The performances of Zoro and Sanji brought the Pokémon League Conference to life with unprecedented cheers.
Compared to the predictable, overwhelming battles of Garp and Ace, this evenly matched, unpredictable clash was exactly what the audience craved!
——
Another violent tremor shook the arena as Zoro and Sanji were both forced back. The flames in the air suddenly dispersed.
Sanji didn't hesitate. In an instant, flames burst from the soles of his feet, propelling him forward in a dazzling blur of red and black.
"Fire Devil Wind Kicks: Flambè Shot!!!"
Sanji, now in front of Zoro, twisted his body like a windmill, rapidly kicking toward Zoro's head.
Clang!
A dark flash streaked by!
Zoro raised his sword high, its blade wrapped in a dark, armored aura, and once again blocked Sanji's fierce attack.
"Damn it!!!" Sanji cursed under his breath as the blood in his body surged wildly, unleashing another violent burst of flames.
But instead of harming Zoro, the flames quickly enveloped Sanji, transforming him into a fiery humanoid demon with eyes glowing an eerie scarlet.
Having repeatedly attacked with all his might to no avail, Sanji decided to abandon reason altogether. He unleashed the full, violent power coursing through his blood without holding back!
After all, Sir Leo was watching this battle, and Sanji believed that Leo wouldn't let him turn into a mindless monster!
"Die!!!"
With the power in his blood fully unleashed, Sanji erupted with terrifying killing intent, mixed with searing flames, aiming straight for Zoro's head.
"What!?"
Feeling the sudden weight on his sword and the raw murderous intent emanating from Sanji, Zoro finally realized what Sanji had meant earlier.
This guy really does want to kill me!
Boom!
The flames exploded between them, and the impact sent Zoro skidding dozens of meters across the marble floor.
This was the first time since the battle began that Sanji had managed to knock Zoro down.
On the other side of the battlefield, influenced by Sanji, Blaziken's eyes blazed with a crazed fire.
After being suppressed and beaten by Scyther for so long, it finally began to unleash its true power.
Before Scyther's next slash could land, Blaziken suddenly leaped back, spreading its arms wide and aiming its chest at its opponent.
All at once, a torrent of blazing flames surged from Blaziken's body, condensing in front of it.
"(Blazing Kick!)"
With a fierce shout, the condensed flames erupted, forming a violently spinning tornado that instantly engulfed Scyther.
"Cha!"
Scyther cried out in pain, immediately swallowed by the roaring flames.
As Sanji fully embraced the power of the blood factor within him, and Blaziken drew strength from its trainer, their abilities soared to new heights.
"Damn it, how did you get so strong?"
Burned by the flames, Zoro quickly used his sword to prop himself up, standing fast as he swatted away the lingering flames on his body.
But even though the flames were gone, Zoro's body still throbbed with the unbearable pain of his burns.
"An attack with a burn effect, huh?"
Zoro, no longer the novice trainer of old, instantly realized that Sanji's fire energy had undergone a major transformation after his power surge.
"Scyther, are you okay!?" Zoro quickly called out.
"Cha!"
A slightly agitated voice came from the flames, followed by a sharp flash of cold light that cut through the roaring inferno.
In an instant, an overwhelming sword intent surged out like a violent wind, extinguishing the flames.
"Cha! (No problem at all!)"
Scyther, bearing the same burns, moved slightly but stood firm, enduring the pain as it recovered.
That determined expression mirrored Zoro's exactly!
"Heh..."
Zoro grinned, a fierce glint in his eyes.
The searing pain of the burns continued to torment him, and Zoro knew that Scyther was enduring the same suffering.
"It seems we need to end this battle quickly!" Zoro suddenly declared.
"Cha!"
Scyther nodded in response, a dark light flashing across its twin blades, gleaming ominously.
From this moment on, they would face this battle with the same lethal intent as Sanji and Blaziken!
Otherwise, the burning state of their bodies would only continue to weaken them, and they would lose.
As Zoro and Scyther gathered their strength, Sanji and Blaziken were already on the attack!
