Facing the 'Inferno Hound'—a terrifying construct formed from scorching, molten lava that radiated waves of destructive thermal energy—Takuro did not even flinch. He remained seated comfortably in his chair, his posture relaxed and unbothered, acting as though the impending attack, which possessed enough heat to melt through solid steel, was nothing more than a gentle summer breeze.
As the giant, roaring dog made of magma lunged forward, ready to engulf him in a fiery demise, Takuro took a slow, deliberate breath. To the astonishment of everyone watching in the dimly lit bar, he simply puffed out his cheeks and gently blew air toward the approaching mass of molten rock.
"Whoosh—!!!"
A gust of air, seemingly invisible to the naked eye yet containing terrifying kinetic power, surged from his mouth. It was not a simple exhale; it was a concentrated storm.
Incredibly, the imposing lava dog, upon meeting this pressurized airflow, reacted as if its throat had been suddenly clutched by an invisible, gigantic hand. The violent assault froze instantly in mid-air, the momentum completely nullified by the sheer density of the wind pressure. Immediately following this impossible stoppage, an even more shocking scene unfolded before the stunned audience. The lava dog reversed its direction, moving at a velocity even faster than its initial charge, and lunged fiercely back toward its master, Sakazuki.
"What?!"
Sakazuki's pupils constricted abruptly. For the first time, genuine shock cracked his facial expression, which was usually as stern and unyielding as stone. He had fought on the chaotic seas of the Grand Line for many years. As a veteran Marine, he had witnessed countless strange Devil Fruit abilities and bizarre combat techniques. He had seen pirates manipulate elements, transform into beasts, and defy the laws of physics. However, seeing his own killing move—a technique derived from the destructive power of the Logia-type Magu Magu no Mi—literally blown back at him with such effortless ease was something he had never witnessed in his entire career.
Just at this critical moment, as the molten backlash threatened to consume the Marine Vice Admiral, a graceful figure flashed in front of him with blinding speed.
"What are you spacing out for?! Sakazuki!!"
Amidst Gion's sharp, commanding cry, the renowned blade 'Konpira' was already drawn from its sheath. The steel hummed as it cut through the air.
"Secret Sword: Heavenly Demon Slash!"
Several sharp, crescent-shaped sword lights carved deadly arcs through the air, intercepting the magma. With surgical precision, Gion sliced the lunging lava dog into harmless fragments. Sizzling magma splattered in every direction, burning hissing, charred pits into the wooden walls and the floor of the bar.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The aftershocks of the collision made the entire structure of the bar tremble violently. Dust and debris showered down from the ceiling, coating the glasses and bottles on the shelves. A wave of scorching hot air swept through the room, disheveling Shakky's carefully styled hair and sending napkins flying.
The retired pirate turned bartender looked at her establishment with a pained expression, surveying the smoking holes in her floor. She sighed, speaking somewhat helplessly, "Honestly, can't you two fight somewhere else? Renovations aren't cheap, you know."
Meanwhile, Gion slowly sheathed her sword with a sharp click. She turned and glared at Sakazuki, who was still standing there, looking somewhat dazed by the sudden reversal of his attack.
"You idiot! Can't you consider the soldiers behind you before you attack?!" she scolded him, her voice laced with frustration.
Sakazuki subconsciously looked back over his shoulder. What he saw shook him. The Marine soldiers who had followed them into the bar were all pale-faced, trembling with fear. Some had even slumped to the ground, their legs giving out from the sheer pressure of the heat and the Killing Intent. If Gion hadn't intervened in time, these loyal subordinates would likely have been reduced to charcoal by the backlash of his own magma.
In this moment, the iron-blooded Vice Admiral, who upheld 'Absolute Justice' as his unwavering creed, felt his resolve waver. He was a man who believed he could use any means necessary to eliminate the evil of pirates, no matter the cost. But looking at the terrified faces of his own men, he realized he could not tolerate his subordinates sacrificing themselves needlessly due to his own tactical mistakes.
"I…" Sakazuki opened his mouth to defend himself, but the words died in his throat. Ultimately, he only let out a heavy, frustrated sigh.
The two Vice Admirals stood side by side again, turning their attention back to the source of their trouble. They warily observed Takuro, who remained casually seated in his original spot, unharmed and unbothered. After their recent exchange, they realized they had made a grave error. They had to completely re-evaluate the combat strength of this seemingly easygoing, dark-haired young man.
Gion took a deep breath, attempting to salvage the deteriorating diplomatic situation. "Mr. Takuro, please forgive my colleague's rashness. We truly bear no ill will in coming here. We simply have questions."
