CLANG—!
Before the blink of an eye, Sabo twisted his body violently. His pitch-black 'Dragon Claw' locked onto the incoming 'Black Blade' with a death grip.
The collision sent a massive circular shockwave rippling outward, the sheer pressure carving cracks into the parched earth where the wind brushed past.
"Ryusoken... Interesting!"
Aeridar's eyes widened slightly. He was genuinely surprised that Sabo's 'Dragon Claw' could actually catch his High-Frequency Vibration Black Blade. This was one of the most lethal techniques in his arsenal, an attack even the likes of Kaido of the Beasts wouldn't choose to tank head-on. Yet, this young man had actually caught it.
Is this the true strength of a top-tier powerhouse? He's terrifying!
Sabo felt a violent tremor run through his arm, his heart sinking. Though he had caught the hand-blade, the vibrational frequency contained within was so intense it felt like the bones in his hand were about to be shaken into dust.
If it weren't for his years of training the Ryusoken to make his hands as indestructible as a dragon's, even touching that blade would have shattered his palm instantly.
"Excellent! Then have another!"
Aeridar, his fighting spirit ignited, transformed his left hand into a blade as well. He swung it down with savage speed, coating the limb in a deep, metallic coat of Armament Haki.
The blade-wind was so sharp and fierce that even before it connected, Sabo felt a stinging, cutting sensation across his skin. He didn't dare attempt to block this time; he released his grip and leapt backward, narrowly evading the slash.
SHING—!
The hand-blade missed, but the invisible vacuum of the strike cleaved the earth, carving a narrow, jagged trench dozens of meters long.
"Tsk, fast little brat!" Aeridar clicked his tongue in annoyance.
After this brief exchange, he had gauged Sabo's current strength. His physical abilities was formidable, but he was nowhere near the level he would eventually reach during the Dressrosa arc, where he would single-handedly hold off thousands of Marines, including an Admiral. Moreover, the Sabo of that era would be bolstered by the Flame-Flame Fruit.
As it stood, Aeridar didn't see him as a major threat. In terms of pure physical combat, unless one reached the absolute pinnacle, like Zephyr or Garp in their prime, most martial artists were naturally countered by his Impact-Impact Fruit abilities.
Just a hand-blade... Sabo took a sharp breath, his scalp tingling with dread. If his opponent had used a weapon or a kick, it wouldn't have been as shocking. But to cause such destruction with a simple swipe of a bare palm coated in Haki was truly staggering.
THUD!
Aeridar kicked off the ground, lunging forward with such explosive force that the earth groaned and buckled beneath him. In the blink of an eye, he was in Sabo's face, a leg raised high before coming down like a guillotine.
"Here he comes!" Sabo retreated several steps, trying to avoid the brunt of the momentum.
BOOM!
The ground shook as the stomp created a massive crater, kicking up a blinding veil of dust.
"Ryusoken: Dragon's Claw!!!"
Sabo seized the opening, lunging forward with a blackened claw aimed like a bolt of lightning at Aeridar.
"Still too green!" Aeridar sneered. He pivoted and slammed his fist directly into the air in front of him.
CRACK!
The atmosphere itself splintered. Jagged fissures spider-webbed across the very air as a massive vibration transmitted through the space.
"The air... it's cracking!" Sabo stared in stunned disbelief at the impossible sight.
KABOOM—!
The shockwave pulverized the ground in front of them, tearing through the earth in a straight line of destruction. Sabo, caught directly in the path of the linear vibration, was hit head-on. He coughed up a spray of blood and was sent flying backward.
A violent gale of grit and dust swept in all directions as deep chasms spider-webbed across the wasteland.
"Heh-heh-heh... Whether I kill him or capture him, that man Dragon is going to be heartbroken!" Aeridar laughed pridefully, looking at the ruin he had wrought. "Wiping out everyone here will be a devastating blow to the Revolutionaries. Having to deal with the World Government's pursuit after this will be more than enough to keep Dragon occupied!"
BOOM!
With a sonic boom, Aeridar took flight, hurtling forward at supersonic speeds.
"Cough... cough..."
Amidst the broken earth, Sabo pushed aside heavy stones, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He struggled to his feet, heart racing. So that's the power rumored to be able to 'Destroy the World'... it's horrifying!
But as the words left his mouth, a shadow loomed over him.
In a flash, a leg as hard as a steel whip swept across, carrying a whistling gale. It caught Sabo squarely on the side of the head.
BAM!
Sabo was sent hurtling sideways like a black blur, crashing directly into the Red River and sending a plume of water fifty meters into the air.
"SABOOO!" Koala's eyes widened, tears finally spilling down her cheeks.
"Yahahahaha! Looks like you've failed! Serves you right!" Enel mocked, laughing wickedly at their despair.
"Damn you! I'll kill you!"
"Avenge the Chief of Staff!"
Hack and the remaining Revolutionary soldiers were consumed by rage, charging blindly at Enel.
"NO! STOP!" Koala cried out in horror, but she couldn't catch them in time.
"Honestly, some people just don't know when they're outmatched. Die. 60 Million Volt: Lightning Dragon!"
Enel lazily picked his ear as blue electricity arced across his body.
THUMP! THUMP!
He tapped the golden staff against two of the drums on his back. They erupted with a blinding radiance, channeling a massive surge of electricity that manifested as a giant, snarling dragon of lightning. Under Enel's guidance, it lunged forward, claws bared.
ZZZT—ZZZT—! "AAAAAARGH!"
In an instant, the lightning dragon engulfed the dozen warriors. Millions of volts coursed through them, their screams piercing the air. When the light faded, ten charred bodies collapsed to the ground, emitting acrid black smoke. They were barely recognizable as human.
"HACK!" Koala rushed to his side, while the remaining cadres looked on in pure terror.
"Like moths to a flame!"
Aeridar shouted, walking slowly to the edge of the river. He reached out his right hand and touched the surface of the water.
Gurgle... gurgle...
In the next second, the Red River began to boil. Bubbles hissed across the surface as far as the eye could see.
SPLASH—!
Tons of water began to surge toward the sky in a continuous stream, as if the riverbed itself was being sucked dry. The massive volume of water hovered in the air, forming a floating lake.
There, suspended in the heart of the aerial lake, was Sabo. His face was flushed crimson as he struggled against the weight of the water, gasping for air as if he were about to be drowned in the sky.
"Lion's Threat: Imperial Earth Bind!!!"
Aeridar stood tall, his roar echoing toward the heavens.