The air trembled with heat and dark energy. Black flames danced and hissed across the deck as Equa Rome stepped forward, his aura twisting the air like smoke.
Equa Rome: "I am Equa Rome."
His voice crackled with dark energy, echoing off the metal walls. The black flames around him licked the floor, burning the lifespan of anyone they touched.
Orimo exhaled slowly, fists tightening, veins pulsing with shadow energy.
Orimo: "I am the captain of the Devil Pirates—Orimo Kuzan."
Equa's grin widened as he cracked his knuckles.
Equa: "You will die… today."
The ground beneath Equa splintered violently as he slammed his fists into it. THUD! A wave of scorching black flames surged outward.
Equa: "Soul Incineration!"
The flames coiled around Orimo instantly, scorching the metal deck and heating the air to unbearable levels. Orimo's grin widened, unshaken.
Orimo: "I can't avoid the attack now."
Equa (smirking): "Exactly."
Orimo (calmly): "You should never get careless."
From the black flames, Equa's shadow contorted into a jagged spear, lunging toward Orimo with lethal precision. BOOM! The spear pierced Equa himself, but his smirk did not falter.
Equa: "You forgot to coat it with Aegis Mantra."
Orimo exhaled, aura flaring around him like a living shadow.
Orimo: "No… I wanted you to fight seriously."
The air quaked, sparks flying, and the temperature of the battlefield skyrocketed. Black flames clashed with Orimo's shadow aura, sending smoke spiraling into the sky. The fight had only just begun—but the very island beneath them seemed to sense the battle of titans about to unfold.