Chapter 36: Conqueror’s Haki Clash
"Damn it—!"
In a flash, two or three Navy warships had already been destroyed by the lightning, engulfed in raging flames. Many Navy soldiers were screaming in agony, repeatedly being struck by electricity, falling to the ground with their fates uncertain.
"Smack, smack..." Steelbone Kong, furious beyond belief, stomped the air as he shot upwards with a murderous aura.
"Tempest Kick: Storm Dragon!"
With his advanced 'Observation Haki', he locked onto the massive figure hidden in the clouds. His right foot slashed through the atmosphere like a sharp blade, cutting forward with immense force.
"Whoosh—"
A massive light green slash shot out, transforming mid-air into a dragon-shaped slash, roaring as it sliced through the clouds, speeding toward the enormous, imposing figure of the Quetzalcoatl.
"Roar—"
The Quetzalcoatl roared fiercely. Under the shocked gazes of all the onlookers, it neither dodged nor evaded but spread its wings and charged straight toward the attack. The massive snake head collided head-on with the formidable slash.
"Bang!!" In the next moment, the Quetzalcoatl was pushed back by the impact. At the same time, however, the powerful dragon-shaped slash was deflected, shooting far off into the distant sea.
"Boom, boom..." It left a massive gash in the ocean, an immense trench that took a long time to close, leaving everyone stunned.
"That monster... just like the rumors say, it's truly impervious to weapons," Steelbone Kong's pupils contracted in shock. He had attacked with full strength, not holding back at all. His 'Tempest Kick' technique, combined with advanced 'Armament Haki', could easily slice through a mountain. Even his own King Kong Ape form, with its unbreakable body, had its limits—an attack like this could leave him wounded without proper defense.
But this blow had only pushed the Lunarian boy back, leaving no visible damage whatsoever. It was truly unbelievable.
"Swoosh—"
In the next moment, the torrential rain stopped abruptly. High in the sky, the massive figure began to shrink. El transformed into a six-meter-tall human-beast hybrid form. His face was fierce, with blue skin and fangs. His body was covered in azure scales and feathers, with limbs that ended in sharp claws, and a snake-like tail covered in scales trailing behind him. A pair of azure wings spread from his back, in addition to the black wings typical of his Lunarian form.
"Elbaf's Spear—"
Without hesitation, El’s eyes locked onto Steelbone Kong, who was still in his hybrid form and hovering in mid-air. El swung his sword with tremendous force.
"Hero’s Spear!!"
"Whoosh—"
A massive cylindrical shockwave tore through the air, roaring as it rushed toward the now alarmed Steelbone Kong.
"Diamond Clash!!" Roaring in fury, Steelbone Kong stomped through the air. His massive right fist, wrapped in advanced 'Armament Haki', met the incoming shockwave head-on.
"Boom, boom..." It was as if a comet had collided with the Earth. A blinding explosion of light erupted, filling the sky. The sheer force of the collision caused violent shockwaves, stirring up the sea below into towering waves.
The Navy ships rocked violently under the assault, nearly capsizing. Onboard, sailors screamed in panic, some hitting their heads as they were thrown to the ground, while others struggled to keep from being swept away by the wind and waves.
"Swoosh, swoosh..."
Then, with a sharp look in his eyes, El flapped his four wings fiercely.
"Swoosh, swoosh..." Sharp wind blades sliced through the air, attacking once again.
"Tempest Kick: Wild Slash!" Though he could have dodged using his 'Observation Haki', Steelbone Kong had no choice but to counter the attack, as the wind blades would otherwise tear through the warships below.
"Boom, boom..." Multiple green slashes collided with the rapid wind blades, but in the blink of an eye, El’s blue figure shot forward, his sword now wrapped in 'Armament Haki' and crackling with lightning and flames, distorting the air as it came down hard on his opponent.
"Clang!!"
Sparks flew as Steelbone Kong, his face fierce and menacing, intercepted the fiery sword with his own 'Armament Haki'-infused fist, which was also crackling with electricity.
"What!?"
However, as waves of scorching heat surged toward him, Steelbone Kong’s face changed. He suddenly felt as if a mountain was pressing down on him, causing his right arm to sink under the pressure. Despite his pride in the power of his King Kong Ape form, refined through years of relentless training to become extraordinarily strong, he found himself unable to gain the upper hand. He nearly plummeted into the sea but managed to stabilize himself by stepping on the air and dispersing the overwhelming force.
"Crackle... crackle..."
The two warriors locked eyes, their killing intent palpable. Black and red lightning crackled between them like dancing dragons and snakes, spreading outward in all directions. Their auras collided in visible waves, neither side willing to back down.
"Is that...?"
"A clash of Conqueror’s Haki?"
"That brat... does he also possess Conqueror’s Haki?"
Down below on the warships, Navy sailors began to foam at the mouth and collapse on the decks. Officers who remained conscious were stunned, watching in disbelief as the two figures clashed in mid-air, their powerful auras shaking the heavens.
"Not just 'Armament Haki' and 'Observation Haki', but even Conqueror’s Haki... and he's mastered them to this extent?"
High in the sky, Steelbone Kong, still locked in battle with El, was deeply shaken. Was this really a boy under ten years old? The fact that someone so young had already mastered the three forms of Haki, and possessed such overwhelming strength, was simply unfathomable. Despite his own pride in his power, he couldn’t gain the upper hand in terms of raw strength.
It was unbelievable.