บท 240: Chapter 240: Evenly Matched, Strategic Shift.
In the square of the Marine base, the two men walked in circles slowly.
"Although everyone calls me 'Phantom' Klein," the elegant young man flipped his wrist, and a card with a long sword drawn on it fell between his index and middle fingers.
"I actually prefer the nickname 'Magician,' but unfortunately:"
There is already a "Magician" on this sea, and he's a supernova: Basil Hawkins.
"When my bounty goes up, I'll take down that guy and take the nickname I like."
After saying this, the elegant man flipped his wrist again, and the card between his fingers turned into a long sword.
"Swap-Magic Sword."
"'Phantom' Klein, please!"
"Marine Captain Roman."
Then:
Whoosh—
Slash—
The two high-speed moving figures suddenly collided, instantly changing from extreme stillness to extreme motion!
In the square, the two rapidly spinning and moving figures became completely blurred, entangled in everything. There were threads of light moving in the air, extremely slow, yet seemingly extremely fast!
Those were the sword lights left by their instant clash, not yet exploding. After a few seconds, the two figures suddenly separated. Then:
Crack, crack, crack, crack, crack!
Dense sword marks suddenly appeared on the ground around them, deep straight cracks cutting the solid Marine square into a crisscrossed "chessboard."
"Impressive swordsmanship, I'm not as good as you."
Facing the pirate captain's "compliment," Roman frowned.
The opponent's swordsmanship was good, but clearly a bit inferior to his own. In the previous fast exchange, he should have left a few wounds on the opponent, but:
"Swap Fruit, huh? No activation gesture or interval..."
The opponent could teleport out of thin air in the heat of battle! This was much faster than Law's Operation Fruit, which required gestures and stones.
"Hey, does it need gestures?"
Facing Klein's feigned surprise, a golden light began to extend from Roman's long sword! In that case, let me see how far your "swap" can reach.
Slash!
With a swing of the long sword, a crescent-shaped sword light instantly swept across the battlefield! It split the distant Marine base wall in two, but:
!?
In Roman's eyes, the pirate captain named "Klein" suddenly disappeared from the ship, as if he had never been there! Roman's Observation Haki instantly lost track of his position, and all his defensive and offensive actions paused, creating an unexpected gap.
Then came a slight metallic sound, and the opponent's presence appeared behind Roman. The rapier in his hand, capable of piercing steel, was pressed against Roman's lower back, the tip barely piercing the Marine coat but unable to go any further!
Swish,
At the same time, Roman, who had taken the unexpected "backstab," had already turned around, his long sword sweeping out with a thunderous sonic boom.
Rip—
The sword energy carved a long arc-shaped crack dozens of meters long in the square behind him!
However, Roman's counterattack, fast enough to leave only a "flash of light" impression, still missed. The pirate captain's figure suddenly disappeared again, just like when he had backstabbed without warning before. It was as if:
"No Flash without cool down?"
"Then how about this move—"
If it were Roman before his Armament Haki was "upgraded," he might have suffered a big loss in front of the opponent's shameless flash. But now, his entire body is covered with Haki and paper armor, which can withstand the opponent's stabbing sword, so:
"Paper Dance - Maple Forest!"
White paper flew out from Roman's body, quickly surrounding the entire square from all directions, then spinning rapidly and attacking the pirate captain! — With such a dense attack, let's see how you "flash."
"Tsk, you found my weakness so quickly."
Facing the 360-degree attack from all directions, "Phantom" Klein was not flustered. Instead, he flipped his wrist and took out a card.
"Swap - Magic Box!"
Bang bang bang!!
The densely packed, rapidly spinning paper flew and cut, but only made a piercing cutting and metal clashing sound! Where Klein stood, a vertical long box with three '?' marks, like a magic trick, protected him, rendering Roman's "Maple Forest" ineffective.
As expected.
At that moment, Roman, holding his sword with both hands, charged forward, took a deep breath, and fully covered his sword with Haki, making the sword in his hand shine with a faint "black" layer. Then he slashed at the magic box!
- Advanced Armament Haki added!
With one slash, the high-strength alloy magic box was silently cut open under Roman's sword, but the cut immediately leaked a crimson light, the destructive light of high explosives burning and expanding.
