The scythe sliced downward, its edge gleaming with malevolent energy, aiming to cleave Luffy in half.
But in the split-second before the fatal strike could land, Luffy's shadow knight surged forward, stepping in with thunderous momentum. Its massive blade rose in a sweeping arc, intercepting the scythe just inches from Luffy's face. The impact unleashed a shockwave so powerful that the nearby walls cracked, and shattered glass sprayed across the deck. Metal screamed against shadow-forged steel, sparks and darkness colliding in a blur of energy.
Luffy was thrown back from the force, crashing into a scorched section of the deck. He hit hard, air blasted from his lungs as he wheezed painfully. Dust and fragments rained down around him, but he never lost focus—his gaze stayed locked on the cloaked attacker.
Zoro moved like lightning, launching himself into the fray. His blades gleamed under the dimming light, slicing through the haze. "You're not cutting him down while we're still breathing!"
He swung with full force, a deadly combination of precise slashes. The cloaked figure blocked with the shaft of his scythe, each parry executed with infuriating ease. The attacker's other hand conjured black tendrils that morphed into needle-like spikes, launching them toward Zoro in mid-fight.
Sanji blurred into motion, intercepting the shadow spikes with flaming kicks. The impact singed his pant leg, but he kept spinning, redirecting the projectiles away from Zoro. He landed beside him, sweat glistening on his forehead. "He's not even trying. This guy's holding back."
Meanwhile, Nami and Usopp took cover behind the shattered remains of the bar counter, shielding themselves from falling debris.
"This whole place is coming down!" Nami shouted, coughing from the smoke.
"And we can't run either!" Usopp replied, ducking another blast that tore through a support beam. "That guy—he's locked onto Luffy! He won't stop until he's dead!"
Back on the scorched deck, the knight continued to shield Luffy, absorbing blow after blow. Its armor cracked slightly under the pressure, but it didn't falter. It stood between its summoner and annihilation.
Luffy coughed as he stood again, blood running down his shoulder. The pain was dull now—overshadowed by something stronger. His connection to the Shadow System pulsed—steady, insistent.
Synchronizing new command...
Partial link established.
A new icon flickered in the corner of his vision, pulsing with violet light.
"Command: Shadow Merge," Luffy whispered, voice hoarse but determined.
The shadow knight immediately obeyed. Its body dissolved into tendrils of dark mist, swirling around Luffy like a storm. The mist flowed into his limbs, wrapping around his body in layers—armor forming at his shoulders, gauntlets encasing his arms, and boots locking over his feet. His chest was lined with dark sigils, glowing faintly.
Luffy exhaled, his eyes now glowing with a violet hue. He clenched his fists. The darkness no longer just obeyed him—it became part of him.
"Round two," he muttered, stepping forward with renewed power.
The cloaked figure didn't hesitate. With the scythe in a reversed grip, he launched forward, moving like a phantom. They clashed mid-air, Luffy's shadow-enhanced punch smashing into the scythe's shaft. The resulting blast cracked the deck beneath them, shockwaves rippling outward. Each movement was faster, each blow heavier.
Fist met blade. Shadows danced wildly. Lightning arced across the sky as the storm thickened overhead.
But then, everything stopped.
The attacker leapt back, landing in perfect silence. He raised a single arm skyward.
The sea darkened.
The fog above the water churned violently, forming a vortex. From the Leviathan's back, a new construct began to rise—huge, cylindrical, and monstrous. A cannon, but unlike anything seen before. It was fused with bone and shadow, runes etched along its length, glowing in crimson pulses.
Nami, still watching from the shattered bar, gasped. "That's not just a cannon... that's a siege weapon!"
The weapon clicked into place, mechanical limbs locking into gear. It aimed directly at the Baratie.
The cloaked figure raised his hand, speaking in a guttural language that resonated like an ancient curse. The Leviathan's core pulsed red.
The cannon's maw opened. Within, a swirling orb of compressed darkness began to form—dense, unstable, and alive. The pressure alone made the sky bend.
Luffy looked up, face shadowed by the rising energy.
He didn't move.
—To be continued.
_________________________________________________________________________
🔥 Hey legends! Quick updates! 🔥
💥 Can't wait for the next chapter? Good news—ALL advance chapters are available on Patreon for just $5! No more waiting, just pure binge-reading goodness! 🚀
👉 patreon.com/cyci07
✨ Power Stone Challenge! ✨
If we hit 100 power stones, I'll drop 2 bonus chapters! Let's see if you guys can make me suffer! 😂
💬 Enjoying the story? Leave a review and let me know your favorite moment so far! It helps the novel grow and reach more readers!
Thanks for all your support—you guys are awesome! ❤️