Chapter 188

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"As expected, just as the rumors describe, you're as strong as a monster. That look in your eyes..." Kizaru maintained his raised-leg stance, his eyes behind the yellow sunglasses scrutinizing Zyhark through the blinding light and electricity.

Just as he was about to continue his taunt, Zyhark interrupted, mimicking Kizaru's slow, drawling tone: "Such a dazzling light, Flashman. How scary~"

Kizaru's mouth twitched sharply.

Even someone as perpetually indifferent and unmotivated as he couldn't help but feel slightly irked.

Enough already! Does this guy have future sight with his Kenbunshoku Haki?

Who steals someone's lines like this?!

In that brief moment of distraction, Zyhark seized the fleeting opportunity. His entire arm surged with violent lightning, unleashing a blast that sent Kizaru flying, smashing through several coastal houses!

Instead of pursuing his advantage, Zyhark turned to face Tom and the bewildered shipwrights. With a hint of malice in his eyes and sparks dancing at his fingertips, he coldly spoke: "What a pity, Tom. Now that our identities are exposed, you all have lost your value."

Crackling lightning filled the sky, causing the ground to split open.

"Zyhark, you..." Tom's usually composed expression showed a flicker of concern. It seemed he had guessed something.

Before he could finish, a thunderous crash resounded as lightning struck down, crackling through the air and splitting the ground beneath their feet.

Tom looked back to see all the shipwrights convulsing and collapsing, paralyzed by the electric shock.

"You shouldn't do unnecessary things..." The paralysis from the electric shock quickly spread through Tom's body. Despite his robust physique as a Fishman, he too soon succumbed, collapsing like the others.

With the aid of his Kenbunshoku Haki, Zyhark precisely controlled the power of the lightning, making it easy to knock out the shipwrights without causing serious harm.

In a flash of golden light, Kizaru reappeared, filling the entire scene with his dazzling presence.

"Tom is currently under the protection of the World Government. What you're doing puts me in a tough spot," Kizaru said sternly.

Zyhark glanced sideways, smiling lightly: "Then try to stop me, Borsalino!"

Whoosh!

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Kizaru, expressionless, swiftly kicked, his light-speed kick sending Zyhark flying into a cluster of residential buildings.

"I'll handle this here. You pursue the fleeing Sea Restaurant. They're heinous criminals; don't let them escape easily," Kizaru ordered his subordinates, who were preparing to come to his aid.

"Understood! Borsalino-san!" The lieutenant promptly obeyed, drawing his sword and commanding the warship to turn and pursue the rapidly departing Infinite Dream.

Although somewhat puzzled by Kizaru's true intentions, the lieutenant had no doubt about the overwhelming strength of this Marine monster. There was no way he could lose to the so-called Extreme Evil of Thunder!

With that settled, Kizaru turned his attention back to Zyhark, who was calmly standing amidst the rubble.

'The sensation wasn't like elementalization. Though it wasn't full force, my attack definitely hit...'

Seeing Zyhark transform into lightning and speed towards the western part of the town, Kizaru sighed wearily, "What a troublesome mission."

In a flash, Kizaru's palm shone with bright yellow light.

"Yata no Kagami!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Beams of light reflected off the buildings, quickly closing the distance with the speeding lightning. In an instant, light and lightning raced across most of Water 7!

Just as the yellow light was about to catch up, Zyhark halted, reverting to his normal form.

Unlike the bustling commercial district, this area was filled with dense steel structures and scattered odd weapon parts—Flam's dismantling factory!

With all the shipwrights at the shore, this wide-open area was empty, making it the perfect battleground to face Kizaru without harming anyone else (except for the perverts).

"So this is the place you've chosen? Not bad as a location for your capture~"

As the light settled, Kizaru appeared opposite Zyhark, his tone as lazy as ever. He brought his hands together, forming a long golden sword of condensed light—one of his signature moves, the Ame no Murakumo!

Whoosh! With a slight swing, Kizaru's sword effortlessly sliced through thick steel plates, its mere presence exuding a formidable pressure.

Zyhark's eyes narrowed, releasing dense electricity from his feet to cover the surrounding steel.

