The dust gradually settled, revealing Takero's figure standing amidst the rubble. He casually shook his slightly numb arm as a dark red aura rose subtly around him. His face was filled with pure, unfiltered exhilaration, as if the massive energy clash from moments ago had been nothing more than a simple warm-up.
High in the air, Borsalino hovered. The lazy, unconcerned look he usually wore was completely gone. Behind his sunglasses, his eyes were filled with an unprecedented level of surprise and scrutiny as he stared intently at Takero, as if trying to see through the boy's very soul.
"Glint-Glint Fruit?" Takero repeated, looking stunned for a second before letting out a scoff. "I'm using real Ki! Don't talk nonsense and stop changing the subject. That last move was pretty good, but now you've gotta give me something even more exciting!"
Borsalino didn't respond to Takero's taunts. His mind was working at high speed, filtering through all the illogical information and trying to find an explanation. First, his Logia-type Glint-Glint Fruit granted him a body made of light, making him immune to normal physical attacks. That was a fundamental rule of the world, and only Armament Haki could counter it. But this kid… he showed no signs of using Haki whatsoever.
So how did he manage to pinpoint his physical location while he was turning into light and land such an accurate strike? That spinning kick was definitely not a lucky shot.
Then, there was something even more unbelievable. The ultimate move of the Glint-Glint Fruit, the storm of light bullets, was unique to him. Yet, that dark red energy barrage the boy had used… although the nature of the energy felt slightly different, its form, the way it was fired, and even its overwhelming power were all too similar. It couldn't possibly be a coincidence. This kid had somehow used a move with almost identical effects, just in a different color.
The boy in front of him couldn't be more than eleven or twelve years old. At such a young age, he possessed terrifying physical strength capable of clashing with him head-on, incredible battle intuition, and now a power that seemed to mimic a top-tier Devil Fruit ability. This simply defied all logic. The Grand Line was home to plenty of monsters, but even monsters needed time to grow.
A cold, logical hypothesis began to form in Borsalino's mind. As the designated "protector" of the Marine Science Unit, he knew more than most. This had to be an experiment.
He knew that in Dr. Vegapunk's secret laboratory, forbidden research on the "Lineage Factor" and the replication of Devil Fruit abilities was constantly ongoing. The World Government had invested an unimaginable fortune into these projects. Could it be that this tailed boy was the ultimate result of one of those secret projects? A living weapon, an experimental subject implanted with a replicated Devil Fruit ability, or perhaps fused with the special Lineage Factor of the Mink Tribe?
The possibility was extremely high.
He suddenly remembered a recent discussion where the Gorosei were secretly planning to advance the "Pacifista" project—a plan to create human weapons. They had even considered using his Glint-Glint Fruit as a blueprint. This boy, Takero… could he be an early, but more perfect, living prototype that had somehow been leaked?
That would explain everything. The term "Ki" was probably just a false memory or a command word that had been implanted to activate his abilities. And his attack on the Celestial Dragons? It was likely an uncontrolled combat test, or maybe a crazy provocation from the people controlling him, designed to lure out the Marines' top fighting power to test the limits of their new "weapon."
Borsalino's heart sank. If his guess was correct, then the nature of this incident was completely different. This was no longer just about protecting the dignity of the Celestial Dragons; it could involve the World Government's deepest and darkest technological secrets. This "Takero" had to be captured at all costs. He had to be brought back to Vegapunk… or perhaps handed over directly to CP0.
"Little brother, your 'Ki'… is truly eye-opening." Borsalino's voice still had its signature drawl, but the playfulness was completely gone, replaced by a deep curiosity and a cold resolve. "However, there are still some matters that we need to 'discuss' properly."
Takero keenly caught the change in his opponent's tone. It was serious. This only made him more excited. "Ha! You're finally done slacking off? That's more like it! Bring it on! Let me see what you can really do when you're at full power!"
He spread his legs slightly, lowered his center of gravity, and settled into a battle stance. His golden pupils burned with a fierce fighting spirit, and his tail stood taut and straight behind him.
"Full power?" Borsalino let out a low, unreadable chuckle. His figure suddenly transformed into a golden flash that was even more dazzling and condensed than before.
"Ama no Murakumo!"
Buzz—!
Amidst an ear-splitting hum, an endless stream of light particles frantically converged and compressed in his hand. In the blink of an eye, a slender sword made of pure golden light was tightly grasped in his hand. It radiated a terrifyingly high temperature and a sharp aura that made the very air around it twist and shimmer.
Whoosh!
This was no longer a lazy movement. This was true combat speed. Borsalino's figure left a faint golden afterimage in his original spot as his true body appeared directly in front of Takero, almost as if he had teleported. The Ama no Murakumo in his hand came slashing diagonally downwards without any fancy moves, carrying a sharp momentum that seemed capable of cutting through anything. Its speed, power, and killing intent were on a completely different level from before.
"Good!" Takero's pupils contracted, and his fighting spirit soared to its absolute peak.
He didn't dare try to block the dangerous light sword directly. He stomped his foot hard, the ground exploding beneath him as his body shot backward, narrowly dodging the attack.
Rip—!
The edge of the light sword grazed past Takero's nose, the scorching heat making his cheek sting. Where the sword's light had passed, a terrifying, bottomless gash with melted edges silently appeared on the ground.
That power is terrifying!
Takero's mind was focused, but his movements were even faster. Relying on his beast-like battle intuition, in the same instant that he retreated, he violently pushed both of his hands forward.
"Kamehameha—Wave!!"
Boom—!!!
An energy shockwave, far thicker and more condensed than his previous red blasts, erupted from his palms. Radiating a dazzling blue-white light, it roared forward like an energy dragon, its target the pursuing Borsalino.
Borsalino's eyes narrowed. He instantly brought the Ama no Murakumo into a horizontal position in front of him.
"Yata no Kagami!"
He let out a low shout, and the light sword erupted with an even more brilliant golden glow. It wasn't an attack, but a defensive barrier made of light energy condensed to its absolute extreme.
The massive blue-white energy wave, carrying the force of a conqueror, slammed fiercely against the golden wall of light. A deafening explosion once again engulfed the entire battlefield. This time, the energy was even more concentrated. The resulting shockwave was like a solid giant hammer, scraping away a thick layer of the ground and sending a blinding light that instantly overwhelmed the vision of the Marine soldiers watching from afar.
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