Cold sweat instantly broke out across her forehead.
Nico Robin's eyes were locked onto Kuzan, her feet frozen in place, her body trembling slightly.
"Well, well… didn't expect to run into you here!"
Kuzan adjusted his curly hair, his expression calm as he looked at Robin.
She's grown up safely, huh?
"The last time we parted, I told you—if you ever did something, I'd be the first to catch you!"
Kuzan stopped a short distance from Robin and said this calmly, his gaze steady.
Robin's mind flashed back to the day Ohara was destroyed.
It had been just like this, at the seaside, with only the two of them present.
That Navy officer had left her a way out back then.
And now… was he here to take it back?
Seeing Robin remain silent, Kuzan scratched his head, slightly troubled, then looked toward a direction.
"Hm, seems you have a good companion."
A companion?
Such a foreign word.
I don't have any companion!
For a fleeting moment, confusion passed through Robin's mind—but then she realized exactly who Kuzan was referring to.
"Take me back. Hand me over to the Navy!"
Robin suddenly spoke.
No matter what, that young man called Don had been helping her. Maybe for other reasons, but at least until now, that had been the case.
But this person in front of her was an Admiral of the Navy.
No matter how strong Don was, he couldn't stand against Kuzan.
Perhaps if she let Kuzan take her away, everything would finally end.
"Though you think that way, it seems someone disagrees."
Kuzan's voice carried a hint of helplessness.
Taking Robin away wasn't his objective.
"I said it before—I'll take you today. No one can stop me."
A voice rang out. Don, carrying his long sword, stepped forward toward Robin and Kuzan.
"Go away, I don't know you!"
Robin glanced at Don but immediately turned her head away.
Don smiled.
True enough, she was speaking honestly—but she wasn't the one calling the shots here!
And Don had another reason for being in the West Blue, besides Robin.
Though he had initially come for Robin, after realizing his powers had reached a bottleneck, he figured a major battle was necessary to break through, and his focus had shifted to Kuzan.
Kuzan watched Don with interest, rubbing his chin.
"Hm… not bad."
The scene of Don fighting the four CP agents moments ago was visible through Kuzan's Observation Haki.
"Don, right?"
Before Don could respond, Robin turned sharply to look at Kuzan.
They knew each other?
Hearing Kuzan say his name didn't surprise Don.
When he first visited Base 16, the Navy probably already knew about his flame powers.
But it didn't matter—data was his true trump card.
He had previously thought not to use his Devil Fruit abilities unless necessary—but that was naive.
After all, if one never uses their powers, they will never grow stronger.
It's no good to just stay hidden.
Don stepped to Robin's side, lifting her gently into his arms.
Kuzan scratched his head, a mix of exasperation and disbelief crossing his face.
Damn… it feels like a daughter I've raised for years is being kidnapped.
"I'm taking her with me, Admiral Kuzan—what do you say?"
The tone was so outrageously arrogant.
Both Robin and Kuzan had the same thought:
Robin wanted to struggle, but Don's arms were strong, and after a couple of futile attempts, she gave up.
"He's an Admiral of the Navy, he's terrifyingly strong… go ahead. This is my fight."
Robin whispered softly.
"I've already said it—no one can stop me today, including him!"
Don released Robin slightly, pointing toward a nearby ship.
"Go on, get on board first. I'll come back for you."
Robin froze, her eyes fixed on Don, while Don's gaze shifted toward Kuzan.
Kuzan simply watched the two, increasingly annoyed.
"Move it!"
Don swung Robin around her waist and leaped onto the ship at the shore.
"Let's go, let's go! Start rowing!"
The men on the ship, previously pretending to be invisible, scrambled to obey as Don shouted.
"Well, well, this won't do. If you escape, I'll have trouble explaining this!"
Kuzan clenched his head, unleashing a wave of chilling energy toward the ship.
"Ignite!"
Don drew his sword, and a towering fire tornado erupted across the sea.
The scorching wind whipped through Robin's hair as she looked at Don wielding his flaming blade.
"I'll come back for you soon. I'll take you out of the West Blue!"
Don smiled at Robin, then leaped into the fire tornado, vanishing within its swirling inferno.
Robin gripped the ship's railing tightly, the crew struggling to row the vessel away from shore.
"Flames… truly terrifying!"
Kuzan watched the fire tornado along the sea, lips pursed.
"If that were Kizaru, that'd make sense!"
Don, wrapped in fire like a cloak, landed on the shore, the flames behind him forming a massive wall stretching dozens of meters.
"So you know us well… do you really think you can stop me?"
Kuzan was curious.
An Admiral of the Navy shouldn't be challenged by some upstart kid!
Even with the Flame-Flame Fruit, does he really think fire can counter ice?
"Seems like this kid needs a proper lesson!"
Kuzan's eyes locked on Don as he moved.
Slash!
Kuzan appeared at Don's side instantly, holding a massive military sword of solid ice.
"Ice Military Blade!"
"Fury Slash!"
Boom!
The clash of ice and flame reverberated. Don's right leg, enveloped in both flames and Haki, shot forward, targeting Kuzan's knee.
"So scary!"
In an instant, Kuzan's body flickered—Yellow Monkey mode activated.
He muttered about fear, but no matter—he was dealing with a Supernova with one kick.
Kuzan's body shattered under the strike, ice forming nearby.
Don leapt forward.
The flames behind him had been frozen momentarily.
The ice dissipated instantly, and both elements vanished.
"You bastard… even flames can be frozen?"
Don's expression was serious as he held his sword, facing Kuzan, whose body reformed.
"Flame can counter cold, but if the temperature is low enough, the reverse happens."
"Fine, then it's enough!"
Don swung his flaming blade and leapt forward.
"Foolish… rushing recklessly at someone stronger than you won't work!"
Don wasn't Robin—he didn't have special treatment.
Kuzan raised his hand, launching a deadly ice hawk at Don.
"Frozen Time Capsule!"
A wave of piercing cold followed the ice bird toward Don.
"Ignite!"
The fire tornado collided with the ice hawk. Don's body cut through the whirlwind, aiming straight for Kuzan.
Come on… you're my chosen sparring partner. Let's bring out my defiance.
END OF CHAPTER
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