The magical beast's tough defense was undoubtedly the best whetstone for Nobunaga and Uvogin.
Nobunaga slashed repeatedly, passing over Uvogin's imposing frame, unerringly striking the goat magical beast's chest.
As Law said, walking a tightrope… if that steady posture deviated slightly, they'd fall into an abyss of doom.
Under this high-pressure situation, Nobunaga and Uvogin held on.
Ten slashes, twenty, thirty...
The number of hits steadily increased, also indicating Nobunaga's slash count and the goat magical beast's failed attack count were rising.
The several people outside the battle circle silently watched the flashing Aura Blade and Nen light within. If the goat magical beast weren't so tough, it would have died countless times.
As the battle intensified, the spectators couldn't help but admire the resilience Nobunaga and Uvogin displayed.
Just considering hardware, this was an unequal battle, yet Nobunaga and Uvogin actually grasped the initiative.
"Sixty slashes..." Law said.
"Any bleeding from the wound?" Biscuit asked.
Law focused, seeing the white mark on the goat magical beast's chest, shook his head, "No, but maybe soon."
"Tch, really tough. Hit sixty times on the same spot, not even breaking skin."
Biscuit frowned. She wondered, in the previous battle, without Stargie's assistance, could she alone have defeated the magical beast?
"Nobunaga has slashed nearly four hundred times. Uvogin's switches between Ryu and Ko are also high, over five hundred times. With them continuing like this, I don't know how long they can hold on. Moreover, in that situation, they probably don't have time to take Lichen."
Law also slightly frowned. He began worrying about Nobunaga and Uvogin's stamina.
Not to mention Uvogin's high-frequency switching of techniques, just Nobunaga's repeated unsheathing and sheathing, after adding the Nen output, maintaining five hundred times in normal training would be impressive, let alone actual combat requiring intense focus.
Time passed bit by bit. Nobunaga's hit count was about to break seventy. The goat magical beast's attacks gradually showed signs of impatience.
After all, being slashed nearly seventy times by a human wasn't much, but every slash hitting the same spot was somewhat humiliating. Combined with prolonged unsuccessful attacks, the goat magical beast's impatience wasn't strange.
'Damn it, these two humans are like copper mechanical lifeforms, not making a single mistake?'
With formidable enemies watching outside, now unable to quickly resolve these two humans, continuing like this would grind away hope bit by bit.
The flesh on the goat magical beast's forehead creased into several folds. No matter how desperately it fought, it couldn't break through those two humans' defense line.
Earlier, it would shout things like 'useless', now it stayed silent because the wound on its chest began to ache slightly, which is not a good sign.
'Continuing like this, would I really be sliced in two by a human?'
'No way...!'
The goat magical beast hardened its heart, continuing fierce attacks.
It believed it could stand until the end.
The battle raged on. When slash hits exceeded seventy, Nobunaga and Uvogin showed signs of fatigue.
Not only the goat magical beast noticed… Law and the others watching outside also noticed, their hearts tightening, even preparing to intervene at any moment.
But soon, they surprisingly found Nobunaga and Uvogin's Nen, which showed decline, suddenly recovered.
From peak to decline, then from decline to peak.
"What's going on?"
The goat magical beast was baffled. Seeing Nobunaga and Uvogin show decline, it thought victory was assured, but before it could rejoice, it saw Nobunaga and Uvogin, as if time reversed, all consumed Nen returned.
Outside the circle, Biscuit's eyes showed surprise.
Law pinched his chin and murmured, "It's Lichen, but..."
He hadn't seen Nobunaga and Uvogin take out Lichen to put in their mouths. Moreover, the goat magical beast was continuously attacking fiercely, so in that situation, even taking out Lichen would be hard, let alone putting it in their mouths.
"They had Lichen in their mouths beforehand. I heard them chewing Lichen." Stargie raised her slender index finger, pointing to her ear.
"So that's it."
Law and Biscuit understood, then smiled, looking at the invincible Nobunaga and Uvogin.
'These two... quite foresighted.'
Replenished by Lichen, the two fought more courageously, while the goat magical beast gradually became suppressed.
If the goat magical beast chose to flee now, Uvogin and Nobunaga alone couldn't stop it. But precisely because Law and the others were outside, even if the goat magical beast saw the situation turning bad, it could only stubbornly fight on.
Eighty slashes... the white mark began oozing blood.
Ninety slashes... the injury became deep enough to see bone.
One hundred slashes... blood flowed profusely.
One hundred ten slashes... the goat magical beast, with a terrified expression, was cut in two by Nobunaga, falling to the ground, purplish organs spilling out.
Magical beasts had strong life force. Although cut in two, the goat magical beast's Nen was still quite threatening.
"Finally... cut through."
Nobunaga sheathed his blade again, looking tiredly at the bisected goat magical beast, thinking this beast was too tough, taking over a hundred slashes to kill.
Uvogin rotated his sore, aching arms. No matter how abnormal his physical fitness, this high-intensity offensive-defensive battle nearly exhausted him completely.
The goat magical beast lay on the ground, roaring despairingly, "My clan will never let you go, never...!"
Hearing the malicious words, everyone just silently watched.
Then, Kuro greedily asked, "Law, can I start eating?"
The goat magical beast, who wouldn't die immediately, suddenly startled, widening its eyes at Kuro.
'What does 'start eating' mean...'
Law glanced at Kuro, slightly nodding.
Kuro in panther form grinned widely.
Soon, the goat magical beast understood 'start eating' meaning, dumbly watching Kuro first roll Ancient Claw's corpse into its mouth without leaving a trace, chewing with relish.
Then, Kuro ate the magical beast corpse dealt with by Stargie and Biscuit in front of the goat magical beast.
After eating these two magical beast corpses, Kuro smiled, walking towards the goat magical beast.
"No, no...!"
With abruptly cut-off screams, Kuro feasted heartily, showing a satisfied expression after finishing.
"Ging still hasn't resolved his."
Law glanced at the blood left by the goat magical beast, then looked at where Ging disappeared.
"Wait," Biscuit said.
Thus, everyone waited patiently.
Five minutes later, they saw space distort, Ging emerging unharmed from the distorted space.
The lizard magical beast he pulled into the game space also fell out from the distorted space, severely dehydrated, unable even to support its body.
"Huh? You all finished?" Ging scratched his head, smiled, "Right, the randomly chosen game rule this time was too late-stage, so it takes a long time to finish a game."
"Hard to deal with?" Law asked.
"Somewhat tricky," Ging said seriously.
Law nodded, acknowledging the lizard magical beast's ability.
Then, Kuro, having just swallowed three magical beasts, rushed towards the lizard magical beast, opened its bloody maw, biting the still-breathing lizard magical beast in half.