บท 32: 32. Ghost Aura Nine Swords Style
Zoro coughed lightly, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
His body bore several bloody handprints like bear paws, and wounds covered him, looking severe. His torn clothes hung loosely, revealing his green bandages.
His opponent, Kuma, sported a massive knife wound across his chest, exposing his dense wires.
In terms of injuries alone, Zoro found himself at a disadvantage. His body hadn't fully evolved yet, with only a fraction of the expected progress made in five days, and now only one and a half days had passed. Compared to formidable foes like Kuma, Zoro's physical prowess still lagged behind.
Despite this, Zoro's eyes gleamed with determination as if they could emit sharp waves of energy at any moment.
"You're not as formidable as you think, Kuma," Zoro declared, straightening up and allowing the blood to flow freely over his defined muscles. He took a deep breath, a smile of determination on his face. "I once saw you as an insurmountable mountain, but now I see I've already surpassed it."
"This may be the final blow, Roronoa. Let's see if your skill matches your confidence," Kuma's voice remained calm, tinged with a mechanical, indifferent tone.
He extended his hand, compressing a massive bear paw-shaped air wave in his palm with startling speed.
The fluctuating energy shook the air, creating an indescribable sense of oppression as if the very atmosphere had thickened.
Yet, Zoro remained unfazed.
Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath before suddenly opening them.
A dark, ghostly aura emanated from his body, a fusion of malevolent spirits, Conqueror's Haki, and other energies, almost tangible to the naked eye.
"Perhaps you have your reasons, but we also carry our burdens. Let this blade settle it all," Zoro declared.
As he spoke, a Shura-like aura seemed to rise from the depths of hell, enveloping him. It surged upwards like a tornado of black energy, casting a shadow over the entire sky.
At that moment, his aura even surpassed that of Kizaru and Luffy, who were locked in their own intense battle.
"Such courage, Roronoa. The youth of today are truly formidable," Rayleigh remarked, taken aback by the sight before him.
"Ghost Aura, Nine Blades, Ashura," Zoro uttered, his voice resolute.
The immense, tornado-like black energy condensed around him. Behind him, two ghostly heads appeared, followed by four arms. He resembled the mythical Ashura, with three heads and six arms, wielding nine renowned swords. His presence was more formidable than any ghost or deity.
"Draw your sword."
Boom.
It was as if a bomb had detonated out of thin air or as if a violent storm had erupted on calm ground.
The substantial ghostly aura cracked the earth, lifting huge boulders into the air as if controlled by an invisible force.
"The play of the dead," Zoro declared.
In an instant, a brilliant flash of light swept through, reducing the suspended boulders to dust.
"Farewell," Kuma's voice remained eerily calm as an indescribable knife light gleamed in his transformed eyes.
A ghostly figure with three heads and six arms flashed before him.
Boom.
A massive, meatball-shaped air wave expanded and swelled, only to be split open by the colossal Ashura.
The burst bubble unleashed a terrifying storm that rippled outward explosively.
As the chaos unfolded, Zoro stood calmly behind the Kuma, his expression neither joyful nor sorrowful.
"Farewell," he repeated.
The ghostly aura around him dissipated, revealing Zoro's bloodied form. Despite his wounds, his posture remained resolute, his aura growing sharper by the moment like a finely honed blade unsheathed.
Behind him, Kuma's towering figure flickered slightly.
The immense knife marks nearly penetrated Kuma's unimaginably tough body, leaving behind a gruesome, gaping wound. The dense wires were severed, electricity coursing through his form.
With a deafening explosion, Kuma's mechanical eyes dimmed, and it collapsed to the ground.
"I owe you one from Thriller Bark. If I ever find out what happened to you, I'll lend a hand," Zoro vowed solemnly, though the Kuma may not have heard him in that moment.
Nevertheless, it was a promise.
Zoro sheathed his sword, exhaling slowly to calm himself.
Rayleigh couldn't help but marvel at the terrifying prowess of the Straw Hat Pirates. Not only Luffy, who was currently battling Kizaru but also Roronoa, who now approached him. All he lacked was a boost in physical strength. With that and the skill he just displayed, he'd undoubtedly be fit to rule the seas.
Meanwhile, on Future Island, Egghead, a small island adorned with futuristic technology, a man sporting a high-tech mask received a distant message.
"Oh? Kuma was defeated at Sabaody?" Vegapunk remarked calmly.
"After all, the transformation weakened him despite enhancing his durability and laser power," Vegapunk mused thoughtfully. "But without Haki, overall, he's still considerably weaker."
There was a predictable quality to Vegapunk's analysis. Haki, the strongest ability stemming from the human body, surpassed any external power, such as Devil Fruits. Conqueror's Haki, Armament Haki, and Observation Haki, though seemingly defying scientific logic, wielded incredible power.
Armament Haki could surpass the toughest composite materials, while Observation Haki transcended the limitations of the fastest computing machines. Conqueror's Haki, in particular, remained shrouded in mystery.
Without the aid of Armament and Observation Haki, Kuma's strength would significantly diminish compared to before. Had he not been a special race capable of developing stronger Pacifistas, transforming him might have been a questionable decision in terms of combat effectiveness.
"However, in the first half of the Grand Line, finding someone capable of completely defeating Kuma piques my curiosity," Vegapunk remarked, lightly tapping his black mask.
An illusory light curtain materialized, showcasing a significant portion of the battle leading to Kuma's defeat.
"Roronoa Zoro."
"Straw Hat Kid."
Vegapunk fell silent as he observed Luffy and Kizaru's fierce battle. After a moment, he spoke calmly.
"So, it's your son, Dragon."
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