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As the shockwaves from their clash rippled outward, a smaller, silver-white streak of sword energy pierced through the chaos, hurtling towards Diamante below. Ian's attack had prevailed.
"What?!" Diamante's eyes widened in disbelief.
He hadn't expected his full-powered, Cosmo-enhanced slash to be countered.
"Crocodile, you're not going to help?! If I die, you won't be able to explain yourself to Doffy!" Diamante shouted at Crocodile.
"Explain myself? I'll simply tell him you got yourself killed picking a fight with the Marines after I left." Crocodile replied nonchalantly, taking a puff from his cigar and exhaling a perfect smoke ring. His response was a textbook example of pirate ruthlessness.
"You shameless bastard! I came here to deliver weapons! And Doffy wanted to share his expertise on overthrowing governments and acquiring Pluton! He was going to help you!"
Diamante, realizing his imminent demise, desperately tried to drag Crocodile down with him, revealing his purpose and exposing Crocodile's treacherous plans.
"You think you can threaten me with that? Let me tell you, Momousagi and the Marine higher-ups already caught wind of my activities at Thriller Bark. They're keeping a close eye on me. Why else would I be buying weapons from your precious Donquixote Family?"
This was Crocodile's true intention. Since his plans had been exposed, he needed to consolidate his forces and expedite his operation before the Marines intervened. He had to succeed before they could take him down, like they had done with Moria.
Whether due to perceived weakness or the potential abolition of the Warlord system, Crocodile had to solidify his position. The Marines wouldn't dare target him if he succeeded in overthrowing Alabasta. They understood the difference between a mere Warlord and a powerful ruler.
However, he had forgotten who he was dealing with.
"Army of Flags!" Diamante roared, realizing Crocodile was unreliable.
The ground beneath them transformed, becoming as soft and pliable as silk, billowing in the wind.
Tashigi and Mr. 1 struggled to maintain their balance, nearly losing their footing.
Diamante, however, remained unaffected. This was his ultimate technique, designed to incapacitate his opponents by disrupting their footing. But it had little effect on Crocodile or Ian.
Although the ground beneath them undulated, they remained firmly planted, their expressions unfazed.
It seemed the technique was only effective against ordinary individuals.
"Death Enjambre!" Diamante then produced several confetti cannons, firing a barrage of colorful paper scraps into the air.
The seemingly harmless confetti transformed mid-air, turning into sharp, spiked iron balls that rained down upon them like a deadly hailstorm.
He had opted not to utilize his "Half Moon Glaive" attack, as the swaying ground would have affected his aim.
"Pierce him!" Ian calmly raised his Zanpakuto.
The Spring-Spring Fruit's compression ability enveloped the blade, transforming it into a compact form, mimicking the appearance of Diamante's sword when influenced by the Hira Hira no Mi.
"His blade… it's contorting? What's going on? He's not wielding a Meito, is he?"
Both Diamante and Crocodile were astonished, witnessing the bizarre transformation. When had ordinary swords gained such abilities? They were utterly baffled.
"Is it his Devil Fruit power?" Diamante quickly recovered, recalling the similar transformations his own weapons had undergone. Logia-type Devil Fruit users were capable of creating weapons from their element.
After all, could anyone claim that Kizaru's "Ama no Murakumo" sword or Aokiji's ice blades were inferior to Meito?
"Corrida Glaive!" Despite the undulating ground affecting Ian's stance, Diamante remained cautious.
Utilizing his Devil Fruit, he transformed his cape into a hardened steel shield, enveloping his body.
Whoosh! The compressed spring, having reached its limit, unleashed its stored energy. As Ian had predicted, his attack pierced through Diamante's steel cape, creating a small hole directly above his heart. However, the blade only penetrated a short distance.
"Black-Winged Demon… Is that your strongest attack? Why don't you show me your true power?" Diamante retracted his cape, revealing a small but bloody wound on his chest. Ian sheathed his Zanpakuto.
Diamante was referring to Ian's Resurrección, his true form.
He had witnessed Ian's battle against Gecko Moria at Thriller Bark and yearned to witness the full extent of his power.
Shinsō, the Zanpakuto of Gin Ichimaru, possessed the ability to extend and contract its length at incredible speed, delivering powerful thrusts with enhanced force. It was comparable to Orochimaru's Kusanagi Sword in the Naruto universe.
"Shoot to Kill!" This was its Shikai release, equivalent to the first Resurrección of an Arrancar.
The blade could instantly extend, changing its length to pierce opponents, enhancing both speed and power. It could also be wielded like a whip, reaching a maximum length of 100 times its normal size, spanning over 10 kilometers.
In its Bankai state, it could cleave through anything in its path with immense force and speed, extending and retracting at 500 times the speed of sound.
However, the replica created with the Spring-Spring Fruit couldn't achieve such incredible lengths. But if he channeled his full spiritual pressure into the blade…
Perhaps it was possible. With a 100% fusion rate and the added boost from the Devil Fruit, he might be able to replicate the full extent of Shinsō's power.
"Your attacks are useless against me!"
Diamante roared, his Death Enjambre reaching them. Fortunately, Tashigi had retreated to a safe distance.
Crocodile simply transformed into sand, allowing the spiked projectiles to pass harmlessly through him before reforming.
Even if Ian possessed a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, his physical body was likely vulnerable. If they could eliminate Ian while he was injured…
Victory might be out of reach, but escape was still a possibility.
Diamante had abandoned all hope of defeating Ian.
"Is that so?" Ian smirked, watching as Diamante's body transformed into a silk-like sheet, retreating from the barrage. He observed him with amusement.
"You witnessed my battle against Moria. You should have some understanding of my abilities. Tell me, have I used any of those techniques yet?"
Diamante, who had been preparing for a desperate last stand, froze, his face paling.
"Could it be…?" Terror filled his eyes as he instinctively glanced at his chest, where a sphere of light pulsed ominously.
He recalled Ian's Devil Fruit abilities, his energy blasts that resembled Kizaru's laser beams. But this… this felt like a bomb!
"No!" Diamante frantically channeled his Armament Haki, attempting to contain the blast.
Blackness enveloped his chest, but he had underestimated its power. A wave of numbness paralyzed him, and the sphere of light erupted with blinding intensity.
Whoosh! In an instant, Diamante's body, including his steel armor, was shredded, reduced to scattered fragments.
Thump! Blood splattered across the ground as Diamante's lifeless body collapsed, a gaping hole where his chest had been, reminiscent of a Hollow's cavity. Ironically, Ian, despite possessing the powers of Ulquiorra, lacked a Hollow hole.
But Diamante's final gaze, fixed upon Ian, held a chilling fear, as if he had glimpsed the depths of hell…
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Word Count [1246]
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To Be Continued..
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