One Piece: Holy Light Swordmaster

"Finally... we made it out!"

"Ugh... I thought we were done for..."

"Thank goodness Vice Admiral Wright defended the last battleship and lured that monster away!"

"But... do you think Vice Admiral Wright will be okay? That monster turned into a dragon! A huge one!!"

"The whole island's center got blasted apart! And that weather... lightning and thunder everywhere!"

The Marines from G-5 had seized the opportunity, escaping aboard their ships while Wright diverted Kaido to the island's center.

These "tough nuts" were not only brutal in combat but also remarkably quick on their feet during a retreat—a skill that didn't squander Wright's sacrifice.

"He should... be fine, right? Vice Admiral Wright is so strong! He fought that monster head-on!"

"If Vice Admiral Wright could be stationed at G-5... we'd feel so secure!"

"...Wake him up if he's passed out from fright!"

"Me! I'll do it!"

"Me too!"

At the center of Nucas Island, Wright stood panting, sword in hand, across from Kaido, who appeared utterly unscathed.

"Holy Light Technique!"

After a brief recovery, Wright exhaled deeply.

"The consumption of Holy Light power is immense."

"My Haki alone isn't enough to cause significant harm to Kaido—I need the Holy Light's augmentation."

"Luckily, I have Ashes, a blade at the level of a Great Grade Sword, with Haki properties unique enough to ease my energy consumption. Otherwise, the drain would have been even worse!"

"But with Holy Light also focused on defense and healing... it's easier dealing with Kaido in his dragon form. At least that makes him a big, stationary target!"

"Wright... it's a pity you still can't kill me!"

Kaido chuckled darkly. "I never thought... I'd look forward to a fight with a mere Vice Admiral like you. This is the level of respect reserved for your Admirals!"

"Oh? I'm flattered!" Wright retorted coldly. "After all, you've been captured by the Marines countless times, executed dozens of times without a scratch..."

"Do you really think no one in the Marines can hurt you?"

"If it weren't for the World Government's obsession with these pointless public executions, Garp alone could have taken you down!"

"Whenever there's a strong opponent, you run. When there's no one strong enough to oppose you, you act like you're allowing yourself to be captured and 'executed.'"

"You've got those thick brows and a righteous look, but you're nothing more than a scheming coward!"

Kaido's face darkened as Wright mocked him mercilessly.

Kaido had never claimed to be an honorable hero. He was simply so powerful that he rarely needed to rely on underhanded tactics.

"Oden..."

The memory of executing Kouzuki Oden resurfaced in Kaido's mind. The X-shaped scar on his abdomen throbbed faintly, joined by a sharper pain from a fresh wound—inflicted by Wright.

In Kaido's perception, the two injuries seemed to merge into one, amplifying his discomfort.

The sight of Wright blurred, transforming into the towering image of Kouzuki Oden—the swordsman who had foolishly played into his hands for years, yet faced death in the boiling pot with unparalleled dignity and defiance.

That man... Kaido's nightmare for over a decade.

"Oden!!!"

Kaido roared, and bolts of violent purple lightning crashed from the sky, encasing him like a set of demonic armor.

"Die!!"

"Bring it on!"

Wright hadn't anticipated Kaido's deep fixation on Oden—was he still drunk?

"Still, this works for me! More pressure... bring it on!"

"Haah!!!"

Boom!

The central island, already ravaged beyond recognition, began collapsing under the strain of their battle.

Kaido, now enraged, launched faster and more ferocious attacks, overwhelming Wright with sheer brute force. Wright's stamina dwindled rapidly in the face of this relentless assault.

After yet another collision, Wright was sent flying.

"I need to end this before my Holy Light runs out!"

With a flap of his wings, Wright steadied himself in midair and raised Ashes high above his head.

"Ashes Awakens!"

For the first time, the Great Grade Sword Ashes revealed its awakened form—a colossal, golden-red blade wreathed in divine flames, more than ten times its usual size.

Infused with nearly all of Wright's Holy Light power and advanced Armament Haki, and wielded with his masterful swordsmanship, this technique was Wright's most devastating attack.

At full strength, he could only manage three such strikes.

"KAIDO!!"

"Take this!!"

"Secret Technique – Judgment!"

The sky darkened with swirling storm clouds, lightning and thunder raging as the enormous golden-red blade descended. With unmatched speed, power, and ferocity, the strike cleaved through the air, the divine flames transforming Ashes into a massive blade of light.

Kaido roared in defiance, summoning his lightning to meet the attack head-on.

"You're not strong enough!!"

BOOM!

The shattered remnants of Nucas Island could no longer withstand the intensity of their battle and began to disintegrate entirely.

Kaido, though battered and bloodied—his arms drenched in crimson—managed to withstand Wright's ultimate attack, albeit driven deep into the ground.

"Advanced Ryuo? So what?! You can't kill me!!"

"Can't kill you?!"

"I'll change this damn world if it kills me!!"

Wright roared, eyes bloodshot, as he poured every ounce of strength into his attack.

At that moment, Wright felt something break within him—a shackle being lifted.

Crack!

Golden lightning erupted from Wright, obliterating Kaido's purple thunder and sweeping across the battlefield.

"Impossible!!"

Kaido's roar of disbelief was cut short as the golden lightning and blazing sword slammed him further into the earth.

"Marines..."

Kaido's enraged voice was swallowed by the collapsing island as the golden-red blade disintegrated into countless particles of light.

Wright staggered, exhaling deeply.

"Secret Technique – Righteous Retreat!"

In a flash of golden light, Wright vanished from the battlefield. Moments later, a massive beam of light shot skyward from the island's center as Kaido, in his dragon form, burst from the ground. His roar shattered what little remained of Nucas Island.

"Conqueror's Haki!!"

"Another Marine with that power?!"

But before Kaido could vent his fury, his perception faltered. Wright's presence was gone.

"That bastard!!"

Nucas Island was no more, reduced to rubble as Kaido's wrath obliterated the last remnants.

Marineford – Marine Headquarters.

Wright stumbled out of a Lightforged Beacon, exhausted but alive.

"Wow... retreating 'righteously' right in Kaido's face. That'll drive him insane! Hahaha!"

Expending the last of his Holy Light to heal himself, Wright took a deep breath.

"Seems like I unlocked something big back there..."

Reflecting on the golden lightning that had overwhelmed Kaido, Wright muttered, "Kaido's reaction... could it be... Conqueror's Haki?!"

"To counter Kaido's presence and catch him off guard... could I also possess Conqueror's Haki?!"

"A Marine with Conqueror's Haki..."

"Looks like I'll need to have a serious talk with that old man Sengoku!"

[TL/N: Dang... ]

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