Chapter 297

The opponent understood that her movements were very fast.

Therefore, the moment of attack was also the moment when openings would be exposed.

Both retreated backward.

Beidou wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and sneered, "What a monster... I'm injured just like this... Tsk..."

Just one strike.

It hit my internal organs.

My body felt extremely uncomfortable.

However, the opponent wasn't doing much better either.

That burst of power I just unleashed wasn't something to be taken lightly in terms of attack strength.

Looking at the blood covering the ground made it clear.

The old woman was also badly injured.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

The battle between Diluc and Katakuri had also begun.

One wielded a steel trident.

One wielded a greatsword.

Although both were heavy weapons.

Yet, the two moved with incredible agility.

Katakuri's Observation Haki allowed him to see a brief future; as flames danced and surged toward him, he could even turn his body into elements to pass through them.

Dodging Diluc's slash.

Such a strange battle.

This knight from Mondstadt had never seen anything like it before.

"I can tell you're holding back some strength; let's unleash it all together. Let me witness what kind of power comes from your side..."

Katakuri...

Threw his shirt onto the ground.

Issuing an invitation to Diluc.

Strong individuals deserve respect.

They also appreciate each other's worth.

Seeing Katakuri in such a state, Diluc fell silent for a moment before saying, "You are indeed exactly as that great man described: a true man."

"Very well... To show you respect, I will also use my strongest technique."

"Be careful, this is the first time I am using it."

"I might not have mastered the move perfectly... one slip, and you could die!"

"Then come at me..."

Hearing this, Katakuri burst into loud laughter.

Even if he failed.

He would fight to his heart's content.

That was his life motto!

And now, with both sides bringing out their true strength, Katakuri felt it was enough.

Plop.

Diluc threw his clothes onto the ground and stabbed Wolf's Gravestone into the soil.

He took a deep breath.

"Fire Wash!!!"

Boom.

The power of crimson flames slowly began to burn within his body.

His undershirt and outer clothes instantly changed form.

The fire power from the Yin-Yang Five Elements Technique.

He had actually already perfected its cultivation, but lacked a space to deploy it; today was the day Diluc would bloom.

His fiery red hair rose into the sky along with the waves of flame.

His muscles turned black.

Flames danced continuously.

"Is this your true inner self?"

Katakuri was shocked.

Clearly, the opponent possessed no Devil Fruit powers.

Yet he could transform into such a form.

What a terrifying man.

Diluc narrowed his eyes; originally crimson, they were now incredibly bright.

Like two fireballs.

"It's starting, get ready... Katakuri!!!"

He gripped Wolf's Gravestone, his body turning into a red line.

Piercing straight through.

Boom.

A terrifying slash.

It tore the very earth apart.

A trickle of cold sweat flowed down Katakuri's face, only to evaporate instantly.

What incredible speed.

If his reaction had been just a moment slower.

His body would surely have been split in two.

"Fruit... Awakening..."

The ground began to writhe everywhere.

5.4 This was his Fruit Awakening.

To fight someone like Diluc, one simply could not engage without invoking the power of Awakening!

"Rainfall Mochi..."

The ground, assimilated into mochi, instantly transformed into several thick strips of mochi that surged toward Diluc to encircle him.

Meanwhile.

Nine donuts appeared in the air.

They coalesced directly into arms.

Following the Rainfall Mochi, they sealed off every possible escape route for Diluc.

Both sides possessed terrifying Observation Haki.

But Katakuri understood that many techniques could not be dodged merely by moving.

When the frequency of attacks reached a certain level.

The enemy could only brace and endure.

"A mere bit of mochi cannot stop me... Fire Phoenix!!!!"

Boom.

Earth-shattering flames.

They instantly melted and shredded all the mochi overhead.

Diluc gripped his burning blade.

He charged forward against the impact of nine fists.

His body left a phantom afterimage of a phoenix in the air.

As the fists struck the flames, Katakuri realized his ultimate technique had once again been melted away.

"What a terrifying man!!!"

Since ranged attacks won't work.

Then switch to close combat.

