Chapter 541: Because He Understands That the Void Dominates
Countless sharks swarmed through the black tide.
Faced with the bites of these airborne sharks, Higuma gripped his dual swords and swung them swiftly.
He wasn't entirely adept with the dual-sword style.
After all, he had only transitioned from a single sword to dual swords three months ago.
But this didn't hinder his fluid slashing.
In terms of swordsmanship, he wasn't exceptionally skilled.
However, he had an advantage: raw power.
After the Yamata Sect emerged, Higuma navigated months of challenges and joined the Yamata God Orochimaru.
In the second month after joining, Kanika, the Muscle Demon, also joined the Yamata Sect.
There was no doubt this was Higuma's decision, driven by his earlier convictions.
Years ago, Higuma had witnessed the immense power displayed when Red-Haired Shanks and the Tyrant King Andre clashed.
He coveted the strange powers of Shanks and Andre.
At the time, Higuma didn't know these were the key power and magic power of the great era of magic patterns.
Later, King appeared and nearly annihilated Shanks' group, revealing the equally formidable power of a Mythical beast.
These two powers became Higuma's ultimate goals.
With Orochimaru's rise to godhood, the power of Mythical beasts grew increasingly significant to Higuma, as they had no side effects.
Thus, when the Yamata Sect first appeared, Higuma made his choice.
As he hoped, Kanika became Riki within months.
Even without the Yamata Sect's backing, Kanika could be considered an elder of the sect.
A few months later, through Kanika's maneuvering, Higuma received the fourth level of divine grace.
Though only a fourth-level divine favor, it aligned perfectly with the theme of the experiment: "force."
The experiment went smoothly, granting Higuma the highest degree of power attainable from a level-four experiment.
His combat strength neared that of a one-star gem-level hunter.
During this time, the third Kendo Tournament was held.
While Higuma underwent the experiment, Red-Haired Shanks rose to fame at the tournament.
After the experiment, seeing Shanks named one of the three kendo masters in the newspaper, Higuma remained expressionless, even wanting to laugh.
Because he understood, he had finally caught up.
Now, with the Eight-Armed Ape Mythical beast fruit, he had surpassed Shanks entirely.
Whoosh!
Lost in thought, Higuma slashed freely.
He could grow stronger still. Mastering the eight-sword style would make him even more powerful.
The countless sharks surrounding him were brutally cleaved by his heavy, forceful slashes.
Though Jinbei kept summoning water sharks, their creation couldn't match Higuma's cutting speed.
Higuma steadily closed in on Jinbei.
His eyes glowed red like an evil spirit, and Conqueror's Haki surged, wrapping around his blades.
"Keep your arms, Jinbei!" Higuma said and his imposing figure reached Jinbei, his blade aimed at Jinbei's right hand, slicing like water.
Facing this crisis, Jinbei's pupils contracted.
The God Killer Equipment in his hand erupted like a boiling furnace.
"Eight-Foot Magatama!"
Countless golden flame bombs burst forth, engulfing Higuma's figure.
Reacting instantly, Higuma flipped his blades, rotating, slashing, trembling, and deflecting.
In one fluid motion, he cut and redirected all the golden flame bombs to his side.
Boom!
The halved flame bombs exploded.
A lazy voice followed.
"I can't let you succeed like that, Power Sword Higuma." the voice said.
Higuma looked toward the sound.
As expected, Marine Admiral Kizaru stood in midair.
In the black tide's interference, Higuma couldn't sense Kizaru without seeing him directly.
"Marine Admiral Kizaru, are you actually helping pirates?" Higuma asked aggressively.
He was close to pointing at Kizaru's nose and cursing.
Being interrupted at a critical moment was infuriating.
"Don't put it so harshly! I'm just preventing a more dangerous pirate from getting the God Killer Equipment." Kizaru said lightly.
Compared to Higuma, Kizaru preferred the God Killer Equipment remain with Jinbei.
Though Jinbei was initially cold and irritable, his personality had softened over time.
His title as Sea Hero reflected this change.
The Sun Pirates, under his leadership, targeted other pirates.
Kizaru judged Higuma as a far greater threat.
"Meddling in my business!" Higuma said, glaring coldly at Kizaru.
Among those with God Killer Equipments, Jinbei was the weakest.
Higuma had thought it would be effortless.
It seemed he had underestimated the situation.
"Your Excellency Admiral, I'll remember this kindness." Jinbei said.
"I'll repay you if I get the chance." he added, quietly thanking Kizaru.
Though Kizaru's motives weren't pure, he had saved Jinbei, and Jinbei wouldn't dismiss the favor just because of Kizaru's Marine status.
"Please, spare me!" Kizaru said with a somewhat crude expression.
"If others heard, they'd think I'm colluding with pirates!"
As Kizaru approached, Higuma didn't retreat.
He had little hope of penetrating deeper into the black tide.
Jinbei was his target. If that failed, he'd practice his dual-sword style against the Marine Admiral.
Looking at Higuma, cautiously wielding his two swords, Kizaru opened his mouth to speak.
But his expression suddenly changed.
"Void Dominance!" a voice echoed ethereally.
The noisy world abruptly stilled.
A strange force spread from the center of the black tide, halting the entire canyon.
Kizaru's face showed horror. Though his body was frozen, his consciousness remained awake, but he felt his body was beyond his control.
It was far from pleasant.
(End of this chapter)