Just as Issho used gravity to evade the terrifying slash, the energy Cyrus had accumulated in the blade was completely released.
A terrifyingly high temperature suddenly erupted.
Yellow sand was pouring back into the newly formed canyon.
However, the sand pouring in was incinerated by the extreme heat.
On both sides of the canyon, the sand, melted by the high temperature, flowed like water down the slopes.
The vanished sound returned, the crackling of burning sand filling the air.
"Finally unleashed it!"
Cyrus gripped the now entirely red sword, his tone tinged with emotion.
The first time was during his fight with Koshiro.
That time, he had poured flame energy into the blade without restraint, and the slash would have destroyed the blade, even with Armament Haki wrapped around it.
The second time was against Aokiji.
That time, he had limited the energy he infused to the blade's tolerance limit.
Because he had activated Indomitable, his amount of Armament Haki was even more astonishing, and the Haki-clad blade could withstand more.
But Aokiji ran away.
And now, he had finally swung that slash.
Although it still wasn't his limit, or rather, the limit of this slash, Cyrus was very satisfied with the result.
Even without activating Indomitable, a slash like this was something that not even the "Strongest Creature," Kaido, could withstand.
This had already surpassed the limits of what a living organism could endure.
The blade was still madly consuming Haki to help it resist the high temperature.
Cyrus could sense that under the influence of the high temperature and Haki, the blade was transforming at a perceptible rate.
Was this accelerating the forging of a black blade?
Cyrus raised his hand, holding Flame horizontally before him.
The dazzling light on the blade had already dimmed.
Fine red patterns now covered its surface.
The blade was turning a dark red.
Under the influence of his flame power, the process of forging this sword into a black blade had changed.
Perhaps it wouldn't become a black blade, but a red blade or something similar.
Such a thought suddenly popped into Cyrus's mind.
Just as this thought appeared, the gravity that had been enveloping him suddenly disappeared.
Cyrus turned to look at Issho, who was standing in the distance.
He had already sheathed his sword and was turning to face him.
"That slash!"
Issho fell silent for a moment before speaking in a deep voice.
"That wasn't its full power," Cyrus replied.
Issho's expression froze.
That wasn't what he was asking; he wanted to know how to execute such a slash.
'Wait, that wasn't its full power?'
Issho's whitened eyes widened abruptly, a clear sign of his current shock.
"This was just a test for me, to see the power of this slash. I didn't have a chance to use it before," Cyrus explained the situation of the slash to Issho.
"I lose!" Issho shook his head after listening.
"So? The bet?" Cyrus glanced at the sword in his hand.
Under the influence of Haki, the heat had been converted into energy for the blade's transformation. He sheathed his sword and asked.
"I will naturally honor the bet, but I also have my own principles. I will not associate with Shichibukai or Pirates," Issho said in a deep voice.
Since he had admitted defeat, Issho would naturally honor it.
However, Cyrus had mentioned at the Rain Banquet that he wanted Crocodile to come see him.
"This world isn't just black and white!" Cyrus frowned slightly upon hearing this and said.
"The Shichibukai aren't even the final result, they are merely a byproduct of this era."
Issho looked at Cyrus in confusion.
Cyrus turned to look at the great canyon he had carved out, then turned back.
"This isn't the place to talk. Let's go back first."
With that, Cyrus pushed off with his foot and headed towards Rainbase.
Issho followed closely behind.
...
Rainbase.
The temperature in this desert oasis was rising.
Although not by much, the already extremely high temperature was becoming unbearable.
Fortunately, after rising a little, the temperature began to drop.
In the sky, due to the change in temperature, clouds were gathering, not just over Rainbase, but also over the desert outside.
Robin watched the few people in front of her warily.
The man in the lead was tall, with a conspicuous scar running across the bridge of his nose and under his eyes.
Crocodile.
"The person I follow now is Cyrus. Do you think I would switch my allegiance to you?"
Robin's eyes locked onto Crocodile, her Observation Haki fully extended, vigilant of everything around her.
Although their bounties were similar, Robin didn't think she could defeat the man before her right now.
"Sometimes, the choice is more important. I don't know what your status is in that man's eyes, but if you join me, your position will be very high, second only to me," Crocodile said in a deep voice, chewing on his cigar.
"That means nothing to me!" Robin shook her head directly.
"Besides, are you sure you can withstand Cyrus's wrath?"
Robin crossed her arms in front of her chest, ready to strike at any moment.
"Daz!"
Seeing this, Crocodile turned to look toward the desert outside the city, then spoke directly.
Swish!
Daz's body shot forward.
"Six-Wheel Flower Hook Claw!"
As Daz lunged at Robin, six arms sprouted from the ground and grabbed his legs.
Daz's expression didn't change.
The moment his legs were caught, they turned into blades.
As his legs transformed into blades, the six arms on the ground vanished like petals, and six new arms sprouted from Daz's back, grabbing his neck.
Daz, whose arms had also turned into blades, swung them back, slashing close to his own back.
Robin frowned and canceled her ability.
If the arms created by her ability were injured, the damage would be synchronized to her own body.
Whoosh!
Robin raised her hands into a strange starting stance, and at the same time, six more arms grew from her body.
She was no burden!
Facing the charging Daz, Robin closed the distance.
Her Observation Haki locked onto Daz's lunge, and she dodged his bladed arms at close range, rushing in front of him.
With her ability and her own two arms, eight arms wrapped in Armament Haki struck out simultaneously.
Thump! Thump!
The fists slammed into Daz's chest, and his tall body was sent flying backward.
Several indentations were clearly visible on his chest.
Robin didn't pursue after her successful strike.
Instead, she turned to look at a building to her side.
Cyrus stood there with sword in hand, watching her.
"Not bad. You've finally mastered Armament Haki," Cyrus said with a slight nod.
As he finished speaking, Issho also walked over from the other end of the street, step by step.
His cane sword tapped against the ground, making a continuous tapping sound.
"You came but didn't even help me!"
Robin let out a sigh of relief, a smile appearing on her face, though she pretended to be displeased.
Cyrus leaped to Robin's side, patted her on the shoulder, and then turned his head to look up at the sky above Rainbase.
A few News Birds that were about to approach seemed to get a fright, frantically flapping their wings to escape into the distance, leaving behind feathers that drifted down from their violent struggle.
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