Chapter 462: Justice Against Justice (5k)

Chapter 462: Justice Against Justice (5k)



The two warriors locked eyes, and Lily slowly raised her rapier, saying, "One of the Swift Blade Fifty Masters, and also the Demon Blade White Thunder."

One Smile crossed his cane-sword in front of him and spoke in a deep voice, "One of the Supreme Swift Blade Twelve Masters, Gambler Blaze."

Both could sense the immense power of the other, and a battle between swordsmen demanded a certain level of respect.

Clang! Lily made the first move, her sword flashing like lightning as she darted forward.

Boom! But just as she moved, One Smile raised his cane-sword, and a rectangular area in front of him suddenly caved in, causing the thunderous light to slow down.

Clang! As the dancing thunderous light approached, One Smile swung his aura-infused cane-sword forward, blocking Lily's thrusting sword.

"Gravity?" Lily furrowed her brows.

"Indeed, young lady. I am a Gravity Man who ate the Heavy-Heavy Fruit, capable of freely manipulating gravity."

One Smile took a half-step back, spinning his cane-sword from below and gripping the hilt with his other hand, pressing the blade down on Lily's sword, "Gravity Blade."

An even heavier gravity rippled through Lily's body, forcing her momentarily airborne body to drop sharply, and the ground beneath her feet crazily caved in, almost forming a pit.

Lily withdrew her sword and spun, breaking free from the gravity and flying backward.

"Tiger!"

Just then, One Smile slashed horizontally with his downward-pressing blade, and the heavy downward force suddenly changed direction, becoming a horizontal gravity that caused numerous buildings to topple sideways. But before they could fall, One Smile abruptly halted his blade.

Clang! Amidst the swaying gravity, a straight flash of lightning suddenly zipped through, and the heavy horizontal gravity forked apart.

"Oh," One Smile exclaimed, his white irises rolling up in surprise, "Can abilities be severed? What a terrifying swordsmanship."

In front of him, Lily maintained a half-kneeling, upward-thrusting stance, her sword brimming with dense aura, slicing through the horizontally pressing gravity and creating a large gap.

Sizzle! Without saying a word, as soon as Lily swung her sword, the aura-filled blade erupted with lightning, transforming into eight thunderbirds that charged at One Smile from all directions.

Whoosh! The gravity pressed down, scattering the thunderbirds.

One Smile swiftly held his cane-sword horizontally in front of him, and just then, a crisp sound rang out as Lily rushed forward.

He enhanced his gravity and swung his sword, but the gravity he manipulated was swiftly severed by Lily's quick-moving sword, allowing her to continue her assault.

"It seems this will be a fierce battle," One Smile said in a deep voice, and with his sword in hand, he continued to engage Lily.

One Smile was a Swordsmaster, a rare one at that, but Lily was no less formidable.

One was an unstoppable force, the other a nimble and sharp opponent, making their duel intensely competitive. Whether it was their swordsmanship, the utilization of their abilities, or the application of their aura, they left the Marines behind them tense and sweating, yet too intimidated to intervene.

The gravity One Smile wielded was indiscriminate, and the lightning-fast figure emitted a thunderous aura, their combat power capable of cleaving the ground, deterring anyone from approaching.

Both were too powerful!

As the battle raged on, the environment of the battlefield began to change. Buildings near the palace crumbled further, and the Birdcage Threads scattered across Dressrosa constricted, causing many to rush and block these sharp and indestructible threads.

The hardness of the Birdcage Threads was such that even Sag couldn't tear them apart, and it was only through the exertion of his aura that he managed to pull them. However, maintaining this level of Birdcage Threads took a significant toll on Doflamingo's stamina.

Especially after Lily went to support the smuggling warehouse, Doflamingo wanted Law to contribute the power of the Ope Ope no Mi, and instead of killing him immediately, he suffered a direct blow to his internal organs. After engaging Straw Hat with his four barriers, his exhaustion only grew.