Katakuri's arms kept swelling as Armament Haki continuously reinforced them.

His arms had turned a dark blue-black!

It could be said he had unleashed his strongest power.

A steel trident clashed with a blade of flame.

The searing heat.

Transmitted through the weapons to Katakuri's hands.

The high temperature caused his palms to smoke from the scalding.

Yet even so, he did not drop his weapon, for... discarding it would only lead to death.

Fists could not touch this man.

"Amber Mochi..."

While the weapons locked against the longsword.

Katakuri unleashed another ultimate technique.

Suddenly, a donut appeared in the air, followed by countless needles bursting forth from within.

If Diluc chose to dodge.

Then Katakuri could press his advantage and pursue.

If Diluc chose not to dodge.

So many spikes coated in Armament Haki fell down.

He would certainly suffer greatly as well.

What will you do now?

Katakuri stared fixedly at the man before him, who resembled a volcano.

In his heart, he eagerly awaited the other's performance.

At that moment, Diluc's Observation Haki naturally detected the falling spikes.

He immediately chose to withdraw.

The two created distance between them.

Katakuri looked at his burned palm, let out a sinister laugh, and pursued directly.

Meanwhile, the spikes in the sky plummeted toward Diluc's location.

However, right at that moment.

Katakuri halted his movement, his eyelid twitching involuntarily as he muttered, "What kind of technique is this..."

He saw the future!

It was a vision of himself being defeated.

But why was the opponent's state so strange.

At this moment, the flames rising on Diluc's body.

Were slowly compressing inward.

His entire body turned pitch black.

As if he were wearing a suit of armor.

The Wolf's Gravestone in his hand had vanished.

Only a cluster of twelve flames remained burning gently in his palm.

"Everyone possesses their own unique ultimate move; that man once told me that after witnessing the vast world, one should go forth and uncover their potential.

Fortunately, I was able to cultivate the Fire Path Technique.

At the same time, I successfully mastered the third stage of Sword Control Art.

This technique is something I imagined myself.

Facing a powerful enemy, it can achieve a one-hit kill.... Of course, it has not yet been fully perfected... but its power should be incredibly shocking!

I have named it: Twilight."

Boom.

The flame in his palm.

Suddenly flared up.

And the spikes in the sky were instantly melted.

Thousands of glutinous rice spikes, coated in Conqueror's Haki, capable of piercing even steel.

Alas... they all shattered now.

Like gas.

Vanishing without a trace.

Whoosh.

Diluc disappeared.

He was running rapidly.

The ground beneath him was turned into scorched earth by his flames.

Katakuri was knocked flying by the flames.

Mid-air.

His body felt as though it had fallen into magma.

He watched his armor shatter continuously.

Seeing the man whose arms were also bleeding, he revealed an expression of relief.

So he really used all his strength.

Thunderous crash.

The ground was struck by a crimson shockwave.

It was utterly destroyed.

A forest spanning several thousand meters was entirely reduced to powder under that single move.

The earth was burning.

The trees had long been burned to ash.

Diluc's move, Twilight, was the last light of day.

It was also a technique that burned away all the power within his body.

Inside the Heavens Mission Group Chat.

After watching Diluc's burst, everyone began discussing it heatedly.

Kaedehara Kazuha: "This... this is Mr. Diluc's power! I never thought he had reached such a level... It seems I cannot slack off either."

Not so long ago.

He, as an instructor, had guided the other in cultivating dominance and techniques.

Now, this move, Twilight, was enough to make him take things seriously.

Even a slight carelessness.

Could cause Kaedehara Kazuha to face defeat.

Yae Miko: "That's why one must never be arrogant... The City of Mondstadt truly abounds with talent. Diluc's last mission was quite comical.

Yet now, his strength has improved so remarkably.

One can see he is more than a hundred times stronger than before!"

Su Han: "I heard Jean mention that after finishing official duties, members of the Knights of Favonius voluntarily train at night. Everyone has their own training room.

It seems Diluc has been spurred on as well."

Everyone has their own pride.

Especially someone like Diluc, who is so proud and ambitious.