Chapter 406: Dal vs Wang Zhi

"Swoosh!"

In an unknown sea region, on a barren, rocky island covered with reefs, Wang Zhi—who had been rapidly traveling via his Teleport Fruit—suddenly tensed all over, his hairs standing on end.

Without thinking, he raised his sword to block.

"Clang!!!" Sparks flew.

His face changed; the overpowering force shook him back, tiger's mouth stinging, sending him flying. His greatsword nearly slipped from his grip.

"Dammit… so you're one of Fallen Angel El's kids?"

He glared viciously at the tall, imposing figure who'd abruptly appeared—a figure sporting black wings, flames dancing behind his head, but strikingly young. Wang Zhi couldn't help feeling apprehensive. The Kukulkan family truly produced monsters.

Originally, he assumed that besides the family's first and second children—famed of late for being the "Thunder God" and the "Phoenix Girl," plus those two who showed up at God Valley—he'd be safe. He never expected yet another scion: a three‑eyed, Lunarian-blooded youth utterly beyond underestimation. Moreover, this adversary was able to chase his Teleport Fruit's movements—unthinkable.

"Captain Wang Zhi…why leave in such a hurry?"

The young man, holding a splendid blade, smiled calmly. He stood at over eight meters tall, towering above Wang Zhi, who was big by normal standards but puny by comparison.

"You brat—you dare chase me alone? You think you can finish me off?"

Wang Zhi's gaze turned ruthless as he gripped his greatsword.

"Against someone like you, there's no need for my father to come," the third child, Dal, said with a spark in his eye. He looked eager for battle, smiling in self-confidence:

"I alone suffice!"

"A no-name little brat? Let's see your worth!"

Infuriated by Dal's dismissive tone, Wang Zhi's eyes burned with anger. At once, he brandished his greatsword and charged, its edge enveloped in Conqueror's Haki, slicing toward Dal.

"Tch!"

Dal refused to yield, eyes keen, clashing swords head-on.

"Clang!! Schiiing!!"

The sound of steel echoed, sparks scattered. Two blackened blades collided fiercely, black-red electricity crackling.

"Whishh… rrrumble…"

A jagged fork of black-red lightning slid across, the violent Haki clash sending gales whipping about, churning the sea into giant waves.

They glared at each other, murderous intent rising on both sides, neither giving ground.

With an instant flicker, both fighters vanished.

"Clang… clang…"

Up in midair.

Their silhouettes multiplied, each clash happening at breakneck speed. The instant of one collision, the next moment they'd appear dozens—hundreds—of meters away, sometimes farther, bounding from one side of the island to the other. At every angle, every stroke was lethal—no mercy shown. Their swords flashed too fast for the naked eye to follow, the shrieking steel unrelenting, each blow like needle meeting needle.

"Boom… BOOM…"

Amid this fierce struggle, shockwaves sometimes blasted outward, striking the island's terrain. The ground rumbled, plumes of dust soared; deep craters dotted the battered earth. Some crags and hills were sheared away without pity.

"Splashhh… whoosh…"

One mighty slash after another hammered the seas, unleashing enormous bursts of spray. It was enough to make one break out in cold sweat.

"Night Demon Assault!"

Dal stomped the ground, darting like lightning overhead.

His blade glimmered in the air, lashing downward at Wang Zhi, who by Observation Haki's warnings had just flashed aside.

"Tch—"

A fierce whistle tore the sky as a massive, incandescent crescent slash rent the air, unstoppable. Dal's mysterious third eye flickered red, as though glimpsing some future.

"Swoosh…"

He narrowed his eyes, and the blazing slash abruptly vanished—only to reappear directly in front of Wang Zhi, tearing at him with violent force.

"What!?"

Caught utterly off guard, Wang Zhi's pupils shrank in alarm, a chill running through him.

"Clang!!"

He cried out, battered by blow upon blow.

In a mere heartbeat, Wang Zhi was knocked flying—eyes bulging, spitting blood—staggered by a brutal strike. He gazed at Dal's imposing presence, wearing an incredulous expression. He couldn't accept that this teenager had mastered Conqueror's Haki infusion, or that he flung around attacks reminiscent of a young Fallen Angel El.

"Swoosh… swoosh…"

Shadows of Dal flickered about.

He pounced, swords whirling in a ruthless finishing flurry.

They crossed blades once more in a harsh duel, but before long, Wang Zhi suddenly teleported a distance away, breathing raggedly, sword marks gouged across his body.

"Thousand-Faced Slice!"

Flames behind his head blazing, Dal pressed onward, refusing to relent.

With near-instant motion, he pursued, sending out countless slashes like a net threatening to engulf Wang Zhi entirely.

"Swoosh…"

Again, Wang Zhi wasted no time.

He utilized the Teleport Fruit to vanish on the spot, emerging behind Dal for another attempt.

But as if Dal had already foreseen his whereabouts:

"It's no use. Be it sword, Haki, or your fruit, you're outclassed." Dal kept smiling. He reappeared abruptly, Wang Zhi's attack whiffing in vain. Whereupon a storm of slashes overwhelmed him—no escape.

"Clang… clang…"

"Boom… BOOM…"

"Aaaah…!"