The sudden eruption of intense combat instantly drew the attention of everyone nearby.
"Unbelievable! Their movements are so fast I can't even follow what's happening!"
"Good grief, are they even human?"
"Are those three the World Government's ultimate trump cards? They're terrifyingly powerful!"
"Run! If you get caught in the crossfire, you're done for!"
The navy soldiers watching the scene paled, scrambling to retreat as fast as they could. They knew all too well that getting caught up in a battle like this could cost them their lives.
Admiral Steelbone Kong barked orders, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Ignore them! Focus on your own fights and take down the enemy!"
His command snapped the World Government forces back to their senses, and they resumed their battles. Still, they couldn't help stealing glances at Lin Xuan and his opponents. The sheer intensity of that clash was mind-boggling, especially since it was purely a contest of physical skill—no special abilities yet—and it was already causing such a commotion. They could hardly believe their eyes.
But the skirmish between Lin Xuan and the three others ended almost as quickly as it began. It was just a brief test of strength, a probing exchange.
Goldbeard eyed Lin Xuan, his expression shifting slightly. "Your power is impressive. No wonder you managed to defeat Number Five."
The bald monk snorted. "I told you this guy wasn't ordinary, but you didn't believe me!"
Eight-Shape Mustache, however, remained unfazed. "No matter how strong he is, he's just one man. Together, we'll make sure he meets his end today!"
"Agreed!" Goldbeard and the bald monk nodded in unison.
Lin Xuan smirked at their confidence. "Where do you three get the nerve to think you can take me down?"
The bald monk sneered. "You'll find out soon enough!"
With that, the three lunged toward Lin Xuan, forming a triangular formation to box him in.
The bald monk, who had suffered a loss against Lin Xuan before, struck first. His blade slashed forward, unleashing a terrifying crescent-shaped sword wave that stretched hundreds of meters long.
Lin Xuan's brow furrowed. The last time they fought, this monk had been thoroughly beaten. Yet now he dared to lead the charge? Something felt off.
Still, he reacted instantly to the attack.
Boom!
His Mangekyō Sharingan flared to life, and Susanoo materialized around him. This time, he didn't summon its full form—just a single massive arm wielding a golden spear. With a casual flick, he shattered the monk's sword wave.
Not stopping there, Lin Xuan thrust the spear straight at the bald monk.
But then, something shocking happened.
The monk's figure flickered, turning translucent. Lin Xuan's attack passed right through him, as if striking thin air.
"Is he moving so fast he's leaving afterimages?" Lin Xuan thought.
But the next moment, he dismissed the idea. The monk's ghostly figure didn't vanish after the attack. Instead, it charged straight at Lin Xuan, completely unaffected by the spear's strike. The monk's blade, First Generation Kitetsu, gleamed as he unleashed another ferocious slash.
Boom!
Another devastating sword wave hurtled toward Lin Xuan. He swiftly recalled the golden spear and blocked the attack with a deft parry.
His expression grew serious as he stared at the bald monk, one of the Five Elders. "A Devil Fruit power? And it's different from the one you used last time?"
A memory flashed in Lin Xuan's mind. Back on Earth, he'd read fan theories about the One Piece world, including one wild idea: Could the Five Elders bypass the rule that limits people to a single Devil Fruit, allowing them to wield multiple powers?
Seeing the monk's new ability, Lin Xuan couldn't help but wonder if that theory held water. Had the monk eaten a new Devil Fruit since their last encounter?
Before he could dwell on it, a sudden sense of danger surged from above. He snapped his head up and saw a massive bolt of lightning crashing down.
Boom!
The electric surge engulfed him. But the Thunder Spirit Talisman at his brow activated instantly, absorbing the lightning's power and leaving him unharmed.
Still, Lin Xuan's heart raced. That lightning wasn't a natural phenomenon—it was an attack. His first thought was Enel from Skypiea, but Enel had fled to space in fear, and Lin Xuan sensed no trace of him nearby.
That left only one possibility: one of the three opponents before him.
In the One Piece world, multiple Devil Fruits could grant similar abilities, so it wasn't impossible for another fruit to control lightning.
His gaze swept the battlefield and locked onto Eight-Shape Mustache, one of the Five Elders. He was the one who'd attacked.
Just as Lin Xuan reached this conclusion, the bald monk closed in again, his First Generation Kitetsu glowing with a dazzling light. This time, his attack wasn't a single slash but a barrage of intricate blade waves, reminiscent of Zoro's Three Thousand Worlds. The air around Lin Xuan was suddenly enveloped in a storm of deadly sword energy.
Worse, the blade waves were now infused with a fiery golden power, blazing like flames and amplifying their destructive force.
"Full Susanoo!" Lin Xuan's voice was cold as he unleashed his power. A colossal golden warrior materialized in the air, effortlessly blocking the flaming sword waves.
His icy gaze swept over the bald monk and his two allies. "It seems you three have some tricks up your sleeves. Guess I'll have to get a bit serious myself!"
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T/N:
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