had misjudged was the other man's unfathomable, terrifying strength.
At the moment, his centaur form gave him an absolute advantage in height and weight. His power had even been amplified several times by the Contract Mark.