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"Bzzzz—!"
A tyrannical aura roared outward like a hurricane, spreading in a widening ring that whipped Sakazuki's coat into a frenzy.
For a split second, even the sky seemed to change. The world bled into black and crimson, heavy and suffocating, the air itself trembling under the pressure.
The blood in Sakazuki's veins felt like it had turned to ice.
Then madness flickered across his face.
He spun around—
Boom!
Thunder detonated overhead. The heavens flared blindingly bright, and Sakazuki's body jolted.
Above him, a lightning qilin crackled across the sky, wrapped in blue arcs of electricity. In front of him, Kyle stood with his right fist clenched tight, black-red lightning coiling around it like a living thing.
"Fist Bone."
"Heavenly Qilin."
The thunderclap that followed rattled the eardrums. In less than a heartbeat, the qilin roared and came crashing down from the sky, converging with that lightning-wrapped fist—
—and slammed straight into Sakazuki's face.
The force nearly blew his head apart.
The punch carried terrifying weight, fused with scorching, destructive lightning that exploded across his features. He didn't even have time to react before he was blasted away.
His body skidded wildly across the frozen sea, tumbling end over end. Blood sprayed behind him in a long crimson trail. He smashed through towering frozen waves—icebergs formed from earlier upheavals—and kept rolling for nearly ten thousand meters before finally grinding to a halt.
"Cough—cough—!"
Blood spilled from his mouth as he forced himself upright, bracing with one hand against the ice.
Kyle narrowed his eyes.
"Tough bastard," he muttered.
He stepped forward—and vanished in a bolt of lightning, reappearing instantly in front of Sakazuki.
His right hand rose, fingers splayed toward Sakazuki's face.
Crackle!
A spark ignited in his palm, flaring brighter and brighter until it shone like a miniature blue sun.
"Die!!"
Sakazuki roared, hurling magma fists forward in rapid succession.
An energy shield burst into existence around Kyle, absorbing the barrage.
"Eight hundred million volts."
His voice was calm. Detached.
Lightning erupted from his palm, transforming into a pillar that pierced the sky.
"Heaven's Judgment."
A scorching shockwave tore across the battlefield. The brilliant lightning column swallowed Sakazuki whole and blasted onward, punching through distant icebergs before erupting into flames and fading into nothing.
But Kyle frowned.
That hadn't hit.
He turned slowly.
Golden light flared behind him, so bright it stung the eyes. A figure coalesced from photons—
"Borsalino."
The one who had rescued Sakazuki was none other than Borsalino, wielder of the Glint-Glint Fruit.
"Facing a monster like you, Kyle… it makes me tremble in fear," Borsalino sighed lightly, one arm supporting the battered Sakazuki. "So scary."
"Cut the act," Kyle chuckled. "Out of the Navy's three monsters, you're the one who hides it best."
His gaze lingered on Borsalino, then flicked to Sakazuki's bloodied, battered form. His expression darkened.
The three "monsters" weren't easy opponents. Far from it.
Taking them down quickly? Not happening.
A chill swept over his back.
Kuzan had risen again and now stood behind him, silently cutting off his retreat.
Kyle's eyes scanned the field.
He was surrounded.
"I'll admit," Sakazuki said coldly, drawing a steady breath, "one-on-one, you're beyond monster level."
"But against the three of us—"
"You're the one surrounded."
Kyle raised a brow—then laughed.
"Yeah. I am surrounded."
He lowered his stance, leaning forward. His fists clenched tight, then relaxed. A feverish excitement crept across his face.
"But it's not three of you surrounding me."
"It's me—"
"—surrounding the three of you."
His eyes snapped open.
Bzzzz—!
Conqueror's Haki at full force exploded outward, sweeping across the frozen ocean like a suffocating storm.
The young future Admirals bore the brunt of it.
Every one of their faces turned grave.
The war ignited in an instant.
Future Three Admirals vs. Kyle.
Borsalino burst into light and vanished, reappearing behind Kyle in a blink. He lifted his leg—
—and brought it down without hesitation.
Light-speed kick.
"Energy Shield!"
Lightning burst from Kyle's body as a magnetic field formed around him. The kick smashed into the barrier—
—and detonated.
