"Ahem…"
Dust swirled into the air as Silver Axe coughed up blood. The point where Mio's scarlet giant had struck him was severely indented into the ground, the damage to his body clearly immense.
Climbing out of the crater in a panic, Silver Axe gazed at Mio with shock, then muttered deeply, "Boy… your strength is truly terrifying—and you're still this young."
Yet, despite his injuries, Silver Axe grinned.
"Yes… I see greater possibilities in you."
"What do you mean?" Mio asked, calm and composed.
"Heh… Back in the Hive, do you know why Rocks was able to gather such a monstrous crew?" Silver Axe wiped the blood from his lips. "Because he was strong. Inhumanly strong."
"But now… I believe it's only a matter of time before you surpass Rocks himself. I don't know if you have the same ambition—to become king of the world—but if you do… you might actually succeed."
He laughed hoarsely.
"Rocks… he was impressive back in the day. Now? He's like a dog. But he's still alive."
That revelation caused Mio's eyes to narrow slightly.
Rocks… still alive?
Silver Axe chuckled. "With your status in the seas, I thought you'd be interested in that news. Hahaha! Come, let's continue. I'm no match for you, but it's been ages since I've fought like this. Thanks to you, the sea doesn't seem so boring anymore."
"I once planned to raise my own crew, take territory, become an overlord like Kaido… But now? Dying at the hands of a real warrior is better. I'm tired."
RUMBLE.
An explosive aura erupted.
Silver Axe's eyes turned blood-red.
His body began to transform.
"I still have my Devil Fruit," he muttered. "It may just be an ordinary Zoan fruit… but I've brought it to awakening."
His body bulked up massively. Two bull-like horns emerged from his head, muscles bulging, and his aura surged like a storm.
Mio narrowed his eyes. So, it's the Bull-Bull Fruit—Wild Bull Form.
An average Zoan fruit.
But one pushed to its awakening stage was no small matter.
With enhanced strength and recovery, the threat was real.
Still, Mio cracked his knuckles and said flatly, "Devil fruit or not, the outcome is the same. You're destined to die. But since you wish to fall by my hand—I'll grant that."
Bang!
With that, Mio vanished.
He reappeared at Silver Axe's left and punched out with immense layered force.
"Extreme Power—Explode!"
Silver Axe reacted quickly, swinging his giant axe with deadly precision.
BOOM!
But—
"Replace."
Mio vanished again, his form replaced just before the axe could land. Silver Axe's weapon struck only earth, carving a bottomless rift into the ground and causing the entire battlefield to tremble violently.
Appearing on the opposite side, Mio's charged fist struck Silver Axe's temple.
CRACK.
Silver Axe flew like a broken kite, crashing and sliding across the ground. The island quaked.
"Is that… an earthquake?!"
"What's happening?! Is someone fighting?!"
"Will the Sabaody Archipelago collapse?!"
"Run!!"
In the neighboring areas, panic spread. Ordinary civilians and terrified nobles fled, while the bolder ones could only gape in horror.
Watching from afar, Rayleigh silently observed.
Then he turned his eyes toward the distant coastline—where Marine warships had begun to anchor—and sighed.
"Looks like another relic from the old era is about to go."
With that, Rayleigh disappeared into the distance.
To him, Silver Axe's fate was sealed—like Golden Lion before him.
Such was life on the sea. No one could escape death forever.
Even Roger had died young.
Even if not by execution, illness would've claimed him soon after.
But Mio…
The Black Crow was still young—nowhere near his peak.
And Rayleigh couldn't help but wonder: would the next generation truly be able to surpass him? Could anyone rise to inherit Roger's legacy with Mio reigning over the sea?
Only time would tell.
But for now—the battle wasn't over.
With Silver Axe at full power, Mio held nothing back either. His Replacement Fruit was unleashed freely.
His figure blinked around the battlefield, teleporting from angle to angle.
Silver Axe gritted his teeth.
He couldn't anticipate where Mio would appear next.
But then…
"I see you!"
With a burst of focus, Silver Axe twisted his body and slashed behind him with all his might.
Mio had indeed appeared there.
But it was too late.
Mio only smiled coldly. "Seeing it won't help you."
Flicker.
He vanished once again.
Silver Axe's slash missed—and then…
Whoosh.
Mio appeared behind Silver Axe, his right hand glowing scarlet. Demonic power converged, and a sharp crimson sword formed, wrapped in Armament Haki.
He didn't hesitate.
Pssht.
The blade pierced straight through Silver Axe's heart.
Blood erupted from his chest.
Mio pulled the blade out in one fluid motion.
More blood sprayed.
Silver Axe gasped. His face turned pale.
Yet, he didn't fall. His awakened recovery had already begun working.
Still, in that moment of pain, he twisted and swung one final time—his axe aimed at Mio's side…