Chapter 536: Beneath Thunder and Blade

“Slash!”

Cracker lunged forward in his armored suit. In his hand, the blade of his sword grew in an instant, fragments extending and fusing together until it stretched several meters long.

The Holy Knights facing him had never seen a weapon like this before. How could a blade made of fragments stay so perfectly joined?

Their amazement didn’t last. Magic Blade Thousand Edge lived up to its name—the longer the reach, the deadlier the cut. Before the spear could even thrust forward, the sword’s tip pierced the charging knight and slid down at an angle, ripping open half his chest and cutting the spearhead clean off.

For a split second, his chest cavity threatened to spill out everything—organs and intestines vying to escape.

The pain hit hard, making the knight’s face drain of color. If he didn’t treat this wound fast, he was as good as dead.

He quickly retreated, clamping both hands over the gash. Then he wrapped his body in a layer of black Armament Haki, turning himself rigid and forcing his organs to stay in place.

“Damn it! How could there be such a sharp blade in this world?”

Only now did he notice—the golden spear on the ground had already lost its head.

“Magic Blade Thousand Edge—that’s this sword’s name. It attacks with intent, not just strength. It’s sharper than any Supreme Grade blade. This isn’t something someone like you would even know about.”

Cracker was no stranger to the sword’s sharpness. In all his years across the New World, he’d used it to cut down countless reckless pirates.

Even Jozu, who was said to be the toughest of them all, had nearly lost both his arms to Cracker’s sword.

If it weren’t for the alliance between the two pirate crews and today’s plan, the Whitebeard Pirates might’ve gone to war with Karl’s crew over this by now.

“Blood Burn Technique!”

With a loud shout, the knight ignited with searing black and red energy. Flames wrapped around him, and his golden armor took on a twisted, menacing hue.

In moments, a blood-red, gold-armored Holy Knight stood before them.

“What, do you think you’re cosplaying? Just get fired up and switch colors, and boom, your power skyrockets?”

Cracker didn’t pull his punches with words, but his heart was already on guard.

They knew the Holy Knights had this kind of skill.

If not for its short duration—and the fact using it meant death or permanent injury most of the time—maybe they’d have tried to steal it for themselves.

But after learning about the backlash, everyone had refused. Who would risk their life for just one fight?

Anyway, when things get rough, they’ve always just ganged up together. If that’s not enough, call in even more people. No one on The Sea has more men than them.

“Die!”

This berserk knight understood—his time was short.

Drag things out too long, and his own sacrifice becomes meaningless. He wouldn’t even put a scratch on Cracker.

He hurled his blood-red fists, thick with the stench of blood, smashing down on Cracker’s biscuit armor.

Boom!

He moved so fast that Cracker couldn’t react and got sent flying before anyone could blink.

The knight chased after him. Mid-air, he pummeled Cracker with a barrage of flying kicks until a loud crack echoed. With one last blow, he launched Cracker down to the ground.

When Cracker hit, he smashed a five-meter deep crater into the spot where he’d stood moments before.

Even so, the attack only shattered the outermost layer of armor. Cracker inside was unharmed.

“That’s right, keep hitting it just like that.”

“But, he’s not dead yet.”

“Hey, he’s still alive! Hurry, finish him off!”

The other four Holy Knights were already sporting plenty of wounds, caught under siege by a hundred Biscuit Soldiers.

Even they couldn’t fight on forever. If they waited much longer, they might not have the strength to break out.

“Wagada! Wagada!”

“I’ll put an end to him myself.”

“Six Powers Secret Art—King’s Spinning Spear!”

One Holy Knight in midair called out, bringing his legs together and locking onto Cracker who lay at the bottom of the crater, and then started spinning rapidly, hurtling down like a meteor.

Crack!

“Not bad—you actually managed to smash my armor.”

Cracker had spent more than a decade fighting at sea, and almost no one had ever broken his armor head-on. Not even most of the Whitebeard Pirates could pull that off.

Climbing from the crater, sword in hand, Cracker stood silent, looking up at the sky.

“Since you’re so eager to die, I’ll help you out.”

“Magic Blade—Piercing Thrust!”

He raised his sword high with his right hand, left hand bracing it. In the next moment, shards fused into a razor-fine edge and shot toward the falling Holy Knight.

High above, the knight kept spinning down, never noticing that Cracker had stood up and was ready to strike.

The difference in their abilities led straight into tragedy.

A slicing hiss—the blade pierced between the knight’s feet, drove upward through his lower half, in a move that could make grown men cry.

Agony exploded from below, and the knight’s face went pale as the pain raced through every nerve. Even his spinning slowed.

His body convulsed from shock, making him want to get away, but Cracker’s sword pressed on, passing through all his organs and bursting out the top of his head. Blood and a bit of white gummy matter spilled out.

Splat!

With his nervous system severed, the knight’s body froze, suspended in midair for two and a half seconds before plunging straight down to the ground.

“Now then, you four are next. Don’t even think about running.”

Recalling the blade fragments, Cracker’s gaze flashed with cold intent as he fixed his eyes on the four pale-faced knights.

Elsewhere, near the passage entrance, Opera had been waiting a long time. His opponent was another Holy Knight.

“All at once!”

“O mighty thunder from the Ninth Heaven, become divine lightning! Let the sword command your wrath!”

Almost instantly, the clear blue sky darkened. Clouds rolled in overhead, thunder shaking the air, lightning snaking along the horizon, and a killing wind swept the battlefield.

“How can his power be this terrifying?”

“Forget that! Don’t let him charge up! Attack together!”

“That’s right, let’s go!”

These Holy Knights had seen a lot, but Devil Fruits that let you change the very sky were rare.

Even more so since Opera’s was a Logia-type Devil Fruit. Unless they’d awakened their own, there was no way to match him. If Opera really unleashed his full power, none of them would escape.

They gripped their golden spears and soared into the air, aiming to cut Opera down before he launched his attack.

But flying up, they’d already fallen into Opera’s trap.

Rumble-Rumble Fruit was called the strongest of the Logia-class for a reason: its attacks didn’t give you any time to react.

“Go!”