As Zoro closed in, Kokushibo already unleashed his second attack.
This attack was equally powerful, nearly cutting Zoro in half.
However, Zoro's Nine-Headed Dragon Flash ultimately had the upper hand.
Before Kokushibo could slice him in two, Zoro's attack found a weak spot in Kokushibo's body and severed his head.
It would have been difficult for Zoro to penetrate Kokushibo's formidable body if he hadn't struck that weak point.
Kokushibo's head detached from his body, but Zoro's abdomen also suffered a severe injury.
Zoro felt like his body was about to split in two.
Even putting the injuries aside, his stamina was completely spent.
The Nine-Headed Dragon Flash consumes a tremendous amount of stamina, especially the three-sword style version, which requires Zoro to unleash twenty-seven slashes in an instant.
It's Zoro's most powerful technique right now.
Actually, Zoro has a less demanding version: performing a normal Nine-Headed Dragon Flash with three swords, which only requires three slashes per sword.
However, facing an enemy like Kokushibo, if he didn't go all out with his strongest move, all his efforts might have been in vain.
So, Zoro poured every last bit of his strength into it, finally managing to chop off Kokushibo's head.
Now, he barely had the strength to lift his sword, and the heavy bleeding from his abdomen made his consciousness hazy.
Even the pain was becoming incredibly faint.
Zoro desperately wanted to lift his Reverse Blade sword to heal his wounds, because if he didn't stop the bleeding, he could bleed to death.
While the Reverse Blade couldn't restore his stamina, it could heal his injuries.
But just as Zoro lifted his sword, a powerful sword wave struck him from behind.
Zoro coughed up a mouthful of blood and was sent flying like a弹丸.
He rolled several times on the ground before finally stopping.
His pupils widened in shock as he saw the decapitated Kokushibo.
"You thought I was dead?!" Kokushibo...
had regrown his head?!
How, how is this possible? Zoro found it unbelievable.
Even demons have their weaknesses.
First, their eyes, and second, being decapitated.
Once the head is severed, even a demon will die! Yet he had clearly cut off Kokushibo's head.
How could he still be alive? How could he regrow his head?!
"Before I repay my master's kindness, do you think I'd be willing to die?"
Kokushibo wasn't in good shape either.
His six eyes held a look of determination and madness.
"I absolutely will not die until I have eliminated you!"
"Dark Moon: Festival of Night." Kokushibo immediately swung his sword again, sweeping across the land and directly hitting Zoro.
Zoro had no room to resist and was once again blasted away by Kokushibo's long-range attack.
A huge sword gash appeared on his body, and he bled profusely, his consciousness growing hazier.
He stood no chance against the resurrected Kokushibo! Damn it, this guy is truly immortal.
Only the sun can destroy him!
Zoro couldn't have imagined that Kokushibo could survive having his head cut off.
It was beyond his understanding.
Zoro knew he had lost, lost to this demon! However, even though Kokushibo was still alive, the ferocity of his attacks had greatly diminished.
Otherwise, that last sword strike would have easily killed the weakened Zoro.
The power of his ranged sword energy had decreased significantly, but… his blade itself remained incredibly sharp! Seeing that Zoro was still alive, Kokushibo rushed forward rapidly.
He soon reached Zoro and raised his demon blade high.
"Demon Grief," forged from his blood and bone, this evil blade's power was absolutely comparable to any famed sword.
And now, this sword would strike down his enemy once more.
"I will remember you, swordsman of the Three-Sword Style."
Kokushibo said solemnly, then gripped his sword with both hands and brought "Demon Grief" down!
Zoro couldn't even speak.
He could only watch as Kokushibo's blade descended.
Soon, very soon, that sword would decapitate him.
He had cut off Kokushibo's head, and now he would be beheaded in the same manner.
As Zoro watched the sword rapidly approach, despite his intense unwillingness, he had long accepted the possibility of failure and death since setting sail.
There was nothing to fear.
The price of being outmatched… was death! Zoro didn't close his eyes.
Instead, he confidently watched the descending executioner's blade, watching as the edge of the sword touched his throat…
Before that!
?!
Zoro's pupils widened.
He looked at "Demon Grief," which had stopped just before his throat, and was momentarily stunned.
Then, he moved his gaze slightly upward and saw Kokushibo.
He was dead.
A demon's regeneration isn't limitless.
They also have "stamina."
If they regenerate too much, they consume too much power, and their regeneration slows down.
If they exceed a regeneration threshold, a demon cannot regenerate anymore.
Kokushibo, in the end, pushed past the limits of death with his faith in repaying Muzan, even regrowing his head.
However, this regeneration had nearly exhausted his stamina.
At that moment, Kokushibo was no different from Zoro; both were at their wit's end.
It's just that Kokushibo hadn't experienced extreme combat or felt pain and injury for a long time.
Beneath his demonic body, he had lost his precise judgment of stamina.
Or perhaps, even if he knew, he still wanted to repay Kibutsuji Muzan's kindness and forcibly kill Zoro.
But regardless, because he forcibly swung his sword, Kokushibo died less than a second before finishing off Zoro.
Although his body remained intact, he could no longer move.
As time passed, Kokushibo's body even began to disintegrate!
As if turning to dust, starting from "Demon Grief," the blade made from his bone and blood, his body gradually turned into black particles.
"..." Zoro let out a sigh of relief as he watched Kokushibo's retreating body.
He hadn't expected his opponent to meet such an end, but he had no time for sentiment now.
He, too, could no longer withstand the dual pressure of mind and body.
The moment Kokushibo turned to ash and vanished, Zoro finally closed his eyes.
Blood still flowed from his body.
If no one came to save him soon, he would likely die from blood loss.
