Roger grinned broadly.
He greeted Sakazuki without a care in the world.
Sakazuki had no intention of answering.
He poured even more strength into his blade.
Seeing this, Roger's smile faded a little, and he increased his own strength.
Humm!
Endless white light flared.
BOOM!!!
A massive explosion spread outward from the two of them.
It swept across the ground, destroying everything in its path.
When the white light faded, only bare ground remained.
And the two men stood a hundred meters apart.
Sakazuki activated his power. His skin glowed red, with magma faintly flowing beneath its surface.
Dazzling golden light shone from his eyes.
Waves of scorching heat rolled off his body.
Red Lotus Mode activated!
He twirled his long blade, then gripped its hilt with both hands.
He stamped down, and a tremendous burst of thrust erupted from his back, propelling him toward Roger with his blade raised.
He crossed the hundred meters in an instant.
As he swung his long blade down, several vents formed on his shoulders and elbows.
Endless waves of heat gushed out, lending force to his vicious slash.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang! Clang! Clang!...
The clash of blades rang out incessantly. Their weapons left afterimages as they collided fiercely.
Waves of Sword Aura shot from their clashing blades, flying off to who knew where.
Only the crisscrossing trenches in the ground, stretching beyond sight,
bore witness to their fierce exchange.
Unlike Sakazuki, whose face remained expressionless,
Roger kept grinning and laughing.
Clang!
As their blades clashed again, Roger spoke with a teasing edge:
"Don't go dying on me, Marine."
"Divine Departure!"
Roger gripped his sword with both hands, his biceps swelling until they strained against his sleeves.
Conqueror's Haki spiraled around the blade of his Supreme Grade Sword.
He swung it at Sakazuki.
Unfazed,