Chapter 481 - 320

Chapter 321: A Split-Second Opening! The Coliseum's Deadly Killing IntentThe brief but intense clash plunged the entire arena into a dead silence.On the spectator stands, the sound of people swallowing their saliva could be heard everywhere."Di-did you see that? That masked man... he injured King!""And he even blocked Katakuri's sneak attack!""Who on earth is he?! To be able to go head-to-head with two of the Four Emperors' top officers?!""Mon-monsters... they're all monsters..."Bartolomeo clutched his chest, feeling so excited he thought he might have a heart attack.'Zoro-senpai! So cool!''Injuring the conflagration with one strike and blocking a Sweet Commander with a backhand! Luffy-senpai's first mate is just that invincible!'He suppressed the urge to scream and cheer, his mind racing.'Now that the three big shots are in a standoff and the Fighting Fish King is going crazy, this is a chance! I have to create an opportunity for Senpai!'He quietly shifted his steps, shrinking into the shadow of a massive stone pillar, his hands making strange gestures in front of him as transparent barrier energy began to silently gather at his fingertips."Barrier: Stairs... Barrier: Slide... I need to make something that isn't easily noticed..."Rebecca was equally shocked beyond measure.The lightning-fast exchange just now had surpassed her understanding of 'combat'.Every strike was enough to split mountains, and every instant was a matter of life and death.In the face of power at this level, the swordsmanship and combat instincts she had practiced so hard seemed so insignificant."Can I... really play any role in this struggle?"Just as despair began to spread, she saw the treasure chest, the chains, and the faces with mocking smiles in the VIP seats."No! I can't give up! My people are waiting for me! Even if I can only interfere a little, even if I can only create a sliver of opportunity!"She tightened her grip on her sword and shield, her gaze turning sharp as she scanned the battlefield for that one possibility.On Kid's side, the battle had also reached a fever pitch."Punk Rotten: Impact!!"Kid covered and shaped his body with the attracted metal, forming a crude metal giant seven or eight meters tall, swinging heavy fists that repeatedly smashed toward Perospero.Every punch carried astonishing power, capable of smashing deep craters into the ground.But Perospero was like a slippery loach, always able to block or deflect the attacks ahead of time with 'Candy Wall' or 'Candy Slide', while constantly harassing Kid with 'Candy Arrow' and 'Candy Maiden'."Perorin~ It's useless, useless!"Perospero laughed weirdly, creating a large patch of viscous syrup swamp in an attempt to trap the metal giant's feet."Your brute force is meaningless before my wisdom! Candy is very sticky, you know!""Shut up!"Kid controlled the metal giant to crush the syrup with one foot, but more syrup surged up, and the metal surface began to be stuck, its movements gradually slowing down."Damn it... this sticky ability is so annoying!"A flash of irritation crossed his crimson eyes, but it was replaced by an even greater surge of ferocity."Then try this! Repel: Shrapnel!"Countless sharp metal fragments suddenly popped out from the metal giant's surface, shooting toward Perospero like a hail of buckshot!The range was extremely wide, covering almost all of his dodging space!Perospero's expression changed slightly:"Candy Shield Wall!"He instantly erected several thick Candy Walls in front of him.Thud thud thud thud—!The metal fragments embedded themselves deeply into the Candy Walls but failed to penetrate.However, taking advantage of the moment Perospero was defending, the metal giant suddenly disassembled. Kid's real body rushed out from the metal scraps, his mechanical left arm swelling and transforming into a massive electromagnetic drill!"Die! Punk Corna Dio: Maximum Power Drill!!"The drill spun frantically with a piercing screech and jumping electric arcs, thrusting straight at Perospero! This strike condensed the maximum magnetic force Kid could mobilize at that moment!Perospero felt the threat, his long tongue curling:"Candy Armor!"He instantly wrapped his entire body in hard candy.BOOM—!!!The drill collided violently with the Candy Armor!Candy shards and metal sparks sprayed frantically!Perospero was sent flying by the violent impact, spiderweb-like cracks appearing on his Candy Armor. He groaned, a trace of blood leaking from the corner of his mouth."Perorin... that actually hurt a bit, Kid."Perospero wiped away the blood, his gaze turning cold."It seems I can't play with you for too much longer."Due to the intervention of four top-tier powerhouses, the coliseum's free-for-all had escalated into two intense battlefields.And everyone's eyes were focused more on the three people in a brief standoff by the central pool.The wound on King's chest had basically healed, leaving only a faint white mark.His cold gaze locked onto Zoro:"Swordsman... give me your real name. Someone who can wound me shouldn't be a nobody."Zoro rested the wado ichimonji on his shoulder, his tone casual:"Beat me, and I'll tell you."Katakuri said in a deep voice:"Your Observation Haki is very special! It doesn't just predict movements; it seems to sense the essence of 'malice'!"He paused,"But that alone isn't enough! You can leave; I don't want to waste too much stamina before seizing the fruit!""Leave?"Zoro let out a scoff, his blade pointing at the two of them."The ones who should leave are you! My Captainhas a use for this fruit!"Captain?The gazes of King and Katakuri narrowed simultaneously.A swordsman of this level has a Captain? Who is it?Before they could think further, the Fighting Fish King, even more crazed from its injuries, let out another earth-shaking roar!It suddenly lashed its body, its massive tail slapping the water surface and kicking up waves several meters high, while