No, I have to exploit the information gap and seize the initiative before he gets used to it!
Without the slightest hesitation, in the instant Gern was thinking-
Shanks surged forward again, kicking off the ground and shooting out like an arrow loosed from a bow.
Instead of charging in a straight line, he followed an unpredictable Z-shaped trajectory, making the most of his Observation Haki Killer.
At the same time, his right hand, which had been poised to strike, swung Griffon with all his strength!
"Mighty Slash!"
This time, the dark-red torrent of Conqueror's Haki condensed into an even more concentrated, violent shockwave that slashed straight toward Gern!
He wanted to force Gern to block or dodge, throwing off his rhythm!
"Looks like you learned quite a lot back then!
"I can see traces of that fellow Rayleigh in this move!"
A cold gleam flashed in Gern's eyes. Rather than raising his blade, he extended his left hand, spread his fingers, and pressed forward against the air!
"Vmmm!" In an instant, the air before him compressed intensely and vibrated violently, forming a visibly distorted, transparent barrier!
"BOOM!!!"
The shockwave from Griffon slammed into the vibration barrier!
The collision between the two supreme forces did not immediately explode. Instead, they briefly locked in a stalemate.
But that stalemate lasted only half a second.
"Crack!"
Fine cracks appeared across the vibration barrier!
After all, the slash carried Conqueror's Coating. Gern had never expected to stop it; his real aim was to adapt to the effects of Observation Haki Killer as quickly as possible.
Gern was never arrogant in battle. Taking every fight seriously was the true way to survive!
And so, at the instant the barrier was about to shatter and the shockwave was about to strike him-
"Hm?!" Gern's Observation