Redfield's Observation Haki immediately sensed Ezra's excitement.
"Admiral Zanka, I will face you to the very end!" he shouted.
With that, Redfield charged, and Ezra met him head-on. The battle was about to erupt!
Clang! Slash! Clash!
Their swords collided endlessly, parrying, thrusting, and striking with blistering speed.
Ezra felt a thrill rising within him. It had been so long since he had faced an opponent of such formidable swordsmanship.
On Redfield's face, sweat began to bead.
"This guy… his swordsmanship is incredible," he thought, narrowing his eyes.
"Bat Bite!"
Redfield's umbrella-sword began to whip up and down at lightning speed. Multiple afterimages flashed, aiming straight for Ezra.
Ezra remained calm. With a swift upward flick of his Flowing Blade, a strike erupted like a dragon tearing through the sky.
"Azure Dragon!"
The white dragon slashed forward, roaring as it swept through the shadows, shattering Redfield's attack in an instant.
Redfield's eyes widened. He slammed his foot down hard, barely avoiding the dragon's deadly strike.
He glared at Ezra, exhaling, gripping his umbrella-sword tightly. A surge of sword energy erupted from his body.
"Divine Shadow Flow, Eight Inches!"
As the words fell, Redfield's body seemed to meld into the darkness itself. This was a sword technique he had created in combination with the Vampire Fruit.
Ezra's spiritual perception radiated outward, sensing the terrain around him. Suddenly, from the shadow beneath him, a sword sprang up!
Ezra raised an eyebrow and leapt backward, narrowly dodging the strike.
"Such a sword technique…" he murmured, eyes fixed on the newly emerged Redfield.
Even Redfield was surprised. At that speed, Ezra had reacted in time to evade the attack.
"Next move, Admiral Zanka, you won't be so lucky!"
"Divine Shadow Flow, Wrapping Eight Inches!"
Shadows exploded from beneath Redfield's feet, enveloping the ground in darkness. Unlike Blackbeard's darkness, this one was made of shadows.
In an instant, the battlefield was swallowed by inky blackness. Redfield moved through it effortlessly, appearing from unexpected angles to strike at Ezra.
Thanks to Ezra's spiritual awareness, each of Redfield's attacks was anticipated and deflected.
A sudden rush of wind reached Ezra's ears. He raised Flowing Blade, blocking an attack. With a swift strike to Redfield's abdomen, he sent the pirate flying like a cannonball.
The shadows on the ground dissipated instantly. Ezra twirled Flowing Blade and looked down at Redfield with disdain.
"Tch, maybe I overestimated you, old bat," he muttered.
Redfield scrambled to his feet, glaring.
"Such disrespectful words will not go unheard! Heaven Demon Spirit Slash!"
Shadows surged from his umbrella-sword, transforming into countless slashing strikes aimed at Ezra.
A faint smile curved Ezra's lips. "Good, this makes it interesting. You've used so many sword techniques; now I'll respond."
He raised Flowing Blade slowly, aiming at the incoming shadows.
"Divine Wind of the Nameless God!"
A breeze swept across the battlefield. Every shadow dissolved in an instant.
"What… how is this possible?!"
Redfield's face twisted with shock, while Ezra approached him, Flowing Blade in hand, eyes closed as if listening intently.
"Do you hear it? The whisper of the wind."
Before Redfield could respond, sharp slashes struck him.
"Pah!"
Blood spurted from Redfield's mouth. He touched a thin slash across his neck. If it weren't for his heightened Observation Haki alerting him, his head would have been severed.
Even then, he couldn't avoid the remaining attacks.
Ezra's eyes gleamed. "Hah, you dodged the final strike? Your Observation Haki is impressive…"
Redfield rose, trembling as he gripped his umbrella-sword.
"Admiral Zanka, you are indeed strong, but killing me? You're just a little short!"
With a swift motion, he drew several blood bags from the shadows and consumed them all at once. Every wound on his body healed instantly.
Wiping blood from his mouth, Redfield's crimson eyes locked on Ezra.
"Come. Round two!"
A smile spread across Ezra's lips. "Interesting… Redfield, you really are relentless."
The two clashed again, swords colliding with fury.
"Eight Inches!"
"Wrapped Eight Inches!"
"Inner Eight Inches!"
With Redfield's commands, shadowy swords erupted from the ground around Ezra, striking from impossible angles.
Ezra moved with fluid grace, dodging each attack.
Frustration began to show in Redfield's eyes. Why couldn't he land a single blow?
Seizing the moment, Ezra slashed with Flowing Blade. Redfield flinched, desperately evading.
Ezra pressed forward, stepping heavily. Flowing Blade glowed with radiant light.
"Divine Wind of the Nameless God White Tiger's Killing Art!"
In Redfield's eyes, Ezra became a fierce shadowy tiger. A claw raked across his abdomen, cutting a deep wound.
And that wasn't all. The tiger lunged again, teeth sinking into his neck.
"Ahhhh!"
Redfield's scream echoed across the battlefield. His head was severed in a single, devastating strike.
As Ezra sheathed Flowing Blade, he whispered to the faintly conscious Redfield, "Feel the power of the White Tiger."
With a metallic clang, Flowing Blade returned to its scabbard.
Redfield's eyes closed permanently.