Chapter 30: SPOP Chapter 30 The Final Strike
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The Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu (Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique) had failed to leave even a scratch on Dragon. What followed was the arrival of an imminent threat for Rojen.
Like a gust of wind, Dragon's figure blurred, appearing right in front of Rojen in what seemed like an instant. His speed was so terrifying that it felt akin to teleportation. Rojen couldn't even fully comprehend what had just happened.
"Too fast!"
This sheer, overwhelming speed was nearly impossible to counter.
In that instant, Rojen's heart pounded violently, and his ''Mangekyō Sharingan'' trembled in response.
Instinctively, his eyes locked onto Dragon's.
Their gazes met, and the three tomoe in Rojen's eyes spun fiercely.
"'Tsukuyomi!'"
Rojen's voice was cold, devoid of emotion. His body shivered as cold sweat drenched his frame. Without hesitation, he quickly widened the distance between himself and Dragon.
The moment just now was truly a brush with death. He believed that if he had faltered for even a moment and allowed Dragon to make physical contact, he would have been gravely injured. Rojen wasn't Uchiha Itachi; he didn't have a strong enough body to endure such an explosive output.
He was akin to a frail mage— if the opponent managed to touch him, he would likely meet an instant death.
Meanwhile, Dragon blinked and suddenly found himself in a completely different place.
Glancing around, he realized he was bound to a cross-shaped structure, unable to move. Above him, the sky appeared as a blood-red, sinister eye— eerily similar to Rojen's eye color.
"Another genjutsu? How brilliant!"
Dragon marveled at Rojen's mastery of illusions. Even now, he couldn't discern how or when the illusion had been cast.
"No, wait— his eyes!"
As Dragon stared at the crimson sky, he suddenly understood. A faint smile crept onto his lips.
"It's his eyes. Simply meeting his gaze pulls you into this genjutsu space? What a formidable ability!"
Moments later, a cold, emotionless figure stepped toward him.
"'Pfft!'"
Without hesitation, the figure drove a kunai deep into Dragon's body.
In that instant, pain exploded through Dragon as if his very body were being torn apart. His entire frame convulsed, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
"The pain feels so real. It's as if my very soul is being ripped apart!"
He thought the torment would end there, but the pain that followed pushed him into unimaginable suffering.
This experience left a profound mark on Dragon, ensuring he would never forget Rojen for as long as he lived.
Back in the real world, only a few seconds had passed. Rojen watched cautiously as Dragon opened his eyes. The man's face was pale, his expression disoriented, as if he'd suffered a massive blow. Seeing this, Rojen let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"'Tsukuyomi works.'"
Rojen's heart swelled with joy. He prepared to cast the technique again when a sudden sharp pain erupted from between his brows. His eyes throbbed, forcing a groan from his lips.
This gave Dragon a moment to catch his breath.
For a brief period, neither of them made a move. They simply stared at each other, locked in a tense standoff.
Time slipped by, and after several breaths, Rojen lowered his hand from his right eye. Through the gaps between his fingers, he noticed a faint streak of blood. His heart sank.
"The backlash of the Sharingan is as terrifying as they say!"
On the other hand, Dragon still appeared weak and drained.
"You're too dangerous," Dragon said, his voice low and firm. "It seems I must end you here today. If I let you leave, you may cause a catastrophe that shakes the world."
"End me?"
Rojen chuckled, casually flicking the blood off his hand.
The two locked eyes once more, their gazes now brimming with sharp, deadly intent.
Dragon raised his right hand, his expression cold and sinister. With a sudden clench of his fist, the atmosphere shifted.
"'Boom!'"
The sky above ''Loguetown'' underwent a dramatic transformation. Dark clouds gathered in an instant, dense and oppressive, while golden streaks of lightning slithered like dragons, weaving through the heavens. A violent storm was about to descend.
The sight was utterly awe-inspiring. Rolling clouds spread rapidly, shrouding all of Loguetown in mere moments.
"What's going on? Why has the weather changed so suddenly?"
"Judging by the skies, a storm is about to hit!"
"But out on the sea, everything's still calm."
The residents of Loguetown were clueless about the cause, staring up at the skies in confusion.
Rojen's eyes narrowed, and with a swift motion, he bolted toward the coastline.
Now possessed by ''Uchiha Itachi'', Rojen's speed had long surpassed human limits. With his hands slightly relaxed at his sides, he dashed and leaped across rooftops with incredible agility. His figure blurred into a phantom, and within moments, he was out of Dragon's line of sight.
"You can't escape."
Dragon narrowed his eyes as he watched Rojen's retreating figure.
Though his expression remained pale, the earlier 'Tsukuyomi' attack had left him mentally scarred. After all, it was a technique that directly assaulted the soul. Even someone as formidable as Dragon couldn't easily defend against it.
In a flash, Dragon's figure shimmered and vanished like a gust of wind.
The scene shifted rapidly. Upon reaching the golden beach, Rojen halted, his breathing steady but his gaze sharp.
Sweeping his eyes across the area, he calculated.
"The ship is 2,320 meters away on the sandy shore. Once I deal with Dragon, I'll leave immediately."
But even as he formed his plan, the air wavered. Dragon's figure distorted and materialized in the void not far away.
Taking a deep breath, Rojen's resolve deepened.
"I wasn't planning to go all out, but it seems I have no choice!"
Dragon, the brilliant Rear Admiral of the Marines, had already demonstrated his ability to break free from Rojen's genjutsu. Physical attacks were also ineffective, as Dragon could evade them with ease. Yet, for Rojen, even a single strike from Dragon would be fatal.
It was an awkward and precarious situation. While Rojen may have held an advantage at the start, the tide had now turned against him.
Time slipped by. The possession of Uchiha Itachi's abilities wouldn't last much longer.
"I have to finish this fight quickly!"
With his eyes narrowing, Rojen's aura intensified, his ''imposing manner'' growing sharper and fiercer.
"Hmm?"
Dragon immediately noticed the shift in Rojen's energy. His eyes narrowed, his attention fixed on every movement of his opponent.
But in a split second, Dragon's body trembled, and confusion flickered in his eyes.
Unbeknownst to him, he had fallen victim to yet another genjutsu.
"So, I can't look into his eyes after all."
Closing his eyes completely, Dragon abandoned his sense of sight.
Yet, this didn't hinder him much. With ''Kenbunshoku Haki'' (Observation Haki) and his heightened senses, he could still clearly perceive Rojen's every move.
At that moment, Rojen's voice echoed from below.
"Dragon, this is my final strike. If you can withstand it, I'll admit defeat."
"But if you can't, I'm afraid I have no choice but to end this!"
(End Of Chapter)