When facing Koushirou, Don hadn't truly gone all out; he was merely activating his stubborn resolve, taking hits without fully fighting back.
But this time, in a duel with Kuzan, a Marine Admiral, there was no way his skills were so limited.
Was Kuzan holding back because of Robin?
That wouldn't help at all!
Don rose, resting his blade across his shoulder.
When the flames dissipated, there wasn't even a scratch on him.
Seeing Don completely unharmed, Kuzan pursed his lips.
Had he been underestimated?
Judging by Don's calm demeanor, it seemed he really hadn't been affected.
Tough… extremely stubborn. This kid was determined to settle the fight no matter what.
Kuzan activated his Observation Haki.
In the nearby town, the residents had already hidden away. There was no chance to fight at full strength here.
"What an insufferable brat!"
Kuzan spread his hands in exasperation.
"Alright, I hope you can endure the next few moves!"
He spoke, then his long legs, brimming with terrifying force, swung in a sidekick aimed at Don's head.
Hundreds of meters didn't seem like any distance at all for Kuzan.
Don's Observation Haki caught it, but his reflexes couldn't match—the only reaction he managed was to raise an arm.
Bang!
Both man and blade were sent flying.
Health: 39%
"Fuzan!"
Still mid-air, Don had not yet fully absorbed the force when Kuzan's next strike descended. Don slashed his blade in response.
Clang!
Blade met leg, but Kuzan's Busoshoku Haki rendered the attack useless.
Even with that strike, Don was flung from mid-air, crashing into the ground.
Boom!
A mushroom cloud rose.
Cough, cough!
Don grasped his sword, coughing through the dust, sweeping it away with a hand.
He looked up at Kuzan, standing on the edge of the crater with one hand in his pocket.
Kuzan couldn't hide his disbelief.
Don's strength was indeed impressive—enough to make him a top fighter on the sea. Everything else seemed normal… except that body.
Even a Shichibukai would likely have been severely injured by those two hits.
But here Don stood, holding his sword, not a single mark on him.
Where the hell did this monster come from?
"Two more!"
Don grinned, baring his white teeth. His legs bent, then he surged forward toward Kuzan.
In terms of physique, combat experience, Devil Fruit abilities, and mastery, he was far behind Kuzan.
So what?
"I've got cheats on my side!"
Although deliberately provoked, Don was fired up after being repeatedly kicked by Kuzan.
Ice Military Sword!
Kuzan's ice-forged blade clutched in both hands, he swung down at the charging Don.
A sharp screech of friction cut through the air.
Don's sword and body brushed against Kuzan's ice blade.
"Take this!"
Don shouted, his Haki-wrapped leg smashing into Kuzan's side.
Crack!
The ice shattered.
"Cheating!"
Don landed, sneering.
Kuzan's face flushed briefly before returning to neutral.
"Just because you don't use your ability doesn't mean I won't, kid. I've already held back plenty of times."
He turned to speak, but his words died on his lips—Don was charging again.
Kuzan swung the ice sword at Don's shoulder—but this time, Don didn't dodge. He let the strike land, and with a thrust of his flame, he pierced Kuzan's head.
Don was thrown backward by the force, and as the flames withdrew, Kuzan's partially shattered ice-encased head regenerated.
"Kid… this ends now, I…"
Kuzan exhaled in frustration, preparing to simply walk away.
This brat was impossible.
But he didn't get to finish that sentence. His expression stiffened suddenly.
"Yo, Admiral Kuzan, hope you can handle this next one!"
Don's voice rang, sharp and confident.
Boom!
A towering wall of flames erupted.
"Heaven-and-Earth Ashes!"
The slash cut through space itself, trailing horrifying fire. Everything in its path became a world of flame.
Step back. Step back!
Kuzan retreated, finally stabilizing on the sea's surface, wiping sweat from his brow.
What the hell?
More than fear, he felt confusion.
Don walked forward on the air, holding his blade. The flames only licked his clothing and hair, but his overwhelming presence couldn't be hidden.
The immense pressure was crushing.
Behind Don, towering flames rose, consuming the clouds overhead.
"What… is that?"
On a distant ship, the rowers had already passed out. Robin stared, dumbfounded, at the flames that seemed to stretch into the sky.
"You've got that kind of talent too?"
Kuzan pursed his lips.
Conqueror's Haki.
The sense of overwhelming pressure was unmistakable—identical to what he had sensed from Garp.
[Conqueror's Haki (preliminary mastery): a terrifying fusion of spiritual and physical energy, capable of overwhelming all nearby, but currently beyond full control.]
A welcome surprise.
Don had suspected he might possess this power, sensing it when activating his stubborn resolve. He couldn't consciously control or harness it… until now.
This meant Don had effectively removed his only weakness.
At least now, in the New World, he wouldn't be outmatched against those wielding Conqueror's Haki.
Boom!
Don's body became pure flame. A massive fire tornado swept up Kuzan and the ice-and-sea beneath him, instantly vaporizing the water around them.
The surrounding ocean was out of reach.
"Ice Age!"
Kuzan's expression hardened. He struck with full power.
Boom!
A Haki-coated fist slammed into Kuzan's cheek.
His face twisted violently, and his body flew diagonally, skimming the sea's surface like a skipping stone. Every path he crossed froze.
He hadn't stopped moving before Don reappeared above him, seemingly teleporting.
A kick—like a volcanic eruption.
Flames surged like molten lava, erupting from Don's foot into the sea.
"Running away!"
Don glanced at the ice extending across the water.
Once the distance was safe, Kuzan's body emerged from the ice.
This wasn't the same person.
From head to toe, everything had changed—Haki, strength, speed—all utterly different.
Don hovered above, flame trailing beneath him, staring at Kuzan.
"Two more, no, one more!"
Don's words made Kuzan pause—then it clicked.
Earlier, he had said he hoped Don could endure, and had struck three times. Now, Don was returning the favor?
Don swung his blade; the flames all retracted.
The fire patterns on his sword blazed once more.
Damn.
Kuzan's first thought.
Run!
His second.
Then, under Don's stunned gaze, ice streaked across the sea, vanishing at the horizon.
Huh.
Don instinctively suppressed the power in his blade.
The Rising Sun Slash wouldn't go through, huh?
END OF CHAPTER
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