"You two together?" Gedatsu asked, tilting his head. "Good. Saves time."
Noah clenched his fists. "We'll see about that."
Emma took a stance. "Ready?"
"Always."
Gedatsu dropped from the air like a stone.
His sword came down fast.
Emma blocked the slash, sparks bursting. Noah dashed in, throwing a punch at Gedatsu's ribs.
Gedatsu twisted just enough to dodge, then kicked Noah square in the chest.
Noah flew back, rolling across the dirt.
"Noah!" Emma shouted.
Noah groaned, pushing himself up. "He hits hard…"
Gedatsu pointed his sword at Emma next. "Your guard dropped."
He rushed her with crazy speed.
Emma barely kept up—metal clashing, blades ringing out nonstop.
Left. Right. Up. Down.
Gedatsu's sword moved like a blur.
Emma blocked a downward strike, but Gedatsu hooked her blades with his sword and yanked her forward—kneeing her in the stomach.
"Emma!" Noah sprinted forward.
Gedatsu whirled and slashed at Noah.
Noah ducked, barely missing losing his head. He countered with a strong kick, sending Gedatsu sliding back a few feet.
Emma steadied herself. "Thanks."
Noah nodded. "He's fast, but he's not untouchable."
Gedatsu's eyes narrowed. "Your teamwork… annoying."
He held out his hand.
The ground beneath Noah and Emma rippled, like water reacting to invisible waves.
Noah jumped back. "What the—!?"
Emma shouted, "Noah, move!"
The ground erupted with invisible shockwaves. Trees snapped. Rocks shattered. Dirt shot up like bullets.
Noah grabbed Emma's arm and pulled her behind a broken tree trunk.
It exploded instantly.
"Okay," Emma said breathlessly, "that's cheating."
Gedatsu floated again, higher this time, his shadow stretching unnaturally.
"You fight well," he said. "Allow me to show you real power."
His sword glowed a bright, pale blue.
Emma tightened her grip on her blades. "Noah… whatever he's about to do—stop it."
Noah cracked his neck. "On it."
Gedatsu swung his glowing sword downward.
A massive arc of energy tore through the air, slicing the ground open as it flew toward them.
"Move!" Emma yelled.
They dove aside as the energy wave ripped through the forest, cutting everything in its path.
Trees fell. Dirt exploded. A huge trench split the ground.
Noah stood up, stunned. "He can do THAT!?"
Emma brushed leaves off herself. "I'm getting real tired of this guy."
Gedatsu appeared right in front of them in a blur.
Emma gasped—he was faster than before.
He slashed at Emma. Noah instantly stepped in, blocking the sword with his forearm.
It cut him, but he didn't move an inch.
Emma seized the moment, swinging both blades at Gedatsu's ribs.
Gedatsu spun, blocking both with one hand and backflipping away.
"You resist judgment… impressive."
Noah growled, holding his bleeding arm. "You talk too much."
Emma pointed her blade at him. "Let's shut him up."
Both ran forward.
Emma struck first—horizontal slash.
Gedatsu blocked.
Noah came from above—punch aimed for his face.
Gedatsu blocked again, sliding back from the impact.
Emma flipped behind him and slashed both blades downward.
Gedatsu ducked.
Noah swept his leg.
Gedatsu jumped.
Emma threw a kick at his back.
Gedatsu spun mid-air.
All three attacks collided in a crazy clash—metal, fists, blades.
BOOM.
A shockwave burst outward.
All three slid back, dirt kicking up around them.
For the first time, Gedatsu looked annoyed.
"You're… persistent."
Emma smirked. "That's the nicest thing you've said."
Noah tightened his stance. "Round three starts now."
Gedatsu raised his glowing sword. "Then come. Face your end."
Emma and Noah circled Gedatsu, both exhausted but ready.
He slashed again—Emma barely blocked. Noah rushed in, but Gedatsu sidestepped every strike like he knew exactly where they would go.
Noah stopped mid-step, eyes narrowing. "Wait… he's not faster… he's predicting us."
Emma tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
Noah pointed at Gedatsu. "Look at him! Every time we move, he's already reacting. He isn't faster—he's reading our moves before we even make them!"
