"Light-speed Kick!"
Borsalino sneered at Rakuya's calm, then drove a full-power heel straight in.
Boom.
Space rippled. The photon stream bent and reappeared at an angle, a blade of light arcing in.
Thud.
The strike landed solidly. Air bucked like a drum. The ground split. Dust rolled in sheets.
Crack.
A hairline scar spread across the barrier. Borsalino's eyes lit up and his body burst back into photons.
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud.
Light flashed faster than thought. In a single second he hammered a dozen kicks, each one placed with surgical balance across the shell.
The fractures multiplied at once, fine as spider silk and just as dense.
Bang.
One more heel and the shell finally gave, shattering to glittering motes.
Inside, Rakuya opened his eyes. The collapse hadn't so much as ruffled his hair.
"My my, I broke your shell. Next up is you," Kizaru said, head tipped, breath just a shade quick.
"You talk too much. If you want to fight, come fight."
Rakuya smiled, bored more than bothered.
"Then let's have a proper bout." Borsalino's laziness fell away as light pooled around his limbs.
He shaped a blade of radiance and strode in.
Rakuya slowly raised his right hand, settling into an easy guard.
"You're going to meet my sword with your bare right hand?"
"Problem?"
"Then listen up. This blade is very, very sharp. If your hand comes off, that's on you."
He flickered. Kizaru reappeared at Rakuya's left, the blade already falling.
"Heavenly Cloud Sword."
The speed left the Marines blinking dumbly.
"Almighty Push. Repulsion Amplify."
Rakuya spoke lightly, as if he still wasn't taking any of this seriously.
Thoom.
"You dare catch my blade barehanded? Bold," Kizaru chuckled, certain of the outcome. No one caught this sword and kept their fingers.
The moment the light blade met Rakuya's palm, a cataclysmic repulsive force erupted from that hand, swelling in an instant.
Centered on Rakuya's wrist, space tremored. Waves of pressure rolled out like a landlocked tsunami.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
The earth roared. Wind howled. Marines gaped and huddled together, afraid the gale would tear them skyward.
Kizaru's expression curdled as the feedback hit. The Heavenly Cloud Sword shattered into bright shards. His form blew apart into photons, scattered by the surge.
Flash.
The light fled a long distance and re-formed, far out of range.
"What was that?" Sakazuki's eyes narrowed. "This kid hits hard."
Zephyr stared, startled despite himself. "Fall back. I'll handle this."
He vanished with a Shave, already closing on Rakuya.
"Armament, harden."
"Tempest Kick."
"Instructor, stand down!"
Kizaru took human shape again. The lazy drawl was gone; his face had settled into a fighter's focus.
"Now is not the time, Borsalino. I am your instructor. Are you defying orders?"
"I'm not finished. I'm beating him."
"Rest a moment, Instructor. I'll have a go," Sakazuki said. The magma man vaulted high, fist already molten.
"No."
Kizaru's expression went cold. He blurred back into light and dove.
"Great Eruption!"
"Laser Beam!"
"Tempest Kick!"
Sakazuki, Kizaru, and Zephyr struck at once. The sky itself seemed to split as three killing blows converged on Rakuya.
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