However, Takuro ignored the diplomatic overture. He stood up and began to stretch his body. He slowly twisted his neck, his joints making crisp, ominous cracking sounds that echoed in the silent bar.
"Mr. Takuro, what is this?" Gion asked, her hand hovering near the hilt of her sword cautiously.
"I know you two bear no ill will," Takuro said, revealing a smile that sent shivers down the spines of both Vice Admirals. It was the smile of a predator looking at prey. "But I have a lot of ill will towards you two right now. What should I do about that?"
Gion was momentarily speechless. Putting herself in his shoes, she had to admit he had a point. Anyone who was suddenly attacked with molten lava while trying to enjoy a quiet drink would essentially be forced into a bad mood.
"We are willing to apologize to you," Gion said, carefully choosing her words to avoid further provocation.
Takuro's smile grew even wider, looking almost wicked in its eagerness. "Since that's the case... then let's have a 'post-meal workout' together first."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Don't you understand?" Takuro tilted his head, looking at them with amused eyes. "It means I want you two to fight me."
Saying this, he turned his head to Rayleigh, who was sitting at the counter watching the show with a drink in hand. "Hey, old man, don't you dare interfere. I'm enough to handle the two of them alone."
"Yes, yes, this old man will definitely not interfere." Rayleigh smiled and raised both hands in a gesture of surrender. However, in his mind, the Dark King was calculating rapidly. 'Two top-tier Marine Headquarters Vice Admirals are not so easy to deal with. Sakazuki possesses a Logia fruit with the highest offensive power, and Momousagi is a master swordsman. If things go south later, I'll have to step in and help this kid out.'
After all, Rayleigh didn't want such an interesting and promising junior to stop his world-shaking progress here on the Sabaody Archipelago.
Takuro redirected his gaze to the two Vice Admirals, who were standing ready for combat. He lightly clenched his fist, testing his grip. "Are you two ready?"
Sakazuki and Gion immediately entered their battle stances. Invisible Haki began to flow around their bodies, fortifying their defenses and sharpening their senses, ready to face a storm of attacks.
However, in the next instant, Takuro's figure suddenly vanished from their line of sight.
"!!!"
Gion's pupils sharply contracted. She was a master of Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki), and she sensed a terrifying presence closing in. She immediately shouted, "Look out! He's heading for you!"
He didn't need her warning; Sakazuki had already sensed the danger. After all, at this moment, Takuro's fist was already within striking distance, moving with a speed that defied the imagination.
But Sakazuki was not flustered. As a user of the Magu Magu no Mi, he was a Logia human. His body was composed of magma. He was confident that any physical attack not imbued with Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki) could not harm him in the slightest. It would simply pass through his fluid body harmlessly.
'How dare he underestimate me so much!' Sakazuki thought fiercely, his anger rising. 'If he touches me without Haki, he will only burn himself. Let him and his fist turn to ashes together!'
He made no move to dodge. He allowed Takuro's fist to come straight towards his face, the lava churning around his body, poised to engulf and incinerate this arrogant boy the moment contact was made.
However, what happened next completely overturned Sakazuki's understanding of the world.
"Bang!"
A heavy, devastating punch landed squarely on his face. The intense pain was immediate and overwhelming, making his vision go black instantly. In that moment of blurred consciousness, he felt as if he had been directly hit by a massive Sea King or a cannonball the size of a mountain. The force was irresistible. He was sent flying uncontrollably backward.
'Why... why could he hit me without Armament Haki?!'
This was the last frantic thought that flashed through Sakazuki's mind before the G-force took over.
His body crashed through the bar's already damaged wall, shattering the wood into splinters. He continued flying, carving a long, deep trench into the street outside, and finally slammed heavily into the concrete building on the opposite side of the road, kicking up a massive cloud of dust and debris.
A deathly silence fell over the bar.
Gion stared at the broken wall, completely dumbfounded. Her hand, still clutching her sword, was trembling slightly. She couldn't comprehend what had just happened. It defied the fundamental laws of the Grand Line: how could a physical attack without the black coating of Armament Haki physically injure a Logia user?
Rayleigh narrowed his eyes, thoughtfully sipping his drink as he analyzed the strange phenomenon. Shakky, on the other hand, shook her head helplessly, already pulling out a calculator to tally up the night's financial losses.
Takuro flexed his wrist casually and gave a brilliant, confident smile to Gion, who was standing frozen in place.
"It seems your companion needs to train harder."
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