"Fire Devil Wind Kicks: Minced Meat!!!"
As the wave of flames surged once more, Zoro's eyes narrowed.
"Heh~ You don't think I'll let you hit me again, do you?"
Boom!
A breathtaking aura burst from Zoro's body, slowly forming into a ghostly figure that swayed ominously.
"Three-Sword Style: Demon Sleepless Night—Ashura!!!"
The massive demon suddenly opened its scarlet eyes, releasing a torrent of killing intent toward its enemy.
In that moment, Zoro and Sanji both abandoned any hesitation, fully committing to their intent to kill!
The advanced sword intent from shura condensed onto Zoro's three swords.
Whoosh!
With a sound like the wail of a demon, the ghostly figure launched forward, carrying a terrifying slash aimed at Sanji.
Beside Zoro, Scyther mirrored his stance perfectly.
It was none other than Zoro's Three-Sword Style: Demon Sleepless Night—Ashura!!!
A more fearsome ghostly figure shot toward Blaziken, shrouded in flames.
In an instant, the battlefield, which had seemed divided, synchronized again as if two mirrored phantoms were clashing!
As an experimental subject, Scyther's life in the Pokémon world had been harsh.
Stripped of its Bug and Flying types, it had felt like it had lost its limbs, its life reduced to pain and suffering.
But fate was kind, bringing it to Zoro through Leo.
Training in swordsmanship with Zoro, Scyther had quickly risen to the level of a swordsman, thanks to its exceptional physical abilities.
After bonding with Zoro, Scyther was blessed by Zoro's swordsmanship, becoming a master swordsman in its own right!
So now, if only to repay the hope Zoro had given it, Scyther was determined to give everything and fight until the very last second!
Boom!!!
The spectral sword, imbued with unparalleled power, collided with the flame-shrouded forms of Sanji and the Blaziken, unleashing a cataclysmic force that rippled outward in every direction.
Once again, the skies above Celestial Island, previously cleared by the earlier battles, were torn asunder by the raging storm.
By now, the audience had grown accustomed to the sheer devastation brought about by Zoro and his adversaries, and they began to fervently debate who would ultimately emerge victorious in this clash. Though it was only the first match of the semifinals, the intensity of their fight made it feel as if they were already competing for the championship.
After their attack was neutralized by the combined efforts of Zoro and his Scyther, Sanji and the Blaziken leapt back simultaneously.
Despite Zoro and his Scyther suffering from the burn status, Sanji was far from being as composed as he appeared. There was a price to be paid for wielding power that was still beyond his full control. As the battle wore on, Sanji's consciousness began to blur, a side effect of the overwhelming force now coursing through him, threatening to overwhelm his senses.
Sanji knew he needed to end this fight quickly before he succumbed entirely to this power. With no hesitation after landing, flames once more burst from him, the intense heat warping the air around him. Together with Blaziken, he launched himself toward Zoro in a brilliant blaze.
In an instant, the battle seemed to accelerate, both sides exchanging rapid, brutal blows, the shockwaves of their conflict reverberating across Celestial Island.
Meanwhile, far away in the North Blue, in the Kingdom of Elya...
A small island nation, Elya had always been an inconspicuous state in the North Blue, too small to afford the Heavenly Tribute and thus never part of the World Government's allied nations.
But today, this unremarkable island was hosting a group of significant guests.
While the rest of the world was focused on the ongoing Pokémon League Conference, the Kingdom of Elya was busy preparing for a grand reception.
Germa 66, the infamous military kingdom of the North Blue, was visiting today.
Although no one knew why Germa 66 had chosen to visit, the fact that it was a diplomatic mission and not a military invasion was a relief to the Elya government. Germa 66 had long lost its former glory, but there was no country in the North Blue that dared provoke them—those who had tried were long gone.
Because of Germa 66's fearsome reputation, Elya's king had dressed in full regalia early in the morning and waited at the port, eager to make a favorable impression.
Before long, a massive snail ship docked at Elya's port, and lively welcome music filled the air.
