"Is this the legendary Conqueror's Haki?" Arthur gasped as Shiki unleashed his Conqueror's Haki.
In that moment, Arthur felt an overwhelming urge to surrender. It wasn't just an old man standing before him; it was a king, demanding submission.
But Arthur hailed from the 21st century. Despite the crushing power of Haki, his inner self refused to kneel and yield.
In the past four years, Arthur had grown accustomed to solitude, which had instilled a sense of self-reliance and resilience that even he couldn't fully explain.
It was as if his own mindset had elevated, unwilling to be subjugated by others.
However, Shiki's formidable presence clashed with Arthur's resolve, causing turmoil in his mind.
"Darn it! This old guy is making me want to kneel!" Arthur cursed inwardly.
"Kill him! He must be eliminated! Resist his will!" another part of his mind countered.
For those faced with Conqueror's Haki, lacking sufficient strength and willpower could lead to falling into a coma from the sheer force of the clash.
A person accustomed to strength could typically resist such power in their heart. Those who frequently faced Conqueror's Haki users often developed immunity, or their inner fortitude was exceptionally strong.
However, Arthur had yet to experience real combat, and Shiki's sudden surge of Haki caught him off guard, plunging him into a mental battle.
The clash of wills, though intense, only briefly startled Arthur. Upon regaining his senses, a dark and stern expression crossed his face. If his mind had faltered earlier, he dreaded the consequences. Such an event could leave a lasting scar on his psyche, weakening his resolve.
This ordeal shook Arthur's inner strength. Without that resilience, reaching the pinnacle of strength would be nearly impossible, only attaining a level slightly below the top-tier.
In his anger, Arthur remained vigilant. Shiki's sudden use of Conqueror's Haki hinted at potential usage of Armament and Observation Haki. Yet Arthur knew this burst wouldn't endure.
Indeed, after Arthur's mental fortitude repelled the Haki, Shiki withdrew his power, visibly fatigued. This indicated the strain Conqueror's Haki had put on him.
"50 million volts, Black Crack!" Lightning crackled around Arthur, coalescing into a concentrated, twisted black bolt aimed at Shiki. Despite its focused intensity, the lightning's limited range was compensated by its sheer power.
With a thunderous roar, a crater tens of meters deep and hundreds of meters wide erupted. The surrounding soil crystallized from the intense heat, emitting a steaming flow.
"What an impressive attack. Was that your full power unleashed in one strike?" Even Shiki appeared slightly taken aback from the spectacle in the sky.
It wasn't just the attack's raw power that amazed him. For those striving for strength, unleashing devastating attacks was achievable with effort. However, what astounded Shiki was the age of the boy before him, merely sixteen or seventeen. His mastery of Thunder Fruit powers showcased terrifying talent.
As Arthur retaliated, Shiki's demeanor turned lethal.
"Lion, Thousand Slice Valley!"
Shiki bellowed, swinging his legs. Sharp sword energy erupted from Sakura Ten and the dead wood on his legs, hurtling towards Arthur.
Shiki's attack could easily cleave through formidable defenses.
Facing such a formidable assault, Arthur abandoned any notion of testing his opponent and went all out.
"Chinjao, Mountain Breaker!"
Arthur yelled, slashing with his triple-pointed double-edged knife, unleashing a thunderous slash. Despite being a single strike, it surpassed Shiki Lion: Thousand Slice Valley in sheer power.
With a resounding crash, Arthur's attack shattered all of Shiki's slashes.
"Hehehe, not bad, kid. Quite skilled!" Shiki chuckled, impressed by Arthur's prowess.
Shiki burst into boisterous laughter before uttering five words.
"Lion Majesty: Earth Coiling!"
Under his command, the ground transformed into malleable clay, shaping into a colossal lion that lunged at Arthur.
Arthur vanished instantly, dodging the attack, then reappeared behind Shiki.
"One hundred million volts, Electric Stab!"
The tip of Arthur's knife crackled with intense lightning, compressed to the point of near-silence due to its ultrasonic vibrations, imperceptible to human ears.
A searing heatwave accompanied the strike. Once pierced into the body, the Redding attached to it would infiltrate the target's system. Then, triggered by the intense heat and electricity, it would detonate within the body.
However, for a seasoned warrior like Shiki, this trick was doomed to fail.
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