Gedatsu chuckled, the sound slow and eerie. "Impressive observation, little one."
Emma frowned. "So how are we supposed to hit him?"
Gedatsu raised his glowing sword, the blade pulsing faintly. "You cannot… because I know what you will do before you do it."
Noah's jaw tightened. "He… he's reading us. He knows our attacks before we make them."
Emma gritted her teeth. "So that's his secret. No wonder he moves like nothing can touch him."
Gedatsu twirled his sword lazily. "Now you understand. But understanding is useless without power to back it up."
Noah looked at Emma. "Time to stop letting him control the fight. We have to act together."
Emma nodded. "Agreed. Let's do this."
Noah's hand went to his belt. He drew his sword slowly, the metal gleaming in the sunlight filtering through the trees.
Gedatsu's eyes flicked to the blade. "Ah… now we begin in earnest."
Noah raised his sword in a fighting stance. "Alright, Gedatsu. Let's see if your predictions can keep up with this."
"Emma… step aside. I'll handle this from here on out."
Emma blinked. "Wait—what? Noah, are you sure—"
"Yes," he said firmly. "Watch and learn."
She reluctantly stepped back, keeping her eyes on him. "Be careful."
Noah planted his feet firmly in the dirt, gripping his sword tight. The blade began to pulse with a dark aura, like it was alive.
Gedatsu tilted his head. "So… the boy moves first. Interesting."
Noah advanced slowly, the aura around his blade growing stronger. Every step made the air hum.
Gedatsu raised his glowing sword. "You cannot defeat me. Your movements… predictable."
Noah's eyes burned. "Predictable? Maybe. But I'm not the same as before."
He swung his blade in a wide arc. The aura followed, leaving streaks of dark energy in the air. Gedatsu tried to block, but the pressure pushed him back slightly.
"Noah… your blade!" Emma shouted from the side.
. "This ends now." Noah said.
The ground cracked under the force of his aura. Trees bent under the invisible energy radiating from his sword.
Gedatsu's eyes widened. "Impressive… but still… not enough."
Noah raised his sword high, the aura pulsing violently.
A roaring shockwave erupted from his blade.
Gedatsu barely lifted his sword to brace against it.
Emma's eyes went wide. "Noah… that's… insane."
Noah's aura blazed brighter, the blade screaming like it had a life of its own.
Gedatsu gritted his teeth, shadows twisting violently under him. "Hah… so you awaken power… very well."
"Let's finish this." Noah said flatly.
Noah dashed toward Gedatsu, sword raised, aura flaring around him.
Gedatsu's half-closed eyes twitched. "So… you go for my head. Predictable."
He shifted, reading Noah's movement perfectly. When Noah swung, Gedatsu dodged smoothly, blade flashing.
Noah gritted his teeth.
He clenched his sword tighter, aura pulsing violently. "Time to end this."
"Screams of the God Slayer!"
The blade erupted with dark energy, screaming like a storm of voices. The attack tore through the area—trees splintered, rocks shattered, the ground ripped apart. The entire Upper Yard shook violently.
A massive shockwave rippled through the forest, sending dirt and debris flying in all directions.
Nami's eyes went wide. "What… what was that!?"
Zoro stepped forward, eyes scanning the area. "This aura… it's insane."
Meanwhile, somewhere else, the ground trembled slightly.
"Do you feel that?" Wyper asked, gripping his spear tightly.
Meanwhile, somewhere else in Upper Yard…
Luffy, Sanji, and Usopp were locked in battle against a priest.
But then a wave of energy rolled over them—dark, heavy, and pulsing with raw power.
Luffy felt it hit his chest first. He stopped mid-punch, grinning. "Heh… that aura… belongs to Noah."
"What the hell…? That power…" Sanji said.
Usopp's hands tightened around his slingshot. "W-wait… that's… Noah's!?"
The shockwave rattled the trees around them, the ground trembling slightly.
The priest they were fighting glared, sensing the aura too, and hesitated,realizing they were way outclassed.
Luffy chuckled. "Looks like we don't need to finish this fight… yet."
Sanji shook his head. "That power… Noah's on a whole different level."
Usopp swallowed hard. "If we end up as enemies… we're dead."