A tall man slowly disembarked from the snail ship. This was none other than the king of Germa 66, the patriarch of the Vinsmoke family, and Sanji's biological father—Vinsmoke Judge.
"The arrival of His Majesty Vinsmoke Judge truly brings honor to our humble kingdom! I am..." The King of Elya eagerly stepped forward to greet Judge, hoping to leave a favorable impression.
But before the king could finish his well-rehearsed speech, Judge raised his hand, cutting him off.
"Enough with the pointless formalities," Judge intoned, his voice low and cold. He then cast his gaze behind him.
A stunning young woman with a graceful figure descended from the snail ship, holding the hand of a small blue-haired girl, no more than twelve or thirteen years old.
"Is this the place, Reiju?" Judge asked, ignoring the king entirely as he addressed his daughter.
The King of Elya, feeling embarrassed but powerless before the North Blue overlord, could only force a smile and remain silent.
Reiju, with a gentle expression, leaned down to speak quietly to the little girl beside her. After a moment, she straightened up and nodded to Judge.
"Yes, Father," she confirmed. "Emla says she remembers where her home is and can lead us to her parents."
"Excellent," Judge replied, a rare smile breaking through his usual icy demeanor as he regarded Emla with an almost appreciative gaze. "Don't worry, child. It's not pleasant to be the subject of research, but with your cooperation, I'll ensure your family is well taken care of."
Judge's attempt at reassurance, while perhaps well-intentioned, was chilling. Emla was a little girl Reiju had rescued from a slave auction not long ago. Despite her upbringing in the Vinsmoke family, Reiju's inherent kindness, nurtured by her mother and Sanji, had not completely disappeared.
When Reiju saw Emla being auctioned off at the tender age of twelve or thirteen, she couldn't resist and bought the girl for 5 million Berries. Given the fate that awaited her at the hands of unscrupulous nobles and merchants, Reiju's decision saved the girl from unimaginable horrors.
Judge, though aware of Reiju's rare act of kindness, had initially turned a blind eye to Emla's presence, allowing Reiju to keep her as a maid. However, when he discovered that Emla could conjure ice from thin air and add it to her tea, Judge's scientific curiosity was piqued.
After running tests and questioning Emla, Judge found that she was not a Devil Fruit user; her ability to generate cold energy was innate. To Emla, this was nothing special—just a trick to cool her tea or create a breeze in the summer.
But to Judge, it was clear: Emla was likely a descendant of the fabled "Kingdom of Gods" on the Red Line from eight hundred years ago.
Already deep into his research on bloodline factors, Judge became fixated on studying Emla's lineage. Yet, Emla was still a child, and even if humanitarian concerns were set aside, there was the matter of whether she could endure the rigorous tests Judge had in mind.
So, Judge had Reiju negotiate with Emla. In exchange for her cooperation, Judge promised not to harm her family and even offered them the status of nobility.
Perhaps swayed by Reiju's kindness or Judge's promises, Emla eventually agreed to the deal.
Now, following Emla's lead, Judge and Reiju made their way through the streets of Elya toward the little girl's home. But as they passed a public square, they noticed a large crowd gathered around a massive screen.
"Hmm?" Judge paused, intrigued by what was being shown.
On the screen, with footage captured by a team of professional Rotom cameras, the battle between Sanji and Zoro was playing out like a movie, complete with stunning special effects. The dynamic camera angles and vivid imagery made the battle even more captivating than watching it live.
"What's that?" Judge asked, his interest piqued.
Reiju, who had been comforting Emla, glanced at the screen and quickly replied, "That's the broadcast of the Pokémon League Conference. The media approached us about covering it, but we declined."
While Pokémon battles were a popular phenomenon in the Grand Line and East Blue, they hadn't caught on in the North Blue, where few had ever seen a real Pokémon. Moreover, Germa 66, as a nation focused on scientific advancements, had little interest in such matters and kept its borders tightly controlled.
But as Reiju finished speaking and looked up at the screen, her expression froze, as if time itself had stopped.