Dragon Sever.
What dragon was he severing?
With Basorine's intelligence, it wasn't hard to guess.
The incident that had shocked the entire sea was proof enough. The boy's fury toward the Celestial Dragons—the rulers who had stood atop this world for centuries—was unmistakable.
He had never intended to swallow his anger.
Driven purely by his own emotions, he had done what even monsters stronger than himself had never dared to do.
When Basorine first learned of it, it felt as though the sky had collapsed.
But upon reflection—
What was there not to accept?
If the World Government you devoted your life to turned out to be the very thing you despised most… how could a young man endure that?
He was only fifteen.
Former master and disciple now clashed in a fierce duel of blades.
Roldy 's Dragon Sever was immensely powerful—his most refined technique. Combined with his exceptionally dense Armament Haki and the monstrous strength in both arms, even Basorine—who had reached the realm of a Great Swordsman—dared not treat it lightly.
Dual Sword Style versus Single Sword Style.
The longer they fought, the more astonished Basorine became.
This brat's swordsmanship was outrageous—far superior to when he had relied solely on Single Sword Style. The savage, beast-like ferocity in his attacks clearly bore the shadow of one man.
Golden Lion Shiki.
For a moment, doubt crept into Basorine's heart.
Had he been a mediocre teacher?
Four years of teaching his proud Single Sword Style, yet Roldy had never stepped into the Realm of a True Swordsman.
And now, after only days under Shiki's guidance, the boy had grown to this level?
The thought stung.
Yet pride followed.
No matter what, Roldy 's sword still carried traces of Basorine's teachings. His right-hand blade was noticeably more threatening than his left—evidence of the years he had stood behind Basorine, learning Single Sword Style.
"Brat, this isn't enough to convince me! Show me your true strength! Prove you're qualified to sail this sea!"
Basorine's eyes grew wilder.
His attack angles became increasingly unpredictable, clearly pushing Roldy toward his limits.
And Roldy did not disappoint.
His monstrous talent was his greatest weapon.
At first, he had been at a disadvantage. But after more than a dozen exchanges, the boy began clumsily imitating Basorine's movements. It started with one blade… then gradually evolved into an awkward yet practical adaptation within Dual Sword Style.
The improvement was visible to the naked eye.
"As expected of you, brat… But now—"
Basorine's voice lowered.
"I'm getting serious."
His aura surged.
Armament Haki coated his blade. He gripped the hilt with both hands, holding the Renowned Blade in reverse. His wrist angled slightly downward, the blade slanting toward the lower right in an unnatural stance.
Roldy 's pupils contracted.
His eyes ignited with blazing intensity.
No mistake.
"Mad Blade" Basorine.
A world-recognized Great Swordsman of Single Sword Style, famed for his bizarre and unpredictable techniques.
If Roldy remembered correctly—
This was his master's ultimate killing move.
"Brat. Focus with more than a hundred percent of your strength. This is no joke. If you cannot convince me…"
"Your only ending is death."
Chapter 65: Iron Body (2/2)
Roldy never doubted the seriousness of a hawkish Vice Admiral .
"Teacher Basorine… this sea is vast. I haven't even begun to explore it yet. Forgive my selfishness—but I cannot obey."
With that, Roldy let out a feral roar.
Under the stunned gazes of Marines and pirates alike, white fur burst forth across his body. His nails sharpened into claws. His already powerful physique swelled another full measure larger.
"What is that?"
"Is that Vice Admiral Roldy 's bloodline ability—?"
"Idiot! He's no longer a Marine! He's the pirate Roldy !"
"But… was he truly wrong?"
"Is that the Captain's power? Isn't he a Paramecia user?"
"Fool! Don't forget he carries the blood of the Mink Tribe!"
"The Mink Tribe… the natural-born warriors? This just got interesting."
For a brief moment, even the surrounding battle between Marines and pirates halted.
Basorine's surging presence.
Roldy 's escalating ferocity.
Everyone held their breath.
Then—
Basorine struck first.
His blade vanished.
No—
It split into hundreds.
Afterimages filled the air, the result of absurdly high-speed swings. A storm of slashes rained down upon Roldy .
The blades carved wound after wound across his body. Roldy could barely perceive the attack angles. His underdeveloped Observation Haki failed him entirely.
Blood sprayed.
Without the physical enhancement granted by his Mink bloodline, he would have already fallen.
Roldy attempted to counterattack—but he was too slow. Basorine showed no intention of stopping.
Left with no choice, Roldy deliberately accelerated his blood flow and tightened every muscle fiber in his body.
"Iron Body!"
With a roar, his physique hardened instantly.
Basorine's eyes widened.
His attacks still landed—but something felt wrong.
It was as though he were cutting into the densest diamond imaginable. The recoil traveled back through his blade into his palms. If he hadn't felt it personally, he would never have believed that striking flesh could produce such resistance.
"So that's it… With a body like this, if I were in his place, I might've flown even higher. Perhaps I'd have already stormed Mary Geoise…"
Basorine sighed.
But he did not stop.
His assault continued.
Roldy endured, relying solely on his monstrous physique. After a short while, even he began to feel the strain.
With a single thought—
Jet-black Armament Haki enveloped his entire body.
Now, when Basorine's blade struck him—
It could only produce sparks.
The sight of Roldy standing like an immovable fortress stunned both sides below.
The pirates credited their captain's overwhelming physical strength.
But the Marines had heard it clearly.
He had shouted it himself.
Iron Body.
Could it be—
That the technique in Rokushiki, long mocked as nothing more than a stance for taking hits…
Was actually its strongest move?
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