From the twin blades of Zoro, an explosive force suddenly erupted, terrifying in its intensity.
There was nothing flashy or ornate about the attack, just two simple, clean arcs of steel. But the speed and power were overwhelming. The blades carved through the air like lightning, leaving behind a pair of thunderous, blinding streaks.
With incredible momentum, the deadly tips shot straight toward Blood-Asura's chest.
But Asura stood firm, seemingly unaware or unconcerned. He didn't flinch. Not even a twitch. Then, suddenly, he looked up.
His golden pupils widened.
His eyes, sharp and ancient as if they could pierce through past and future, stared directly at the approaching blades. He whispered, as if talking to the air itself:
"So… it's finally time."
"Time to show you… everything."
Facing Zoro's deadly assault, Asura calmly raised a single hand.
In his grip, a dark red blade flashed across the air, so fast it seemed to vanish, leaving behind only a crimson blur, a smear of blood in the sky.
Then, in a voice like an ancient chant, he uttered a single word, one no one could understand, sounding like a sacred mantra:
"Khura Khanda!"
BOOM!!!
Asura took a bold step forward, charging head-on into Zoro's strike!
In the blink of an eye, the two clashed, and the world exploded with sound. The ground beneath Asura's feet collapsed into rubble, stone cracked and flew, creating a crater a meter deep.
In midair, Zoro narrowed his eyes in surprise. His blades clashed against Asura's sword, the sparks danced wildly where steel met steel.
The collision of Zoro's twin swords with Asura's glowing crimson blade sent energy scattering in all directions.
Zoro gave a wry smirk.
"So that's your third sword, huh? Gotta say, it's impressive."
But before the words even fully left his mouth,
"Guhh!!"
Zoro's face suddenly twisted in pain. Without warning, he coughed up a mouthful of blood. His body flew backward like a cannonball, completely out of control.
Droplets of blood hung in the air, forming a crimson mist.
Then, CRASH!
He smashed into a massive boulder, shattering it to pieces.
High above, that ancient voice echoed once more. But Asura didn't show the slightest pride or triumph over knocking Zoro back.
Instead, like a patient teacher, he calmly explained:
"That was a piercing strike… Khura Khanda.
It can pass through matter, energy, anything.
It harms only what I choose to target. Nothing else."
Zoro groaned and sat up from the rubble.
His black sword pulsed faintly. A strange energy flowed from it and surged into his body, as if the devastating strike hadn't harmed him at all.
He stood.
Again.
Gritting his teeth, he glanced at the blood-red blade in Asura's hand, then grinned.
"So that's your ability, huh?"
"Yes…" Asura answered evenly. "But that's not all."
Zoro's brow lifted in interest. His lips curled into an eager smirk.
"Well now…
I'm getting excited.
Can't wait to see the rest!"
He tilted his head, almost playfully.
"Too bad… Kuina's power doesn't seem to work on you."
"That's true," Asura replied calmly, unfazed. "Her ability has no effect on me."
Clang,
Zoro suddenly sheathed both of his swords.
His body slowly hunched, his expression shifting from crazed excitement to something darker, calm, focused, lethal. It was like a shadow had fallen over his face, hiding his eyes, masking his intent.
Under the eerie red glow of the blood moon, only part of Zoro's face was visible. His lips parted slightly, muscles tensed. He muttered lowly:
"Good thing…
The Beast's power still works just fine."
"Two-Sword Style: Ultimate Technique!"
Zoro's body dropped even lower, coiled tight like a spring ready to launch. Both hands gripped the hilts of his swords, locked in place.
"Iaijutsu…"
His arms spread like the wings of a great bird.
Zoro's gaze locked directly onto Asura, no hesitation, no fear.
"Swallow Return Flash!!!"
SWOOSH!
A flash of emerald-blue light streaked across the earth.
It carved a jagged trench into the ground, crackling with raw power.
Zoro had become the blade itself, his entire form condensed into a lethal strike. He transformed into a blue swallow, wings outstretched, sharper than steel, ten times stronger. A hundred. A thousand.
He slashed toward Asura like a falling star.
Asura reacted instantly, his monk-like eyes tracking Zoro's every movement. But he didn't panic.
Instead, he calmly drew his sword and swung with force, letting out another chilling mantra:
"Pazhi!"
SHRIIIP!
The air was torn apart.
Just as Zoro, in the form of the blue swallow, flew past Asura,
His body jerked violently, as if something had snapped his wings.
A deep, clean wound opened across his abdomen. The flesh at the edges was perfectly smooth, unnaturally so.
The blue swallow vanished, and Zoro dropped from the air.
His green hair fluttered as he fell. Blood poured from his stomach. He hit the ground hard.
"Gah…!"
Another mouthful of blood spilled from his lips.
Asura lowered his blade and, in that same steady tone, began to explain:
"This was the severing strike."
"It can cut through anything, matter, energy, attacks… even emotions."
"But it has a cost: the more powerful the target, the more stamina it consumes."
"And it must make contact."
Zoro staggered to his feet, planting both swords into the ground to steady himself.
He panted, his breath ragged, but his black blade shimmered again.
That same strange energy surged into his body, mystical, healing, relentless.
The massive wound across his abdomen…
Vanished.
Gone in the blink of an eye, as if it had never happened.
"The Beast's power…"
Zoro stood tall once more, looking directly at Asura.
"It lets me stay in perfect condition. No matter what.
All injuries, all fatigue, all weakness, get stored away.
Until my enemy dies."
WHOOSH!
Zoro dashed forward again, blades in hand, charging Asura with full force.
"Come on, what other powers do you have!?"
"Show me everything!!!"
CLANG!!
Asura blocked with one blade, twisting his body to dodge Zoro's follow-up strike.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Sparks flew. Steel roared.
Blood filled the air.
They battled like gods on a forgotten battlefield, each step a clash, each clash a dance of death.
Every blow echoed across the desolate land, fierce and relentless.
Zoro and Asura clashed under a blood moon, their duel shaking the very heavens.
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