Crack!
The shield shattered.
But the force had been neutralized.
Kyle grinned. Twisting at the waist, he drove a punch backward.
Bang!
Borsalino was blasted away, dissolving into light before slamming down onto the ice and shattering it in a spray of frost.
Kyle's right hand flickered—forming a lightning blade.
He pivoted, colliding head-on with the charging Kuzan.
"No matter how strong you are," Kuzan said in a low voice, "you can't stand against the three of us together."
"Kyle. Surrender."
"Hard disagree."
Kyle smirked.
His left fist shot sideways, intercepting Sakazuki's incoming magma strike.
Boom!
Lightning-wrapped knuckles clashed with molten fury.
"RAAAAH! DIE!"
Sakazuki roared, murderous intent blazing in his eyes. His fists swung wildly, magma streaking through the air like falling meteors.
Kyle dissolved into lightning, flashing across the battlefield and evading every strike.
Moments later, he appeared above Sakazuki.
"Fist Bone—Meteor!"
He punched down.
BOOM!
Sakazuki bellowed, magma-coated fist colliding with Kyle's blow and halting it midair.
"Don't underestimate me, you bastard!"
The force shattered the ice beneath Sakazuki's feet, cracks spiderwebbing outward.
Kyle's eyes sharpened—
A beam of golden light shot in from the side.
Borsalino.
"Heavenly Cloud Sword!"
The glowing blade slashed down.
Kyle leapt back and countered. Their weapons collided in a burst of lightning and light, both moving at speeds beyond comprehension.
"Has anyone ever told you," Kyle suddenly said mid-exchange.
"Hm?" Borsalino tilted his head slightly, though his blade never slowed.
"You rely too much on your Devil Fruit."
The moment the words left his mouth, Kyle flickered—vanishing.
"He disappeared—!"
"Behind you!" Kuzan shouted.
Too late.
Kyle twisted into existence behind Borsalino and brought his fist down hard.
Bang!
Borsalino's body spun and flew, his vision exploding in pain.
In the distance, Sakazuki had gone completely berserk.
"DIE, KYLE!!"
"Meteor Volcano!"
Magma surged into the sky in massive torrents, blotting out the heavens before raining down like apocalyptic fire.
Kyle looked up at the falling inferno.
A thought crossed his mind.
"Sakazuki."
"That little flame of yours?"
"It's only good for lighting my birthday candles."
Lightning erupted around him—brilliant and blinding. A heartbeat later, it detonated upward in countless arcs, smashing into the descending magma.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM—!
Explosions lit up the sky like fireworks.
Then Kyle pointed a finger toward the charging Kuzan.
"Five hundred million volts—Thunder Dragon!"
A roaring dragon of lightning burst forth.
From the sky, Borsalino's voice rang out.
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
Countless golden beams rained down again.
Kyle flashed across the ice in a storm of lightning, weaving effortlessly between the laser barrage.
Three breaths later, he bent his trajectory sharply and reappeared before Borsalino.
"You're such a pain."
He brought the lightning blade down.
Clang!
Borsalino blocked and sighed. "That's no way to talk to an old friend."
Kyle grinned. "Then let's call this a friendly spar."
"Wouldn't have it any other way."
They spoke lightly—but each collision of blade and lightning sent shockwaves rippling outward, strong enough to level hills.
In mere seconds, they exchanged hundreds of blows.
Both moved beyond limits. Both displayed terrifying swordsmanship.
Kyle had underestimated Borsalino.
Of the three, this one hid his depth the best—and was the hardest to deal with.
Sakazuki hit like a truck and refused to go down. Even after taking killing-level damage, he kept coming.
Kyle respected that.
In the blink of an eye, the other two closed in again.
He was surrounded once more.
Dropping to the ice, Kyle crouched low.
He glanced at the three figures hemming him in—
—and broke into a wide grin.
"Looks like fifty percent isn't enough for the three of you."
His fists clenched.
Muscles tightened, body hardening like carved stone. His eyes gleamed. His blood surged.
"Guess I'll fight for real."
His knees bent slowly. An invisible shockwave rolled outward.
A savage smile stretched across his face.
"Better watch yourselves."
"Try not to die on me."
"..."
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