Whoosh, whoosh. Flames roared endlessly, and the air thickened with unbearable heat.
Gurgle, gurgle. Dark red magma churned relentlessly, searing everything it touched.
High above the molten battlefield, a mysterious giant bird cried out, its eyes radiating pure malice.
Below, Akainu's lower body had fully transformed into magma, fusing with the earth itself, emanating a terrifying energy.
"Dead bird, is this your strongest move? You may have defeated Kizaru, but you cannot defeat me," Akainu declared, eyes filled with disdain as he looked up at the magnificent flaming creature hovering above.
"Dead dog, let's see who is stronger. Only one of us will leave this battlefield alive, and that will be me, Atticus. Tang, you will die without a grave."
Atticus's sharp gaze pierced through the smoke, and the flames around him surged violently, responding to his will.
"Is that so? Then let us see who dies without a grave."
The magma below churned, and the ground itself began to quake.
"High temperature, vacuum state," Atticus whispered, a cruel smile playing across his face. His feathered wings transformed into hands, snapping his fingers. Instantly, the flames boiled violently, and a strange disturbance formed, compressing the entire fire domain into a vacuum.
"You… this is impossible," Akainu muttered, disbelief washing over him as he realized the oxygen had vanished entirely from the space around them.
"Nothing is impossible," Atticus said coldly. His voice carried an icy certainty. Before Akainu could react, he grunted in pain and was forced backward.
"Extreme Speed, Finger Gun, Golden Crow Claw."
A streak of fire shot forward. Atticus seized the advantage, descending with a powerful kick aimed at Akainu's magma-infused stomach.
"Armament, Hellhound."
Akainu's eyes narrowed. He could not dodge the attack, but he would not yield. He shrouded his stomach in Haki, and his right hand transformed into a flaming meteor, tearing through the air toward Atticus's head.
"Armament, Feathered Wings."
Atticus's right wing blazed with fire, absorbing the impact. His talons continued their relentless assault, moving faster than the eye could follow. Ruthlessness was his defining trait.
Bang, bang. Atticus stomped heavily on Akainu's stomach while simultaneously fending off the volcanic strike with his armored wing.
Boom. Magma erupted violently as Akainu spat blood, falling into the molten sea and leaving a crater that smoked for several minutes.
Atticus, however, flew sideways, shaken by the impact. Akainu's explosive power simulated a volcanic eruption; even he could not fully withstand such force.
Yet Akainu's situation was dire. The vacuum drained his stamina, and without air, even a Logia user like him was at a disadvantage. Combat accelerated the need for oxygen, and he was running out quickly.
"You coward, if you have the guts, stop using such tricks," Akainu spat, his voice strained, face ashen from oxygen deprivation.
"This is part of my strength. If you have the ability, develop your own," Atticus said flatly, regarding him with icy calm.
"Endless Arrows," he commanded.
"Flame Ray."
His eyes gleamed, and his hands moved fluidly, fingers glowing faintly. Behind him, countless sabers, spears, swords, and halberds materialized, forming an unstoppable barrage.
"Die."
Whoosh, whoosh. The air screamed as the weapons cut through, and Akainu's pupils constricted. He transformed into magma, sinking into the ground, trying to evade the overwhelming assault.
Boom, boom. Explosions tore through the terrain indiscriminately, shaking the fire domain violently. The attack continued for nearly three minutes.
Hoo, hoo, hoo… Atticus panted, drenched in sweat, yet his eyes burned with relentless focus. The prolonged barrage had left him slightly exhausted, but he would not relent.
"Dead dog, I know you are not gone. How much longer will you hide?"
He activated full Observation Haki, scanning the surging magma below.
Gurgle, gurgle. Magma churned endlessly, and a figure emerged, Akainu bloodied, with wounds covering his body from Atticus's relentless attack.
"Dead bird, you cannot harm me," Akainu said, blood trickling from his lips. "This fire domain drains your stamina. Hold on a little longer, and you will lose."
Hahaha. Atticus scoffed, unfazed by Akainu's words. This tactic would deplete his stamina, but he had anticipated that.
"Since you cling to hope, I will give you a chance to savor despair."
Akainu's hair bristled in shock, facing an enemy who still had a trump card.
"Dead dog, enjoy the gift I have prepared," Atticus declared.
Raising his wings high, streams of fiery air poured out and collided, forming a massive golden-red sphere above his head, compressing continuously.
Akainu's heart trembled. He had suffered against this move before, and the sphere's power was growing.
"Great Eruption, Endless Arrows."
Damn it. Akainu roared, launching attack after attack, yet Atticus's Observation Haki allowed him to dodge with precise timing.
Time slipped by. Cold sweat beaded on Akainu's forehead. The sphere above Atticus's head, initially the size of a basketball, grew rapidly, its temperature exceeding five million degrees Celsius, glowing golden-white.
"Not enough… not enough…" Atticus muttered. Feeling his stamina drain, he absorbed the remaining flames from the domain, wind and clouds converging into the sphere. The fire barrier vanished, revealing everything within.
The sheer energy sent shockwaves through all who witnessed it. Faces turned pale as the world-shattering force emanated from the sphere.
"Not good, he might destroy the island," Sengoku warned, his expression ashen.
"Evacuate immediately," Tsuru ordered urgently.
Garp wiped cold sweat from his brow, realizing that even a direct confrontation might risk his life. The sheer power was enough to make Atticus proud.
Boom. The sphere doubled in size, solidifying completely in golden-white.
"Akainu, prepare to die."
Atticus vanished and reappeared in front of Akainu, the distance between them vanishing instantly.
The tension was unbearable. Akainu's hair stood on end, his body and mind reacting to the threat of imminent death.
"Dead bird, let us die together. Magma, Volcanic Eruption."
His eyes glowed crimson, matching Atticus's malevolent glare.
"Armament, Sun King."
Sengoku's voice trembled. Both were madmen, and neither cared about dying. Every observer watched in awe and terror.
"Garp, Sengoku, Zephyr, stop them!"
Sengoku disappeared instantly, moving to intervene.
Whoosh, whoosh. Four monstrous, shadowed figures appeared, igniting the atmosphere.
"Explode!"
Bang. Lightning cracked across the sky, washing the world in white.
Boom, rumble. The heavens and earth shattered. A dark mushroom cloud rose, a hurricane swallowing everything in its path. Seawater flooded the land, and from above, it was clear: the continent-like island had been split in two.