A sharp, piercing screech tore through the air, echoing with overwhelming dominance. The sound carried the unmistakable aura of a ruler looking down upon the world.
"Stupid dog, you should feel honored. You're only the second person to ever force me into my full beast form. In exchange, prepare yourself to die."
Hovering high above, Atticus spread his blazing wings. His majestic posture and towering physique radiated authority, and every powerful flap ignited the air, driving the temperature higher until even the atmosphere rippled from the heat.
"You arrogant brat," Akainu growled, molten magma dripping from his body as his fury intensified. "You only ate a Zoan-type Devil Fruit, while I consumed the Logia-type Magma-Magma Fruit. I am naturally superior. Don't think transforming makes you unstoppable."
Despite being battered and pushed back earlier, Akainu remained confident. To him, as long as he wielded magma, he wielded the strongest force of nature. Logia users, in his mind, stood above all others.
"Your confidence is amusing," Atticus said coldly. "Allow me to educate you today. Devil Fruits aren't everything, and Logia-types are far from the strongest."
His golden-red eyes glowed sharply, and in an instant, his entire body burst into radiant flames.
"Inugami Guren."
"Finger Pistol, Wing."
A massive explosion erupted as their attacks collided. The ground beneath shattered violently, shockwaves spreading outward like crashing tides and carving deep trenches into the terrain.
Akainu tried to counter, but Atticus was already upon him. His blazing claws sliced through the air as spectral weapons materialized behind him, surging forward with merciless intent.
Akainu barely managed to avoid being torn apart, his body scattering into magma before reforming several meters away. If he allowed himself to be caught directly, Atticus's relentless assault would bury him instantly.
"You only know how to run?" Atticus barked as he appeared beside him again, wings whipping past with brutal force.
"Dark Hound."
Explosion after explosion filled the battlefield. One chased and attacked, the other dodged desperately. Akainu's speed simply couldn't match Atticus's full-beast mobility, and each time Atticus found an opening, he unleashed a long string of devastating blows. Akainu's stamina drained rapidly under the ceaseless pressure.
The fight raged for five hours. Neither man allowed fatigue to show, their bodies moving like unstoppable machines. But Atticus, empowered by his full transformation, possessed an overwhelming advantage. His regeneration, strength, and endurance had all risen to frightening levels. Any injuries Akainu inflicted earlier had already completely vanished.
Akainu, meanwhile, was fading. Without repeated elementalization, he would have fallen long ago.
"Bang!"
Their fists and claws clashed once more. Akainu coughed blood and was flung backward, smashing into the cracked ground. Atticus flipped midair and landed steadily, wings folding behind him as he stood unharmed.
Akainu knelt on one knee, face fierce and pale, magma dripping heavily as he panted in pain.
"If this is all you can do, then die," Atticus said calmly, watching him with cold indifference.
"You underestimate me," Akainu snarled. "Killing you will prove that Logia truly stands at the top."
His lower body melted into magma and fused with the earth. His arms glowed dark red, and he slammed them down.
"Magma Land."
The ground convulsed violently. Rivers of magma erupted everywhere, spreading rapidly until tens of thousands of meters around them transformed into a roaring sea of molten rock.
Akainu rose from the center of this fiery domain, standing tall as the temperature around him surged.
"This is why Logia-types reign supreme. We can reshape land and sky. As long as I stand in magma, I am invincible."
Using his Observation Haki, Atticus could sense Akainu's stamina recovering, his injuries knitting together as the volcanic heat empowered him.
Akainu truly was formidable. Without Atticus's speed and overwhelming flame mastery, suppressing him through pure physical strength and Haki alone would have been nearly impossible.
But no matter how Akainu struggled, he would not escape defeat today.
"Let's see who dies first," Atticus murmured.
He inhaled deeply, spread his glowing wings, and released a roaring storm of flames. The surrounding temperature skyrocketed.
"Five million degrees Celsius. Endless Flame Domain."
A golden-white blaze erupted into the sky, forming a vast dome of inverted fire that fell over the battlefield like a descending sun, consuming both Atticus and Akainu inside its burning hellscape.
Outside the dome, Kizaru's face twisted. He knew this technique well, because it was the same move that had defeated him in the past. Except then, Atticus had only used a million degrees. Now it was five times stronger.
Inside the flaming domain, Atticus ruled completely. His control over the air choked Akainu's movements, smothering his magma and limiting his power.
Kizaru knew what this meant. Akainu's defeat was imminent.
The dome glowed fiercely, its surface shimmering in gold and red. The ground beneath remained a churning sea of magma, while above, waves of flame roared endlessly. No outside observer could see what was happening inside.
"It's this move again," Sengoku muttered, ashamed. "Prepare to intervene."
The Marines who had broken up previous battles looked equally humiliated. How many times were they supposed to interrupt these two monsters?
At Marineford plaza, everyone watching the Den Den Mushi feed fell silent as the flame dome filled the screen.
The fight had exceeded anything they had ever imagined. Its intensity left them breathless. Some Marines stared at the battlefield with envy, wishing they were strong enough to participate. Others trembled in fear.
And some were deeply worried.
Atticus's mentor's wife and Hazel clasped their hands tightly, hearts pounding. Even knowing Atticus held the advantage, they couldn't stop the fear that struck them each time he was hurt.
"Why can't we see anymore…"
The crowd erupted in frustration as the screen was swallowed completely by flames.
"Don't tell me the fight ends like last time, when the flames disappear!"
"Damn it, we can't see anything!"
"Who do you think will win?"
"It's got to be the firebird guy, whatever his name was."
"Yeah, him."
"Hmph, victory isn't decided until the very last moment. I think Akainu will win."
"You think so?"
"I'll bet a million Berries he wins!"
"I'll bet a million on the firebird!"
"Hmph, get ready to lose!"
"No, you get ready!"
Voices clashed everywhere. Marines argued furiously, nearly breaking into fistfights as they declared their chosen side.
The entire world held its breath as fire and magma battled inside the blazing sphere.
_____
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