Boom!
The fist and sword collided, unleashing a hurricane that tore up the ground and sent smoke billowing everywhere.
Within the smoke, a cold light flashed across Kizaru's usually languid face. A golden glow burst beneath his feet as he kicked toward Yuno's chest.
"It seems you still haven't realized the severity of your crime!"
The overwhelming force of his attack made it impossible for Yuno to dodge. A red light flickered in Yuno's eyes as he struck out with his own kick.
Boom!
This time, Yuno was sent flying.
Boom, boom, boom…
His body crashed through several buildings before smashing into the mangrove tree numbered 17 on the Sabaody Archipelago, leaving behind a massive dent.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh…
Kizaru pressed the assault, firing multiple laser beams.
"Such power… far stronger than Doflamingo or even Jack the Drought…" Yuno muttered coldly as he pulled himself free from the tree. Spreading his fingers wide, he unleashed a barrage of roaring thunder.
Boom, boom, boom!
Explosions erupted ahead. Yuno stomped on the Yarchiman Mangrove, detonating it with a violent blast. Using the recoil, he shot forward like an arrow.
"Don't underestimate me, Admiral!"
His right hand extended, and white flames erupted, engulfing Kizaru.
"Thunderfire? What terrifying power…"
Kizaru's body turned to light as he tried to evade, but Yuno accelerated with Geppo, appearing behind him in an instant and lashing out with a ferocious whip kick.
Kizaru's Observation Haki warned him just in time. He turned and countered with a blindingly fast kick.
Boom!
For a split second, Yuno's sudden burst of speed matched Kizaru's. The strike sent the admiral skidding backward—only for Yuno's previous thunderous attack to arrive right after.
A lightning column shot from Yuno's palm, closing in from both sides.
Kizaru's eyes narrowed. He raised his lightsaber to slash the first column, then fired a laser to shatter the other.
Boom, boom!
Explosions shook the battlefield. In the chaos, Kizaru reformed as light and dropped to the ground, firing another laser.
"I think you're underestimating the Marine Admirals, Quincy!"
Yuno side-stepped, the blast roaring past him. His gaze was calm, cold.
"Are you, too, just another dog of the Celestial Dragons?"
"What nonsense!" Kizaru snapped, leaping into the air with Moonwalk. His lightsaber thrust for Yuno's chest.
"You, a criminal, have no right to speak of such things!"
Yuno dodged and countered with a bolt of white lightning, but Kizaru shattered it with a golden laser. In the blink of an eye, he charged again.
Their fists and blade clashed repeatedly, shockwaves ripping through the island. Yuno was knocked down once more, landing with a thunderous crash that sank the ground beneath his feet.
"Thunder Roar Cannon!"
Slamming his hands together, Yuno merged two lightning pillars into one massive beam. But Kizaru's Ama no Murakumo sliced straight through it, splitting it in half. A golden strike followed, forcing Yuno to evade and counterattack once again.
Boom, boom, boom!
Golden light scattered, lightning raged wildly, and entire sections of Grove 17 were being torn apart. The deafening roars drew every eye nearby.
At the port, pirates caught sight of Kizaru himself.
"An admiral?!"
Panic spread instantly. They abandoned their ships and fled, spreading word that the admiral had landed.
Even the supernovas of the Worst Generation—those once defeated with ease by the admirals—would pale before such a scene. Ordinary pirates froze in terror, unable to even speak.
Another violent clash sent both combatants flying backward.
Yuno staggered several steps before steadying himself, blood at the corner of his mouth. Kizaru, though serious, looked far more composed.
It was clear—the admiral held the upper hand.
"…I'm still a little behind," Yuno admitted, flexing his numb arm.
His fight with Jack had already revealed his limits. Against Kizaru, those doubts were confirmed. Unless he unleashed the same devastating sword strike he had once used, he couldn't truly threaten an admiral. But using that technique would expose his Navy identity.
Narrowing his eyes, Yuno began plotting his escape.
The coated merchant ship was safe at the harbor, and though its crew had fled, the vessel itself remained. If he could stall Kizaru long enough, Lao G could sail it out.
"Surrender," Kizaru demanded, his tone firm. "That way I can at least give the Celestial Dragons an explanation."
Having gauged Yuno's strength, he judged him around the level of an admiral candidate—far above a vice admiral, yet still below an admiral. The World Government's orders were clear: capture if possible, kill if not.
"Stop spouting nonsense!" Yuno's gaze sharpened. "Do you really think this is my limit?"
Opening his system panel, he focused on [Shunko] and began allocating points.
68… 69… 70… 72… 75… 79… 80!
At that moment, thunder exploded around him with newfound intensity.
But what emerged wasn't the Thunder God form he had envisioned.
Flames ignited.
White thunder crackled as orange fire burst from his shoulders—lightning and flame intertwining as one.
The two powers of different attributes collided and annihilated each other, unleashing an incomparably terrifying force!
The violent surge coursed through Yuno's body, leaving him struggling to control it.
It felt just like the first time he activated Shunko—his body simply couldn't withstand such power!
A tearing pain he hadn't felt in a long time washed over him again.
"Fire?" Yuno raised a brow, surprised by the sudden change.
But he quickly caught on.
In the original Bleach manga, it seemed Shunko had more than one attribute...
If he remembered correctly, Shihōin Yoruichi used lightning, the Second Division Captain (Sui-Fēng) had wind, and Shihōin Yūshirō wielded fire!
