If you were to ask what the biggest change was for Lirisk in his Awakening state, there was only one thing…
Speed!
Remember, this was the same individual who, over a year ago, could use Soru on all fours to achieve the effect of "Blinking" while in a completely irrational state – he was a true monster in that state!
Rowen didn't know what had happened to him or how he regained his sanity, but he knew that the rational Lirisk now brought immense pressure. In this past year, he had never ceased growing in strength! However, not only did the other keep up, but he seemed to be slightly surpassing him!
But that was only in terms of physical prowess!
Whoosh!
The claw, gleaming with cold sharpness, cut through the air, exuding a strong sense of impending death. Rowen had no doubt that this claw could tear through his Haki defense layer!
But if that was all… it would be too boring!
Sizzle!
Suddenly, a sword descended from above, narrowly missing Lirisk's neck as it plunged into the ground. In a crucial moment, Lirisk's beast-like instincts saved him.
He adjusted his posture using Life Return despite his strained breath and muscle pain, causing the sword to graze the surface of his skin. It missed his trachea and major arteries, preventing him from losing the ability to resist.
"You!!!"
Pushing both hands and feet forward, he exploded in a counterblast. Lirisk instantly created distance between them, looking up at Rowen in astonishment.
"You actually wanted to kill me?!!"
The Thunder Cloud Sword was headed directly for his neck. It would even strike his vital points like his abdomen, thigh arteries, and groin if he tried to evade his neck. It was a lethal blow!
Had he not triggered his Awakening transformation and surged in strength, he wouldn't have stood a chance against this deadly attack!
In response to Lirisk's question, Rowen smiled faintly and said. "Isn't that the purpose of your visit, Saint Lirisk?"
"If you were that easy to kill, then such a waste of my time wouldn't deserve any pity from me! Survive! Make me satisfied! Then I might consider sparing you…"
His arrogant and defiant words sent shivers down Zero's spine from a distance. He wanted nothing more than to rush forward and eliminate Rowen immediately, but Lirisk's raised arm gently blocked him. The latter gazed intently at Rowen, trembling with excitement.
This was the fear of death!
And the joy of finally encountering someone who dared to challenge him!
For a warrior who lived for battles, there was nothing sadder than no one daring to lay a hand on him.
After two seconds, Lirisk calmed down.
"I apologize; I was naive!"
This was a duel!
Not a game!
He was willing to aid Rowen, to help him escape the situation that Doflamingo had left him in, and that was it!
Now, it was he who was naive. Rowen had awakened him. This was a situation the proud Knight of Nibelung Household couldn't allow to exist!
"Then, I'm glad I didn't waste my time…"
Rowen's eyes turned icy cold as, in Lirisk's growing sense of unease, his arm lifted, pointing to the sky.
"Thunder God Seal!"
Buzz! Buzz!
In the sky, bright white meteors rained down, displaying their magnificent forms within the clouds. Rowen, his back against the endless lightning, imprinted a God-like stance deep into Lirisk's mind, leaving him profoundly shaken!
To Rowen, concealing the Thunder Cloud Sword in the sky to catch opponents off guard wasn't his true killer move – this meteor shower covering the sky was!
"I thought you'd transform into the second stage of BeastifyForm, making yourself larger, but I'm not that interested…"
Snap!
With a snap of his fingers, Rowen's lips curled into a smile as he calmly stated, "Shoot him down, Gungnir!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Every falling meteor left behind a bottomless pit in the ground. Then came the intense explosions from deep within the rock layers, causing the ground to undulate like soft dough.
Rowen's fighting style was never a mere "24-point" game of chance but more like "Landlord" – until he revealed his hand, no one knew how much he had calculated or how many traps he had set for his opponent.
"This Bastard!!"
In an instant, Lirisk understood he had been played. He had investigated Rowen so many times and knew of his achievements. Still, he had been outmaneuvered by Rowen. His anger was directed towards his own naivety and foolishness!
Then, in the blink of an eye, he was engulfed by the torrential downpour of meteors.
Against the incredible speed of the falling meteors, even Rowen could only gaze with awe!
From high above, it looked like a Thunderstorm that only covered the nameless desolate island – a torrent of "raindrops" pouring from the clouds. Amidst the smoke and explosion flames, it appeared like a cylinder-shaped barrel brimming with thunder and lightning.
