Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!!!!
The deafening roar of explosive impacts shook the red tree roots violently, causing the walls of the auction venue to crack inch by inch.
The floor, chandeliers, and decorations all turned to debris.
As the first slash tore open the ceiling, the entire venue collapsed with a thunderous crash, letting sea wind and sunlight pour in.
Apart from the slaves still trapped in cages, slave traders and attendees scattered in panic, fleeing desperately to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
Whoosh—
Whoosh—
Only two figures remained, constantly colliding within the swirling dust. Each violent impact seemed to declare...
This was no longer an auction venue—it was a battlefield!
...
...
Griffin had entered his Hybrid Form. Ice-blue hues spread from the ends of his hair, his ponytail swept high, and crimson patterns marked his face.
His nails had transformed into canine claws, and rings of cold air coiled around his fists.
With a sharp whistle, his fist shot straight for Kari's face. Kari didn't dodge or evade, instead flipping his empty hand to block the strike, while simultaneously driving a fierce knee kick toward Griffin's abdomen.
At the critical moment, Griffin's elbow strike arrived late but struck first.
Thud!!!
Knee and elbow collided with a explosive sound, scattering the dust in all directions.
...
Without the slightest hesitation, Kari swung his blade...
Though "swung" wasn't quite the right word.
It was more like an offering...
As effortlessly as an antelope grazing, the edge of Spring Rain was presented before Griffin.
Kari's expression was cold and impassive, his killing intent palpable!
...
Click—
Griffin's feet sank, crushing the floor beneath him as he leaned sideways, narrowly avoiding the blade.
At the same time, his fingers twitched.
Swish—
A spear with a jet-black tip shot through Griffin's flowing hair. Griffin seized the spear's hilt and thrust it straight at Kari's chest.
Shoop!!
Without dodging or evading, Kari allowed the spear to pierce through his chest, then grabbed the shaft and yanked it sharply toward himself.
Unable to release the spear in time, Griffin was pulled forward. As Spring Rain was about to descend, he hastily raised his arms, crossing them to block.
Clang!!!
Spring Rain sliced through flesh, only to be halted by Griffin's arm bones.
...
"Quite tough..."
Kari murmured softly, "You really are one of that clan."
Feigning confusion, Griffin furrowed his brow and asked, "What are you talking about? And... how do you know about the uniqueness of my eyes?"
"I've never mentioned it to anyone..."
...
Initially, Griffin had deliberately concealed the existence of his Sharingan, preparing to assassinate a Celestial Dragon.
But now, with Kari as a more suitable 'culprit,' he no longer saw the need to maintain a dual identity.
To be honest...
Although the eye membrane created by his Devil Fruit Ability didn't hinder the use of his Sharingan, having that extra layer always felt like something was missing.
Seizing this opportunity...
He intended to proclaim the existence of the Sharingan to the world!
Hiding in fear, concealing his true self—such behavior didn't suit his nature.
He wanted them to know his uniqueness, to understand the gap between ordinary people and himself.
He was the one and only existence upon these seas!
This was...
The Uchiha way!!
...
The two darted at high speed through the ruins, colliding and separating intermittently—fist against fist, leg against leg—their impacts roaring like a storm.
Thud!!!
Kari's fist struck Griffin's chest, leaving a distinct dent.
Griffin was sent flying backward, smashing through seven large trees before he finally came to a stop.
"How is this possible... That guy Griffin is an Ancient Zoan user!!"
Doll refused to believe what she was seeing.
As a rare Ancient Zoan, its enhancement to the body was even greater than ordinary Zoan-types.
In the four seas where ability users were scarce, Zoan-type users stood out like a crane among chickens.
Except for that time facing Red-Haired Shanks, Doll had never seen Griffin be defeated in Body Technique!
Even Smoker couldn't match Griffin in pure Body Technique!
...
...
"Ice Release - Six-Staff Ice Prison."