"However, Shunkō doesn't evolve into a higher form just by reaching 80% proficiency... so what about my Zanpakutō? Could it be... not a Bankai?"
He shook his head. Now wasn't the time. Kizaru stood before him.
Although his Shunkō had reached 80%, Yuno's body made it clear—he still couldn't fully control it. Once again, he faced the same dilemma...
He wasn't strong enough!
"Then... I'll call you—Shunkō: Thunder Dragon... Thunder-Flame Mode!"
With that, Yuno locked onto Kizaru. He could waste no more time!
"Boom!"
He blasted forward, the explosive force cracking the ground. His speed surged once again!
Yuno's fist, wrapped in Armament Haki, swung out violently.
"So fast!"
These were Kizaru's first words after eating the Pika Pika no Mi. Yuno's explosive speed was shocking!
But Kizaru was still an Admiral. With reflexes like lightning, he dodged the strike in an instant, reappearing with a blur of golden light.
"Boom!"
The ground where Yuno's punch landed split apart, shattering into cracks.
A laser beam shot toward him.
Yuno dodged instantly, then charged again!
The two clashed once more, their fight spilling over to another island.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The deafening shockwaves echoed across the land.
For now, the two were evenly matched.
"Are you increasing your attack power by burning your life force? You've mastered your fruit well... but how long can you maintain this?" Kizaru's tone was grim. He had already noticed Yuno's abnormal state—this power-up came at a dangerous cost.
"That's none of your business, Kizaru!"
Lightning surged around Yuno's fist, rippling with destructive energy as he launched another ferocious punch.
Kizaru parried with his light-sword, then leapt high into the air, crossing his arms:
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
Countless golden light bullets rained down.
Yuno sneered, flicking his hand forward—pale flames erupted outward.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Explosions rippled through the air.
But the flames were soon overwhelmed, shattered by the ceaseless barrage. The light bullets rained down, exploding again and again, stirring a violent storm.
Through the smoke and dust, Yuno's body kept moving, evading relentlessly.
He leapt high, dodging another bullet, and spread his fingers, launching a bolt of lightning.
"Don't bother struggling anymore!"
Kizaru fired a laser. Golden light surged, then condensed into his figure right before Yuno, blade descending in a flash!
"Tch..." Yuno clicked his tongue, his eyes flashing sharply. He aligned two fingers, slicing downward:
"Binding Technique #30: Three Beams of Light!" (Bleach reference)
Three golden beams shot out, restraining Kizaru mid-air.
"Light!?"
Kizaru's eyes widened in shock—he was actually being bound!?
He struggled, shattering the beams, but the brief delay gave Yuno his opening!
"Finally! My chance, Kizaru!"
Thunder and flames erupted behind Yuno, colliding and devouring each other in a terrifying burst.
At the same moment, his pupils sharpened, and his Conqueror's Haki surged, shocking Kizaru and disrupting his next move!
Yuno clenched both fists at his abdomen, lightning condensing so densely it transformed into crackling plasma.
"Lightning Style: Double Bones!"
He smashed down with full force!
"Conqueror's Haki!?" Kizaru's eyes widened. Normally his speed would've let him dodge, but Yuno's Haki froze him for an instant—long enough.
Escape was impossible.
Sensing the deadly force, Kizaru's expression twisted.
Elementalization here would mean certain death—he had no choice but to coat himself in Armament Haki and brace!
"Boom!!!"
The impact shook the island. Yuno's fists crashed into Kizaru's chest, forcing blood from his mouth as his body was hurled backwards, smashing into Mangrove Tree No. 14. The colossal trunk snapped in two!
Kizaru's body streaked as golden light, crashing through the ground and carving a hundred-meter gully before halting.
Even so, he had managed to use Elementalization to minimize the damage.
Hovering in midair, Yuno gasped for breath, his Observation Haki spread wide. Suddenly, his eyes gleamed.
"Found it..."
Without hesitation, he shot toward his target.
Behind him, Kizaru staggered out of the wreckage, his cloak shredded and yellow suit scorched.
"Trying to run? You won't escape me!"
Though his taijutsu was the weakest among the Admirals, his Armament Haki was still top-class. Injured, yes—but far from defeated. His body dissolved into golden motes of light as he gave chase.
...
Island 13.
Rayleigh stood at the entrance of the Rip-Off Bar, watching the distant battle. For some reason, unease twisted in his chest.
It felt like something terrible was about to happen.
The sounds of destruction grew closer and closer...
...
"Tch, I can't even sense that old man's aura... Hiding techniques? Even my Observation Haki can't find him. But... the Rip-Off Bar—I've located it!"
Yuno stomped on the air with explosive force, his body blasting forward like a thunderbolt.
Behind him, golden light closed in rapidly.
'That speed...' Yuno smirked faintly as Kizaru gained ground. It wasn't the true speed of light from his past life's physics, but it was close enough to be terrifying.
After all, in this world, flames with "infinite heat" were smothered by magma. Was it strange that lightning could clash with light, both visible to the human eye?
No—he would not dwell on logic.
Just like in Bleach, Kidō techniques didn't require reiatsu but could be powered physically. His power wasn't "natural"—it was granted by the system.
If he had time to question it, better to focus on achievement points... and mastering advanced Haki.
Conqueror's Coating. Armament Penetration. Future Sight.
Yuno wanted them all.
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