https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-848-You-Drain-Me-I-Drain-You-Grand-Line-Showdown/13539374/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-850-Kingdom-Shattered-Vermilion-Bird-s-Roar-/13539376/
Chapter 849: Where Did You Learn That?!
Chapter 849: Where Did You Learn That?!
Seawater hadn't even finished scattering when the lingering droplets abruptly froze in midair. Kuro spread his fingers, then clenched his fist.
"Blood Qi Arrow!"
The suspended water droplets turned crimson, elongating into arrow shapes. A dense network of these blood arrows rained down from around Kuro, all aimed directly at Bartholomew.
Bartholomew stepped back, balling his right fist to concentrate a whirlwind of air. He launched an uppercut like a tornado.
"Hundred Fracture Whirlwind!"
The roaring whirlwind shattered all the incoming arrows. As the storm dispersed, Bartholomew stomped his foot, the fist glowing with blue-black energy, and punched upward.
Because Kuro had charged in.
"Ultimate Mystic Art!!"
"Atomic Collapse!!"
Boom!
The sea area trembled from the shockwave. The ground Bartholomew had just reformed shattered again.
"Haa!"
Bartholomew roared, driving his fist forward to counter Kuro's strike, forcing him back. Planting his foot on the lone pillar beneath him, he crushed the stone underfoot and launched himself into the sky. He soared above Kuro, raising his leg high. The entire limb radiated writhing blue-black energy.
"Unparalleled Ruin Cleaving Blade!!"
The descending leg cleaved a visible slash through the air itself, splitting the atmosphere as it bore down on Kuro.
Kuro's eyes narrowed. Grasping the Yokai Blade, he swung it downward and vanished in a gust of wind.
"Final Thought White Tiger Slaughter!!"
A blade of black and crimson energy slashed upward from below, cutting a reverse diagonal strike against the descending leg.
Boom!!!
The air exploded with a deafening crack. A shockwave erupted from their collision, forming a ring of smoke.
Kuro slashed upward beneath Bartholomew's leg, the blade biting slightly into his calf. In terms of lethality, he was clearly superior to Bartholomew.
"Hmph!!"
Bartholomew's eyes flared. He gritted his teeth, driving his leg downward despite the Yokai Blade's resistance. His heel smashed into Kuro's chest, sending him crashing downward like a cannonball.
At that moment, the shattered island fragments below suddenly reassembled into a large landmass.
Crash!
Kuro's body slammed into the island, kicking up a cloud of smoke and dust.
Bartholomew descended, landing heavily. A wound bled from his right calf. He gasped for breath, panting.
Kuro rose, sweeping his blade to clear the smoke. He massaged his chest, spitting out turbid energy, then inhaled deeply to reinforce his Black Tortoise Body. His breathing rhythm, however, had started to falter.
After a pause, he glared at Bartholomew, grinding his teeth. "Where the hell did you learn that?!"
The technique's execution reminded him of Giruon.
Bartholomew grinned maliciously. "Impel Down is a place for exchanges. I greatly admire one man. He should've been released too."
"I knew it!"
Kuro gripped the Yokai Blade, raising it before his face. "The Sixth Level needs some changes. your cells require soundproofing to prevent easy exchanges."
Cellmate exchanges were surprisingly effective. When martial artists of such caliber shared unarmed combat techniques, they essentially traded experiences.
Bartholomew's move bore traces of "Fist's Pinnacle." Against someone so relentlessly forward, being slightly weaker was manageable. Matching Bartholomew's strength made him truly troublesome.
"Talk about going back alive first!" Bartholomew sneered.
"Ultimate Mystic Art!!"
Kuro charged without another word, his blade glowing golden as he slashed.
"Atomic Collapse!!"
The explosion echoed. Bartholomew's fist struck Kuro's blade. Kuro swiftly retracted the blade, then slashed downward again.
Boom!
Boom! Boom! Boom!!
Scarlet blade arcs clashed with blue-flamed fists at close range. Each collision thundered. After ten minutes of relentless exchanges, Kuro suddenly vanished, reappearing at Bartholomew's side. He bent one knee, sheathing the Yokai Blade as crimson energy coiled around the scabbard.
"Instant Thousand Strikes."
Hiss!!
Bartholomew twisted his body, fingers forming a blade like a spear thrusting forward.
"Unparalleled Hurricane Cleaver!!"
The hand blade pierced Kuro's Yokai Blade, slamming into his chest and burrowing deep.
Boom!!
Kuro's body arched. The strike tore through his chest, exiting through his back, leaving a gaping wound.
Bartholomew smirked. "You're too hasty. This technique against me-"
He never finished.
The figure before him shattered like glass, revealing it was just an illusion of air.
Behind him, Kuro emerged, knee bent, Yokai Blade sheathed. His voice was icy. "Shunjaku Azure Dragon Slash!!!"
Whoosh!
Crimson shadows vanished before Bartholomew's elbow, forming a crimson tornado encasing him.
"Roar!!"
Bartholomew roared, limbs flaring blue-black energy. He lashed out within the crimson whirlwind. Each strike sparked, but the tornado sliced his body repeatedly, leaving bloodied gashes.
Suddenly, golden light flashed within the vortex. Kuro materialized, spinning his long blade downward. Amidst Bartholomew's frantic strikes, he cleaved the blade into his neck.
"Ultimate Mystic Art!!"
Hiss!!
Blood spurted from the wound. Bartholomew's eyes hardened. His body leapt upward, pinning the Yokai Blade in place to prevent Kuro's withdrawal. His fist smashed into Kuro's chest.
"Atomic Collapse!!"
Boom!!!
Kuro spat blood, hurtling backward into the ground, leaving a massive crater.
Bartholomew descended, reaching to wipe his neck blood when he stiffened. His wounds suddenly erupted, drenching him in crimson. Blood pooled beneath his feet.
Boom!
A crimson figure burst from the crater, shattering the surrounding ground.
"Cough! Cough! Cough!"
Kuro coughed blood, clutching his chest. His sternum was visibly caved in - definitely fractured. Several ribs were broken.
That punch wasn't for free. The hand blade had struck his chest before he initiated the Killing Intent illusion. He relied on the wound he'd inflicted on Bartholomew's calf to trigger the illusion.
He'd gained a slight advantage, but hadn't expected Bartholomew's sheer ferocity.
"Overcommitted."
Kuro's expression darkened. If he hadn't used Ultimate Mystic Art at the end but instead withdrawn, he might've been better off.
But without Ultimate Mystic Art, Shunjaku Azure Dragon Slash wouldn't have been decisive. He relied on that final strike to unleash the technique's full power.
And that strike had left him severely wounded as well.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
