The entire mountainside froze under Kansui's unleashed domain. Trees, rocks, even the air itself turned to ice, rivaling the chill of Aokiji's Hie Hie no Mi. But unlike Aokiji's fruit, this power carried razor-sharp sword intent—each gust of cold a killing edge sharper than steel.
On the other side, Redfield and Falkor had already triumphed, slaying three of the CPO agents. Falkor had rampaged like a thunder dragon, lightning crackling across its wings, while Redfield struck with surgical precision. Yet even they paused, wary of Kansui's overwhelming cold sword domain.
Creed floated above the battlefield, brows furrowed. His strongest strikes—Evil-Severing Sword and Virtue-Sword of Good—still weren't perfected. To meet this final blow, raw strength wasn't enough.
He could end Kansui with other powers, but Creed's pride demanded otherwise. Against a swordsman laying down his life, he too would answer with kendo. To deepen his own mastery, to glimpse the path toward Supreme Rinne.
That move, an SSSS-level ultimate sword technique, would be his hidden trump card against Emperors and the Five Elders themselves. But now, he needed progress—through the edge of another's blade.
He tightened his grip.
Lightning surged along Rinne in his right hand.
Blinding radiance flared from Ame-no-Murakumo in his left.
Thunder and light—two blazing suns in his grasp.
"Two-Sword Style…"
The principles flowed naturally through him.
Right-hand lightning: Evil-Severing Sword!
Left-hand light: Virtue-Sword of Good!
Body and spirit both under assault—true illusion and reality united. The strongest dual strike.
Unnoticed, the counter for Supreme Rinne ticked forward—0.0% became 1%.
"Slash!" Creed roared.
"Kill!" Kansui answered.
Their final strikes collided.
BOOOOM!
The explosion of swordlight swallowed the battlefield. Even SSS+ Armament Haki would crumble inside. Kansui's body slammed into the ground, buried dozens of meters deep, while shockwaves tore a massive crater into the mountainside.
Redfield and Falkor had retreated in time. The three wounded CPO elites were not so fortunate—shredded into nothing but mist.
"What a clash…" Redfield muttered. "Not even Shiki's duels shook me like this."
At last, the smoke cleared. Kansui knelt in ruin, blood pouring from his ears, nose, and mouth, his body broken. Creed stood tall, sword in hand, victorious.
Kansui's voice rasped:
"Your sword… is already first under heaven."
But there was no triumph in his tone. His meridians were shattered, his sword path crippled. The genius swordsman who once stood at the edge of transcendence had been reduced to ruin in a single duel.
"The fruit," Creed said coldly.
Kansui coughed blood. "We… never found it."
He collapsed unconscious.
Creed's jaw tightened. If not for the ongoing system extraction of Kansui's Ice Sword Intent, he would have ended him here. Even victory left him weary—the dual strike had devoured his stamina, only his giant's strength keeping him standing.
"Kyuu kyuu!"
Falkor swooped down, coiling around his neck. It spread its tiny claws proudly—six enemies defeated! Then frowned, miscounting, before adding another claw to show seven.
Creed chuckled. "Idiot. Five plus two makes seven."
Redfield stepped forward, frowning at the Poneglyph nearby. "If even CPO came up empty-handed… we'll need someone who can read it. Otherwise, this history text is useless."
Creed thought of Robin. She had given him a Den Den Mushi number before they parted. Perhaps it was time to call.
But before he could act—
Rumble!
The ground collapsed, revealing a vast underground cavern. Scarlet mist spilled out, thick with bloodlust.
Creed and Redfield exchanged a glance, then descended with Falkor. Their Kenbunshoku Haki confirmed it—the resonance of a Devil Fruit was inside.
The cavern's walls were carved with ancient murals: humans bowing before a giant bat, offering sacrifices.
"There!" Redfield pointed.
At the chamber's heart stood a stone pillar, two meters tall. Resting atop it was a purple-red Devil Fruit, wrapped in bloody light. Its aura was oppressive, enticing, terrible.
"The Vampire Fruit…" Creed whispered.
But he raised a hand, stopping Redfield. His eyes fixed on the ceiling shadows.
"Don't move yet. Something big… is guarding it."
(End of Chapter)
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