It was truly terrifying.
"Whoosh…"
Both Lancelot and Ulti turned their heads simultaneously, clearly startled by the sheer magnitude of the commotion.
Especially Ulti.
She had always believed herself to be exceptionally gifted, convinced that her strength was no less than Yamato's...
But witnessing this scene, her heart couldn't help but sink.
Because only now did she realize she had truly underestimated the world's strong fighters.
First Lancelot, who was around her age, and now Yamato erupting with strength far surpassing hers.
Each instance hammered home that while her talent was indeed remarkable, this world still held geniuses with greater aptitude and power.
Subsequently, Ulti's gaze sharpened as she looked at Sasaki, locked in combat with her, her eyes turning hostile.
For now, a competitive fire had ignited within her.
Even though she fully understood her strength paled in comparison to Yamato's, she still refused to fall too far behind.
So, what better way to prove her capabilities than by swiftly defeating Sasaki?
Meanwhile, Sasaki's expression had turned utterly grim.
Just as Ulti was about to launch her assault, King, buried beneath the mountain rubble, began to move.
A figure burst through the rocky debris, soaring skyward. He then looked down upon the figures on the ground from above.
His gaze finally settled on Lancelot, eyes blazing with fury.
Though he knew the wisest choice now was to turn and flee immediately, he couldn't leave.
If he retreated, there would be no one left on Onigashima capable of halting Lancelot's advance. Let alone holding out until the captain's return.
Thus, he had to endure. He clenched his fists tightly... endure, he must endure. Just a little longer, and Queen would arrive from the quarry.
With his assistance, he believed they could hold on until the captain returned.
At this thought, King's expression solidified with determination.
"Tempura Udon!"
King pulled his head back like a slingshot and released it.
This technique generated a powerful shockwave, described in the original story by a fully-realized Zoro as an undefendable laser beam, boasting immense destructive force.
Watching King launch another fierce attack against him, Lancelot's mouth twitched involuntarily.
He had to admit, the Lunarian race was freakishly strong!
Even that last strike hadn't harmed him in the slightest.
This defensive capability probably rivaled Kaido's own.
However, while King appeared "invincible," he possessed a fatal flaw.
During the Onigashima war in the original story, King's combat performance was nearly flawless.
In his battle against Zoro, he managed to suppress him throughout, largely thanks to his "racial talent." I
t was precisely his special race that granted him this "invincible" defensive ability.
Yet if King's defense truly had no counter, he wouldn't have submitted under Kaido's banner.
In reality, whenever King executed a named technique, the flames around his body would vanish—this was his fatal flaw.
The only injury King sustained in combat was when Zoro shattered his mask, an attack that coincidentally occurred when flames weren't coating him.
Did this imply that King's superhuman defense was directly linked to the flames?
In other words, the flames were one of the true sources of King's power.
Once the flames disappeared, his "invincible" defense vanished with them.
Therefore, while King's racial abilities were formidable, his reliance on "flames" was absolute.
So what hidden power did King's flames possess?
Currently, there were two possibilities.
First, King's flames can only temporarily "enhance" one ability at a time.
For instance, when attacking, they boost "power"; when defending, they strengthen "resilience"; and even when injured, they amplify "recovery."
These enhancements all rely on the innate flame power of his race.
However, the flame's power can only sustain one type of "enhancement" at a time and cannot simultaneously affect all abilities.
Thus, when King uses a technique, the flames on his body vanish because the enhancement is focused on "offense" rather than "defense," leaving him vulnerable to any external damage during this period.
Second, he is only "invincible" when the flames are present, acting like a "protective suit."
From the battles, it's clear that King's strength entirely depends on the "flames."
Once the flames disappear, he loses his extraordinary defensive capabilities.
Aside from defense, the flames do not enhance other aspects of his abilities, but as long as the flames exist, King remains "invincible."
Yet, regardless of which scenario, the best time to attack is when King releases a technique, causing the surrounding flames to vanish.
At this thought, Lancelot's eyes narrowed slightly.
He muttered under his breath, "Good, then let's test it... test whether King's defense truly disappears when the flames are gone."
Once Lancelot made his decision, his gaze sharpened.
He took a deep breath, instantly activating the Haki within him. Black Armament Haki surged like a tide from his arm, rapidly coating his right hand.
Just then, King's attack shot forth like lightning.
Yet, Lancelot calmly extended his right hand, accurately seizing the sharp tip of King's beak.
In one fluid motion, he pivoted, leveraging the momentum to pull forcefully.
Mid-air, King felt an irresistible, immense force assault him, his body plummeting uncontrollably.
His earlier attack had been swift as a storm, but now his descent was even faster, like a meteor; his previous strike had been fiercely powerful, but this impact was utterly unstoppable.
"Boom..."
With a deafening roar, King crashed violently into the ground.
The force of the impact was so tremendous that his body embedded deeply into the earth, sending dust and debris flying everywhere.
Centered around him, the solid ground cracked with horrifying fissures that spread outward.
Chunks of soil, large and small, were flung high into the air by the sheer power.
This demonstrated the unimaginable force behind Lancelot's counterattack using the momentum!
Despite this, King, shielded by his blazing flames, remained completely unharmed.
Gritting his teeth, he mustered all his strength, struggling fiercely until he broke free from Lancelot's grasp.
Then, spreading his flame-wreathed wings, he beat them hard, rocketing back into the sky.
"Fire Dragon Emperor!"
He first enveloped his sword in his own flames, then shot out a stream of fire in the shape of an Eastern dragon.
The scorching flames resembled molten magma.
His target, naturally, was Lancelot on the ground.
A smirk curled at the corner of Lancelot's lips.
"The opportunity has arrived!"