The power of the four barriers was too much for Doflamingo's physique to withstand.

After being punched and slammed into the ground again, Doflamingo could no longer hold back. The continuous injuries left him no choice but to go all out, or he might meet his end here.

His awakened power allowed him to assimilate with the surrounding buildings, transforming them into threads. Covering the front ends with his aura, he sent them all toward the Balloon Man.

Then...

Bang!!!

A King Kong Gun shattered the aura-covered God's Judgment, and the punch overwhelmed Doflamingo, causing him to lose consciousness completely.

"Doflamingo! I beat you!" Straw Hat's shout reverberated throughout the disintegrating Birdcage area.

Clang!!

Lily clashed with One Smile again, and after swiftly retreating and slicing through his gravity, she also heard this voice, causing her pupils to constrict slightly. But it seemed to solidify her determination, and she charged forward once more.

Their blades clashed rapidly.

One Smile's speed wasn't as remarkable as Lily's, but his formidable Perception Aura allowed him to react swiftly, even as a blind man.

Lily's strength and might didn't surpass One Smile's, especially when the occasional bursts of gravity required her to divert her attention to sever them. Moreover, One Smile's aura was too powerful, capable of severing abilities, but as both their Armaments were manifestations of will, they were not as easily cut.

Furthermore, severing the gravity took a toll on Lily as well.

In less than half an hour of fighting, the two warriors were evenly matched.

"Why?" One Smile blocked Lily's lightning-fast thrust and shouted, "I can sense it too! Aren't you also unable to turn a blind eye to the sins here?! Before I took office, I too lived among the people and knew that not all pirates are irredeemable!"

"Why! If you can't pretend not to see, why are you helping Tenryu Doflamingo?"

"What a strong will!"

In a clash between powerful swordsmen, one could sense the other's will through the clash of blades, especially for Yi Xia, who possessed a unique Perception Aura so powerful that he could perceive others' emotions and thoughts.

Just as he had sensed the sincerity in Straw Hat, he now perceived something different in Lily. Amidst the light and agile blue, there was also a heavy and dark presence.

This will, instead of weakening after Doflamingo's defeat, only grew stronger and more determined.

"You..."

Yi Xia raised his staff-sword vertically, blocking Lily's sword while simultaneously releasing gravity, pressing down on the surrounding area.

Clang! Lily's sword sliced through the gravity circle, and as she retreated, Yi Xia seized the opportunity and swung his staff horizontally, unleashing another gravity slash.

"You're shouldering something heavy!"

The fierce gravity instantly lifted Lily's dazzling golden hair, but in the next instant, it was split apart by a lightning-fast sword beam. The gravity forked around her, collapsing large amounts of buildings on both sides.

Despite holding back to avoid destroying civilian homes, the aftermath of their battle was beyond his control. The longer they fought, the harder it was to restrain himself. If he stopped, that sharp young lady would surely strike him down.

At this moment, Lily gripped her sword with both hands, her chest heaving as she struggled to breathe.

Yi Xia held his staff-sword, his chest and belly rapidly expanding as he gasped for air.

"What are you shouldering?"

The crimson light in Lily's eyes flickered faster, and she replied with unwavering determination, "Of course, it's to free this world from the oppression of people like you!"

"It's Doflamingo who's oppressing!" Yi Xia shouted. "Not innocent people!"

"There's nothing to discuss between us," Lily said, releasing one hand from the sword hilt and placing it on her hip, where her sword sheath was. "This place is now under the control of the Cataclysm Pirates. If you won't let us, then we'll keep fighting!"

"You're just a second-in-command, you can't make that decision," Yi Xia said in a low voice. "Although the young lady is powerful, I'm confident I'm no weakling. Cataclysm won't make it in time, aren't you afraid of defeat?"

Lily crouched slightly, sheathing her White Thunder and assuming a kiriage stance.

Sizzle!

Lightning flashed from the sword sheath, and she lifted her head proudly, shouting, "Who do you think I am?!"

