"Come on, brat. To show you the gap between you and the world, I'll let you have three moves."
After a brief exchange, Shiryu believed he had gauged Kidd's limits. If the fight continued recklessly, the other party likely wouldn't last much longer—something Shiryu didn't want to see, or at least not so soon.
"Sure."
Kidd snapped out of his momentary daze, completely unfazed by Shiryu's taunts. This was exactly what he had hoped for, so there was no reason to refuse.
At that moment, Kidd also relaxed, as if forgetting that the man standing before him was the bloodthirsty, murderous Shiryu of the Rain. His aura receded to its bare minimum.
Yet, in the next instant, the calm atmosphere shattered. A terrifying pressure erupted abruptly, soaring to its peak in an instant.
The originally gleaming silver-white blade was now fully coated in jet-black Armament Haki. The dark edge radiated a destructive aura capable of tearing through everything.
"Oh? Interesting."
Faced with Kidd's transformation, Shiryu's demeanor remained utterly unchanged, showing no hint of reaction.
"Cross Slash!"
Two violet-black sword slashes shot forth, their power amplified by Armament Haki far beyond anything Kidd had demonstrated before.
Yet, even so, Shiryu's expression didn't flicker. He showed no trace of tension, as if the attack wasn't even aimed at him.
"Lightning Kill!"
With a single slash, Shiryu sent forth his own sword beam, meeting Kidd's attack head-on.
The two slashes collided midair and dispersed. Just like that, Kidd's first move ended without leaving a ripple.
Before the dust could settle, a figure darted forward at blinding speed—so fast that even Shiryu couldn't track it with his eyes.
But just because he couldn't see it didn't mean he couldn't perceive it. Kidd's figure appeared vividly in Shiryu's Observation Haki, clearer than if he had seen it with his own eyes.
"Pathetic tricks. You're just being clever for no reason."
As he spoke, Shiryu raised his sword horizontally to block.
The moment he did, Kidd's figure materialized, their blades clashing precisely.
Despite successfully blocking the attack, the sheer force sent Shiryu skidding backward.
The instant his feet touched the ground, Kidd abruptly shifted into an unusual stance.
That stance froze Shiryu in place. His confident smirk vanished, replaced by a look of utter disbelief, as if he had seen a ghost. His movements faltered for a split second.
And that brief moment was all Kidd needed.
With a swift slash, a sword beam grazed Shiryu's body. Even the black Armament Haki couldn't obscure its innate brilliance, and for an instant, the radiant slash became the only light source in the underground world.
"World Sever!"
The light flashed like water—there one moment, gone the next.
With that, the three moves ended. Only at the very last moment did Kidd's attack finally land on Shiryu.
Kidd's sudden burst of power stunned everyone present. They couldn't help but imagine themselves in Shiryu's position—could they have survived? The conclusion forced them to reassess the young man before them.
But that wasn't the most shocking part. What truly baffled them was Shiryu, now collapsed on the ground.
Despite Kidd's overwhelming display, no one had expected Shiryu to fall because of it.
This was Shiryu—a monster among monsters. Had he really been defeated so easily? They couldn't accept it.
Even Kidd himself struggled to believe what had just happened.
Had he really beaten Shiryu?
Sure, Shiryu had hesitated at the last moment, allowing the attack to land.
But this victory felt too effortless. He hadn't even used his "Rend" skill yet.
At that moment, all eyes were fixed on Shiryu.
Under the crowd's gaze, Shiryu's closed eyes suddenly snapped open.
In that instant, everyone who met his gaze felt a chill crawl down their spines.
What kind of eyes were those?
They brimmed with boundless madness, overflowing with killing intent—savage, bloodthirsty, cruel.
Even the guards watching from the fourth level via monitors broke out in goosebumps.
Those eyes didn't belong on a human. They belonged to a demon from the abyss.
The sheer bloodlust emanating from Shiryu sent even the hardened criminals of Level 6 into trembling fear.
And Kidd, standing directly in front of that killing intent, felt it most intensely.
The suffocating bloodlust felt tangible, piercing through his flesh, his skin, and burrowing deep into his soul—like a demon spreading endless terror.
He tightened his grip on his sword. Only the cold touch of the hilt offered him a sliver of reassurance.
"System, use all skill points to upgrade Rend!"
Without hesitation, Kidd invested all his skill points into the Rend skill. A familiar warmth surged through him as the system panel updated—Rend, previously at "Proficient Lv. 7," now advanced to "Master Lv. 1."
Only then did Kidd's tension ease slightly. Though it was only a four-level increase, he was certain the enhanced skill would be far more potent than before.
Each major tier in the system represented a massive leap. A Master-level Rend would undoubtedly become his trump card.
At this moment, the pressure Shiryu exuded was too overwhelming. Kidd sensed that if he didn't find a way to grow stronger, he'd be finished right here.
Coincidentally, upgrading a Proficient-level skill required two skill points per level. The eight skill points he had were just enough—not one more, not one less.
"How did you do that?"
A low, hoarse voice escaped Shiryu's lips, carrying an undeniable weight.
Though his words were vague, Kidd knew exactly what he meant—how had he replicated Shiryu's swordsmanship?
"Because I'm just that good."
Kidd answered matter-of-factly.
Shiryu, of course, didn't buy it. This wasn't a matter of skill—if Kidd could freely copy others' abilities, it would be a nightmare. Who knew how many techniques he had already stolen?
No one, weak or strong, wanted their hard-earned skills taken from them. Such a thing shouldn't even be possible.
Yet here it was, happening before his eyes—and the stolen technique was his signature move.
This realization filled Shiryu with deep wariness alongside his confusion.
No one could say how many abilities Kidd already possessed.
And the true terror wasn't the present—it was the future.
As he grew stronger, the people he encountered would only grow stronger as well. The abilities he could steal would only become more fearsome.
Shiryu didn't even dare imagine what heights Kidd might reach.