Caught unprepared, he had left both the Sandai Kitetsu and Yubashiri on the Infinite Dream. The simplest solution to acquire suitable swords was to forge them on the spot!

Thanks to his Goro Goro no Mi ability—Thunder Forge!

Under the intense current, the steel blocks were quickly reshaped into denser, more conductive sharp blades.

He named them...

"50 Million Volts: Thunder Steel Blades!"

With weapons in hand, Zyhark and Kizaru exploded into high-speed combat in the center of the dismantling factory!

Lightning and golden light clashed, both pushing their swordsmanship to the limit. In mere seconds, they exchanged hundreds of blows!

Even the residual natural energy from their clash caused the steel-structured factory to collapse!

As the intense sword fight dragged on, they reached a stalemate.

Kizaru's usual lazy demeanor faded, a hint of seriousness gleaming in his eyes. It was the first time he had faced someone who matched his speed so closely!

In his years with the Marines, even without the massive boost from his Pika Pika no Mi, his mastery of Soru alone had few rivals.

But now...

Zyhark's expression mirrored Kizaru's seriousness. Despite pushing his body to its limits, even with the Goro Goro no Mi, he struggled to surpass Kizaru's speed!

Kizaru's Rokushiki and swordsmanship might not be top-tier, but his sheer physicality and experience posed a significant challenge.

Without the enhancements from the wishing pool and his accumulated battle experience and techniques, he wouldn't be able to compete with Kizaru's speed relying solely on his fruit powers.

Undoubtedly, the Goro Goro no Mi and Pika Pika no Mi were equally overpowered fruits. In a contest of near-equal abilities, the physical prowess of the users made all the difference.

If it were Enel fighting Kizaru instead of Zyhark, the outcome would be much clearer!

Seizing a fleeting opening, Kizaru struck, his light sword clashing against Zyhark's thunder blades, forcing him back into the steel piles.

As Zyhark was kicked away, a thunderous roar echoed, and a destructive lightning dragon descended, striking Kizaru's position.

The sounds of steel clashing and lightning exploding filled the air, making the dismantling factory increasingly dangerous.

In the aftermath of the explosion, Zyhark stood tall amid the ruins. Despite his formidable defenses, Kizaru's heavy kick had drawn a trickle of blood from his mouth.

Emerging from the electric-charged dust, Kizaru's forehead bore tiny beads of blood.

Without words, a mutual understanding formed between the two men: In their previous exchange, both had forgone elementalization, opting to take each other's attacks head-on!

"To be honest, it's my first time fighting someone with abilities like yours," Kizaru said, still reluctant to use Haki, opting instead to conjure more light constructs.

Golden figures clad in justice cloaks emerged, surrounding Zyhark in a tight encirclement—Kizaru's technique of creating light clones!

"No matter how many clones you have, they're still just natural elements. You can't scare me with that."

Wiping the blood from his mouth, Zyhark unleashed a torrent of blue electricity, forming humanoid figures of pure lightning!

Though both used clones, Zyhark's creations resembled elemental constructs rather than fully independent entities.

In terms of fruit mastery, Kizaru, with his years of experience, had the edge. But as Zyhark noted, in the face of absolute elemental power, such differences were negligible.

Thanks to the Goro Goro no Mi's enhancement of Kenbunshoku Haki, Zyhark could control more lightning clones than Kizaru's light clones!

"Imitating me? That's really scary~" Kizaru feigned fear.

A closer look revealed a hint of satisfaction in his otherwise calm expression.

Finally, he could say his lines.

"Let's go!"

Without further ado, the numerous lightning clones and superior light clones clashed like sworn enemies, filling the dismantling factory with natural energy.

Even in their controlled state, the intense battle caused the factory to crumble.

Against this chaotic backdrop, Zyhark and Kizaru resumed their high-speed combat, now employing their Haki to reflect the true gap between them.

Terrifying shockwaves spread, reducing the factory to ruins. The battle between the Goro Goro and Pika Pika no Mi users reached its peak.

Meanwhile, in the waters off Water 7, the newly transformed Endless Dream, powered by lightning, sped forward, leaving a trail of frothy waves.

