259 259. Advance

Countless possibilities ran through Leo's mind as he analysed Im's ability. Suddenly his train of thought was broken by Im as he attacked.

Leo steadied his sword and waited. As he expected, a wave of danger hit him from above.

Clang!

His sword clashed with a slender arm coated in busoshoku haki. Their collision send shockwaves throughout the area.

The five elders who kept an eye on the battlefield felt tremors in their heart. It was the first time they were seeing someone block their rulers attack.

Raging Inferno!

Sword rays swirled around Leo as he struck. A tide of raging sword intent slashed at Im.

The latter however simply disappeared from the sword's path.

Leo's spiritual sense was actively seeking Im's trail. However he failed to spot him.

Frowning his brows Leo stretched out his kenbunshoku haki to it's limit. However even then he failed to capture Im.

Is it really time? But how?

Im emerged beside Leo and struck.

Leo blocked it and countered.

Their exchange went on for a few minutes before both of them separated.

Im didn't have a single scratch on him. However there was a small wound on Leo's waist.

Aokiji and the rest drew in a cold breath when they saw this. They knew all too well of Leo's current ability. It wasn't easy to get close to him, much less hurt him.

His physique, haki and sword realm were at the pinnacle of this world. To hurt him despite all of that...

All of them looked at Im warily.

On the contrary Leo smiled. His battle intent rumbled as he shot forward.

Im disappeared like a ghost and got close to Leo. However this time before he could attack Leo's sword was already slashing at him.

Bang!

Both of them clashed and took a few steps back.

Leo grinned. He stepped forward and struck again.

Raging Inferno!

Sword rays raged as they struck at Im.

The latter disappeared and dodged.

Silent Wind!

Leo vanished from where he stood. A sword ray flashed.

Bang!

Im who just re-emerged was greeted with a cold gleaming sword.

For a moment Im faltered. He was like a wisp of smoke as he faded from the sword's path.

Leo pointed his sword to the sky.

Merciful Rain!

Sword rays flashed as they morphed into countless swords that covered the entirety of Marijoa.

When Im re-emerged Leo was ready.

Swords fell down like rain.

Im vanished again and reappeared at another area. However the swords hanging up above fell the moment his trail was found.

The five elders widened their eyes in shock. Im-sama was being pushed back!

At this moment Leo grinned. Got you!

Silent Wind!

He disappeared.

When Im re-emerged Leo's sword fell on him. Just as the latter was about to disappear again the swords hanging above fell and surrounded them.

The void shook. Im who was fading away paused.

At this moment Leo's sword fell.

Slash!

Blood spilled through the air. Im retreated and looked down at his chest. There was gash there and blood was flowing out.

"Im-sama!"

The five elders yelled and about to rush out.

"Haha, where are you going?!"

Dragon exploded with strength as he punched out. The two elders who were fighting him were caught off guard and struck right in their chest.

They coughed out blood and retreated.

Aokiji flashed towards his opponent. His arm turned into a sharp spear as he jabbed forward.

The elder facing him managed to dodge in time however he was still struck on his shoulder and blood spilled out.

The other two elders weren't faring any better either. A moment of lapse in battle was deadly.

Issho, Mace and Dali managed to hurt their opponents and made them retreat.

Leo didn't care for the elders and stared at his opponent with a calm expression.

"Ingenious application of time fruit. Jumping through time to the future. Though it is only for a split second, in a battle that's quite a terrifying move."

Im who heard him was slightly taken back. Those ringed pupils stared at Leo as murderous intent spilled out.

He disappeared the next instant.

Leo also flashed.

The air started to shake as both of them battled.

The palace down below had already started to crumble from the aftershock of their battle. The five elders and the others had to stay far away lest they get caught up in the aftershock.

Though Leo looked like he was having an easy time it was far from the truth. His kenbunshoku haki was stretched to it's limit to catch Im's trajectory.

The trick he used before won't work twice.

Im's ability was scary. Jumping to the future. The man could close the distance between them and appear beside him without the slightest sign.

Not to mention this person's haki was at it's pinnacle, his raw strength wasn't any bit lacking either.

If Leo was any bit weaker he would be injured at every blow.

Facing such an opponent Leo's kenbunshoku haki which always had smooth sailing till now was under tremendous pressure.

With pressure the limits of his kenbunshoku was slowly being broken. With every exchange his haki mastery was increasing ever so slightly.

Leo didn't deliberately try to grasp this moment. He let his senses lead him. His five senses as well as his spiritual sense was slowly coming together.

They were trying to find harmony.

Im also sensed the changes that was happening to his opponent. He didn't want to lag any further.

Busoshoku haki climbed on his fist. The tremendous power in his fist shook the void as he struck out.

Facing this fist Leo closed his eyes.

His spiritual sense was all he needed to see everything.

When Im's fist inched close to him his spiritual sense and his five senses churned wildly, they were at their extreme limit.

When the fist was several inches away from his sword the last piece of the puzzle fell. Something broke inside his mind. He felt all of his senses as well as his spiritual sense resonate with one another.

Suddenly the world turned slow. Everything happening around him moved from one frame to another. He saw the fist falling on his sword and pushing him through the air. He saw how it shook his arm and cracked his bones.

After a short moment everything he saw shattered like glass.

When Leo opened his eyes again Im's fist was about to fall on his sword.

Immovable Mountain!!

Abruptly sword rays flashed. Enormous swords came to being around Leo.

Boom!

Im's fist fell on the swords. Cracks spread through the enormous swords, however it didn't break.

Im stepped back.

His ringer pupils stared incredulously at the enormous swords infront of him.

After a moment the swords fell apart. Leo walked out with a smile on his face.

"Opportunities comes with danger."

As he spoke the smile on his face faded as a cold intent spread through his sword.

"Time to finish this."

Leo raised his sword and took a stance. The wind howled as sword rays flashed around him. It bounced off around his body and his body. At this moment Leo looked like he was made of sword rays.

Im felt danger as he stared at the sword rays surrounding Leo.

His figure immediately faded away as he jumped through time.

The moment he disappeared Leo's voice rang out.

"Lightning Calamity!"

Im who had just reappeared was greeted with a sword that seemed to destroy everything in it's path.

His figure faded again but the sword still followed him. He jumped through time again and again but the sword still followed.

At some point when he was about to fade again swords condensed from sword rays surrounded him. The void shook as he failed to jump through time.

Siizz!

It was only for a split second. A ray of light flashed as Im's body came to an abrupt halt.

Leo appeared before him and sheathed his sword.

The five elders who were fighting their own battle sensed something strange and looked back.

Their eyes widened in shock as their supreme ruler slowly split in half. The two halfs of his body fell from air onto the ground with a thud.