From the palace gates to the main hall deep inside, it was barely a few dozen meters. Yet along the way, they saw no fewer than thirty ghouls feasting on corpses.
This confirmed Zephyr's worst fear: many more must have already slipped outside to hunt for living prey.
Upon the throne once belonging to King Scal, Grimm sat comfortably with his legs crossed. Below the dais, countless ghouls stood waiting, tense and ready to strike.
"Quite the transformation… from a mere bounty hunter to what you are now," Zephyr said as he stopped beneath the throne, looking up at Grimm.
"Grrrraaah…"
Seeing living humans, the ghouls were about to surge forward, but Sakazuki swung his arm — now transformed into churning magma — like a massive whip, sending them flying.
"It's been a long time, Zephyr. And thank you for the compliment," Grimm replied without changing his relaxed posture. He glanced around at the creatures.
"The sinful, after death, become like this. They are called Ghouls. They only ever feed on heretics steeped in deep evil."
"They aren't suited to fight battles for me, of course… but they are incredibly useful for harvesting the lives of the wicked. Though I didn't use this tactic during the battle at Trabia," Grimm added with a faint smile.
"Because you were sunk to the bottom of the sea before you had time to use it, perhaps?" Zephyr shot back mockingly.
"No. I simply believe most of you Marines are still redeemable. There was no need for you to die such ugly deaths or be eaten in the end. I am merciful to everyone… except traitors," Grimm said, his face completely void of emotion.
Zephyr coated his left arm in Armament Haki and slammed it violently into the ground. The floor of the palace wings instantly cracked and shattered.
Grimm could no longer remain perched high above — the raised platform and the throne upon it crumbled entirely.
Grimm dropped down to the same level as Zephyr and Sakazuki. The three stood facing one another.
Sakazuki suddenly moved — not forward, but backward. As he retreated, he thrust both fists toward Grimm, firing projectile after projectile of molten rock like heavy artillery blasts.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Every magma fist was blocked by Guardian of Truth, the massive shield in Grimm's hand.
At the same moment, Zephyr struck with full force, throwing a heavy punch. Grimm countered instantly with a punch of his own.
When their fists collided, the sheer force sent the corpses littering the hall flying in all directions.
"Hmm?"
Grimm let out a low sound of confusion. Right after that powerful exchange, Zephyr hadn't pressed the advantage; instead, he had retreated slightly and begun firing compressed air blasts using the Finger Pistol technique from mid‑range.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
Grimm threw several spectral spears. They clashed with the air bullets, sending shockwaves rippling through the air above them.
"What kind of strategy is this? Fighting so cautiously? Wearing me down from afar?"
In just three exchanges, Grimm had noticed a drastic change in their fighting style compared to before.
Usually, both men fought with wide, powerful movements — the kind that sought to close the distance and smash your face in the moment an opening appeared.
Zephyr, especially, was the type who felt uncomfortable unless he was in close combat. Yet here they were, strangely enough, playing the long‑range game.
Sakazuki doing that was somewhat understandable… but you, Zephyr? You're the King of Fists!
"Hmph!"
Zephyr offered no explanation. He covered both arms in hardening Haki and shot forward like a bolt of lightning.
CLANG!
Their overwhelming strength met again. Zephyr's fist landed squarely on Grimm's shield.
Seizing the split‑second distraction, Sakazuki dissolved into magma and flowed rapidly across the floor.
He moved right to the spot beneath Grimm's feet, then suddenly erupted upward. One hand, enlarged and completely coated in boiling rock, reached out.
"Rogue Dog!"
Grimm was currently locked against Zephyr and temporarily immobilized. Sakazuki's ambush should have struck home instantly.
But things didn't go so smoothly. Halfway out of the ground, Sakazuki felt his magma arm blocked by something solid.
He looked down to see a winged angel, over three meters tall, holding a shield identical to Grimm's own, pressed firmly against his arm, stopping it dead.
"It blocked me even though I am fully transformed? That looks like an ordinary shield…"
Years ago, he had seen Jaina harm him without Haki or Sea Prism stone — but that was Frost, a power directly opposed to his own. But this? A regular‑looking shield stopping him cold?
The angel didn't waste time talking. It shoved the shield hard, knocking Sakazuki's arm aside, then swung the shield straight at his face.
The impact was immense; it smashed Sakazuki backward and slammed him hard into the palace wall.
Meanwhile…
Grimm parried Zephyr's blow with his shield. Without giving his opponent time to react, he swung the one‑handed sword paired with Guardian of Truth, forcing Zephyr to step back.
Grimm then lunged forward, driving the shield straight into Zephyr's chest.
A powerful shockwave exploded at the point of impact. But Zephyr didn't retreat this time. Instead, he clamped both hands onto the edge of the shield and gripped it tight.
"Coated in Haki, are we?" Grimm narrowed his eyes.
"HRAAAH!!"
From deep in his throat, Zephyr released a thunderous growl.
He heaved with all his might, pulling the shield — and Grimm along with it — and threw him hard over his shoulder onto the ground behind him.
"Tempest Kick!"
Before Grimm could rise, Zephyr's massive hand slid from the shield to grip Grimm's arm. He unleashed one of the Six Powers directly at his fallen enemy.
The blinding light and destructive force of the technique swept through the entire palace.
Even the Marines stationed on the streets of Altdimir and the wandering ghouls turned to look back in shock.
One Marine, familiar with Zephyr's style, couldn't help but exclaim: "That's Instructor Zephyr's technique… does that mean… the real battle has begun?!"
ROAR!
Suddenly, a ghoul seized the opening, tackled that very Marine to the ground, and sank its teeth into his neck.
Seeing this nearby, another Marine swallowed his grief and was forced to shoot his comrade dead.
After fighting for a while, they had learned the terrifying nature of these creatures: if you are bitten and not killed immediately, you turn into one of them.
It was better to bear the pain and end your friend's life than let him become a monster.
Back inside the palace…
After some time, the magnificent hall had been practically leveled. Nothing remained of its former grandeur; it looked as if a natural disaster had torn through it.
Gurgle… gurgle…
"I simply cannot understand…"
Soft light descended, and Grimm's injuries healed instantly, restoring him to perfect condition.
"You two come to fight me… and only you two? You really should have gathered far more troops than you did at Trabia Island if you hoped to capture me."
"I am not here to kill you," Zephyr said, settling firmly into his combat stance.
"I am known as the man who 'Does Not Kill.' No matter how deep your sins, I will not take your life. I still hold hope that you might yet abandon evil and return to the path of righteousness."
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