Clang!!

As the sword left its sheath, a spiral of swirling aura appeared, faintly revealing a blue hue.

Life and death were no longer concerns.

As a swordsmaster, she had no room for retreat, regardless of who stood before her.

If she feared death, she wouldn't have set sail in the first place.

"Slash!!"

The crimson in her eyes seemed to spread, enveloping the surroundings in a brief red glow. But this red quickly transformed into blue, turning into a powerful Tyrant Aura that shook the navy and civilians alike.

Amidst the Tyrant Aura's shockwave, Yi Xia's perception caught a glimpse of a blue light slashing out, followed by darkness, leaving him unable to 'see' anything.

Perception Aura...

Slashed?

In the blink of an eye, Yi Xia retreated, no longer holding back. His blade was enveloped in deep darkness, like a black wind of death. With each swing, gravity and aura surged forth.

"Gravity Blade - Tiger Cage!!"

The horizontal gravity, under the pressure of the aura, condensed into a spinning black wind within the blade, charging forward and colliding with the rapidly advancing blue light.

Boom!!!

The point of impact erupted with a deafening roar, collapsing the remaining buildings nearby. A spiral shockwave formed at the point of contact, tearing through everything in its path and creating a massive opening in the several giant rocks surrounding Dressrosa, exposing a large gap.

The center of the battle was now engulfed in a shockwave, and as the smoke cleared, two figures quickly flew apart.

Yi Xia flew through the air before landing heavily, leaning on his staff and gasping for breath.

His arm, where he held the sword, was covered in countless wounds. The clothing on his arm had been shredded, and on his chest, there was a small hole-like bloodstain from which fresh blood flowed.

Lily, too, landed lightly amidst the smoke, her face solemn. Her white battle armor skirt was stained with numerous blood spots.

The powerful gravity had crushed her, causing bleeding and significant injuries all over her body.

"Lady Lily!"

At this moment, Akin and his men, who had been unable to get close due to the battle's impact, gathered behind her.

Akin even held a Talking Cricket.

"Admiral One Smile!"

The navy members who had not been stunned by the Tyrant Aura also gathered behind Yi Xia, warily eyeing the pirates.

"Young lady, I still have strength left," Yi Xia said, waving his hand and gripping his staff-sword. "Why must someone with such a strong will go against their conscience and justice?"

"My justice is different from yours," Lily replied, sheathing her White Thunder and taking a deep breath. "Continue!"

Her eyes, filled with killing intent, caused Riku King, who had already retreated to the back, to fall silent for a moment. "Enough! Please stop fighting. The civilians are innocent. They can't bear the impact of your battle. I'm no longer the king; I'm just a civilian. For the sake of this country, I'm willing to hand over Dressrosa to Cataclysm!"

Lily paid him no heed, her gaze fixed on Yi Xia. Her determined expression, though unseen by Yi Xia, was still perceivable through his recovered Perception Aura, revealing the weight of her resolve.

"Is your mind set in stone? You're wasting your potential as a pirate! Can't you hear the cheers of these people after Doflamingo's defeat? It's a joy and relief that's completely different from their previous cries of despair!" Yi Xia shouted.

Lily closed her eyes slightly, as she could certainly feel it.

Ever since her first visit to Dressrosa, she had sensed it—the genuine happiness and redemption felt by those who had been transformed into toys and now regained their humanity and memories.

"Sage said that the new Admiral Teng Hu is a master from the common folk," she said, opening her eyes. "But are you truly from the common people? Is your innate strength the reason for your lofty position? Or is it that after your eyes went blind, you couldn't bear to see the ugliness of the world and chose to escape from reality?"

"If you truly understand, you'd know that the existence of royalty and nobility is fundamentally wrong! No matter how kind and benevolent they are as individuals, they are still just people. Their status won't change, and with it comes oppression!"

"Escaping won't solve anything! Only by eliminating them can we achieve true and lasting peace!"

