In the heart of the underworld's city, inside the grand castle at its center, the air was thick with tension.
Within the sprawling manor, golden light shimmered off polished marble as Admiral Borsalino better known as Kizaru stood with his hands in his pockets, gazing lazily at the bloodied figure sprawled on the ground.
"Still trying to act tough?" he asked in his usual drawl, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Hand over the Demon's Child. She's not someone a small-time gangster like you can protect."
Capone Bege, coughing violently, could barely lift his head. His once-proud suit was torn, blood seeping through the fabric. After this fight, he finally understood the impossible gap between his power and the admiral's.
When he finally managed to look up, his lips curled into a feral grin.
Kizaru tilted his head. "Huh? You really don't cry until you see the coffin, do you?"
A pulse of energy surged through the air.
Kizaru slowly raised his left leg, golden light gathering around it like molten sunfire. The radiance reflected off the manor walls as his voice turned cold.
"Hiding a criminal wanted by the World Government... that's a dead end for you."
The words had barely left his mouth before he struck.
Just as the blinding light cut through the air
A sharp gust swept past.
A shadow appeared between them.
The man's face was hidden behind a voice-modulating mask, his movements swift as a phantom. His right fist, wrapped in Armament Haki, crashed into Kizaru's head.
A shockwave burst outward.
Kizaru's head exploded into particles of light before reassembling seamlessly, the beam-like fragments drawing together once more.
The masked man Liam Ross seized the moment, yanking Capone Bege out of harm's way and setting him down beside the ruined fountain. Then he straightened, his presence filling the courtyard. His eyes, sharp and unyielding, met Kizaru's.
The air froze.
Around them, Navy soldiers stiffened, fear spreading through the ranks as they recognized the man before them.
Kizaru smiled thinly, his lazy façade slipping just a little. "Ah... scary, scary. That almost killed me."
Liam's tone dripped with disdain. "You Marines really went all out just to capture me."
If it had been Akainu, the man would have spewed a speech about justice. If it were Aokiji, perhaps silence. But Kizaru he was the type who hid danger behind indifference.
The admiral shrugged, feigning helplessness. "Can't be helped. You're too dangerous to ignore."
Liam's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Let me guess this was Sengoku's idea. But only sending one admiral? That seems a little arrogant. He must have a backup plan, right?"
Kizaru's lips curved but he said nothing.
Both men suddenly felt it an approaching presence, vast and suffocating.
A crimson blaze illuminated the courtyard.
"Liam Ross!"
A thunderous voice boomed across the manor.
From the shattered gate, a line of Marines marched in. At their head strode Akainu, eyes sharp as an eagle's and burning with fury.
Liam's gaze flickered briefly, a calm acceptance settling in. "So it's true then."
He smirked. "The Navy really thinks highly of me five Vice Admirals, huh?"
Even his clone couldn't hope to take on this lineup. Escaping was nearly impossible.
From the ground, Capone Bege trembled, his heart pounding like a drum. He scanned the battlefield nervously. Where's Luffy? Did he take the chance to escape?
The Navy soldiers erupted in cheers. Their morale soared at the sight of Akainu and Kizaru together.
"Liam Ross! You've defied the Marines too many times. This ends here!" Akainu's voice was thunder itself.
Liam's lips curved into a taunting grin. "You can try."
In a blink, Akainu's right arm transformed into molten lava. "Inugami Guren!"
A blazing torrent roared toward Liam.
With a flick of his hand, Liam drew the earth upward. A towering wall of hardened stone surged from the ground, shielding him. The magma crashed against it, hissing and smoking, but failed to pierce through.
Above him, a golden flash split the air.
"Speed is power," Kizaru's voice echoed lightly. "Have you ever been kicked at the speed of light?"
He struck downward in a blinding arc.
Liam crossed his arms above his head, Haki-coated fists absorbing the full brunt of the impact. Sparks exploded where their blows met. With a sharp movement, Liam twisted, summoning two earthen dragons from the ground. Their fanged maws lunged toward Kizaru.
But the admiral dissolved into photons, the dragons snapping through empty light.
Liam's punch followed through anyway, catching Kizaru mid-materialization. The impact sent the admiral staggering, a brief grimace flickering across his face before he recovered.
"Meigou!"
Akainu's snarl tore through the clash. A molten hound burst forth, slamming into Liam before he could react.
The explosion rocked the manor.
Half of Liam's upper body was obliterated.
Far across the sea, Liam his true self frowned. His clone was far too weak. He couldn't use his swordsmanship here; that would expose his other identity. He was limited to the Earth-Earth Fruit, Haki, and Rokushiki techniques.
Reforming from earth and stone, the clone's chest knitted itself back together. Behind the mask, his eyes glowed with fury.
"You all die here!"
The ground convulsed violently. Cracks spread across the manor as the earth heaved upward, swallowing soldiers and shattering the terrain.
"Damn it, he's sinking the entire area!" one Vice Admiral shouted.
"Save the men first!" barked another. "His ability's too destructive on solid ground!"
Akainu's expression twisted with rage. "You won't escape justice today!"
He surged forward, magma spilling from his fists.
Liam clenched his hand. "Dragons of the Earth Devour!"
Dozens of colossal earth-dragons erupted from the fractured soil, roaring as they lunged toward Akainu.
The admiral met them head-on, magma fists obliterating them one by one.
Above them, Kizaru appeared once more, blade of light in hand. He swung downward, aiming to disrupt Liam's focus.
Liam sidestepped using Paper Arts, narrowly evading the strike. His fist slammed into Kizaru's blade, the clash ringing like steel.
Kizaru smirked and twisted his wrist, blasting Liam backward with raw light energy.
Akainu moved in, magma swirling around his arm like a tidal wave.
Liam hastily conjured another wall of earth, but it shattered instantly under the force of the blow. The magma engulfed him, hurling his body across the courtyard and into the castle walls.
The explosion tore through the structure, stone and flame erupting skyward as debris buried him beneath the wreckage.
The courtyard fell silent, save for the crackle of fire and the distant cries of soldiers.
But deep beneath the rubble, a faint pulse of energy stirred once more.
The battle was far from over.
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