NOVEL NEXT Chapter 599: Death?
In the battlefield.
At this moment, Nicholas had all his attention focused on Imu and couldn't spare much energy to monitor the rest of the battlefield. After all, the outcome of their duel would determine the direction of this world-altering war.
In the next instant.
Imu's aura, as intense as the sun, suddenly retracted, and she charged toward Nicholas.
Nicholas understood that although Imu's terrifying aura seemed to disappear, it was merely that she had condensed her immense power internally.
Rather than moving, it was more like Imu teleported.
Almost immediately after withdrawing her aura, she appeared in front of Nicholas.
Her fist was wrapped in a concentrated aura of "Conqueror's Haki," tightly clenched.
Without any elaborate technique, she delivered a punch that was lightning-fast.
As the punch approached Nicholas' chest, an explosion of terrifying power erupted, and black-red arcs of lightning—representing her Haki—crackled around her fist.
Nicholas' pupils shrank at Imu's sudden burst of speed. He hurriedly raised his sword to block.
Imu's fist collided directly with the blade Nicholas held in front of him.
The sound of the impact echoed throughout the entire Mariejois.
The auras emanating from both sides clashed fiercely again.
Endless lightning and hurricane-like winds exploded from the point of impact.
Boom!
Under the sheer force of their clashing auras, the ground beneath them continuously shattered and sank, as if massive underground explosions were happening in quick succession.
"Hm?"
In the heat of the struggle, Nicholas found it increasingly difficult to withstand the surge of Imu's power and Conqueror's Haki.
At this moment, the power within Imu seemed inexhaustible, continuing to rise as though she had yet to reach her limit.
Feeling the overwhelming force transmitted through his sword, Nicholas furrowed his brow.
Though he had been prepared for Imu's increase in strength, he still found it hard to believe how thoroughly he was being overpowered.
Before he could think further, an even stronger force surged through his sword.
Already losing in strength, Nicholas' defensive stance instantly crumbled, and Imu's punch sent him flying.
Imu glanced at the black dot that Nicholas had become in the distance before her figure disappeared into thin air.
In the next moment.
She caught up to the airborne Nicholas, appearing above him.
The two locked eyes, both filled with killing intent.
Then.
Imu attacked ruthlessly once more.
Another pure punch, this time aimed downward at Nicholas' chest.
Nicholas' eyes narrowed, preparing to defend himself, but in the next moment, his mind briefly clouded over.
His defense was a fraction too late.
Imu's fist, still wrapped in Conqueror's Haki, slammed directly into Nicholas' chest.
Hiss!
That delicate fist penetrated into Nicholas' chest, creating a fist-sized hole, as a column of black-red energy shot out, blasting a hole clean through his body.
The energy beam pierced through Nicholas' back and shot down toward the ground like a radiant pillar of light.
Boom!
The black-red lightning-wreathed beam struck the ground, causing a massive explosion.
The shockwave, infused with immense power, rippled out in all directions.
At the point of impact, a group of allied forces, government troops, and Holy Land guards were engaged in battle.
Before they could react, the shockwave engulfed them.
Within a fraction of a second, those caught in the shockwave were reduced to nothing.
Throughout the entire process, no one had time to scream.
The aftermath of the explosion echoed across Mariejois once more.
Fighters from both sides on various battlefronts instinctively paused, drawn by the massive explosion.
One glance upward revealed the colossal mushroom cloud rising far off in the distance.
"Nicholas..."
Dragon's eyes were filled with deep concern.
On another battlefield.
Sakazuki and Kuzan, both drenched in battle, noticed the commotion caused by Imu's punch.
Even the usually stoic Akainu showed concern on his face.
He understood that the outcome of Nicholas' and Imu's battle was the key to determining whether the world could have a better future.
Meanwhile, Katie, who had been fighting the Holy Land's guards, looked toward the explosion site in disbelief.
Worried for Nicholas, she was now determined to reach him as quickly as possible.
However, the Holy Land guards couldn't understand Katie's thoughts, launching a barrage of attacks her way, intent on killing her while she was distracted.
"Get out of my way!"
Noticing the incoming attacks, Katie's gaze turned deadly. A terrifying storm of sword energy swept through the enemies around her.
In an instant, the Holy Land guards attacking Katie were shredded to pieces by the storm.
The next moment, Katie propelled herself toward the direction where Nicholas had fallen.
At the same time.
Nicholas' body lay within a massive crater, hundreds of meters wide.
The gaping hole in his chest looked horrifying.
Above the crater.
Imu floated in the air, gazing down coldly at the gravely injured Nicholas like a deity.
Using her Observation Haki to lock onto Nicholas' aura, she could sense it steadily weakening.
Clearly.
Even a monster like Nicholas could not withstand such a fatal injury.
Moments later, seemingly intent on finishing Nicholas off, Imu raised her fist once again.
In the next instant, her attack descended like a falling star.
With a thunderous crash, Nicholas' body was swallowed by the attack once more.
The ground.
Dust and debris filled the air.
As the dust settled, the scene became clear.
A tall figure stood before the injured Nicholas, surrounded by blood splattered across the ground, telling the tale of what had just happened.
"Pointless tricks."
Imu coldly remarked as she gazed at the blood-soaked Kuma, who had blocked her attack with all his might.
But so what? It would only take one more punch.
Looking at Imu, whose fist was once again wrapped in black-red lightning, Kuma's expression remained calm.
He turned his head to glance at Nicholas behind him, then his eyes filled with determination.