His Cloak of Justice had been burned away, revealing a well-built upper body, muscles sharply defined, yet covered with scars new and old.
The newest one was, of course, the scar on his right shoulder, a memento from the battle on Thor Island six months ago, when he was careless, allowing Shano to escape.
The other scars could be overlooked, left by famed opponents, but back then, Shano was merely a rookie who had just set foot into the Grand Line not long ago.
Even so...
What an utter disgrace!
For half a year, Akainu had been imagining the day he would reunite with Shano, determined that this time he wouldn't hold back, he'd be absolutely vigilant, and he wouldn't let Shano escape again...
But the one thing he didn't expect was—
It had only been a mere six months!
Six months!
The opponent's strength had already reached this realm, standing nearly on the same level as himself!!!
"You cannot be allowed to remain! If you are allowed to grow at this pace, it won't be long before you become the most terrifying threat upon these seas!"
"Betting on the Navy's honor and justice, today I will even risk my life to eliminate you here!"
Akainu shouted angrily in a deep voice.
He slowly raised his right arm, magma entwining like a living creature, transforming once more into a monstrous magma dog, but much larger than before, roaring as it lunged at Shano!
"Inugami Guren: Infinite Purgatory!"
Boom!!!
The magma dog instantly split into dozens, madly lunging from all directions, blocking all of Shano's escape routes.
The sea beneath had already turned into magma, now the blistering heat twisted the air, even staining the sky dark red, as if the entire sea realm had become Akainu's domain!
An upgraded skill?
"Such ostentatiousness!"
Shano sneered coldly, his figure suddenly blurred, turning into a shadow as he plunged into the magma dog pack, not only not retreating but directly closing in on Akainu.
Each menacing demon dog that drew near for a bite was punched to smithereens by him, crude and direct, losing form as magma scattered into the air, only to plummet into the sea.
"It seems..."
Akainu slightly raised his head, watching the young figure grow larger in his view.
"One thing remains unchanged, still relying heavily on brute force, recklessly squandering his stamina."
With his face steeled, he suddenly waved his right hand, "Since you love to take them on so much, let's see, can you take this one all on!"
"Meteor Volcano!"
Boom, rumble—!!!
The magma-covered sea suddenly boiled, countless gigantic magma fists erupting like a volcano, transforming into meteor-like fiery rain, crashing down on Shano!
Shano raised an eyebrow, showing a rare hint of surprise.
He remembered clearly.
During the battle atop, Akainu's Meteor Volcano unleashed upon the Whitebeard Pirates was fired toward the sky—the source was his own body—before cascading down from the heavens.
Yet here, Akainu's flesh hadn't even touched the magma sea below, yet he could easily transform it into his weapon.
This was the power that could only be possessed through a Logia-type Awakening!
Indeed, the Three Great Admirals of the Navy, whether in physical prowess or Devil Fruit development, were monster-level beings!
But... it doesn't matter!
Half a year ago on Thor Island, Akainu used this move to end, forcing him to leap into the sea, unable to linger, escaping with consecutive uses of "Dust-Sealing Absolute Thought Slash."
But now?
Now...
I am a monster too!!!
Facing the oncoming onslaught of magma meteors, Shano laughed heartily, neither dodging nor avoiding, suddenly raising his right hand toward the sky, forming a palm!
"Divine Split!"
Buzz—!
A gigantic black and red disc the size of a wheel suddenly appeared.
With rapid spins, it emitted countless massive black and red thunderbolts, spreading in all directions, rendering the already dusky sky even darker.
Shano did not look up at the disc, but instead looked at the endless meteors rushing beneath, a grin tugging at his mouth.
His "Qi Circle Slash" was born from a fruitless cultivation, inspired by the sword artistry of the King of Baboons, his own modified version.
It was a mass of Supreme King Haki woven like threads intertwining to form.
It could gather—
Of course, it could also disperse!
The black ring centered on Shano's hand suddenly expanded, ballooning a great circle, then another, creating voids in the midst.
When it nearly blotted out the sky, like towering tree shade, it transformed into a shape similar to a gigantic mosquito coil.
With Shano's palm abruptly facing down, it scattered with a roar, dividing into countless sharp black and red slicing waves, firing toward the sea below!
Boom boom boom boom boom!!!
Each slicing wave formed by Supreme King Haki precisely struck a magma meteor, piercing and destroying them, exploding into brilliant flames mid-air.
From afar, it looked like fireworks bursting joyously in the night, illuminating the entire sea as if by daylight.
"Has it been easily resolved?"
Akainu's expression soured; the longer the encounter lasted, the more comprehensively he felt the opponent had improved—not merely physically, but in every dimension!
Commanding Supreme King Haki with such mastery, even among the Four Emperors, it likely only falls short of the renowned Red Hair!
"What are you spacing out for!"
In that instant, Shano suddenly charged out from the explosion's smoke, his entire body entwined with black and red lightning, moving at an extreme speed, closing in inevitably on Akainu!
In Akainu's astonished gaze, Shano swung a fist with a menacing grin:
"Can you afford to be distracted when fighting me!"
Akainu hurriedly raised his magma arms to block, retreating a few steps, then retaliated similarly with dual fists, engaging Shano in close combat.
Thump thump!
The visceral impacts of hand-to-hand combat lacked the visual impact of previous clashes but made the battle more pure, and easier to surge with fury.
Their gazes remained locked, silent yet continuously escalating force, their speed increasing relentlessly.
The sky hadn't fully darkened before they had exchanged over hundreds of bouts.
Their physiques were extremely close; in strength and destructive power, Akainu was even somewhat superior, yet Shano's fist technique was too elusive, flexible and rigid, catching him unprepared.
Chest, abdomen, shoulders repeatedly struck, despite timely Elementalization to avoid part of the damage, numerous injuries still inflicted, waves of acute pain permeating his body.
On the other side, Shano also bore numerous wounds, yet his recovery speed was astonishingly swift, with no signs of disrupted vitality.
This grew Akainu's ire and agitation, realizing one thing for certain—the opponent, too, resembled their generation's Grand Admirals, being resilient in prolonged battles, possessing ample stamina, akin to the self-repairing ability in an awakened Zoan-type...
Even if he was confident he could take Shano down, it wouldn't happen before dawn... No.
It would likely take days and nights without a clear victor!
As such thoughts surged through his mind, Shano coincidentally landed a foot square on his eye.
The area around the right eye sunk in, leaving an unsightly black mark.
"You damn brat!"
Akainu roared, unable to suppress his fury any longer, exploding violently, magma erupting like a volcano from his body as his right fist swelled, swinging fiercely at Shano's face.
"Meigo!"
Waited for this strike!
Shano's eyes flashed with brilliance, without the slightest intention to dodge, taking the hit with his Armament Haki-covered chest, while drawing his right fist slightly backward, it suddenly began rippling like flowing water.
Appearing gentle in force, yet upon contact with Akainu's chest, it unleashed catastrophic power!
"Elbaf's Spear... Overlord's Might·Extreme!"
Boom!!!
The flesh of Akainu's chest exploded, his entire body sent flying like a broken sack, spewing a mouthful of blood, rolling ceaselessly, carving a thousand-meter groove in the magma sea.