A colossal storm swept across the sea. The omnipresent wind seemed like a giant hand, gripping Punk Hazard to prevent it from completely flipping over.
The entire island stood bizarrely at a ninety-degree angle upon the sea, astonishing all spectators with this clash between gigantic monsters.
The condensed heat from the sky radiated a twilight glow from the crown it formed, like the setting sun about to sink below the horizon, impartially sharing its dusk light with all things, bestowing upon them this aura of decline.
"Hey, Killingham."
Sommers raised his hand, looking at the thorns withering under the twilight glow. "Do you remember the legends the old folks in the Holy Land used to scare us with when we were kids?"
The spoon stirring the red tea stopped. Killingham turned his head. "Ragnarok? Wasn't that just for scaring children? And besides, she's not a [D]."
"But she is Twilight!" Sommers lowered his gaze. "I hope this is all just my misconception."
Amidst the silence, a sigh was replaced by an even more resounding sword clang.
A giant sword blazing with intense firelight swept overhead, gathering all light in the world, carrying a terrifying Armament Haki capable of tearing the island apart.
-Slash!
In an instant, a chasm cleanly appeared across the entire Punk Hazard sea area.
Extending straight back from the beast's feet, vast amounts of seawater evaporated. Rampant lightning was then frozen by the chilling air, forming a pale continent of ice, much like the surroundings of Wano Country.
Unfortunately, a shattering sound rang out.
Coming from the Twilight Sword that contained frost, flame, and thunder.
"Useless, Mother. When the Lunarian flames burn, I am invincible!"
Covered by the earth, countless metal particles were drawn from underground, adhering to the beast's surface, forming layers of hard armor.
The Ikoku: Thunderlight Sword collided with the armor and dissipated. Sato Sakura's tail plunged into the ground, drawing geothermal heat from beneath the island to ignite herself. She opened her mouth, tearing fiercely toward Sakura's arm.
Crunch!
Burning fangs pierced through the invisible armor formed by Armament Haki, causing Sakura's blood to spill across the sky.
"Don't call me mother! And also... ultimately, you're just mortal. There's no absolutely unbeatable ability!"
Sakura snorted coldly. Her right arm trembled slightly, severing cleanly at the root.
Majin blood sprayed onto the earth, but a new arm rapidly coalesced and regenerated amidst the spurting blood.
The old, massive severed arm fell to the ground, immediately taking root and sprouting, giving rise to countless tough, giant Wood Release vines.
As Sakura withdrew her sword and retreated, the vines multiplied and spread wildly, shooting up to entangle the beast's body, draining her life.
Devil Fruit ability followed closely, subverting heat, transforming it into frost, then casually turning it back into flame. Repeated cycles of extreme heat and cold shattered the iron sand armor. Sealing Technique's runes spread from the ice, diffusing across Sato Sakura's body.
Under the dominion of this Majin blood, Ninjutsu and Devil Fruit ability perfectly intertwined, firmly imprisoning the beast before her.
"Such a wondrous power. Is this why they desired you and created me?"
Sato Sakura's face paled, turning stiffly. "However, you cannot capture me before crushing my will."
"-Mother!!!"
Sato Sakura howled towards the heavens, her voice like thunder, shaking the world.
Chaotic lightning erupted from her body, like a thunderstorm within tempestuous clouds. Thousands of scorching arcs lashed out in all directions.
The beast's roar, carrying Conqueror's Haki, reverberated, crushing and obliterating all the Sealing Technique's runes clinging to her surface.
"So, you have Conqueror's Haki too?" Sakura's gaze sharpened. "And stop calling me mother!!!"
Burning will transformed into searing light, rising. The aura of a conqueror condensed, stirring up a majestic and vast tide of lightning.
Centered on the point where their Conqueror's Haki collided, brilliant phantom light seemed to emerge from the void. The world roared, tearing into azure and crimson halves.
Amidst the conflict that made heaven and earth tremble, a powerful will bombarded every inch of space, causing all remaining spectators here to begin swaying unsteadily.
In the distance, Sommers and Killingham, elegantly holding afternoon tea, froze simultaneously. Their bodies stiffened, faces ashen.
'Wait, why is it aimed at us two?'
Crack!
The territory marked by conquerors could not tolerate these petty beings remaining. The unbridled will rushed toward the two, blowing them away to an even more distant place.
"Hmph, finally got rid of those annoying pests."
Sato Sakura expressionlessly glanced at the black-flame-burning pentagram on the ground and snorted coldly.
Immediately after, from within the howling wind, the beast dove into the ground as if swimming, charging ferociously towards Sakura.
Almost instinctively, Sakura raised the newly coalesced Twilight Sword. After infusing it with Armament Haki, she slashed straight toward her own back.
Clang-!
Fangs and giant sword collided with a roar. Under the erupting ghostly light, the ground shattered.
The beast-transformed Sato Sakura showed no restraint, opening her mouth to chew and swallow thunder, storm, frost, flame, and Sakura's Armament Haki all at once.
A look of dissatisfaction appeared in her eyes, seemingly mocking… Is that all?
"Troublesome Mythical Zoan!"
Sakura's right hand flowed with Armament Haki. Boiling Chakra gathered as Jutsu Formulas extended runes through the void, tearing open a spatial rift large enough for her fist.
[Flying Thunder God: Guiding Thunder!]
The five fingers of her right hand, passing through the rift, abruptly clenched, delivering a mighty punch.
Bolstered by Haki, it tore through the beast's back armor. The flowing Haki penetrated Sato Sakura's skin, wreaking havoc internally.
However, orange flames reignited on Sato Sakura's back, multiplying her defense and resistance severalfold. Her body expanded, repelling Sakura's fist.
"Useless. Your Haki cannot breach the barriers of this race and ability." The beast bit Sakura's arm, greedily narrowing her eyes. "Let me plunder you completely, then return together to God's embrace, Mother!"
Resentment, distortion, madness, exhilaration merged into unknown chaos.
Ultimately, what manifested on Sato Sakura's ferocious face was actually a trace of... infatuation!
The deep infatuation of one who grew up in a cold cultivation tank during childhood, then gained full humanity through the common sense implanted by Vegapunk, yearning for a certain warmth of kinship yet never obtaining it.
"God? Race? Ability?" Sakura's expression gradually darkened. The weather across the entire sea area ran wild under her swirling emotions. "Since you like calling me mother, let me teach you something!"
The giant Majin used one arm in a naked chokehold to circle the beast's head, raising her other fist high.
Her aura… surged once more!
The technique she sought instruction on from Rayleigh weeks ago was executed flawlessly under the rising fury.
Savage Conqueror's Haki sprouted from her soul, covering the iron fist, devouring the Armament Haki that should have served as protective armor outside. Dark lightning coiled along the trajectory of the raised fist, running rampant!
"Remember this… Haki stands above all else!!!"
With this single strike, pierce the stars!
Sakura's fist smashed onto Sato Sakura's beastly head. The distantly infused Haki penetrated all physical and ability-based defenses, directly striking her soul and will.
Boom!!!
Amidst the sudden, tremendous roar, sky and earth seemed to quake.
An unprecedented, majestic shockwave shot skyward, tearing apart the dark clouds, letting the clear, serene moonlight scatter upon the earth.
-This is called, Conqueror's Haki Infusion!