On the other side of the mining cavern.
Lily, along with the Demon Race, had likewise descended to the third level. Unlike Marika, who went down the wrong mine, she was quite fortunate and arrived directly at a spacious area. Here, the rocky wall above extended downward, limiting the space to just over four meters high. The ground was dotted with stones containing iron ore, and it was filled with a large amount of abandoned steel.
At the center of all this steel stood a building emitting white light.
"Is this the place?"
Lily's eyes flickered with red points. Under her Observation Haki, she could sense the presence of people within that building. Just as she was about to take a step forward, her pupils suddenly contracted.
Clang!
The sword at her waist instantly unsheathed, bringing with it a streak of black light, slashing towards the forward-left direction.
Hiss!
A wave of scorching air rushed towards her, split in two by the Haki-infused blade, falling to Lily's sides, transforming into two pools of crimson liquid...
Magma?
No, remnants of metal can still be seen.
"It's molten iron!"
Lily sharply stared toward the front-left, where a massive figure was gradually emerging.
"Blocked very well. A normal sword couldn't withstand such high temperatures. Your swordsmanship is impressive; worthy of the 'Sword Princess.'
The newcomer stood over three meters tall, with an exceptionally robust upper body but very thin lower legs, clearly one who cared only about fists and not about the feet below. At this moment, his arms were full of scorching red, emitting high heat and even a slight metallic sheen.
"Fall back."
Lily squinted slightly, signaled the Demon Race behind her to retreat, and gripped the hilt of her sword tightly.
This guy is not easy to deal with...
"My name is Kappa."
The burly man stopped, spoke in a deep voice, "Security Officer of the Columbus Company. Retreating is wise, being afraid of me is also wise. Because my ability... is equivalent to the current Navy Admiral Akainu!"
As he spoke, he bent down to pick up a piece of steel, which, under the grasp of his scorching red hand, became impregnated with a crimson hue, gradually transforming into a magma-like liquid.
"I am a Melting Person who ate the 'Smelt-Smelt Fruit,' capable of emitting high heat to melt steel, and can also turn myself into red-hot steel..."
Kappa drew his arm back, assuming a throwing posture, "And this molten iron isn't much different from lava!"
Whoosh!
The molten iron was rapidly hurled, startling Lily. Her body swiftly turned into an afterimage, dodging the attack.
The molten iron hit the ground, causing it to bulge and crack, the molten iron settling inside and emitting extremely high heat.
"Sky-breaking Slash!"
Lily quickly moved to Kappa's side, her blade tracing a beautiful arc aiming straight for Kappa's neck.
The speed of the blade was such that Kappa could not react at all. By the time he realized, the sword light was already before his neck, just a mere distance from severing it, but in that instant, the scorching red on his arms spread all over his body like an infection.
Whisk!
In that instant, as she was about to slice Kappa's neck, Lily's pupils flashed with amazement, and she forcibly altered the direction of her sword, pushing off with Moon Step, flipping in the air and striking out a soaring Flying Bird Slash.
Boom!
The slash struck Kappa's face, causing his head to tilt back slightly. When he raised it again, apart from a trail of smoke, there was no damage.
"Soaring Slash, you are indeed a Sword Master. Seeing how sharply you slash, surely you can cut iron too."
Kappa spoke in a deep voice, "Indeed, as a Sword Master, your acuity is very high. Had you just slashed me with your sword, I might have been injured. But just a momentary halt and your sword would melt. Your evasion was wise!"
Lily landed on the ground, coldly said, "I didn't ask you."
Yet, what he said was indeed correct. At that critical moment, Lily keenly sensed the danger, swiftly altering her direction, preventing the blade from nearing this guy.
But in terms of Soaring Slash... she hadn't yet reached the stage of slicing through steel with it.
"Whether you ask or not, I would tell you. I am quite fond of talking. But unlike Gaurus, who enjoys playing with people's emotions, I'm speaking to you because I am strong and confident enough."
Kappa said, "On the seas, there are a lot of people with abilities like mine, but the difference is that my steel-melting power, the true strength of it, isn't the temperature, but the melting... It's the upgrade from the 'Rust-Rust Fruit.'
"That fruit can rust any metal it touches, including human bodies as well. But mine allows me to melt metals with high heat, also including human bodies."
He pointed at Lily, said, "Without your sword, a Sword Master's combat power would decrease considerably, so here's a proposal for you, surrender."
Lily furrowed her brows.
"I also wish to go sailing. Isaac hired me for ten years to help complete his research, and it's nearing success. With the physical prowess from you Demon Race, the research can progress faster."
"At that time, he will fund me with a bunch of modified beings who don't feel pain or exhaustion, don't need to eat or drink, yet have strong physical qualities. With these, I too can venture out to sea, though I still need real subordinates like you and Navigator, a cook like 'Raucous Crow,' and a boatman like 'Blast Hammer.'"
"I have high hopes for you. Following Calamity is too dull; why not follow me instead? Calamity will be my stepping stone to fame, and his renown will be mine!"
Kappa grinned, showing his teeth as he laughed, "The Pirate King, too, shall be mine!"
"Flying Bird!"
A larger Soaring Slash than before broke through the air, striking Kappa's chest, making him stagger back two steps.
"I already said, it's useless. I can also turn into steel; your Soaring Slash can't break my defense." Kappa said slowly.
Lily raised her sword, pointing it directly at him, her gaze as cold as it was, with a touch of anger from the insult added.
"Do you even compare to the Sage?"
"Is that so? It seems none of you will be satisfied until the old Captain is defeated... Let me show you then, my power."
Kappa bent down, placed both hands on the ground, "I'll show you what a real gap is. Do you think all this molten iron came out of nowhere? A few rare Ability Users undergo Awakening, and I... am one of them!"
The scorching red continuously flowed from his arms into the ground, the high temperature distorting the air above, and those steel pieces scattered on the ground all turned bright red, gradually softening from hard, liquefying into fluid.
"Sea of Molten Iron!!"
The steel on the ground from Kappa's front all transformed into molten iron, instantly spreading over half the field!