She clenched White Lightning, and the Haki that entwined around it began to solidify, transforming from a faint green to a substantial form.

"My dream lies with Sage. Only Sage can truly accomplish this!"

There was nothing that couldn't be understood.

But there was no agreement.

Lily knew what kind of person Yi Xia was. Whether he was holding back due to concerns about causing Great Destruction or genuinely trying to dissuade her because he believed she wasn't evil, Lily understood that this man was a righteous individual.

But righteousness couldn't rule.

Yi Xia also knew that Lily was resolute, not evil, and even had the well-being of the people at heart. Yet, he couldn't agree with her bloodthirsty nature either.

With their differing stances, they could only be enemies.

"It seems we can't come to an agreement, old man!"

Black winds once again swirled around Yi Xia's blade.

"Buru buru buru!"

Just as the two were about to continue their fight, the Talking Cricket suddenly rang, interrupting them.

To be precise, it interrupted Yi Xia.

"Admiral Yi Xia, it's Admiral Sakazuki!"

Vice Admiral Bastille placed the Talking Cricket near Yi Xia.

"Yi Xia! Don't engage in battle with the Cataclysm Pirates!"

The Talking Cricket, with its bushy beard and sharp eyes, was clearly filled with anger.

"Why?! I disagree! Doflamingo has fallen, and now is the time to uphold justice! We must drive out the pirates and restore the people's confidence!" Yi Xia shouted.

"I don't know what you're talking about, old man, but I know that the Cataclysm Pirates have already begun their preparations!"

...

Storm City.

Akin, with a sinister expression, received a call from Sage and casually snapped a tree in the courtyard, aiming it at Dressrosa.

The sky, once clear, was now filled with dark clouds.

At the same time, Kalifa, who had been silently observing him, made a call...

"Now is not the time to fight the Four Emperors. This isn't my order; it's the World Government's. They want to save face."

"If you're so concerned about saving face, then keep it to yourself and don't show it off! In the end, what's the difference between being afraid of losing face and not having it at all? Is the World Government some kind of deity, Sakadania?!" Yi Xia snatched the receiver and yelled into it.

The Talking Cricket fell into a rare silence, and its form turned noticeably red, perhaps due to Sakazuki's anger causing it to emit lava.

"Sengoku is on his way. In any case, I'll go to the World Government, and you're forbidden from engaging the Four Emperors!"

After speaking, the Talking Cricket remained motionless, not hanging up. It seemed that the other end had unfortunately disconnected.

After venting his frustration, Yi Xia handed the receiver back to Bastille and closed his white eyes again. He stood facing Lily, who was holding her sword, and asked, "Tenryu Danna, what will you do?"

"Sage promised not to go to Impel Down. It's as simple as that. We, the Cataclysm Pirates, will take over here," Lily said.

"We will take Tenryu Danna into custody," Yi Xia said.

"You can't do that. We keep our word. Sage is willing to go to war with the World Government for his promise," Lily said coldly.

"Until the end, no one knows what will happen. As a Navy Admiral, I won't let you have your way."

Yi Xia slowly sheathed his sword-staff and turned to face Riku King for a moment before walking away alone.

He looked like a lonely old man.

It wasn't that he was afraid to fight; it was that the people of Dressrosa couldn't bear the losses and casualties that would result from a battle here.

The Navy would evacuate the people, but the Cataclysm Pirates, that Tenryu Danna, might not give them the chance.

"Tell Sage not to come. They won't be able to do it," Lily said to Akin as she watched Yi Xia walk away. "I can handle it alone.

Sometimes, intimidation is more powerful than destruction.

Even if Sage stays in Storm City, he will exert a powerful intimidation over the World Government.

That will be the most terrifying in the future.

This is the influence of the Four Emperors!

"Contain these people, but don't worry about the other civilians. However, you must maintain order here and not allow any accidents."

Lily sheathed White Lightning and walked towards the spot where Doflamingo had previously stood.

That guy needed to be dealt with as well.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end