Chapter 84: Ultimate Mystic Art · Ultimate Mystic Art
Chapter 84: Ultimate Mystic Art · Ultimate Mystic Art
Shanks pulling out the ship's rudder was something Kuro had never considered.
Shanks’s aura was rapidly deteriorating, but in exchange, surging waves of furious qi surged forth.
This old man truly doesn’t care about his life anymore!
Fragments of shattered stone slammed into Kuro’s Black Tortoise Mystic Art, crackling like firewood.
It wasn’t the technique itself, but the air currents stirred by Shanks that caused the tremors.
Conqueror’s Haki!
“Hahahahaha!”
A maniacal laugh from Shanks echoed across heaven and earth.
The legendary blades Sakujū and Kigō, bound to his legs, now flew free. One landed in his lone hand, the other hovering around him.
He gripped the sword tightly, pointing it at Kuro.
“Boy, catch this.”
“Slash Wave!”
Advanced Haki, interwoven with a golden slash, erupted as black-gold energy and hurtled downward.
The speed—blinding!
Bang!
A single wisp of that slash shattered Kuro’s Black Tortoise Mystic Art like fragile glass, scattering shards of illusory light.
The collapse of the technique sent Kuro staggering backward, his eyes wide with shock.
This slash’s power was incomparable to anything before!
And it wasn’t even Shanks’s true strength—simply switching from foot to hand made all the difference.
Seizing the moment, Shanks swung again.
Whoosh!
The slash roared toward him.
“Slash Wave!”
Kuro assumed an Iaijutsu stance. Advanced Haki spiraled around his scabbard like a whirlwind as he slashed in response. The black-gold slashes collided midair, shaking the ground.
A glint of cold light erupted near Kuro.
He spun, cleaving at the gleam.
Shanks appeared there, sword aimed straight at him.
Boom!
Kuro’s body flew back, crashing into a towering boulder. The rock shattered, burying him in debris.
In an instant, stone fragments scattered as Kuro emerged, encased in Armament Haki like armor. He exhaled sharply, his face darkening.
This old man’s even more dangerous now!
“Figured you’d still have some physical strength left!” Shanks laughed. “Boy, if you don’t go all-out now, you’ll really die!”
Kuro slashed downward, clearing the rubble. The White Tiger’s phantom reappeared around him, its form entwined with the serpentine Azure Dragon (Jiaolong).
“Reserving energy is just a precaution. I thought three Mystic Arts would be enough to handle you. Now it seems… they fall woefully short!”
At his words, Shanks’s face twisted with ferocity. His body shot forward, the pressure of his encasement carving a deep furrow into the earth.
“Shinmeiryu Style · Black Tortoise!”
Kuro swung his blade again, summoning the Black Tortoise Mystic Art to shield him. The giant serpent’s head glared at Shanks.
This time, Shanks didn’t dodge. He locked eyes with the serpent, and the technique’s form began dissolving at his mere gaze.
Conqueror’s Haki!
Even Kuro couldn’t help but shudder at the oppressive force.
So this is the strength of a top-tier strongman's Conqueror's Haki!
“Shinmeiryu Style Mystic Art · Vermilion Bird!”
Kuro’s two fingers traced his blade. Flames enveloped his body, expanding rapidly. With a piercing cry, the fire coalesced into a colossal phoenix, soaring toward Shanks.
“Oh? Mythical beasts forged from Flying Slash, huh?”
Shanks chuckled, slicing at the flaming bird as it dove toward him. Their clash sent half the phoenix’s form dissipating midair, briefly revealing Kuro’s silhouette.
But in the next instant, the bird’s form reformed, engulfing him once more.
“A phoenix? Even if Marco himself came here, it wouldn’t be much more impressive.”
Shanks unleashed another slash, shattering the phoenix’s form.
Boom!
Two floating islets crashed down. Shanks stumbled, his stance wavering slightly. The sword hovering around him nearly dropped.
Seeing this, Kuro narrowed his eyes. “Old man, you’re done for.”
“Hahaha! Not yet!”
Shanks roared with laughter. “Before that, I’ll kill you first!”
“Is that so?”
Kuro dispersed the Vermilion Bird Mystic Art, landing lightly. He raised his blade, facing Shanks seriously. “Old man, this is my last move. Try to catch it!”
This time, Kuro’s fingers moved slowly across his blade.
“Shinmeiryu Style…”
The White Tiger’s form enveloped him, the Black Tortoise shielding his front, the Azure Dragon coiling around him. Then, the Vermilion Bird’s shape ignited around his body.
“Old man, my sword technique is the Shinmeiryu Style. You’ve seen the Four Great Mystic Arts. Now witness my final move—Ultimate Mystic Art.”
He gripped his sword with both hands, raising it overhead. “Ultimate Mystic Art · Ultimate Mystic Art.”
The Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise soared into the sky, vanishing into the clouds. A moment later, a hurricane howled, forcing the island’s trees to bend low.
Boom!
A flash of lightning illuminated the stormy heavens. Rain poured down, drenching the island.
Instinctively, Shanks looked up, his eyes widening. “Can he do something like this too?!”
From the clouds emerged a colossal yellow dragon’s head. The head, followed by the dragon’s body, descended from the heavens, claws and fangs bared at Shanks.
A sword technique—devoid of any other power.
That’s why Shanks marveled.
“Is this your ultimate move?” Shanks asked Kuro.
Kuro nodded. “Yes.”
“It’s strong, I’ll admit. But I am Shanks!”
Shanks grinned fiercely, soaring upward to meet the descending Ultimate Mystic Art.
The golden lion’s form seemed tiny against the dragon, yet its furious qi manifested a giant lion’s phantom.
The lion roared, swallowing the dragon whole!
He glanced at the surrounding islets, all sinking except the central one.
Boom!
The collision of furious qi and Ultimate Mystic Art sent a shockwave splitting the central islet into fragments. Only the corner Kuro stood on remained.
“Kuro!”
Lida and Klah sprinted from the distance, horrified by the collapsing islets and the shattered central landmass.
Lida looked up at the entangled Furious Lion and the Ultimate Mystic Art. “Are you kidding me?! Even this can’t stop him?!”
This Ultimate Mystic Art’s might was the strongest Lida had ever seen. Yet that damned pirate survived?
Kuro tightened his grip on the hilt, silent.
Bang!
The Furious Lion and Ultimate Mystic Art collided, exploding in a deafening roar. The pressure wave forced Lida and Klah to instinctively shut their eyes.
Lida hugged her head, trembling.
Klah fared worse, collapsing outright.
The pressure carried thick Conqueror’s Haki.
Kuro raised his arm, shielding himself even as the shockwave’s force overwhelmed him.
When the pressure eased, the sky cleared—except for the heavier rain.
His Ultimate Mystic Art vanished.
Yet above, the golden lion’s furious qi slowly coalesced.
Shanks still lived!
"Top-tier strongman... truly terrifying!"
Kuro raised his blade, only to find his hand trembling.
Not from fear—
But from the toll of this prolonged battle.
“Lida!”
Kuro shouted. “Replenish my physical strength! That old man isn’t dead yet!”
Lida, battling the Conqueror’s Haki suppressing her, stood to approach.
But the rain suddenly condensed into water orbs, ensnaring her and Klah.
The rain formed a giant lion’s head, roaring at Kuro.
Above, Shanks grinned fiercely, his blade pointing at Kuro.
“I’ve broken through!”
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
