Roy knew he could not hold anything back against an expert like Kuzan.
Otherwise, he would only suffer badly.
Once again, he gathered what little cursed energy he had left into Slashes and sent them at Kuzan.
However.
Facing Roy's strengthened Cross Slash, Kuzan remained confident and utterly still.
Roy narrowed his eyes slightly.
Only when the Cross Slash was about to hit Kuzan did he move.
Cold light surged over Kuzan's body, revealing flowing, liquid energy.
The special ability of a Logia... Elementalization activated at that moment!
The Cross Slash struck the liquid element without meeting the slightest resistance, directly shattering the ice wall behind it.
Crack!
Another cross-shaped trench appeared inside the Level 1 cells.
The cold wind cut to the bone, and Roy's expression turned grave.
"Just as I thought..."
As though confirming his guess, Kuzan explained:
"Roy, I admit you're strong, but..."
"Although I don't know exactly what Devil Fruit ability you have, or why you can launch slashes comparable to a Great Swordsman's without using a weapon..."
Roy's gaze was deep, and he said nothing.
Kuzan changed tack, saying calmly, "But in this world, there are countless fruit abilities, with all kinds of wonders."
"Ultimately, though, there are only three types of Devil Fruit."
"And my Ice-Ice Fruit is a Logia. Logia Devil Fruits possess a special ability... Elementalization!"
Roy interrupted him:
"Elementalization is exclusive to Logias. Aside from Haki, most other abilities have trouble hurting you, right?"
"And after seeing that Cross Rule Slash of mine, which was powerful enough to kill Magellan, you already had a theory."
Kuzan's pupils contracted.
With a hint of admiration in his expression, Roy continued:
"After settling on your theory, you went so far as to attack me first to verify it, setting things up through one exchange after another."
"All to test whether my Slashes could hurt you while you were undergoing Elementalization, right?"
"What a monster. You actually saw through my true intentions just by analyzing a few exchanges!"
Kuzan could no longer remain composed.
That level of combat intelligence was simply terrifying.
It was as though all his intentions had been seen through.
"A monster? Heh, the same goes for you!"
Roy shook his head with a laugh and continued laying out his deductions:
"And you guessed right."
"Although my slashes are frightening, against your Elementalization, they're like an ordinary blade cutting water. It looks like they've cut through, but they actually have no effect!"
"As expected of a Marine Admiral. You've really made me realize I can't underestimate anyone!"
At that moment, the extraordinarily high combat intelligence Roy possessed from Ryomen Sukuna fully revealed itself.
He had analyzed Kuzan's objective.
But wasn't he also confirming his own suspicions?
"Ah la la, what a terrifying monster!"
After a brief silence, Kuzan likewise showed shock he could not suppress.
What Roy had said was exactly what he had been thinking, and what he had intended to test.
After all, when he had faced that Cross Slash earlier, although he had sensed its immense killing power,
it had seemed to lack the special power of Haki.
That was why he had attacked first, forcing Roy to strike so he could test it.
And just as expected, after being suppressed in Haki, martial arts, and stamina, Roy had unleashed the Slashes he had once aimed at Magellan.
He had also decisively used Elementalization to verify it.
In the end, his gamble had paid off!
At that thought, Kuzan revealed an unprecedented killing intent.
"Roy, letting a monster like you leave would be a disaster for the world..."
He paused, cold air spilling outward as he prepared to snuff Roy out before he could grow.
"No, if you reach the New World, another of the Four Emperors might be born."
"I will never let you leave!"
Roy's gaze was deep, and he suddenly laughed.
Then he made a hand gesture Kuzan could not understand.
"Heh, Kuzan, you really are a hypocrite."
"Always using the world as an excuse. Do you really think you're a savior?"
"Ten Shadows Technique Shikigami: Totality!"
"Shikigami: Piercing Ox!"
At the same time, a system panel only he could see appeared before his eyes.
