The rapidly fleeing Raiden Ei's Observation Haki sent frantic warnings of impending crisis. She immediately stopped in place to deal with the incoming attack; continuing to run might result in a direct hit, as Sengoku's attack had already locked onto her.
The kusanagi in her hand became wrapped in Armament Haki, poised and ready. Sengoku descended from the sky, holding a shockwave that seemed almost solid, and brought his palm down toward her. The massive air current and wind pressure struck first, making her clothes and hair whip violently.
The moment the attack neared, Raiden Ei swung the kusanagi in her hand, instantly unleashing a slash directly toward the attacking Sengoku. The speed of both attacks was extreme, and they collided in an instant.
"Bang!" When the slash, capable of cutting everything, struck the shockwave unleashed by Sengoku, it was instantly suppressed and forced back, bearing down on Raiden Ei. She instantly moved from her spot, and the attack landed precisely where she had just been standing.
A massive commotion ensued, with dust and smoke spreading in all directions. The ground beneath the spot Sengoku struck was dented inward, surrounding trees instantly collapsed, and the blast wave bent the surrounding grass low.
Raiden Ei stabilized herself nearby, holding the kusanagi, her gaze fixed resolutely on Sengoku. Although she hadn't repelled Sengoku just now, she had successfully broken free from his lock. However, escaping now would likely not be so simple.
Sengoku stood up from the dust cloud completely unharmed, dusting off his justice-themed coat. He looked toward Raiden Ei not far away, and their gazes met again.
"Raiden Ei, is it! You murdered a World Noble, a Celestial Dragon. I am Marine Admiral Sengoku, tasked with arresting you. Surrender now!"
Raiden Ei scoffed at Sengoku, who was issuing such a declaration, and raised the kusanagi in her hand.
"Admiral, you certainly think highly of me. I merely killed a disgusting insect. What crime is that?"
"Unwilling to surrender, then?"
"As if you would let me go even if I surrendered. Come on! Let me see how strong a Marine Admiral serving the Celestial Dragons truly is." After speaking, Raiden Ei adopted a fighting stance, looking ready to fight him to the bitter end.
Although Sengoku disliked the ways of the Celestial Dragons, he was currently carrying out a mission assigned by the Fleet Admiral and had no intention of holding back. Having experienced much, the concept of showing mercy was nonexistent to him.
"Stubbornly defiant. It seems you cannot be taken away without force."
Sengoku suddenly clenched his hand into a fist, which was instantly covered in black Armament Haki. He charged straight toward Raiden Ei, and his "Three-Strike Punch" instantly reached her, his fist smashing toward her body without mercy.
Raiden Ei sensed Sengoku's attack with her Observation Haki and swung the kusanagi she held with both hands downward, slashing toward the incoming fist.
"Bang!" The powerful blow struck with immense force, knocking the kusanagi, which was clearly inferior to it, back with one punch. The fist did not pause but continued smashing toward Raiden Ei.
Raiden Ei felt the opponent's fist was like a great mountain. The kusanagi in her hands was uncontrollably dragged backward with it. Facing the continuing onslaught of the fist, she could only block with the hilt of the kusanagi held in front of her.
"Bang!" Raiden Ei was sent flying again. The force transmitted through the kusanagi sent her nearly ten meters backward. She utilized Geppo, stomping on the air to prevent herself from crashing into the surrounding large trees.
Feeling the recoil coming through the kusanagi, she knew she was currently no match for Sengoku. To escape, she needed to reach the sea, but how could she reach the sea if she couldn't resist his attacks?
"Do I really have to use Elemental Power?" Only this could give her the ability to withstand Sengoku's attacks. By any other means, she truly lacked the power to resist his blows right now.
Sengoku, seeing that one strike failed to finish her, continued to charge toward Raiden Ei, his fist carrying Armament Haki swinging toward her again.
Before she could hesitate, she saw Sengoku launching another offensive. Raiden Ei hardened her resolve. This was a critical moment; her opponent clearly wouldn't spare her. If she were captured, life would surely be worse than death, and how could she possibly submit to being caught by him?
Purple lightning erupted from Raiden Ei's body, and the kusanagi she held seemed to activate, with purple lightning flashing across it. The Thousand-Eyed Wheel of All Wishes manifested behind her, momentarily illuminating the evening trees with its dazzling lightning.
Her purple eyes looked coldly at the attacking Sengoku. The kusanagi in her hand instantly slashed toward him, the purple thunder seemingly transforming into sharp swords attacking him.
Sengoku was greatly surprised by this sudden change. At this moment, he felt Raiden Ei was much stronger than before, sensing that even with his current strength, he couldn't take her down quickly.
"Bang!" The fist collided with the kusanagi, and a shockwave spread outward, causing the trees to rustle loudly. Sengoku and Raiden Ei separated immediately, both retreating backward.
Sengoku had initially held the advantage, but when the purple lightning struck him, his Observation Haki sensed danger. He had thought he could withstand it if it were merely a Devil Fruit ability, but the lightning was too domineering, forcing him to retreat.
He raised the hand he had just used to attack Raiden Ei; it was already scorched black. Even the defense provided by Armament Haki had been broken. He looked at Raiden Ei across from him with some confusion.
"What Devil Fruit ability is this? How can it be so domineering?"
Raiden Ei stabilized herself in front of a large tree. She was also very curious about what would happen when Elemental Power met Haki. Judging by Sengoku's state, Elemental Power was indeed quite domineering, having broken through his Haki.
"Guess! See how lucky you are."
She lingered no longer. If not now, then when? She circled around the large tree and flew directly toward the sea at full power, hoping to escape this place quickly. She wanted to use as little of her remaining Elemental Power as possible; she had no desire to waste it fighting him.
Sengoku saw Raiden Ei flying toward the sea and thought, 'How can that be allowed?' For a Marine Admiral like him to fail to capture a mere young woman—if word got out, people might laugh themselves to death.
Since the opponent had an ability that could injure him, he decided to go all out! Golden light erupted all over his body, and his entire form swelled by more than a circle. He used his strongest state: Zoan type, Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Great Buddha Form.
A Buddha radiating golden light suddenly appeared in the forest, illuminating the surrounding environment brightly. The Golden Buddha leaped from the ground and rushed toward a certain direction at high speed.
Raiden Ei transformed into a streak of lightning, flying rapidly toward the sea. She felt that at this speed, she could reach the ocean and escape Sengoku's pursuit in under thirty seconds.
She kept observing the situation behind her. Seeing the massive, golden Buddha emerging from the forest, she felt a sense of dread. As expected, the Buddha form of Sengoku was heading straight for her, and his speed was even faster than hers right now.
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