its huge body lunged upward with all its might once again!This time, it didn't jump high, but leaped horizontally. Its massive body was like a moving hill, crashing toward the spectator stands!The treasure chest on its back clattered as the chains pulled taut!A chance!The eyes of all three sharpened at once!The flames on King's back erupted violently:"Fire Dragon Emperor!"The flames condensed into a lifelike, giant fire dragon with distinct scales and claws!The fire dragon opened its maw and let out a silent roar, sweeping toward the area where Zoro and Katakuri were with a heat that could incinerate everything! Its goal was to force them back and keep them at bay!Katakuri pressed his hands to the ground:"Mochi Mochi: Singing Mushroom!"The entire water surface around the Fighting Fish King, along with some of the sand, instantly turned into a white mochi whirlpool!The whirlpool generated a powerful suction, not only attempting to swallow the Fighting Fish Kingand the treasure chest but also restricting all movement within its range!At the same time, his main body and another 'Kagami Mochi' clone moved simultaneously. The real body rushed toward the treasure chest, while the clone held the Earth Dragon and thrust at Zorofrom the side!Zoro stood atop a wave. Facing the towering flames and the sticky mochi beneath his feet, the corner of his mouth beneath the mask seemed to curl into an imperceptible arc.He slowly raised the wado ichimonji over his head, gripping it with both hands.A deeper, more violent aura rose from within him.Bluish-black Oni Aura drifted from his pores like thick smoke, faintly condensing behind him into a ferocious, three-headed, six-armed Shura phantom!The phantom roared silently, bringing a terrifying spiritual pressure!"Oni Aura..."He whispered, yet his voice seemed to come from the depths of the underworld."Three Sword Style..."In the phantom's hands, two massive, illusory blades made entirely of Oni Aura also condensed!Though they had no physical form, the will to cut they radiated was more heart-stopping than a real blade!"Black Rope..."Upon the blade, crimson Haki and bluish-black Oni Aura intertwined, coiled, and spun! Forming a spiraling, destructive energy storm!"Dragon Twister!!!!"The blade slashed down!Instantly, a tornado storm composed of countless fine, crimson-black slashes was generated!The storm soared into the sky, instantly tearing apart the sweeping fire dragon, shredding the sticky mochi whirlpool beneath his feet, and continuing unabated toward the Fighting Fish Kingin the air!Its range and power were far beyond anything before!"What?!"Katakuri forced a turn in mid-air, blocking with the Earth Dragon as mochi formed multiple layers of shields in front of him! The clone was directly sucked into the tornado and instantly shredded into mochi scraps!With his fire dragon broken, a sharp glint flashed in King's eyes. He flapped his wings, narrowly avoiding the edge of the tornado, but was still stung by the fierce wind pressure of the slashes.RUMBLE—!!!The tornado storm crashed into the Fighting Fish King's body. Even with its thick scales, it was cut with countless wounds deep enough to see bone, and blood sprayed out like a waterfall!The Fighting Fish King let out a shrill wail, its upward momentum forcibly interrupted, and its massive body crashed toward the side of the spectator stands!And the treasure chest, pulled by the Sea Stonechains, followed the Fighting Fish King, flying diagonally toward the edge of the stands.That spot happened to be the junction between the regular spectator seats and the noble boxes, and also below the position Bartolomeo had quietly moved to!"Now!"Bartolomeo's eyes lit up, and he shoved his hands forward!"Barrier: Impact Stairs!"A completely transparent but incredibly hard barrier instantly formed a slanted set of stairs in front of him, the top of the stairs aimed perfectly beneath the incoming treasure chest!What he wanted to do wasn't to take the chest directly (that would draw all the fire), but to change its falling trajectory, bouncing it toward a position more favorable for Zoro-senpai to seize!However, another change occurred!High on the stands, Diamante, who had been watching with a sinister smile, had a cold light flash in his eyes."The daughter of a traitor also wants to lay hands on the Tremor-Tremor Fruit?"He flicked his finger, and a sharp iron shard as thin as a cicada's wing silently spun toward the back of Rebecca's heart as she prepared to take a risk!This move was both fast and insidious. Rebecca, fully concentrated on what was ahead, didn't notice it at all!"Hmm?"Zoro's Observation Haki, however, captured this sliver of despicable malice aimed at a 'weakling'. His gaze subconsciously shifted toward Rebeccafor a split second.It was in that split second of distraction!"You're dead!"King seized this fleeting opportunity."Imperial Flaming Wings: Twin Wing Slash!"The flames on his wings condensed to the extreme, turning into two massive fire blades that slashed toward Zoro in a cross!This time, it was no longer a probe; it was a full-power killing move!Katakuri also didn't miss the chance!He gave up on directly seizing the treasure chest, his main body and a newly born 'Kagami Mochi' clone lunging at Zoro simultaneously!"Square Mochi: Power Thrust!""Sliced Mochi: Mochi Thrust!"A double killing move, plus King's Twin Wing Slash!From three directions, they completely enveloped Zoro, who was distracted for an instant!"SENPAI!!!"Seeing this scene, Bartolomeo was scared out of his wits and cried out in alarm!Kid also noticed the crisis here, but he was entangled by Perospero's 'Candy Maiden' and couldn't break away for the moment.Rebecca was about to be blindsided, Zoro was caught in a triple-team ambush, and the treasure chest was flying in an arc toward an unknown direction... In an instant, the situation in the coliseum took a turn for the worse.