Behind them, the Marine warship's side paddles churned at full speed, desperately chasing the Infinite Dream.

Seeing the distance widen, the Marine lieutenant and the crew were dumbfounded.

"That's the most advanced warship! How can that tiny ship (compared to a marine warship) be so fast?!"

The helmsman's face twitched, watching the Endless Dream pull away without even raising its sails!

"By any means necessary, we mustn't lose them. Fire all cannons to slow them down!"

The highest-ranking officer on the warship ordered.

Black cannonballs rained down like a barrage, splashing around the Endless Dream.

"Damn Marines, we didn't bother them, but they started it!"

Aqua couldn't tolerate any grievances, rolling up her sleeves, ready to unleash a massive tsunami on the Marines.

"Wait a bit, Aqua-san," Brook intervened, stopping her impulsive action.

With Zyhark absent, Brook's calm demeanor took charge.

"It seems that Marine Admiral candidate isn't determined to fight us to the end. Sinking their warship and soldiers now would complicate things further."

"Although I am just a skeleton and don't have eyes, yohohoho~"

Well, his seriousness was limited...

"Brook's right. Until the battle over there is settled, we should keep things steady," King added.

"Still, do we just let them bully us?!" Aqua fumed.

Where's the respect for the Water Goddess?!

At the standoff, Meowth, holding a remote, stepped in: "Hehe, don't forget, we have a super reliable partner~"

"If they think they can stop the Endless Dream with these tricks, they're too naive!"

Under the watchful eyes of Aqua and the others, a confident Meowth pressed the button.

Beep!

The sound of machinery echoed as metal frames extended from the mast, forming structures resembling airplane wings with the flexible sails.

The engine roared from the ship's bottom, lifting the Endless Dream off the sea, stabilizing it before it soared into the sky, leaving the Marine warship in the dust!

The sight left the Marines on the warship stunned.

Even the stern-faced lieutenant was left gaping.

Is this something a normal sailboat should be able to do?! "Hahaha! Chase us! You guys were so arrogant; why not keep chasing?!"

Aqua, exhilarated by the wind, taunted the stranded Marine warship with playful faces.

Her cocky demeanor made the Marines grind their teeth in frustration.

"So, um, sir, should we keep chasing?" a Marine timidly asked.

"Chase what? With what?!" the lieutenant snapped.

Watching the vanishing Infinite Dream, he sighed heavily, "Prepare the follow-up report. We've done all we can..."

Seeing they were no longer pursued, the Endless Dream maintained a steady flight.

"Hey, Aqua, where's Zyhark?"

Kanna, at the bow, let the wind blow her hair.

"Don't worry, he's much stronger now. He'll be here soon."

Aqua waved nonchalantly, her faith in Zyhark unwavering.

King and Meowth didn't argue. Compared to their earlier anxiety against Kaido on Sky Island, they were much more relaxed now—they had unwavering faith in Zyhark.

"So where should we wait for him? Isn't aimless sailing too risky?" Brook asked.

Due to the urgency, Zyhark hadn't set a meeting point.

"That's simple. On the sea, my instincts are always spot on!"

Aqua pointed confidently, "Head left!"

King and Meowth exchanged looks, remembering past troubles.

The last time Zyhark trusted Aqua's instincts, they were blasted to Sky Island...

Right, right is the safest!

At that moment, they silently agreed to steer the ship right.

Amidst Aqua's chatter, the Endless Dream turned right, breaking through the wind.

Their judgment proved accurate.

On a distant Marine warship...

"Admiral Zephyr, the target seems to have detected us and is heading the opposite way."

The lookout shouted anxiously.

"To notice us from such a distance?" Admiral Zephyr frowned.

Their equipment was top-tier, and their luck and friendly warship's intel had helped.

But the target's reaction was even sharper. "If they won't come, we'll go to them. Prepare to destroy them all!"

Stepping forward, a grim-faced Marine took off, heading towards the Infinite Dream.

The justice cloak's red cuffs fluttered in the wind.

It was the Marine Admiral candidate, Akainu—Sakazuki!

(End of Chapter)