Facing the surging army of spores like a tide, Colonel Ronald forcibly suppressed the shock in his heart.
The saber in his hand flashed coldly, slashing several Spore Soldiers that lunged close into drifting dust.
He twirled the saber sharply, the cold light reflecting his resolute face.
"All units, hear my orders! First Squad, take the left flank, use crossfire to suppress the assault! Second Squad, the right flank! Flamethrower Team, you are under my direct command. Follow me and await my order for a wide-area sweep!"
"Yes, Colonel!"
"Remaining squads, clear any flank interference for me and the Flamethrower Team!"
Ronald's gaze was fixed on Morris, who was leaning against the Giant Mushroom behind the spore army in the distance.
"Morris's consumption to maintain an ability of this scale must be immense! His main body is his greatest weakness! As long as we take him down, these spore creations will naturally collapse! The Decapitation Strike—I will execute it personally!"
Before his voice could fade, he suddenly exerted force through his feet!
"Soru!"
Only a fading afterimage remained in place, along with the dust that exploded under his feet.
Utilizing the explosive speed of the Six Powers''Soru', Ronald instantly bypassed his subordinates who were exchanging fire with the spore vanguard, boldly charging into the front lines of the spore army!
"Stop him!"
Seeing this, Morris's pupils suddenly constricted. Under his mental command, more Spore Soldiers converged toward Ronald from all directions like a swarm of ants smelling blood, attempting to build a wall with their bodies.
However, Ronald's speed was too fast!
"Storm Slash!"
The moment the saber swung, even the air emitted a shrill scream!
This was no ordinary slash; it was a flying slash technique Ronald had created by perfectly integrating the essence of the Six Powers' 'Rankyaku'—the principle of generating vacuum slashes through ultra-high-speed friction with the air—into his own tempered swordsmanship!
Hum—!
A half-moon-shaped, pale blue vacuum wave shot out from the blade, slicing dozens of Spore Soldiers in a fan-shaped area ahead clean in half, instantly exploding into spore dust.
This single strike cleared out a blank zone!
"Quick! Keep up with the Colonel!"
Behind him, the Flamethrower Team composed of a dozen elite soldiers opened fire with all their might. Over a dozen scorching, dazzling tongues of flame roared out, turning the spore swarms attempting to close in from the sides into a blazing wall of fire and ash.
They advanced along the gap Ronald had torn open, trying to carve out a scorching path toward the Giant Mushroom.
"Damn it! Don't even think about getting close!"
Seeing this, the madness in Morris's eyes intensified.
He knew he absolutely couldn't let this powerful Marine Colonel get close!
He suddenly lifted his hands from the Giant Mushroom's stalk, his fingers like claws, and made a grasping motion toward the direction of Ronald's advance!
"Fungal Bind: Hell's Snare!"
In an instant, the ground beneath and in front of Ronald, which was originally covered with thick mycelium and fallen leaves, surged violently!
Countless grey-white activated mycelium burst from the ground like living tentacles, instantly forming a mycelial net covering over a dozen meters, descending upon Ronald from all sides!
Facing this overwhelming net, Ronald's eyes were cold, showing no sign of panic.
He gripped the hilt with both hands, his waist sinking slightly, and at a speed faster than the eye could track, he instantly unleashed over a dozen crisscrossing pale blue vacuum slashes at the lunging mycelial net and the still-surging Spore Soldiers!
"Storm Slash: Chaos!"
Swish swish swish swish—!
The storm of sharp slashes instantly shredded the mycelial net, and the Spore Soldiers exploded in large swathes.
Taking advantage of the opening created by the slashes, Ronald once again closed the distance to Morris!
"Bastard!"
Seeing how difficult he was to deal with and how he was pressing closer step by step, Morris finally felt panic.
He could feel that maintaining the spore army, the activated mycelium... the multi-tasking control was draining his stamina and mental energy like a floodgate being opened.
His face was already as white as paper, and his breathing began to falter uncontrollably.
No! I absolutely cannot let him get any closer!
"Morris, your crimes end here! If you surrender now, you still have a chance to go to Impel Down!"
"Protect the Captain!!!"
Seeing this, the last two Executives by Morris's side stepped forward from the left and right.
They knew they absolutely couldn't let this terrifying Marine Colonel get near the Captain!
"Get lost!"
Ronald's eyes sharpened. His charge did not slow down; instead, he accelerated once more at his limit!
The Executive on the left swung a heavy mace down.
Ronald's footwork shifted subtly at high speed. His body slid sideways like a ghost, dodging the mace head by a hair's breadth, while simultaneously thrusting his blade out with a backhand!
"Storm Slash: Pierce!"
At the tip of the blade, highly compressed and condensed slash air currents formed a spiral drill vortex, instantly piercing through the Executive's chest and bringing out a spray of blood.
Immediately after, Ronald's right hand holding the blade pulled back to parry.
Clang!
The Executive on the right's machete was blocked by the saber, and Ronald's left fist, like a cannonball, slammed hard into the Executive's abdomen.
"Blargh—!"
The Executive's eyes bulged, and his whole body curled up like a shrimp as he flew backward, crashing into the Giant Mushroom's stalk.
Having dealt with the last two obstacles, there were less than twenty meters between Ronald and Morris, with only a few rows of hastily assembled Spore Soldiers left.
The wild laughter on Morris's face had long since vanished, replaced by paleness, shock, and anger, along with a trace of undeniable weakness.
He frantically activated his ability, causing more spores to fall from the Giant Mushroom's cap, attempting to condense a thicker barrier in front of him.
"It's useless, Morris! Your tricks end here!"
Colonel Ronald exhaled sharply, his speed increasing once more!
He gripped the sword with both hands, pouring all his strength into the blade, causing it to hum slightly.
"Six Powers Secret Technique: Storm Decapitation!"
He leaped high. This strike was no longer the high-frequency slashes from before, but a condensation of all his power, speed, and the principles of the Rankyaku vacuum slash into the next blow. The saber turned into a brilliant, earth-shattering arc that seemed capable of cutting even light, slashing down decisively toward Morris!
Before the blade even arrived, the matchless sharp aura already made Morris almost choke!
Victory or defeat seemed to hang on this single strike!
A hint of madness flashed in Morris's eyes.
"Damn it, you forced my hand! No one can stop me!"
"Awaken—Giant Mushroom Guardian!"
Rumble—!!!
This vibration far exceeded the previous ones!
The entire Super Giant Mushroom emitted a low roar from its base to its cap. Under the horrified gazes of Ronald and all the Marine Soldiers, the flesh of the massive stalk, several meters above the ground, writhed and bulged violently!
Two massive fists made of hardened fungal flesh, comparable in size to small houses, boomed into existence!
"Take this punch!"
"!!!"