"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The fierce clash between Wright and Weevil continued, their unrelenting blows echoing across the island. The collision of powerful Armament Haki, the flames of Weevil, and Wright's Holy Light did not quite shatter the heavens but was enough to alter the local climate.
Once a barren island shrouded in perpetual sandstorms and rocky crags, the terrain was now reduced to rubble. Fragments of stone mixed with swirling sands, shredded into dust by the violent clash of Haki. The island was engulfed in a chaotic sandstorm, with visibility obscured by thick clouds of dust. Only intermittent flashes of fire and bursts of golden light could be seen at the battle's epicenter—the crimson dragon fire of Weevil and the golden Holy Light leaking from Wright's control.
Wright found the environment favorable. Observers aboard the Golden City, far out at sea, wouldn't be able to discern the details of the battle, even with the most advanced telescopes. Of course, there was always the possibility of curious individuals approaching the island, but most would dismiss the erratic weather as another natural oddity of the New World. After all, such phenomena were far from rare here. Even those suspecting a battle would hesitate to investigate, knowing that a reckless approach could result in an untimely death.
Weevil's frenzy persisted. Despite being battered and bloodied by Wright's relentless strikes, his power and speed showed no signs of waning. Losing an arm did little to hinder someone of Weevil's caliber—especially a monstrous Zoan-type Devil Fruit user.
However, few Zoan users could maintain their hybrid form for extended periods. This form, the pinnacle of their combat power, was typically used for explosive bursts of strength to end battles quickly. If maintaining the hybrid form were so simple, why would Zoan users often revert to beast form for prolonged engagements and then switch back to hybrid form for counterattacks?
To Wright's knowledge, only a handful of experts could sustain a hybrid form over long periods, such as Vice Admiral Dalmatian of Marine Headquarters. Achieving such a feat required exceptional talent and rigorous training. Even Marco, the First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates and a Mythical Zoan user, had to shift between forms during battle. Vegapunk's failed artificial Mythical Zoan Fruit had documented limitations, including the extreme difficulty of maintaining a hybrid form and its significant stamina drain.
Under normal circumstances, defeating Weevil would be challenging enough, let alone killing him. His sheer tenacity meant he could always escape if needed. But as the battle wore on, Weevil's mental state deteriorated, pushing him closer to a berserk state where retreat was unthinkable.
Knowing Weevil's weaknesses, Wright was confident in his ability to kill him—even without utilizing his full power. Exploiting his regenerative abilities, Wright prolonged the high-intensity battle, forcing Weevil's artificial Devil Fruit limitations to surface.
Finally, after hours of grueling combat, even Weevil's immense stamina couldn't sustain his hybrid form. Though his exceptional endurance had extended the fight, the inevitable moment arrived. Without the hybrid form's explosive strength, Wright gained the upper hand. The severed left arm and the strain of defending against Wright's dual-sword strikes with a single remaining arm took a heavy toll on Weevil.
Panting heavily, Weevil's beastly traits rapidly receded, leaving him in his human form. Though his defense and recovery were still formidable, they could no longer withstand Wright's blade.
Time was of the essence for Wright. The CP1 operative was still recuperating in the cabin, and this mission needed to conclude within the day for a flawless success.
The key to defeating a powerful Zoan user lay in nullifying their hybrid and beast forms—and their regenerative capabilities. The answer: Seastone.
Seastone was the bane of all Devil Fruit users. Even Marco, the "Phoenix," was utterly helpless when shackled by Seastone handcuffs. While Seastone was notoriously difficult to process, items like Seastone cuffs and cages were standard Marine tools designed for dealing with Devil Fruit users.
Could a Devil Fruit user fight while wearing Seastone? Absolutely not—unless they had some extraordinary countermeasure. But Wright? He wasn't a Devil Fruit user.
Grinning, Wright pulled out a pair of Seastone handcuffs. Skillfully deflecting Weevil's weakened strikes with one blade, he seized an opening to deliver a sweeping kick. With his left arm severed and most of his injuries concentrated on his left side, Weevil's defenses were compromised.
"Judgment Strike!"
"Lightspeed!"
In a flash, Wright stomped hard, propelling himself to Weevil's right side. He swiftly snapped the Seastone cuffs onto Weevil's wrist.
"Good thing this guy's arms are so thick, though his wrists are oddly normal… What kind of anatomy is this?" Wright exhaled, stepping back as Weevil collapsed to the ground. Though still roaring incoherently, his weakened cries betrayed his diminishing strength.
"It's time, Weevil."
Holding his blade horizontally at eye level, Wright assumed a ready stance.
"Without the power of Holy Light, my strikes lack the decisive edge… at least against you. If Mihawk were here, he probably wouldn't even need Seastone to take you down. Probably."
Sensing the lethal intent radiating from Wright, Weevil staggered to his feet. His powerful physique quickly adapted to the Seastone-induced weakness, though his disoriented mind couldn't comprehend the source of his frailty.
"Then, curse the World Government in hell—for choosing you as their pawn."
"Secret Technique: Void Slash!"
Wright vanished, reappearing behind Weevil in an instant.
"Swish!"
"Guh…"
Wielding advanced Armament Haki, Wright unleashed his most powerful sword technique, "Void Slash," cleanly decapitating Weevil. Even in his human form, Weevil's formidable defenses were no match.
The severed head of the man who claimed to be Whitebeard's son soared skyward before crashing to the ground amidst the howling sandstorm. His headless body, still clutching his naginata, collapsed with a heavy thud.
Flicking the blood from his blade, Wright sheathed the gleaming "Nidai Kitetsu" and stood in silence.
From this moment forward, the self-proclaimed "Second Whitebeard" was no more.
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