One Piece: Ulquiorra Template

Chapter 86: Kirin

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"So... a Great Swordsman, after all?"

This slash wasn't far off from the level of Silvers Rayleigh.

If Zoro was destined to become a three-sword style Great Swordsman, and Mihawk was the acknowledged single-sword style, world's strongest Great Swordsman, then "Golden Lion" Shiki was undoubtedly a two-sword style Great Swordsman.

The title of Great Swordsman was a designation that placed one above countless other swordsmen. In this world, few could claim such a title, and those who reached that level were not far from the world's strongest.

Shiki narrowed his eyes, gazing at Kuzan below. Under the oppressive aura of the admiral, Ian, though feeling the pressure, maintained a calm demeanor, a subtle smile playing on his lips. He swept his Zanpakuto horizontally.

A deep black wave of sword energy erupted, colliding with Shiki's golden sword energy. A sharp, resonating clang echoed through the air before the two forces exploded.

Ian's Blue sword energy, visibly larger and more condensed, pierced through Shiki's golden attack, a small portion continuing its trajectory towards the Golden Lion.

This wasn't because Ian's swordsmanship surpassed Shiki's. In terms of pure skill, Ian, a relative newcomer to this level, couldn't match Shiki's decades of experience. However, Shiki had lost his legs and was now wielding his swords with his prosthetic limbs.

Even a Great Swordsman could still demonstrate formidable skill with such a handicap, but it paled in comparison to wielding swords with one's hands. Ian, on the other hand, relied on his vast and potent spiritual pressure to achieve this level of power.

Fight! Fight! Great Swordsman or not, he wouldn't back down. A fiery fighting spirit burned in his eyes, a single thought consuming him.

"Again!"

Ian gripped his sword with both hands, unleashing a powerful downward slash.

The full force of his strike, amplified by the cutting power of his Devil Fruit, closed the gap between him and a true Great Swordsman. Moreover, Shiki's reliance on his prosthetic legs, while not hindering his mastery, did slightly diminish the force of his attacks. He was no longer at his peak.

Ian's black sword energy condensed, forming a brilliant aura around the blade, threatening to tear the sky asunder.

"This guy..."

Shiki, his initial scorn replaced by a newfound respect, now regarded Ian as a true opponent. With a roar, he raised his prosthetic leg, bringing his sword down in a powerful counter-attack.

Their blades clashed mid-air. While Shiki possessed the superior mastery of a Great Swordsman, Ian compensated with raw power, amplified by his Zanpakuto and Devil Fruit, pushing his abilities to their absolute limit.

BOOM!!

WHAM!! The world seemed to dim as all light converged at the point of impact.

Two forces capable of rending the Sky collided, unleashing a cataclysmic shockwave. BOOM!!

Centered on the point of impact, a ripple of destruction spread outwards, tearing the clouds and creating a chasm that stretched for kilometers. Ian's Marine coat tore horizontally across his back. The clash ended in a stalemate.

Shiki stared at Ian in astonishment. He sensed no profound mastery of swordsmanship, yet the sheer force of Ian's attacks was undeniable.

The intensity of those strikes rivaled even Shiki's peak, dual-wielding attacks.