One Piece: Fist of the World-Chapter 45: Together!

Tiger Shark Island, North District.

Bang!

Under the heavy blow of Onigumo, Rhodes's body was sent flying like a cannonball, tearing through several shops along the way. Wooden boards and stones shrieked through the air before he finally crashed heavily into the rubble, raising a cloud of dust.

Whoosh—

But in an instant, Rhodes burst out again, gripping his weapon tightly, and attacked Onigumo with indomitable momentum.

This little devil!

Onigumo held his sword with both hands to block Rhodes's attack, feeling a terrifying force transfer from the weapon into his body.

More powerful than when he first started!

Although Rhodes's fighting skills were somewhat unrefined and his combat experience lacking, many of his pre-battle responses were relatively weak. However, this monstrous physique couldn't be faked! With the ability of Life Return, Onigumo controlled his hair, like six arms, each wielding a sword, forming his unique Eight Swords Style. Ordinary enemies couldn't even withstand the two swords in his hands, let alone the other six.

But this little devil in front of me...

Onigumo used two swords and his hands to resist the terrifying power emanating from Rhodes's strikes. It was no longer possible to block his attack with just his hands.

"Ha!"

Seeing Onigumo's actions, a wild smile appeared on Rhodes's face.

It turns out that fighting is the best way to improve your strength! Especially a battle with such a strong man!

After only a short clash, Rhodes clearly felt his control over his strength had improved. His physique hadn't grown stronger, but the power he could exert in battle had. This was evident from Onigumo's reactions.

Without waiting for Onigumo to control his other four arms to launch an attack, Rhodes retreated half a step. Having the advantage in the contest of strength, he could retreat more freely. He then pushed off his feet again and charged towards Onigumo, his weapon now wrapped in dark Armament Haki.

The flow of Armament Haki is still a bit awkward.

Feeling the Haki flowing through his body and weapon, this thought flashed through Rhodes's mind, and then he suddenly chopped down with his sword. Although he had successfully awakened Armament Haki and practiced for several days, it would still take some time to use it freely in actual combat. Especially when wrapping Armament Haki around a weapon, the difficulty level was completely different from wrapping it around his body.

"Little devil, your Armament Haki is too immature!"

Onigumo's sword was also wrapped in Armament Haki, but unlike Rhodes, he had been immersed in Haki for many years and had mastered its use. In an instant, he wrapped all eight swords with a layer of Haki. And unlike Rhodes, who simply wrapped his Haki around his weapons, Onigumo seemed to integrate his Haki into his weapons, even dyeing several swords black.

"There are Asuras in the world, with three faces and six arms! And those with eight arms are called Eight-Armed Asuras!"

Onigumo opened his hands, dark Armament Haki surging continuously. His six hair-constructed arms each held a blade, making him look like an evil ghost from hell.

No way? You can also recite poetry?

Although the timing wasn't right, Rhodes couldn't help but have this thought.

"The secret of the Eight Swords Style - Asura Demon Slash!"

As Onigumo growled, his hands coordinated with the other arms controlled by Life Return, and all eight swords danced like an eight-armed Asura from hell, attacking Rhodes.

Not the same!

Seeing Onigumo's attack, Rhodes's alarm bells rang. Although Onigumo had always displayed the Eight Swords Style, this attack was clearly different from before. Not only was the Armament Haki wrapped around the weapon, but even the rest of the hair controlled by Life Return was different. Not only was there a considerable degree of Armament Haki surrounding it, but it was also more easily controlled than before.

But that's just right!

A hint of ruthlessness flashed in Rhodes's eyes, and he gripped his weapon tightly, with more Armament Haki surging out of his body.

"One Sword Style - Cut!"

Rhodes didn't know how to recite poetry, nor did he have any fancy moves. He just poured all his strength into this one attack.

Boom!

The two attacks collided with a loud bang, and a terrifying airwave erupted instantly.

Snap—

As if unable to withstand the aftermath of the battle, the hair that Onigumo controlled through Life Return suddenly broke, and the swords held by the hair fell along with it.

Something is wrong!

Seeing this scene, Rhodes not only didn't feel the slightest bit of joy, but instead had a bad feeling.

Sure enough, the moment Onigumo's hair broke, more hair surged up and suddenly entangled Rhodes's weapon.

"You lose!"

Onigumo raised his head with a hideous smile, which combined with his ferocious expression made him look like a demon crawling out of hell.

Can't pull it, can't cut it!

Rhodes felt the power exerted on his weapon, and his expression changed slightly. The hair that Onigumo had fully activated through Life Return possessed terrifying power, and a large amount of Armament Haki was wrapped around his hair, tightly binding Rhodes's weapon. Rhodes's weapon, wrapped with Armament Haki, could not cut through his hair at all.

"Even if it's the same Haki, there are huge differences between them depending on who is using it!"

Onigumo suddenly exerted force with both hands, pressing his blades against the top of Rhodes's weapon and pushing down suddenly. At the same time, he controlled his hair to explode instantly, wrapping around Rhodes's weapon and pulling it upward with great force.

Whoosh—

Under the influence of multiple forces, Hanasu flew out of his hands and soared into the air.

"It's over!"

Onigumo held his weapon tightly in both hands and chopped down fiercely as Rhodes lost his weapon.

A swordsman without his weapon is like a tiger without its teeth!

Bang!

A pair of pitch-black fists suddenly swung out with a terrifying momentum, smashing into Onigumo's weapon.

Rhodes grinned at Onigumo.

"Didn't the previous Navy report our intelligence truthfully?"

"I'm not just a swordsman!"

As Rhodes's fist smashed into Onigumo's weapon, a stronger Armament Haki surged out of his body. The dark Haki was like a surging tide, impacting Onigumo wave after wave.

Boom!

The terrifying force exploded, knocking Onigumo's body away. Rhodes twisted his neck, and the Armament Haki on his arm instantly dissipated.

"The battle has just begun!"

Looking down at his arm, Rhodes frowned slightly. Although Onigumo was knocked away just now, Rhodes was not unscathed. As his fist struck the opponent's weapon, Rhodes could feel an invisible force piercing his fist. Moreover, that force did not act on the surface, but was a deeper attack method.

Armament Haki's outward expression? Or internal destruction?

He truly is a veteran Marine; his strength is something else!

Looking at Onigumo standing up almost unharmed, a surge of fighting spirit rose in Rhodes's heart.

Round two begins!