Demon God Descent

The sea wind still howled, carrying a salty dampness as it swept across the ruined deck.

Lin Feng knelt on one knee, blood dripping down and blooming into dazzling red plum blossoms across the wooden boards.

He gasped for breath, his chest heaving violently.

Yet his sharp eyes still flickered with an unyielding will to fight, like flames that would never go out.

"I..." Lin Feng struggled to raise his head, his voice hoarse yet filled with a terrifying resolve.

"I haven't lost yet!"

"Demon God Descent!"

Before his voice had even faded, a strange black aura slowly seeped from the Demon God Blade in Lin Feng's hand, writhing like a living creature.

It intertwined with the golden-red flames around him, forming a unique energy field that made the heart tremble.

The black aura and flames fused together, enveloping Lin Feng completely, as if he had become a demon god from hell.

Lin Feng's hair was dyed in black and red, whipping wildly in the sea wind like dancing demonic flames.

His gaze grew even sharper, filled with bestial, bloodthirsty madness.

The lines of his muscles became smoother as well, brimming with explosive power.

The Demon God Blade changed too, becoming covered in black-and-red patterns and emitting a heart-shaking hum.

Lin Feng felt the power of the Demon God surge into his body.

That power was like a raging beast, tearing at his reason, yearning to grow stronger and defeat the formidable enemy before him.

That yearning made him forget pain and fear, leaving behind nothing but endless fighting spirit.

Lin Feng suddenly raised his head, madness flashing in his eyes.

He stomped down, his body shooting toward Hawkeye like an arrow loosed from its bow.

His speed was astonishing, leaving behind only a blurred afterimage.

"One-Sword Style: Demon God Slash!"

Lin Feng roared as the Demon God Blade in his hand descended toward Hawkeye with enough force to destroy heaven and earth.

Every swing was accompanied by black-and-red sword aura, its power far exceeding before, as if it would tear everything apart.

Hawkeye's expression turned solemn.

Faced with Lin Feng's sudden transformation, a trace of surprise finally appeared on his normally placid face.

He swung Yoru to block, feeling the pressure brought by the Demon God.

That power seemed to come from an ancient battlefield, filled with bloodthirsty and violent energy.

"Clang, clang, clang—"

The sound of blades colliding exploded across the sea like rolling thunder.

Sparks flew in all directions, and the surging energy shook the water, raising towering waves.

Blades and sword flashes crossed at extreme speed, leaving only afterimages, as if countless blades were dancing through the air.

The sea churned violently beneath their battle, as though it were about to be torn apart.

Huge waves kept crashing against the Gale, as if they meant to swallow the little ship whole.

The shock waves of the battle tore apart the Gale's deck, sending splinters flying like leaves swept up by a gale.

Bart stood to one side, his face pale and his clothes soaked with sweat.

He operated the power of the Steel Fruit with all his might to reinforce the hull, suffering miserably.

Lin Feng's strength had far exceeded Bart's imagination, even making him feel a trace of fear.

"Th-this... is this really the captain?"

Bart muttered to himself, his voice filled with shock and worry.

Hawkeye's eyes shifted slightly.

Lin Feng's strength had already become sufficient to contend with him, and he acknowledged Lin Feng's current power, yet his gaze remained calm.

"How astonishing. You actually managed to raise your power to this level."

Hawkeye spoke softly, his tone carrying a hint of praise and curiosity.

Lin Feng did not answer. He merely swung the Demon God Blade in his hand and attacked Hawkeye furiously.

Blades and sword flashes crossed at extreme speed, leaving only afterimages, as if countless blades were dancing through the air.

The two fought fiercely, trading blows back and forth with earthshaking momentum.

The sea churned violently beneath their battle, as though it were about to be torn apart.

Hawkeye was shocked by the speed of Lin Feng's growth.

Lin Feng's power kept climbing, seemingly without limit, and Hawkeye realized he had underestimated the young man before him.

"It seems you really do have some ability."

Hawkeye spoke softly, his tone carrying a trace of seriousness.

"But is this enough?"

He tightened his grip on Yoru once more.

His aura rose again, like a drawn sword whose edge was fully revealed.

"Next, I'll show you my true strength."

Hawkeye whispered, his voice carrying a hint of excitement and anticipation.

Yoru in his hand erupted with an even stronger black slash, carrying enough force to destroy heaven and earth as it swept toward Lin Feng.

"Peerless Slash!"

Hawkeye gave a low shout, and Yoru unleashed fierce sword aura as it slashed toward Lin Feng's attack.

"Sun Breathing: Twelfth Form: Flame Dragon Dance!"

Lin Feng gave a low shout.

The Demon God Blade in his hand burst with even greater power, sending out a golden-red dragon-shaped sword aura that howled toward Hawkeye's black slash.

"Boom—"

The two powerful forces collided, unleashing an ear-splitting explosion that shook the entire sea.

Lin Feng was sent flying again, slamming heavily into the mast and spitting out a mouthful of blood.

A deep slash appeared across his chest.

Blood poured out continuously, staining his clothes red.

Lin Feng launched another attack, but his assault was clearly weaker than before, and his speed had slowed as he gradually fell into a disadvantageous position.

Hawkeye seized the opportunity.

As Yoru swept through the air, sword aura surged like a rainbow, completely suppressing Lin Feng.

Lin Feng felt the enormous gap between himself and a world-class expert.

Hawkeye's strength was unfathomable, like an insurmountable mountain.

"This is where it ends."

Hawkeye looked at Lin Feng without the slightest pity or sympathy.

His tone remained calm and utterly unshaken.

"Your current strength still isn't enough to defeat me."

Hawkeye returned Yoru to its sheath, and its radiance faded with it, as if everything had returned to tranquility.

He looked at Lin Feng, a trace of appreciative amusement flashing through his eyes.

"How about it? Do you still want to continue?"

Lin Feng knelt on one knee, blood slowly dripping from the wound across his chest and gathering into a small dark-red pool on the deck.

He gripped the Demon God Blade tightly, feeling its repeated tremors, as if it were responding to its master's unyielding will.

He raised his head, his gaze still sharp as a blade, without the slightest sign of defeat.

Lin Feng forced his body upright and slowly stood.

His gaze was firm, and he said in a tone that brooked no argument, "I will surpass you one day and claim the title of World's Greatest Swordsman."

Hawkeye found Lin Feng's persistence amusing, and a playful smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Oh? Is that so?"

"I look forward to that day."

Hawkeye spoke softly, his tone carrying a trace of disdain.

"But don't let it remain nothing more than words."

"I'll be waiting for you at the summit."

Before his voice had even faded, Hawkeye leaped into the air and jumped down from the Gale.

He boarded a small boat, raised the sail, and departed, his figure vanishing across the boundless sea.

Lin Feng watched the direction in which Hawkeye had left, his heart filled with unwillingness.

He gripped the Demon God Blade tightly, feeling its repeated tremors, as if it were responding to his resentment.

"He's already gone? He barely said two sentences."

"There's still an enormous gap between me and the world's strongest experts. I'll become stronger until, one day, I can surpass that man before me."

Lin Feng thought this, his chest still aching faintly.

That last blow had truly been brutal.

"Hawkeye, I will definitely surpass you!"

Lin Feng shouted inwardly, his voice low yet filled with determination.

[System Notification! Mission complete: Challenge the World's Greatest Swordsman. Reward: Sword Technique—Heaven-Splitting Sword Draw; 100,000 Slash Points]