'The Eight Inner Gates Released Formation, the Fourth Gate, the Gate of Pain, open!'
Boom!!!
Green energy steam erupted once more, and a powerful chakra airflow continuously spread!
What was different from before was that Sora could feel the burden of opening the Eight Inner Gates was significantly lighter this time.
Although there was still the pain of muscle tearing, it was far less unbearable than before, and it was being rapidly repaired by the Azure Dragon Fruit's powerful regenerative ability.
Indeed, opening the Eight Inner Gates while in dragon transformation state imposes much less burden, and the strength is also much greater.
Sora calmly analyzed in his heart.
After all, the Eight Inner Gates Released Formation essentially removes the body's limitations and releases potential.
Sora's body strength after dragon transformation far exceeds that of a normal person, allowing him to withstand stronger force impacts and also unleash greater power.
And this was not Sora's first attempt either. During the three-month gap between previous missions, he had already secretly tested opening the Eight Inner Gates while in dragon transformation state in uninhabited places.
Precisely because of this experience, Sora could now so smoothly control these two powers without any sense of awkwardness or discomfort.
As for why he only used the Eight Inner Gates and didn't first superimpose dragon transformation when instantly killing Dandelion earlier, it was because the Eight Inner Gates was already exposed information, while the dragon transformation ability was Sora's unexposed trump card, to be used only at the most critical moment. This also led to Dandelion being instantly killed by Sora.
Ultimately, the ninja world is fought with information warfare.
...
'Right now, with dragon transformation superimposed on the four gates state, my strength should be close to the level of an elite Jonin!'
Sora's eyes were icy as he felt the surging power within his body, and he decisively launched another attack without hesitation.
His dragon-transformed legs, combined with wind element and the power of the Eight Inner Gates, allowed him to instantly erupt with terrifying speed, almost teleporting around the Earth-Style Wall and appearing at the Iwagakure Jonin's flank!
What... what kind of monster is this?! The Iwagakure Jonin's pupils contracted sharply, his heart filled with shock.
Now he finally saw Sora's full appearance. Apart from the waist, this boy's entire body had undergone astonishing changes!
Both hands had completely transformed into sharp claws covered in cyan scales, gleaming coldly. The muscles on his legs were bulging, and although wrapped in special bandages, dense scales could be seen underneath, brimming with explosive power.
Along his spine on his back, a row of small bone spurs had grown, vaguely forming the outline of a dragon's spine. Dragon scales under the bandages were also faintly visible.
The head was even more astonishing. Two small dragon horns protruded from his silver-white short hair, part of his face was also covered in scales, and his pupils were actually vertical slits!
Most heart-stopping was a thick dragon tail slowly swaying behind him, carrying a terrifying, each sway producing a sound of cutting through the air.
'This... what on earth is this monster?!'
'His entire body, except for his hands and face, is wrapped in bandages, but beast-like features are clearly visible! Are these bandages meant to conceal these changes?!'
'And this speed... it far exceeds that of an ordinary Jonin! What kind of secret technique is this?!'
In a flash, many thoughts raced through the Iwagakure Jonin's mind. Then, not daring to hold back any longer, he slammed both hands on the ground:
"Earth Style, Earth-Style Rock Gun!"
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
Several sharp stone spears abruptly thrust out from under Sora's feet, blocking his advance.
Simultaneously, the Iwagakure Jonin formed hand seals again:
"Earth Style, Rock Armor Technique!"
A layer of hard rock swiftly covered his entire body, forming a heavy suit of armor, leaving only a pair of vigilant eyes exposed.
Sora's figure moved like a ghost, rapidly weaving through the forest of stone spears. His dragon-transformed eyes had extremely strong dynamic vision, always allowing him to narrowly evade attacks at the last moment.
In the blink of an eye, he had closed in on the Iwagakure Jonin again!
"Don't underestimate me! Earth Style, Fist Rock Technique!"
The Iwagakure Jonin roared, his rock-covered fist whistling through the air as it smashed fiercely toward Sora.
Facing the powerful and heavy rock fist, Sora did not dodge or evade. His right claw covered in dragon scales clenched into a fist and punched out!
Around the fist and claw, the power of wind and thunder faintly gathered! It was the instinctive convergence of the Azure Dragon Fruit's ability to control wind and thunder!
Boom!!!
Fist and claw collided, producing a deafening explosive sound!
A shockwave spread out violently with Sora and the other man at its center!
"What?!" The shock on the Iwagakure Jonin's face instantly turned to horror.
He felt an irresistible, terrifying force coming from Sora's seemingly slender fist. The rock armor on his arm actually emitted a cracking sound of strain, instantly covered in fissures!
Bang!!!
The Iwagakure Jonin was sent staggering back by this immense force, each step leaving deep footprints on the ground. The rock armor covering his right arm also shattered completely, clattering to the ground in pieces.
'M... monster!' A chill finally rose in the Iwagakure Jonin's heart.
'This kid's strength... how can it be so great?! And that penetrating power...'
Sora, seizing the advantage, pressed forward relentlessly. Pushing off with his feet again, he closed in, his dragon claw aiming straight for the opening exposed by the other's shock, his throat!
The Iwagakure Jonin, after all, had rich combat experience. Enduring the severe pain in his arm, he stomped his foot forcefully:
"Earth Style, Added-Weight Rock Technique!"
Hum!
Sora suddenly felt his body grow heavy, his speed involuntarily slowing a bit.
The Iwagakure Jonin seized the chance to form hand seals again, taking a deep breath and puffing out his chest:
"Earth Style, Earth Dragon Bullet!"
Boom!
The ground churned, and a huge earthen dragon head emerged, opening its maw. A dense barrage of mud bullets shot toward Sora like machine gun fire!
At such close range, it was almost impossible to avoid!
But a cold glint flashed in Sora's eyes.
'Fly!'
A thought instinctively arose.
Hum!
The abilities of Mythical Zoan fruits largely depend on the user's own cognition and imagination.
As a modern soul, what Sora subconsciously envisioned was not Kaido's method of flight relying on flame clouds for support, but the effortless command of wind and rain, riding clouds and mist of dragons in mythology!
As the thought moved, an intangible airflow naturally gathered beneath his feet, as if walking on the wind, carrying a touch of ethereal immortal like aura!
This was Sora's first attempt at flight, his movements still somewhat unskilled. But at this critical moment of life and death, his potential was stimulated to the extreme!
Swoosh!
Sora's body defied gravity, rising from the ground by a hair's breadth, grazing past the dense Earth Dragon Bullets as if gliding!
'F... flying?!' The Iwagakure Jonin stared dumbfounded, his brain almost short-circuiting.
'This... this is... the Tsuchikage-sama's Super Light-Weight Rock Technique? No! This isn't a ninjutsu! This is pure flight ability?!'
He had seen the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki perform the "Super Light-Weight Rock Technique" from afar on the battlefield, but that required extremely precise chakra control.
Sora's flight before him, although slightly unskilled, carried a primitive, ferocious majesty, as if the sky was his territory to begin with!
This kind of pure flight ability, he had only heard of in legends!
The boy before him had overturned his understanding again and again.
In the brief moment the Iwagakure Jonin's mind was shocked by the flight ability, Sora had already completely escaped the coverage area of the Earth Dragon Bullets and instantly closed the distance to an extremely close range with him!