"You've really become a demon."
Roger said coldly.
At this moment, he was in a high-speed battle with Kozuki Oden.
The bodies of both of them had almost become blurs, and their battleground was not limited to the Flower Capital.
Roger slashed out with his sword, and Kozuki Oden blocked with his two swords, but the immense force still pushed him back for over ten kilometers. Facing Roger's fierce fighting style, Kozuki Oden chose to focus on defense.
Not long into the battle, Roger had already sensed that the malice from Kozuki Oden was overwhelming, and an evil aura washed over him. The only time Roger had felt such a monstrous aura was when facing Aatrox; at other times, he had never felt like this.
That was...
He was facing a demon!
Although not as powerful as Aatrox yet, Roger sensed such hidden potential in Kozuki Oden. If not dealt with promptly, this guy might grow into a new disaster!
"In your current state, you have no right to lecture me."
However, upon hearing his words, Kozuki Oden just gave an evil smile and said, "Seeing your demonic appearance is truly disgusting!"
What he said was also true.
In terms of appearance, Roger looked more like a demon than he did.
Kozuki Oden had deliberately torn Roger's shirt open with his sword, revealing a large ripped section.
His chest, his sternum, had a large black hole, and his skin was also black, a color of despair.
His hand and his sword were fused together tightly. The hilt of the 'Ace' seemed to have turned into a skeleton locked onto Roger's hand. In this state, Roger looked more like a demon than the human-like Kozuki Oden.
After all, Oden's outward appearance was still the same as before, the only difference being that his skin was slightly darker, and his eyes were pure black, with no pupils.
"A demon's body and a demon's heart, which one is superior?"
Oden grinned.
That's right, this was a battle of demons. The difference was that Roger had the body of a demon but the heart of a human, while Kozuki Oden had the body of a human but the heart of a demon.
"If the two of us were to combine, we would surely become the most powerful demon lord?!"
Oden laughed heartily.
He slashed out again with his sword, forcing back Roger's attack.
Roger couldn't help but sneer upon hearing his words, "This is the difference between controlling power and being controlled by it. Kozuki Oden, you are not worthy of talking about a demon's heart. I have seen a true demon lord, and that one was far superior to you in both body and heart!"
Aatrox's figure vaguely appeared in Roger's mind. That demon was the embodiment of perfection, both in his fighting body and his fighting spirit, arguably the most powerful life form.
Upon hearing Roger's words, a hint of gloom appeared on Oden's face. He said coldly, "Joke, you must have realized by now, my power is still growing!"
After forcing Roger back, he slashed out with his two swords again, and the momentum of attack and defense subtly shifted.
Initially, Roger launched a full-on assault, and he chose to defend.
But now, he had begun to counter-attack Roger!
Roger was about to say something when his right arm was suddenly struck by Oden's sword. A dark magic was attached to the wound, seeming to hinder the healing effect of the Shikon Jewel fragments.
Oden was about to swing his sword again, but three people suddenly appeared behind Roger: Rayleigh, Gaban, and Mumei.
Mumei had his hands on their bodies; he was the one who had used teleportation to bring them here.
"Sorry to interrupt your fight, Roger."
Rayleigh held his sword, and Gaban held his double axes.
"..." Roger glanced at them, and before he could speak, he clashed swords with Oden again.
At this moment, Rayleigh and Gaban also rushed forward. Although they were far less powerful than Roger and Oden, they were not easily defeated either.
After all, Roger and Oden had not yet reached the level of demon lords. Only a level that completely surpassed the strong ones of the sea, like that of a demon lord, could easily crush them.
The remaining members of the Roger Pirates were already engaged in the task of destroying the barrier on the outskirts of the Flower Capital.
Although Roger enjoyed fighting, he also knew what was important. He understood that confronting a demon like Kozuki Oden, personal bravado wouldn't work.
This was not a battle between humans, but a war between humans and demons!
Therefore, he did not refuse when Rayleigh and Gaban came to help.
For a time, with him as the main attacker and Rayleigh and Gaban as his support, Kozuki Oden was once again fiercely suppressed.
Kozuki Oden's face turned ashen. No matter how strong he was, he could not fight Roger and others at the same time, especially since Rayleigh and Gaban were both very powerful. Therefore, he could only use his speed advantage to engage in a war of attrition.
Only Roger could keep up with his speed; Rayleigh and Gaban would have to rely on Mumei's teleportation to do so!
However, this made his fighting style appear very disorganized, but his body was also rapidly adapting to this kind of combat, even though he had sustained several injuries...
Just as he was contemplating whether to proceed with the second phase of his plan, he found that he had somehow returned to the outskirts of the Flower Capital while fighting.
Suddenly...
His pupils shrank!
Roger, who appeared at the same time, also frowned.
Because the moment they arrived, they both found a woman sitting on a large rock, as if she had been waiting for them.
"Makima..."
Both Kozuki Oden and Roger uttered her name with great caution!
That's right...
This woman was Makima!
Roger's wariness of Makima was self-evident. Even Kozuki Oden had heard her name and story from Toguro. After learning that she had been the mastermind behind Aatrox's sealing, he had become wary of this woman.
Even a demon lord like Aatrox had suffered at her hands, so he naturally had to be careful.
And now, she had suddenly appeared before them...
This even gave Kozuki Oden a feeling of horror!
And just as he had thought, Makima's lips curved slightly upwards. She said unhurriedly, "So that's how it is. I understand your desire to descend, but isn't this a bit too hasty?"
She was not talking to Roger and Oden, but to someone else.
What did her words mean?!
"Makima..."
Oden and Roger stopped fighting. The former asked Makima in a deep voice, "What is your purpose here?!"
Makima looked at Oden and slowly stood up. She patted her clothes, dusting off some dirt.
"I'm here to end this fight, or rather..."
Makima's gaze was incredibly profound, and she said softly,
"To postpone it to the future."
----
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