Griffin's low chant came from the base of the tree.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh—
Centered around Kari's position, the shattered ice on the ground suddenly transformed into massive pillars, forming a hexagonal prison!
"It's the boss's ice prison! He got him! The boss caught Kari!!"
Behind Doll, a young officer exclaimed, clenching his fist and shouting: "Even a great pirate with a Bounty over twenty million can't break through the boss's ice prison!"
"This is an invincible ability!!"
...
Whoosh—
Riiip!!!
A blazing slash tore through the ice pillars!!
Amid the swirling ice flakes, Kari slowly walked out.
Hellish flames wreathed his body, his blood-red eyes flickering.
As if responding to that person's words, he spoke in a low voice.
"Invincible... you say?"
"More fragile than I imagined."
...
If combat power were quantified, using Barladi, the strongest opponent Griffin had killed, as a reference:
Barladi in his critically wounded state, with less than ten percent of his strength remaining, would be at a level of 100. Kari in his normal state would be around 90, while Griffin would be 80.
But Kari wielding a fine-grade sword would be 150!!
Why such a huge gap? Did a fine-grade sword really provide that much of a boost?
No...
The difference lay in the third thing Griffin had obtained.
First was the Fire Release Ninjutsu collection, second was the Shaped Magic Puppet Fuji, and the third...
was another proof of the Uchiha clan's fame in the ninja world, alongside the Sharingan and Fire Release.
Uchiha Style Swordsmanship!
...
——
"Don't get too arrogant!! You bastard who killed a World Noble!!!"
Several black-suited agents from the CP Department swarmed forward. One of them whipped out a black chain forged from Sea Stone, as they moved to surround him.
Kari glanced sideways, his Spring Rain tracing a cold arc.
The first was the CP member on the left - a thin red line appeared on his throat, separating head from body.
The next moment, his figure became an afterimage as he appeared behind the others. With a turn of his blade, several torsos were cut in half at the waist.
The cuts were absurdly clean - the lower halves hit the ground before blood could spray.
Whoosh—
Flames ignited from the severed upper bodies.
...
In just an instant, the battlefield fell silent. The ground was littered with dismembered corpses, the air thick with the smell of blood and burning flesh.
——
——
Swords were the weapon choice for many Uchiha, with numerous famous strong masters known for their swordsmanship appearing throughout ninja history.
Such as Uchiha Izuna, Uchiha Shisui.
But only one person truly compiled the Uchiha clan's swordsmanship techniques, fused them with other styles, and created his own school.
Uchiha Sasuke.
The man who single-handedly upheld the Uchiha reputation in the end times, unquestionably the world's strongest Uchiha!
...
Drawing from the clan's thousand-year legacy, studying under the swordsmanship master Orochimaru, and developing and refining his techniques over many years - his swordsmanship could be called the strongest school in the ninja world.
The sword is a deadly weapon, swordsmanship is the art of killing.
The Uchiha Style Swordsmanship perfectly embodies this principle.
It pursues ultimate speed and precision, reaping lives with absolute sharpness!
When used by Uchiha Sasuke, he could enhance the blade's sharpness with Lightning Release Chakra, achieving even more terrifying speed.
Griffin lacked Lightning Release Chakra. As his replica, Kari instead infused the blade with Fire Release, forsaking greater speed in favor of developing destructive power.
...
...
Seemingly angered by Griffin's repeated obstructions, Kari didn't pursue the dragged-away Shalria, instead slowly advancing toward Griffin.
Spring Rain was raised, flames dancing like serpents along the blade.
"Since we've met... killing you would serve the same purpose."
"Snow Clan."
...
"You seem to know many things I'm unaware of... care to elaborate?"
Griffin pushed himself up from the tree trunk, white smoke rising from the wound on his arm—the superhuman regeneration from his Zoan-type Devil Fruit taking effect.
...
Just as the two were about to begin their second round of confrontation...
"Now!! Execute Plan 3!!"
A sudden roar came from somewhere.
The next moment...
Countless artillery shells rained down from the sky like a black downpour.