Even with all his experience, Redfield found himself momentarily perplexed.
"Real… or an illusion?"
He frowned, his grip tightening around the bat-handled umbrella. With a swift motion, he stabbed it into the blood-colored ground beneath him.
Squelch!
The tip of the umbrella sank into the earth, and a faint, eerie sound followed—like blood seeping through cracks in the soil.
When he lifted it, crimson liquid clung to the blade-like tip.
"Real blood?"
The amusement in Redfield's expression dimmed. He hadn't expected this.
He had sensed something peculiar about this Marine, but now, an unsettling realization crept into his mind—this battle would be far more troublesome than anticipated.
Carl's blood-red right eye flickered as the numbers within shifted from 'six' to 'four'.
A wisp of purple-red aura curled from the corner of his eye.
Saa!
'Sakura Ten' cleaved through the air!
Boom!
A deep, jagged crack split the blood-stained battlefield.
"This old guy is fast!"
Carl's gaze sharpened as his blade cut through an afterimage.
If Whitebeard embodied absolute destructive power…
If Kaido represented absolute endurance…
Then "Lonely Red" Patrick Redfield was the pinnacle of speed.
Combined with his monstrous swordsmanship and near-omniscient Observation Haki, it was no wonder he had been spoken of in the same breath as Roger and Whitebeard.
"What's on your mind?"
Redfield's voice echoed behind Carl.
Clang!
Sparks erupted as 'Sakura Ten' clashed against the tip of the bat umbrella.
"Tch—"
Carl's eyes darkened. "What a pain…"
Redfield's insane speed, combined with that absurd Observation Haki, made landing a hit nearly impossible.
Carl's left hand slid onto the hilt of 'Deadwood', a pulse of lethal intent radiating from his waist.
With his right hand, he swung 'Sakura Ten' downward.
"Lion—Thousand Slice Valley!"
A barrage of black-and-gold slashes stormed toward Redfield, devouring space itself.
"Blocking my escape route?"
Redfield smirked, unfazed.
"You're quite the clever monster."
His expression softened—a rare moment of nostalgia.
"Shiki's slashes?"
Of course, he had already foreseen what would come next.
Carl vanished—
And in the next instant—
Zheng!
Carl reappeared behind Redfield, blade already returned to its sheath.
"Extreme Divine Swordsmanship: Instant Slash."
Squelch!
A thin, crimson line traced across Redfield's left arm before erupting into a storm of blood and sword energy.
Multiple wounds tore open, dark red droplets trickling down his fingers.
Redfield's expression flickered.
Even with his unmatched Observation Haki and blistering speed, he hadn't fully evaded the strike.
That meant—
This sword technique was absurdly fast!
"Interesting…"
He studied the blood on his arm, muttering to himself.
Carl exhaled a puff of cigar smoke, his voice cool.
"Damn… Missed the heart."
At the last moment, this old bastard disappeared.
Had it not been for the Killing Field's heightened perception, Carl wouldn't have been able to adjust his aim in time.
If he hadn't—this attack wouldn't have even grazed him.
"One of the Four Great Forces of the Old Era…"
Carl clicked his tongue.
"Honestly, I don't want to fight a relic like you."
After the collapse of Rocks D. Xebec, the world had entered a new era:
• The Golden Lion's Flying Pirates
• The Roger Pirates
• Whitebeard's Fleet
And then, there was Redfield—the lone warrior who stood apart from them all.
"Good thing you haven't found the Bat-Bat Fruit yet," Carl sneered. "If you had, this would be twice as annoying."
No doubt, Redfield was powerful.
But Carl was confident he could drag him down.
Because in the end, age was an unavoidable weakness.
Wasn't Shiki eventually exhausted to death in their battle?
The eerie grin on Redfield's face never wavered.
"Just 'annoying'?"
Saa!
Carl's enhanced vision still perceived Redfield standing ahead—
But suddenly—
A figure materialized behind him, blade already descending!
Boom!
The ground exploded, shattered stone and debris scattering like bullets!
Carl's figure was sent flying backward.
Even he couldn't afford to take a direct hit from a top-tier swordsman's Haki-infused slash.
The twin scars on Kaido's chest, left by Kozuki Oden, were proof of that.
And Carl didn't want to add similar marks to his own body.
"Fast reaction."
Redfield blurred again—his speed beyond the naked eye's perception.
Carl's cigar smoldered as the red glow in his eyes condensed to a razor-sharp focus.
He tracked Redfield's movements, his Killing Field amplifying his awareness.
There!
A blood-red figure flickered at his side.
Carl's pupils shrank.
"Got you!"
A blood-colored monstrosity manifested behind Redfield—
A demonic beast of murderous intent, claws swiping at the speedster!
"Fascinating…"
Redfield marveled at the tangible power of Carl's killing intent.
But he didn't panic.
Carl's 'Sakura Ten', now crackling with black lightning, was already slicing down!
BOOM!
A massive explosion erupted, obscuring both combatants in a swirling cloud of dust and debris.
"How's Colonel Carl?!"
A group of Marine soldiers anxiously peered through the haze.
"I can't see!"
Brett adjusted his glasses, his expression firm.
"Don't panic!"
"Colonel Carl won't lose!"
"Justice is inevitable!"
As the dust settled, the figures of Carl and Redfield re-emerged.
Carl's Sakura Ten was locked against Redfield's umbrella tip, their weapons crackling with energy.
Black lightning surged up Carl's blade, forming serpentine tendrils that slithered toward Redfield's arm.
Hissss—
The hissing of shadowy snakes filled the air.
Several bit into Redfield's flesh, yet—
His smile never wavered.
"Truly incredible…"
Emotion stirred in his ancient eyes.
For a brief moment—his combat prowess had returned to its peak.
Carl exhaled.
"Tch… this old man's strength hasn't diminished."
"This won't be settled quickly."
Carl steadied himself.
"Guess I'll just have to grind you down."
Even if this dragged on—
Carl had no fear.
Not against Redfield.
Not against Kaido.
His endurance and Haki could outlast anyone!
[Daybreak Ghost Sword: Blood Moon Frenzy!]
Carl launched another barrage of slashes—
Black lightning danced as scarlet murderous aura seeped into the attacks.
A battle of pure attrition began.
And Carl was more than willing to play that game.
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