Vic stood in the center of the battlefield, feeling the cheers and admiring gazes rising and falling around him, his eyes remaining calm.
He knew that this attack was just the beginning; Imu would not fall so easily, and the real battle had only just begun.
"My master warned me long ago, but I still dared to dream of challenging him. Was I still unwilling to accept it? But how could I possibly accept it!"
Zoro stared at Vic, who was confronting Imu in mid-air, his knuckles white from gripping his sword so tightly.
When the Straw Hat Pirates returned to the East Blue, Zoro made a special trip back to Shimotsuki Village to visit his master, Koshiro. At that time, he had already defeated Hawk-Eye, and his swordsmanship had reached its peak. His confidence had greatly increased!
Then he talked to Koshiro about wanting to challenge Vic. After all, they were from the same school, and he still needed to tell Koshiro, his master, about his intention to challenge his senior brother Vic.
Koshiro simply shook his head and advised him to "use yourself as a mirror and not fall into the obsession of being competitive," saying that his current strength had reached a bottleneck, and that being competitive was a major taboo in cultivation; only by calming his mind and comprehending the Tao could he break through.
At the time, Zoro thought his master was overthinking things and didn't take these heartfelt words to heart.
Witnessing Vic cleave the spatial barrier with a single swing of his sword, he realized that the gap between them was not just one of strength, but an insurmountable chasm of different realms.
Koshiro's good intentions back then were to help him see through illusions so that he could touch upon a higher level of swordsmanship.
"I sensed a familiar aura in Thunder God's sword move just now, as if it originated from the same source as my Devil Fruit ability. What's going on?"
Luo frowned, and a pale blue "room" space unconsciously appeared in his palm.
Vic's move just now was Space Slash, which is based on spatial power. It's normal for Law to feel that it was somewhat familiar with his own ability.
Although his Devil Fruit ability is called the Op-Op Fruit, it is essentially a space-based ability, and he has developed spatial power, but for many years it has been limited to the scope of the "operating table".
To the entire universe, what we manipulate is merely the cutting and rearrangement of a small space, which is far too one-sided.
Compared to Vic, who is nearing perfection, Luo's application of Law of Space is still too weak. So, although he sensed a familiar aura of Laws, he only thought it was similar to his own abilities, which was just the tip of the Iceburg. He was far too narrow-minded!
"I told you long ago that Vic was very strong, but you all always say that I deliberately let him go back then. Sigh! I've been wronged for so many years!"
Kizaru is the only Marine Admiral to be seriously injured by Vic. Even when Ryokugyu and Fujitora tried to stop Vic from leaving Mary Geoise, Vic only managed to suppress them with Conqueror's Haki.
Akainu, who was the first to become enemies with Vic, only fought him once at Marine Headquarters. At that time, Vic was too inexperienced and could only fight Akainu to a draw. In reality, he was slightly weaker!
As for Aokiji, Vic and he had a good relationship, so naturally they wouldn't fight.
Therefore, Kizaru, the Marine Admiral who received orders to capture Vic, became the only victim and was subjected to much criticism, which is why he said he was wronged!
"It seems only he can defeat that monster, but why do I feel so uneasy?"
Akainu crossed his arms, with molten lava churning around him.
Although Akainu had some memories added and deleted by Vic, Vic did not touch the conflicting memories between Vic.
Therefore, although Akainu needed to rely on Vic's power to overthrow the World Government, he wasn't really happy about it.
Akainu isn't a selfless person who's entirely devoted to the public good. He has his own agenda. Given how powerful Vic is, and the fact that they've had conflicts before, it's impossible for him to objectively analyze their future relationship. So this isn't surprising!
"If Thunder God were to become the leader of the World Government, I would have no objections and would even assist him in bringing about change to this world!"
Fujitora tilted his head slightly, his blind eyes seemingly able to pierce through the clouds and gaze in Vic's direction.
He was a person with extremely upright values. In order to avoid seeing the filth of this world, he blinded himself. How pure that must be! He was truly a person who was devoted to the public good!
Over the years, he has learned a great deal about what Vic and Luffy have done, and as a Marine Admiral, he highly approves of these two pirates!
He has his own judgment on things, and he never deviates from correct values, which is very rare!
"I don't envy Vic's achievements; he deserves them!"
Sengoku gazed at Vic, who stood calmly in the air, and let out a long sigh; the white hair at his temples trembled slightly in the wind.
He weathered numerous crises and trials, and ultimately underwent a transformation!
I, an old man, am fully aware of the World Government's darkness and the Navy's blind obedience, yet I lack Vic's unwavering courage. I hoped that my high position would allow me to change the Navy, but in the end, I was powerless to resist and committed many wrongdoings. Alas!
When Sengoku was a Vice Admiral, he already had a certain understanding of the actions of the World Government and the Celestial Dragons, and he was also fairly clear about the role played by the Navy.
However, his ideals differed from Garp's. Garp did not want to be promoted to Marine Admiral and be at the beck and call of the Celestial Dragons like a servant; he only wanted to follow the justice in his heart!
He chose to be promoted step by step, hoping to become the highest-ranking officer in the navy and start reforming the navy from within. But in the end, he failed; he couldn't do it!
The navy cannot be separated from the World Government, and its nature can never be changed. However, Sengoku at that time was caught up in the situation and could not understand this point!
"Fortunately, a man named Vic appeared in this era. Without him, who could have been a match for that monster?"
Dragon stood amidst the raging wind, his gaze solemn and resolute!
Who could have imagined that an even higher realm lies hidden beyond Awakening? If no one breaks down this barrier, the world will remain lost and forever sink into depravity!
In Dragon's mind, Imu was truly terrifying, stripping the realm of the Law God from the annals of history!
This effectively cuts off everyone's path to advancement. Those who come after her will never be able to surpass her, let alone defeat her. Imu will sit back and watch the world change!
But now an anomaly like Vic has emerged, shattering all of Imu's plans and bringing a glimmer of light to this gloomy world!
Before onlookers could have a chance to discuss it further, Imu, transformed into a giant lizardwoman, flew back from an invisible distance, followed by several white halo-like rings of vapor behind her. When she retracted her bat wings and landed in the valley, the entire island trembled!
After landing, Imu didn't say a word. He spun the Devil Trident a few times and then used the momentum of the spin to chop it down at Vic in mid-air, just like a human swatting a fly!
Imu swung his trident with incredible speed, and Vic, hovering there using Geppo, was too easy to aim at, and was struck squarely!
"Bite"
The clash of weapons echoed throughout the valley, Vic was swatted into the ground like a fly, sending up countless boulders and dirt.
When the smoke cleared, Vic stood at the bottom of the pit, his Supreme Great Grade Sword held horizontally above his head, his body as straight as a pine tree, his expression calm!
Clearly, Imu's slash just now did not hit Vic, but was blocked by the blade. Although Blood Wither is only a weapon of the Supreme Great Grade Sword level, it has been forged by Vic into Black Blade. Although it is not as powerful as Imu's divine weapon, the Devil Trident, it will not be easily cut in half!