Just then, a woman wearing black trousers and a white shirt, appearing middle-aged with long silver hair and silver eyes, carrying a large sword on her back, approached Zoro.
Looking at the fallen Zoro, the woman squinted slightly.
Then, a vial appeared in her hand.
She gently dripped a drop into Zoro's mouth and then moved on without looking back.
Soon, her figure disappeared into the darkness.
...
Moving past Zoro's battlefield, one could see a scene resembling purgatory.
Countless tentacles swept wildly, accompanied by dense smoke.
Nami and Bellemere, along with many Marines, lay fallen.
Facing Kibutsuji Muzan, only Smoker was struggling to hold on.
Smoker truly couldn't believe there was such a monster in the East Blue.
Those guys from "The Black Order" should have known this demon was beyond the scope of the Four Sea Branch's ability to handle.
This was a level that required special personnel from headquarters to subdue.
Why hadn't they reported it?! Smoker was shocked and furious.
He finally understood why "The Black Order" had been so agreeable about this matter, easily handing the mission over to the Marines.
It turned out they had known about Kibutsuji Muzan's strength all along.
His eliteMarine squad had been wiped out.
If not for two demons who suddenly appeared and turned against Muzan, he would have fallen too.
"White Dragon!" Smoker went all out now, madly activating his telekinetic power.
Under the restraint of his telekinetic power, a large amount of smoke compressed into a dragon's head.
With a roar from Smoker, the dragon's head opened its maw, ready to swallow Kibutsuji Muzan!
"Art Two: Bloodthirsty Dance."
Kibutsuji Muzan touched his fingers together, leaving a gap in the center.
The next moment, a large amount of blood splattered from his body.
That blood shot out like sharp, powerful bullets.
Swish, swish, swish! Countless drops of blood shot towards Smoker.
As they flew, these blood drops transformed, each one becoming like a sharp blade, instantly piercing the white mist dragon's head.
Large amounts of blood droplets continuously struck Smoker's body.
Under these circumstances, Smoker couldn't even use his elementalization, because activating it would only increase the surface area of his injuries! Smoker's body was instantly pierced by countless blood drops.
He could only gather his telekinetic power and Haki to defend his vital areas, such as his faith and brain.
Even so, under this power, he was pierced by dozens of small wounds and sent flying more than thirty meters, crashing into a large tree behind him.
"Gah!" Smoker violently spat out a mouthful of blood.
He could feel an intense burning sensation in his body, as if a flame had ignited within him.
His face turned red, but his eyes gradually lost their luster.
His strongest attack was easily broken through by Kibutsuji Muzan, and Kibutsuji Muzan wasn't even breathing heavily! The gap… is too great!
"A bunch of lowly ants, you all have no value now!" Kibutsuji Muzan's body was somewhat deformed at this moment.
Even without looking at his current form, the overwhelming malevolence radiating from him was enough to send chills down one's spine! His hand stretched out again, instantly turning into a giant tentacle.
The farther it extended, the thicker it became.
The tentacle was about to swallow Smoker whole.
However… "Gear Third: Elephant Gun!" Boom!
Just as Kibutsuji Muzan's tentacle was about to swallow Smoker, a clear voice suddenly rang out, followed by a giant fist smashing out! It looked somewhat similar to Kibutsuji Muzan's tentacle, except the front wasn't a giant mouth to devour others, but a clenched fist.
The giant fist directly hit Muzan, causing his extended arm to waver slightly.
This slight waver caused the tentacle to lash out at another large tree beside Smoker, smashing it to pieces.
Kibutsuji Muzan's main body was also hit by the sudden punch, sending him flying.
"Rubber Gatling!" With another shout, the giant fist retracted and then swung out again.
It unleashed a barrage of punches in a short period, like a machine gun.
The first strike was like Mount Tai pressing down, while the second was a torrential downpour! Kibutsuji Muzan was caught off guard and instantly slammed into the ground.
Under the constant barrage of punches, the ground cracked open, creating a pit.
And the one responsible for all this was Luffy! Luffy was originally the first to challenge Kibutsuji Muzan, but he was defeated shortly after.
Even after mastering Gear Second, Luffy was still no match for Kibutsuji Muzan.
With rolled-up eyes, he passed out.
Then, Smoker, Bellemere, and Nami stepped up, giving him a chance to recover.
He had now woken up and saw Smoker on the verge of defeat.
Luffy knew Gear Second wasn't enough against Kibutsuji Muzan, so he could only think of Gear Third! Kibutsuji Muzan's fighting style was actually very suitable for him.
The method of extending and enlarging his arms was perfect for him.
In Orange Town, Luffy had thought of imitating Kibutsuji Muzan's fighting style.
Initially, he thought of using rapid blood flow to enhance his power, forming Gear Second.
The giant tentacles gave him the inspiration for Gear Third.
However, Kibutsuji Muzan could transform his body freely.
Luffy, on the other hand, needed some auxiliary means to achieve such a size increase.
This method wasn't difficult for him, as he often enlarged his stomach immensely to block or deflect less sharp objects.
Luffy now isn't weak, but because he's new to the sea and lacks combat experience, he hasn't developed a fighting style that suits him.
Now, facing Kibutsuji Muzan, Luffy encountered an overwhelmingly powerful opponent for the first time.
However, he was also frantically absorbing combat experience and improving his fighting style.
Therefore, he easily developed Gear Second and Gear Third.
"One more strike, Elephant Gun!" After the Gatling, Luffy's eyes widened as he unleashed another Gear Third punch.
His fist became incredibly large and was covered with black Haki.
Luffy intended to show Kibutsuji Muzan his power with this combo!
----
You can read 30 chapters ahead on patre on
patr eon.com/JYouyi