"Swap - Explosive Magic Box!"
Boom!!
The entire Marine base shook violently! A huge explosion cloud rose into the sky, and the shouts, screams, and noise of the entire town were instantly suppressed. The shockwave spread like a storm, showcasing the terrifying power of the explosion!
"That direction is?"
Commander Isuka cut down several pirates with one slash while looking towards the Marine base.
"Sister-in-law, will the boss be okay?"
Facing Bolkin's question, Nami suppressed her inner worry and pretended to be calm.
"How could it be? Roman is very strong."
And:
"Big sister, will my mom be okay?"
Facing the tearful little girl looking up at her, Nami nodded seriously.
"She'll be fine. Big sister will definitely heal your mom. I promise!"
As Nami turned the page of the mythical bird, a vibrant green flame appeared in her palm, then was sent into the back of the freshly bandaged woman on the ground, easing her painful expression.
"Mom fell asleep, don't disturb her. When she wakes up, she'll be healthy."
"Thank you, thank you, big sister~~~"
Facing the little girl who was the same age as she once was, Nami gently squatted down and rubbed her hair.
"You can't always let your mom protect you. You have to protect your mom in the future too."
"Yes, definitely!"
The little girl nodded vigorously with a clear voice.
That's great...
---
Rustle~~
The paper covered with Haki, blown away by the explosion, suddenly gathered and formed Roman. He turned to look at the sunny young captain Klein beside him.
"With your strength and brains, you're not a 'Supernova'?"
"With your fruit ability, you're just a Captain?"
...
"Well, actually, if I take you down, I'll be a 'Supernova.'"
Facing Klein, who shrugged, Roman also stretched his arms.
"Great, if I arrest you, I can get promoted to an officer."
Without further words, the two high-speed fighting figures clashed again.
"Swap - Scare Box!"
"Paper Dance - Heavy Pressure!"
"Swap - Vanishing Cloak!"
"Paper Dance - Repeating Crossbow!"
...
The two fighters rolled and tumbled, one with sword energy everywhere, the other with a flickering figure. One used paper weapons that changed constantly, the other had endless magic tools. It seemed evenly matched, but:
Soon, the balance was broken—
"I've seen through your tricks, 'Magician.'"
After another fruitless exchange, Roman didn't rush to attack again but stood calmly.
"Oh? Do tell."
"Your ability seems to move objects, even yourself, out of thin air. But there's actually an 'exchange' process, otherwise, it wouldn't be the 'Swap Fruit' but the 'Space Fruit.'"
Amidst the traps, bombs, and arrows on the battlefield, Roman slowly crouched down and picked up:
A hair!
"Just like how you always have cards when you bring out tools, you're actually swapping them with items prepared far away—" Roman glanced at the largest pirate ship in the harbor.
"...in the ship's hold."
"And your secret to 'teleporting' is because you're swapping yourself with the hairs scattered across the battlefield!"
The elegant man across from Roman was stunned, then clapped his hands.
—This time, it was sincere.
"You figured out my magic 'secret' so quickly, as expected of a Marine Captain. Looks like I'm still a bit away from being a 'supernova.'"
Sorry, but you're facing a real 'supernova.'
Actually, Klein's strength was good, with endless tools, making him a tricky enemy. But:
This isn't a world where everyone is 'fragile' and wins by surprise, but a planet where minds and bodies are strong enough to split mountains and seas! Relying too much on external forces, you'll find it 'ineffective' against true masters.
Just like Klein now, just like Roman once was!
"Seems my training isn't enough, so—"
With a flick of his wrist, Klein's sword turned into cards, and he bowed slightly.
"Allow me to take my leave, Captain Roman."
Whoosh,
As soon as he finished speaking, Klein's figure disappeared from the spot and reappeared on the Marine base wall. Roman didn't try to chase him because someone with a similar personality would have prepared an escape route—?!
Boom!
With a kick, Roman turned into a cannonball, flying out of the Marine base, chasing the constantly 'flickering' Klein! Because:
Klein was heading towards where Nami was treating civilians.
You—
Are dead!
—————— ----
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