Clang clang clang clang… Clang clang clang clang…
Clang clang clang clang… Clang clang clang clang…
The renowned blade and the umbrella collided continuously at extremely high speeds. Sparks flew in the air, and dense clanging sounds echoed incessantly, erupting with powerful shockwaves.
However, after only a few seconds, Redfield's expression remained relaxed, but the umbrella in his hand spun faster and faster, quickly leaving Cross unable to parry.
Suddenly, Cross's movements slowed by a beat. Kagehide in his hand scraped past the umbrella with a slish, creating a cascade of sparks that made him involuntarily take an extra step forward, causing his body to lose balance.
"Oh no…"
In an instant, Cross's face drastically changed. He watched as the bat-handled umbrella, like an arrow shot from a bowstring, seemed to pierce through the air like lightning, instantly poking his chest.
No sooner said than done, Cross twisted his waist almost simultaneously, watching as the umbrella's tip, like a sharp blade, "sliced" through his clothes, cut his skin, sliced through muscle, blood vessels, and nerve fibers, tearing a horrifying, bone-deep wound across his chest.
Rumble—!
The next second, Redfield unleashed his full power, causing the air to erupt into invisible, sharp slashes. Like a hot knife through butter, it cleaved through the house ruins behind Cross, leaving a deep, hundred-meter-long crack in the ground.
"If I had been hit head-on… I would've died!"
Cross knelt on the ground, his facial muscles twitching.
With a look of lingering fear, he lowered his head, gazing at the bone-deep wound in the center of his chest, which extended all the way to his right shoulder.
Blood flowed profusely, quickly staining his white sailor shirt crimson. In that instant, as if by some uncanny force, Cross had turned his body, using Kami-e to disengage his entire body's power, yielding to the changes in the air currents generated by his opponent's movements.
He narrowly, but miraculously, avoided a direct hit. Otherwise, if Redfield's thrust had landed directly, it would have surely resulted in grave injury, if not death. Therefore, compared to death or severe injury, this wound on Cross's chest was a stroke of immense luck.
"Interesting, you actually dodged that!"
Redfield studied Cross with newfound interest, a hint of seriousness entering his eyes.
Rip!
Cross's face was cold. He didn't speak, simply tore off his upper garment, revealing his toned torso. The muscles on either side of his chest wound visibly writhed, working to close the wound and stop the bleeding.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Suddenly, three consecutive explosions rocked the dock. Scorching flames surged upward, creating a biting wind, and countless shattered stones flew outwards. At the same time, a dazzling light became blindingly bright. Around Cross, countless specks of light converged, rapidly forming a human figure.
"My, my, you look quite disheveled, Cross-kun!"
Borsalino spoke as slowly as ever, as if in jest.
"You're only just arriving now? You're quite the incompetent commander!" Cross's face was grim, his tone disgruntled.
"My apologies!"
Borsalino scratched the back of his head a bit awkwardly, then looked at the man opposite him, his voice tinged with gravity: "No one would have thought such a prominent figure would appear on a small island like Gurri Island. How terrifying!"
"So, what is your purpose here, Patrick Redfield, Red the Aloof… Ne~?"
"I didn't expect it either. I was just passing by and was subjected to Marine bombardment. It's quite a headache, you see," Redfield said, sounding somewhat helpless.
"Is that so? What a coincidence then!"
Borsalino unhurriedly lit a cigarette for himself, took a deep drag, and exhaled smoke.
"So… are the Marines planning to wage war with me here?" Redfield spread his hands, looking at Borsalino with interest.
"Facing a great figure like you, even Marine Headquarters must be extremely cautious. But you've injured my subordinate, and if I don't do something, I, as base commander, would lose face in front of my subordinates, ne~." Borsalino pouted, bringing his hands together, and a dazzling golden light bloomed between his palms.
"Ama no Murakumo!"
Borsalino pulled his hands apart, and a sword of light, formed from gathered flashes, was now gripped in his hands. Without any hesitation, he slashed at the man before him.
Clang—!
The sword of light and the umbrella collided, emitting a metallic ringing sound. From the two of them, a fierce, visible gale erupted like a shockwave, sweeping in all directions, kicking up a thick cloud of dust and causing the surrounding ground to subtly tremble.
"I've long heard that Marine Headquarters has three powerful Vice Admirals with Logia abilities. Today, let me witness the true power of the younger generation of the Marines!" Redfield smiled sinisterly, slowly raising the umbrella in his hand, a hint of eagerness for the hunt in his eyes.
"Fighting a great figure like you puts a lot of pressure on me, ne~" Borsalino still spoke at his usual slow pace.
The next second, both men simultaneously retreated, then charged at each other again, wielding their weapons in a fierce assault.
Clang, clang, clang, clang…
For a moment, the two engaged in a fierce exchange of blows. The dense sounds of sword clashes were incessant, and the violent collisions between the light sword and the umbrella even sparked dazzling fire.
Two figures could be seen, at times intertwined, at times separate, powerful shockwaves rolling outwards like a gale, and overflowing sword energy leaving deep, haphazard cracks in the ground.
"Enliven: Inorganic Reincarnation!!!"
Rumble—!
Suddenly, the ground shook violently without warning. The surrounding earth was lifted by an invisible force, and countless blue bricks and soil mixed together, forming gigantic, living-like tentacles that fiercely smashed towards Redfield in the center, encompassing Borsalino within their attack range as well.
"What is this…?"
Redfield looked around, his face surprisingly showing astonishment. He raised his hand and swung the umbrella, and a circular crimson slash rapidly expanded, violently cutting everything around it in half.
Then, Redfield saw the severed half-portions of the earthen tentacles fall to the ground, yet they continued to writhe like octopus tentacles.
"Don't blame us for ganging up on you. Who told you to be a pirate?!"
Seizing the opportunity, Borsalino appeared to Redfield's right. The "Ama no Murakumo Sword" in his hand, like a golden bolt of lightning, instantly pierced through his opponent's body.
However, Borsalino's face showed no hint of joy, because the Redfield in front of him had vanished like a mirage.
"An afterimage?"
Borsalino looked displeased, muttering to himself, "I've been tricked, ne~"
But at that moment, Redfield appeared like a phantom in front of Cross. The blue, bat-handled umbrella in his hand lunged forward like a sharp arrow, moving so fast it made no sound.
Hum…
Cross's expression was cold, as if he had long known Redfield's target was himself. Kagehide's blade in his hand vibrated lightly, emitting a pleasant humming sound, and he unleashed a decisive slash without hesitation.
Clang—!
The clash of sword and umbrella actually produced a thunderous roar like a giant bell.
At this moment, the air trembled, red and black lightning burst forth, and violent shockwaves, like a biting gale, roared and swept in all directions, causing the entire town to violently shake.
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