Chapter 77 : Amazing Combat Power, The Future Kingdom?

Clang!!

Boom!!

Boom!!

"Wow..."

A few days later.

Misty clouds hung low over the dark waters of the Florian Triangle.

The Ark Maxim sailed through the rough seas.

On its vast training ground, two figures were locked in intense combat. Each powerful clash sent shockwaves rippling through the air, creating enormous waves that crashed around them.

It was a sight that left one speechless.

"Soru!"

At that moment, "Feathered Serpent" Kuer pushed off the ground with incredible force, his tall figure vanishing like a bolt of lightning.

In an instant, he appeared right in front of Shiryu of the Rain, whose eyes narrowed in surprise.

"Zzzttt... Boom!"

Electricity crackled as Kuer's massive fist, wrapped in glowing lightning and coated in Armament Haki, tore through the air and launched directly at Shiryu.

"Clang!"

Sparks flew. The clash of metal on metal was deafening, and the blinding lightning made it hard to see.

The sheer power of the attack sent a shockwave through Shiryu's arm, leaving it numb. His grip on his sword, Thunderstorm, almost faltered. Without wasting a second, he used the force of the impact to leap back and regain his stance.

"Whoooosh!"

Suddenly, gigantic feathered wings appeared on Kuer's back. With a powerful flap, he soared into the air, summoning a ferocious hurricane around him.

"Chaos Blade Storm!"

Dozens—no, hundreds—of razor-sharp wind blades materialized in an instant, cutting through the air as they raged toward Shiryu of the Rain.

"Momo: Tenfold Speed Soru!"

Not to be outdone, Shiryu activated the power of the Momo Momo no Mi.

He moved so fast that he was nearly invisible, vanishing and reappearing in mid-air. His legs blurred into afterimages as he unleashed a barrage of kicks.

"Rankyaku Chaos!"

A series of green energy slashes shot out at lightning speed, colliding with the oncoming wind blades.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The battlefield erupted in explosions of light and sound. The shockwaves churned the sea below, creating massive waves that seemed ready to engulf the Ark Maxim.

The violent winds made it hard to even keep one's eyes open. Watching from a distance, Stron, Simon, and the others could barely stand the intensity of the battle.

"Momo: Thirtyfold Speed Geppo!"

In the next moment, Shiryu used Geppo, stomping the air repeatedly with explosive speed to launch himself high above Kuer.

"Tap, tap..."

Moving like a ghost, he dodged Kuer's pursuit and rocketed into the sky.

Then, with a terrifying burst of strength, Shiryu dove straight down. His right arm, gripping the famous blade Thunderstorm, bulged with tension as veins popped and muscles strained.

He poured all his energy into the sword, preparing to strike with devastating force.

He slashed down mercilessly.

"Chi-_"

In that split second, Kuer, the "Feathered Serpent," who had no time to evade, crossed his arms over his head. Both were wrapped in pitch-black Armament Haki.

The sharp, powerful blade crashed down.

"Clang!!"

"Woo hoo hoo..."

"Clatter... Clatter..."

The collision unleashed a torrent of chaotic energy. Airwaves rippled violently, wreaking havoc on the already turbulent sea. Huge waves surged, as if the ocean itself were boiling.

If not for the Ark Maxim's reinforced hull, built with shape-memory alloys by Dr. Hawkins' Munch-Munch Fruit ability, the ship might have been torn apart by the sheer force of their ongoing battle.

"Yahahaha~ Shiryu, do you want to keep testing your limits?"

Kuer had blocked the fierce blow with ease. His cold, snake-like vertical pupils glowed with an unsettling aura, sending shivers down anyone who met his gaze.

Seeing Shiryu retreat without giving him a chance to counterattack, Kuer sneered darkly.

"No matter how hard you try, you can't beat me!"

Shiryu of the Rain smirked but didn't move to attack again.

"You're so full of yourself—it's enough to make me want to kill you right here... But there's no point in dragging this out further."

Using the power of the Paramecia-type Momo Momo no Mi, Shiryu was confident in his speed and believed Kuer couldn't land a decisive blow. But deep down, he knew he couldn't overpower this "monster."

"He's a real monster..."

Shiryu glanced at Kuer, who stood unharmed. Lightning crackled around his body as he hovered in mid-air, his feathered wings beating gently to keep him afloat.

"In just five days, he's grown this much in strength..."

Kuer wasn't just enhanced by Hawkins' shape-memory alloy fused into his skeleton. As the user of the Zoan-type Snake Snake Fruit, Model: Feathered Serpent, a Mythical Zoan, his physical abilities and raw strength had skyrocketed.

Kuer had inherited the abilities of the infamous Byrnndi World, the "World Destroyer," including his unparalleled Haki. Although Kuer's combat instincts couldn't yet match Byrnndi World's, his constant training and battles were helping him unlock the immense potential of his inherited power.

Shiryu admitted to himself that he was outclassed. Kuer had not only surpassed him but was steadily mastering the terrifying legacy left behind by Byrnndi World.

Still, Shiryu felt reassured by the choice he had made to follow Wilhelm. Witnessing such power convinced him he was on the right path.

"What a perfect weapon..."

He marveled at Kuer's rapid progress.

"In just a few days, he's mastered both Armament and Observation Haki to an impressive degree, relying on the combat instincts and muscle memory ingrained in that body. Truly, the intelligence granted by the Mythical Zoan Fruit is remarkable."

Shiryu compared him to another creation of Wilhelm, the "Blue Ogre," formed using the Human-Human Fruit. Kuer was no less intelligent, and his combat potential seemed limitless.

Kuer's tall, muscular figure radiated an oppressive aura. Even the three Smoothie sisters, observing the fight from the sidelines, were stunned by his performance.

Modified by Hawkins, Kuer's reinforced bones were harder than steel. Coupled with his inherited Haki from Byrnndi World, his strength surpassed even Shiryu's Armament Haki.

In such a short time, Kuer had become a powerful combatant. With more training and the intelligence of the Mythical Zoan, he might one day rival or even surpass Byrnndi World himself.

Shiryu of the Rain descended back onto the Ark Maxim using Geppo. Lighting a cigar, he exhaled a puff of smoke.

"By now, Master Wilhelm and the others should've arrived in the future kingdom of Baldimore..."

"Yeah, they should be there by now," Simon said, shrugging. "But I still don't get why Wilhelm and Dr. Hawkins decided to go there all of a sudden."

"Apparently," Shiryu replied, "Dr. Vegapunk—genius scientist and the man said to be 500 years ahead of everyone else—left behind some incredible technologies and discoveries in his homeland. They're supposed to be really useful for us."

Simon sighed. "As soon as Wilhelm mentioned it, Hawkins couldn't wait to drag him there."

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