Roger remained unmoved by Sakazuki's taunt.
He flashed a grin.
The Conqueror's Haki wrapped around his saber swirled and condensed as he slashed.
The condensed Sword Aura streaked like a beam of light.
It shot straight toward Sakazuki.
Sakazuki's gaze sharpened, and Haki instantly coated both his arms.
He raised his left hand and braced it at an angle against the Sword Aura.
Clang!
He clenched his right fist, and tremendous thrust erupted from his elbow.
He slammed it hard into his left hand.
The tremendous force burst forth, knocking the black Sword Aura away.
It shot diagonally behind him and vanished into the wooded hills.
Boom!
A mushroom cloud rose.
Then came a howling gale and a wave of heat.
They scattered the thick black smoke hanging over Town.
The instant the black smoke cleared-
Whoosh!
The two vanished from their spots, then reappeared elsewhere.
Their bodies collided for an instant before disappearing again.
Boom!
The spot where they had just appeared exploded as though a bomb had been buried underground.
Shattered houses and magma burst apart, shooting skyward.
Then the clash of metal rang out incessantly, with afterimages of their collisions flashing into view.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! ...
Countless pillars of magma erupted from underground.
The two reappeared, and a vicious gleam flashed through Sakazuki's eyes.
Clang!
Sparks flew as his pitch-black left hand clamped firmly around Roger's saber.
He held his right hand straight, coating it in Armament Haki until it resembled a sharp blade.
He thrust it toward Roger's heart.
But Roger coated his own left hand in Armament Haki and seized Sakazuki's wrist.
Crack!
A faint sound of breaking bone rang out, but Sakazuki paid it no mind.
He curled his right hand into a claw and gripped Roger's wrist in turn.
Then he