There was almost no escaping!
In the distance, Zero stood on a piece of drifting scrap metal on the sea's surface. He clenched his lips tightly and muttered a few words.
"Over-The-Horizon Strike!"
This was the reason Zero believed that Lirisk could hardly overcome Rowen. As a Thunder-Lightning Human and an incredibly strategic thinker, Rowen had already demonstrated the correct use of the Goro Goro no Mi (Thunder Thunder Fruit).
His training and perseverance were solely aimed at preventing his physical strength from becoming a vulnerability exploited by enemies. The power bestowed upon him by lightning had been refined to perfection through constant development.
This Meteor Shower, because of the amplified power, didn't start from a great distance. It remained hidden behind the clouds, not far away. If he was serious, the attack's range could be measured in kilometers, a terrifying number! In the face of such an exaggerated distance, hardly any enemy could make waves!
However, even at such a close distance, Lirisk couldn't resist. He could only passively endure the onslaught.
At this moment, Zero noticed that Rowen suddenly shot up into the sky and transformed his body into Elementalization, disappearing into the dark clouds.
"Oh no!!"
Zero's shock and anger were instant, but he couldn't prevent the current situation in time.
Rowen had kept the Thunder Cloud Sword in the sky for so long, not just to play mind games. The Thunder Cloud Sword sword's central gem gathered an abundance of charged particles.
Now, the sky was filled with gloomy, electrically charged clouds, and the intensity of the electricity contained within them was enough to astonish Rowen himself!
It was just perfect for a finishing blow!
One layer upon another, he never allowed his opponent a chance to turn the tables!
This was Rowen's way of fighting!
Roar!
As Rowen acted, the sky full of dark clouds detonated like an explosive barrel. The dazzling white thunderlight swiftly broke through the clouds, forming the shape of a lightning beast with bared fangs and claws.
Clenching his fist tightly, Rowen aimed at the ground and triggered the celestial thunder, causing a resounding crash.
Billion Volt · Qilin!!
Zzzt… Bang!!
…
Far out at sea, a pirate ship was slowly sailing on the surface, heading towards Yerkes Island.
As a pirate under a Yonko's flag, hardly anyone in the New World dared to slight them. Whether it was the Marines' bases or other pirates, encountering them only led to fleeing and evading. Yerkes Island was no exception.
They had always been left alone because that location was adjacent to the territory of the Yonko "BIG·MOM" pirate crew. Any hostile action might signal the start of a war.
However, recently, the Marines and World Government had been unusually active around Yerkes Island. Even the world-renowned Undying Vice Admiral had appeared there. Therefore, as Yonko's right-hand man, Jack felt it was necessary to come and investigate the situation.
This pirate ship was none other than [The Mammoth], belonging to "Hundred Beasts" Kaido, one of the Yonko, under the Great Character with a bounty of a Billion Berris, "Drought" Jack!
The towering figure on the ship, as massive as a small mountain, was none other than "Drought" Jack, one of the Three Great Disasters of the Beast Pirates!
At this moment, a deafening thunderclap suddenly resounded from a distance. Along with it came a powerful surge of wind that hit the ship, causing the colossal [The Mammoth] to tilt to the left, appearing as though it might capsize.
Jack, who had been resting his eyes, suddenly opened them. With a cold snort, he stamped his foot heavily.
Thunk!!
The ship, akin to a small mountain, emitted anguished creaks under the force of his foot. The ship, which had tilted to 50 degrees, seemed to have been pushed back upright by an invisible hand, snapping back to its original position.
Thunk… Huā Lā La!!
The ship returned to its perpendicular stance, sending up a spray of water.
Jack looked at the Thunderlight shimmering in the distance sky and asked, "What's that over there?!"
"It… It's an unnamed island, Jack-Sama."
One of his subordinates, Little Bro, trembled as he stood up, quickly cross-referencing with the sea map to provide an answer.
"Let's go over there!"
Jack's expression soured, and he sneered, "Daring to cause trouble in our Hundred Beasts pirate crew's territory – do they want to die?!"
**(End of this chapter)**
You can read up to 70 chapters on my patreon and I've also activated (date to date) subscription model on my patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395.