"I'm gonna fight stronger people than you," Noah said, voice steady. "And if I'm going to win, I need to understand my powers fully."
Shura tilted his head. "What are you talking about?" he asked,Confused.
Noah closed his eyes.
"If I can control vectors, I can control temperature and the moisture in the air… I can shape it into fire or ice."
He opened his eyes slowly.
He raised a finger and pointed directly at Shura.
"Vector Manipulation: Absolute Freeze!"
A blast of chilling energy shot toward Shura. Ice spread across the ground and trees, crackling like frozen glass.
Shura barely dodged it, frost brushing his armor and burning his skin. He staggered back, breathing hard.
"He almostgot me," he muttered. "If I didn't have Mantra… I would be dead."
Noah pick up his sword, frost crawling along the blade.
"Vector Manipulation: Glacier Fang!"
Ice shards shot out like spears from his sword. Shura dodged, but the shards forced him back, cutting off his path.
They clashed again. Shura charged at Noah, fists glowing with Mantra.
"You think you can beat me?" Shura shouted, swinging wildly.
"I'll see about that," Noah said, raising his ice-covered sword.
Each strike hit harder than the last. Sparks and frost flew into the air. Shura tried to keep up, dodging and striking, but Noah's control over ice pushed him back.
"Not bad… but not enough!" Shura said, gritting his teeth.
"You'll see how strong I am!" Noah shouted, swinging again. Frost shards shot out, forcing Shura to leap backward.
Finally, Shura made a desperate move. He slammed a Flame Dial on his arm and combined it with an Impact Dial.
"Blazing Impact!" he shouted, firing a massive attack at Noah.
Noah held up his sword.
"Vector Manipulation: Absolute Reflection!"
The attack bounced back, sending Shura high into the air.
Noah pointed his sword again.
"Absolute Freeze!"
Shura couldn't move. He froze solid and shattered into pieces that scattered across the ground.
Wyper slowly stood, watching.
Noah sheathed his sword. "I'm not going to fight you. I have to catch up with my friends."
"Why did you people come here?" Wyper asked.
"To find the City of Gold," Noah said, walking away without looking back.
"Wait," Wyper said.
Noah stopped. "What is it?" he asked.
"Let's call a truce for now," Wyper said. "My only enemy right now is Eneru."
Noah grinned. "Good. He's also my enemy."
Noah walked over and placed a hand on Wyper's shoulder. "Don't move."
Wyper's wounds slowly healed.
"Th-thanks," Wyper said, still catching his breath.
"Let's go," Noah replied.
MEANWHILE…
BOOM!!
"This guy is just too strong," Sanji said, panting.
"That's because you're too weak," Zoro said.
"What did you just say, green head?!" Sanji snapped. "If you were stronger, you would've defeated him already!"
"Shut up," Zoro muttered. "This guy… he knows my every move."
"You two, hurry up and defeat him!" Usopp shouted from behind a ruined building, peeking out nervously.
Ohm swings his huge sword at Zoro. Zoro blocks with his three swords, sparks flying.
Sanji kicks at Ohm, but he dodges. Ohm swings his sword at Sanji—Zoro jumps in front and blocks the attack just in time.
"Ohh… not bad," Ohm says, jumping back.
Zoro spins his swords. "Three Sword Style: Onigiri!"
Ohm blocks the attack, sparks scattering everywhere.
Sanji leaps into the air. "Roundhouse Kick!".
Ohm blocks his kick with one hand. Then he grabs Sanji's foot and spins him around, flinging him into a ruined wall.
Zoro charges at ohm. "Two Sword Style: Rashomon!" Two swords slash at Ohm.
"Mantra!" Ohm says, dodging without even looking.
Zoro swings all three swords at once, striking from every side. Ohm blocks with his sword, sparks flying from every hit.
"You're fast… but can you keep up?" Ohm shouts, swinging again.
Zoro ducks, rolls, and slashes up under Ohm's sword. He spins and hits left and right, forcing Ohm to step back.
"You can't dodge forever!" Zoro yells, rushing in with another attck.
Ohm swings his sword with all his strength.
Zoro blocks every strike and counters quickly, their swords clashing with loud sparks.
Zoro swings his swords again, striking at Ohm from three sides at once.
Ohm blocks, but sparks fly and his arms start to tire. "You're… stronger than I thought!" he shouts, stepping back.
Zoro spins, slashing fast. "You can't dodge every hit!"
Ohm tries to swing back, but Zoro parries and counters with a sharp upward strike. The tip of his sword cuts across Ohm's shoulder. A flash of lightning explodes from the impact.
"Ohh!" Ohm grunts, stumbling backward. "Impossible…"
Zoro presses the attack, swinging left and right, striking from every angle he can reach. Ohm swings wildly, but Zoro blocks and counters perfectly, moving faster than Ohm can react.
"Ohh… I can't…" Ohm pants, trying to defend himself. His mantra helps him block some strikes, but Zoro's skill and speed keep him on the defensive.
Zoro leaps high, spinning in the air. He slashes down, then swings again, forcing Ohm to step.
"It's over if you can't keep up," Zoro said.
Ohm staggers, sweat dripping down his face. "I… I can't… match you…"
Zoro goes for the last hit, swinging his three swords with all his strength.
"Ohh… fooled you," Ohm grins, stepping aside at the last second.
Before Zoro can react, Ohm swings his massive sword toward Zoro's neck.
Sanji leaps in just in time, his foot striking the blade and sending it off course.
"Thanks, cook," Zoro says, breathing hard, wiping sweat from his brow.
Ohm cracks his neck with a sinister smile. "Thanks for the warm-up. Now… die."
Suddenly, Zoro and Sanji feel their bodies freeze as Ohm appears behind them in an instant, his eyes glowing with deadly intent.
"Flame Star!" Usopp yells, firing a burst of gunpowder. The explosion lights up the ruined battlefield.
Zoro tightens his grip on his swords, while Sanji crouches.
Just then, a shadow moves above the ruins. Robin lands gracefully beside them.
"It's not over yet," she said.