[Host: Roy] [Templates: Ryomen Sukuna, Megumi Fushiguro (50%)] [Strength: Admiral (84%)] [Core ability: Malevolent Shrine (Dismantle, Cleave, Open: Furnace (locked))] [Special abilities 1: Reverse Cursed Technique, Piercing Blood, Black Flash (locked), World-Cutting Slash (locked)] [Special abilities 2: Ten Shadows Technique Shikigami: Rabbit Escape, Divine Dogs (Totality), Piercing Ox, Max Elephant, Merged Beast: Agito (locked), Eight-Handled Sword: Divine General of Another World: Mahoraga (locked)] [Haki: Intermediate Armament Haki, Intermediate Observation Haki] [Cursed tools: Kamutoke (locked), Hiten (locked)] [Domains: Malevolent Shrine, Shadow Garden (locked)]
"Pretty good. These are the abilities Ryomen Sukuna once possessed, combined during his time fighting Satoru Gojo. No wonder the Ten Shadows Technique felt a little unusual."
After glancing over the panel, Roy smiled lightly.
However, he soon composed himself and grew serious.
Kuzan's Elementalization really was troublesome, which was also why he had not used his domain.
Just now, for instance, Kuzan's Elementalization had directly neutralized his Slashes.
Besides, the current Pirates' world was equally absurd.
The Three Types of Haki complemented one another, working and adapting together.
Observation Haki could foresee the future!
Armament Haki could be projected outward!
Conqueror's Haki alone could tear apart the sky and form seals and armor!
There were even several additional gods, as well as divine weapons.
It truly deserved the name "Mythical Pirate Era."
Tell me that isn't sneaky!
And right now, his slashes were indeed at a severe disadvantage against Elementalization.
That was also why he had not deployed his domain to fight.
Besides, he would later try to see whether he could combine Haki with his slashes.
If he really could...
At that thought, excitement he had not felt in a long time appeared in Roy's eyes.
Then his slashes would evolve once again!
For now, though, it was time for him to leave.
At his summons, a black-and-white dog and an enormous wild ox appeared on the scene.
The sight made Kuzan's expression change.
"Roy, what are you doing? Don't tell me your abilities go beyond that, and you can control beasts too?"
Roy's actions gave him a faint sense of foreboding.
He decisively activated his Ice-Ice Fruit ability, sending a projectile-like shock wave wreathed in cold toward the two Shikigami.
"Roy, I will never let you succeed!"
"Ice Time Capsule!"
Roy merely gave a quiet smile.
"Hey, hey, hey, Kuzan, you really are impulsive!"
Despite his words, his expression remained calm, leaving Kuzan unable to read his thoughts.
But the next second, Kuzan's gaze abruptly changed.
Roy was actually trying to inject Armament Haki into the two Shikigami.
In an instant, as though drawn by something, black Armament Haki began spreading outward from the two Shikigami's heads.
But...
"Blurgh..."
Roy's expression abruptly changed, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
He had failed!
Just then, Kuzan's freezing attack arrived.
Both Shikigami were frozen on the spot.
The extreme cold was even continuing to eat into them.
"Did the Haki fusion fail?"
Kuzan visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
If those two Shikigami had truly fused with Haki, the consequences would have been unthinkable.
Together with Roy, who could still fight, they would certainly have been extremely troublesome.
Fortunately, it seemed to have failed!
Coming back to his senses, he prepared to attack Roy again.
But to his surprise, the scene around him and even directly before him suddenly changed dramatically.
"What is this?!"
Countless rabbits abruptly appeared before his eyes!
Kuzan: "???"
What was going on?
But he suddenly thought of something, and his expression changed drastically.
"Not good, that bastard Roy..."
"Ice Age!"
Without holding back, he activated his Ice-Ice Fruit ability once again.
Moments later, the Level 1 cells, already covered in ice, gained another fresh layer.
Yet Kuzan fell silent.
He looked over the empty space. Aside from the frozen jailers and criminals, Roy was nowhere to be seen.
Even the two frozen Shikigami and the rabbits filling the air had all disappeared!
"Roy, you bastard... you actually ran away..."
Kuzan lost his composure.
His eyes reddened uncontrollably, and he panted like an ox.
The fight had been going perfectly well, and he had been ready to battle Roy bloodily to the end.
And what had happened?
He had been played.
Roy had fled!
Ring, ring!
As luck would have it, his special Den Den Mushi rang at that very moment.
He suppressed his anger and watched the Den Den Mushi take on Sengoku's appearance.
He sank into thought!
Before you continue