Kále felt the air in his lungs be shot out of him as the bone struck his lung. He felt in intense pain in his chest, he could hear his ribs cracking as the pain spread across his body like a ripple effect. He nearly fell to his knees after the blow, but the mention of giving up made him stand again. Pride? Giving up? Those don't mix, you either have your pride or you give up, there's no in-between.

Kále knew that he couldn't last much longer, he coughed up blood as he stepped back. One more blow... one more attack... his strongest technique. He was going to have to use it now. The move that he thought he'd never have to use but... here he is.

"Give up...? Like I'd give up now. I'D RATHER DIE THAN GIVE UP NOW!" He yelled out with the short breath he managed to take.

Hannibal pulled the bone from his chest. Blood began to pour from the wood, drizzling down his exposed chest. The Swordsman stumbling a few steps back.

Kále knew that there were no more chances, there was one more attack left. That was it. He needed time to regain his composure but... he didn't have time...

"Perhaps I was wrong about you. You have a stronger will than most I've seen in recent years."

He stepped back and put away the toothpick, tucking it into his glove. "In that case. I will honor you. And allow you to fall by the worlds strongest black blade."

He then unsheathed Orion, and displayed it in front of him. The Black blade glistened against the light. His face stayed emotionless as he lifted it and brought the cross guard up and near his head, allowing the point of the sword to be directed toward Kale. The Ox stance.

"Come! Let thy will shine..."

Kale took a deep breath, as deep as he could with his single working lung. His eyes shut as he regained his composure, attempting to drown out the pain of his wound from earlier.

"This is it then... one more attack..." Kále began. His eyes were fierce and filled with fire, there was no more grinning. Something had changed and it was obvious.

Kále took another breath as he began rotating his swords at his sides. His right sword went clockwise and his left sword went counter-clockwise, quickly they picked momentum and soon enough they were blurring into one big circle at each side of him. This attack was tricky, it took time but the payoff was worth it for sure.

Kále took another breath as he began rotating his swords at his sides. His right sword went clockwise and his left sword went counter-clockwise, quickly they picked momentum and soon enough they were blurring into one big circle at each side of him. This attack was tricky, it took time but the payoff was worth it for sure.

"What will it be? Death... or triumph...?"

"We shall see..." Hannibal confirmed.

“Nitoryu Ogi..." As his swords reached the peak of their speed, Kále would dash forward, knowing that this was it, his final blow.

This would either win him the fight or he would die. As he reached the swordsman he would rapidly bring his swords up and deliver an incredibly fast flurry of slashes!

Then Right as Kále dashed towards him a third time, The Apex changed his stance and put his sword into a Back Left stance before disappearing!

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

He moved faster than anything anyone on that boat had ever seen in their lives. With such swiftness that it put to shame the impressive speed of his opponent He didn't have to do this. But he chose to. Chose to give this swordsmen a taste of just a fraction what he could truly become.

“...Takemikazauchi!!” The technique's name, Kále yelled it out!

Suddenly the two came to a stop at the same time! Hannibal suddenly reappearing as Kale skidded to a stop Behind the Strongest Swordsman!

Wolfheart had already made his move, his sword was outstretched to the opposite side of where it had been.

Crimson dripping from it's edge.

Hannibal had Cut Kále from his pelvis up to his shoulder, the cut was deep enough that the blood that poured was a bright crimson, But he had not sliced the bone. His strike was so swift and strong that it had broken through the attack he was attempting entierly. Like a knife through melted butter.

Thats when the Swords shattered. The very blades that had been in the hands of the Bloody Ronin Splintered and broke into shard of steel down to their hilts.

Hannibal stood and flicked his blade slighty, relieving its edge of the blood and turned around, readying his sword again, ready to cut the swordsmen down...

At that moment... the infamous Bloody Ronin lost. After a small pause his body erupted in a fountain of blood. Spraying blood onto the ground below him. He had lost, truly lost.

And yet...

Kále stood tall and turned around, knowing what was coming next.

He stared down Wolfheart and spread his arms wide apart dropping the hilts of his shattered swords on the ground as he did. Fully giving into his inevitable fate. He was going to die... but he wasn't going out like a coward.

All this time, all this effort led to this. He was pissed, angry at this moment but... he was angrier at himself. He should've done more, and taken his dream more seriously.

"What are you doing?" Hannibal paused for only a moment. Astonished by the fact that he still had the strength to lift himself to his feet and display his wounded state to him His eyes narrowed as he lifted his sword up before pausing waiting for this strong opponent to answer him.

Kále continued staring as Wolfheart stopped. A grin slowly appeared on his face.

"Wounds on the back are a swordsman's shame. So I'll die facing you..." He remained standing and with his arms out wide, waiting for the final blow to be dealt.

"Admirable...Then it seems you truly are worthy..."

Hannibal then Brought the sword down with enough force that it caused a large gust of wind to form!

He slashed from his lower right floating rip and across his abdomen and causing the two wounds to intersect into one. The blow was so fierce that it would cause Kále to be sent flying back wards and into the ocean behind him!

'To think I would find someone with such an admirable and strong will in a sea such as this place...Kále was it? Was that what the logia had said?' Even during that entire battle he had caught a glimpse of the Steam fruit user. And had heard the name that was uttered.