One Piece:Revenge Against Celestial Dragons.

"Life Return…"

He was the first to reveal his abilities. His mastery over Life Return was profound—so deep, in fact, that he could infuse his consciousness into every part of his body.

He had complete control: his organs, his limbs, even his blood. He could shape his hair into fists at will.

But unlike Ignyr, he hadn't pushed the technique's full potential—absorption, regeneration, enhancement—to its limits.

Instead, he simply focused all his mental energy into altering his body's form and increasing raw strength.

"Lion Finger Pistol!"

The iron rod swept toward Devon, but her hair curled into countless fists, reacting as if on command.

The attack surged forward like a hydra, and nine ethereal tails flared out behind Devon, intercepting the hair-fists from every direction.

Before the tendrils could collide, her tails twisted and tangled with the hair mid-air.

Using the momentum, Devon yanked her body back, tearing off the snared strands.

"Ahhh!"

A sharp cry escaped him—his voice almost melodic—as a chunk of hair was violently torn free, sending scalp and blood scattering across the floor like falling pink feathers.

Before he could recover and manipulate his Life Return again, Devon dashed forward.

Clang!

With a sudden upward swing, she severed the iron rod cleanly with her spear's blade.

"If you rely on Life Return, then I'll end it right here."

She tossed the spear into the air and caught the broken rod in both hands—then drove the jagged edge into his wrist with a brutal pop.

Screaming in agony, he attempted to regroup his hair—but Devon wasn't finished.

Pink strands writhed and surged toward her, but she burst forward, breaking through the mass just as her spear descended.

"Pear Blossom Rain!"

With a whirl of motion, the spear split into countless stabbing thrusts like falling rain, slicing through the pink hair, shearing it shorter and shorter.

Even his face was shredded—white flesh torn by the flurry of blows.

Seizing the moment, Devon took advantage of the obscured vision caused by the airborne hair and dove low.

Her spear swept in a perfect 180-degree arc, skimming behind him and slicing across the back of his ankles with silent precision.

"Ugh!"

He collapsed—hair nearly gone, limbs immobile.

The nine fox tails extended again, wrapping tightly around him in layers until he was cocooned like a rice dumpling.

His remaining hair quivered, but could no longer form an attack.

"You've lost your Life Return. I'm taking it back."

Devon bared her teeth in a predatory grin that stretched unnaturally toward her ears.

Gripping the spear in one hand, she drove it deep into his side. The blade cracked skin and bone as she pried free one vertebra at a time—from his lower back to his neck.

With his spine fully exposed and body limp, the so-called "Lion," a self-proclaimed master of life energy, now lay still.

He was no more than a dead cat.

—

Across the room, Ignyr and Lucci were locked in a duel. The clashing of steel and blows echoed nonstop.

Whatever technique Lucci used, Ignyr countered in kind—fist for fist, kick for kick. Pure hand-to-hand combat.

Yet each exchange made it clearer—Ignyr was overwhelming him in both speed and strength.

And that was without even using a Devil Fruit.

"Damn it! How do you even know Rokushiki?!"

With a thunderous boom, Lucci was blown back by a punch. He staggered, then leapt several meters away to recover.

Realizing his human form wasn't enough, Lucci activated his Zoan powers. His CP0 uniform tore apart as fur sprouted and a golden-brown mane grew across his torso.

He had taken on the full leopard-human hybrid form.

"I know everything about you," Ignyr said calmly, shaking out his fists. "But you don't know a thing about me. That's why you're going to lose."

The air around him was heavy with tension.

After all, Ignyr had read every page of Lucci's fights. He knew every move, every technique.

To him, this wasn't a fight—it was a final exam.

And Lucci's corrupted justice couldn't compare to Ignyr's relentless resolve.

"Life Return—Paper Body Warrior!"

Lucci's voice was fierce. He no longer held back. He had one mission—to protect the Celestial Dragon elder who had orchestrated all of this.

With his hybrid body fully powered, Lucci focused his Life Return inward—tightening every muscle, compressing his body to its densest form.

His speed surged thanks to the synergy with his Zoan abilities. He was now at his absolute peak.

"Life Return—Absorption Reinforcement!"

To his shock, Ignyr's body also contracted, mirroring Lucci's. But then—something terrifying happened.

Ignyr's life energy flared, drawing in faint streams of light—residual life force from his fallen comrades.

He absorbed it.

And his body expanded to match Lucci's size and strength.

"I've probably absorbed tens of thousands of lives by now," Ignyr said casually.

The words sent a chill down Lucci's spine.

Even the Celestial Dragon elder, watching from the shadows, was frozen in shock.

Lucci's eyes scanned the battlefield, where his allies now lay dead. His fists clenched with tragic determination.

If he was going to die, he would at least go down fighting for something.

With a primal roar, both fighters lunged.

Their fists collided midair in a devastating clash of full-force strength.

They screamed in unison:

"Rokushiki Secret Art—Max Wheel: Rokuougan!"

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