25. Don't Pick Off The Shoots, Their Era Has Just Begun

"Hey, old man, watch out! The Straw Hat crew ain't like other supernovas," Sentomaru warned, his expression serious.

Sentomaru's words made Kizaru pause and think. Despite his confidence in himself, the Straw Hat boy had left a strong impression on him during their brief encounter.

"Yeah, I know. They're something else. That kid's got some serious talent for his age," Kizaru acknowledged, eyeing Luffy in front of him. The Straw Hat family's talent was beyond remarkable.

Just moments ago, Luffy had demonstrated Armament Haki. If he continued to hone his skills in the New World, he could easily become as powerful as one of the Four Emperors.

Mr. Garp, the revolutionary dragon, and now the Straw Hat kid—all members of the same formidable lineage. It sent shivers down Kizaru's spine.

With these thoughts weighing on him, Kizaru's demeanour shifted. He went from feeling obligated to deal with the Straw Hats to genuinely considering capturing Luffy and locking him up.

This pirate was too much of a threat to ignore.

With a sudden burst of speed, Kizaru vanished into photons, reappearing before Luffy in a flash of light. But Luffy, with his Observation Haki, saw it all coming.

He wrapped his arm in Armament Haki and prepared to counter.

"JET Bullet!"

But as he launched his attack, Luffy's expression changed. The speed and force of Kizaru's onslaught were overwhelming.

"No, too fast... too heavy..."

BOOM.

The clash between Luffy's fists and Kizaru's brilliant light-speed kicks was intense.

From the point of impact, streams of energy shot out in all directions. Each tiny burst created shockwaves that rippled through the surroundings, showcasing Kizaru's immense destructive power.

However, this clash was brief.

Despite his surprise at Luffy's ability to intercept his attack, Kizaru wasted no time in retaliating. With a swift punch, he sent Luffy flying back, his body crashing through ruins and triggering a massive explosion.

"Luffy!" Zoro and Sanji cried out in alarm as they watched their captain get launched away.

Then, before their eyes, two more figures were sent flying by Kizaru's brilliant rays of light, creating more chaos and destruction.

"Luffy, Zoro, Sanji!" The remaining members of the Straw Hat crew cried out in worry and horror as they witnessed their comrades being thrown around like ragdolls.

"Wow, the old man's really something," Sentomaru remarked, a rare smile breaking through his serious demeanour.

Only Kizaru remained standing on the grass, a hint of doubt flickering in his eyes. As an Admiral, his senses were razor-sharp, and something about this encounter seemed off to him.

Kizaru could sense that his attack hadn't had much of an effect.

The thought of his recent kick flashed through his mind. He had noticed the partial Armament Haki on Luffy's foot, indicating that the kick hadn't made physical contact with flesh.

He recalled Zoro's swift swordplay, which had intercepted most of his light waves with ease. Even Sanji's powerful kick had managed to slightly impede him.

"All Observation Haki, Armament Haki?" Kizaru couldn't help but wonder.

The fact that Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji had been able to keep up with his speed suggested the use of Observation Haki. And the Armament Haki they wielded had allowed them to block most of his attacks.

Despite appearances, they hadn't been kicked away; they had used the kicks to mitigate the force of his blows. It was a stark contrast to the supernovas he had toyed with earlier.

Moreover, despite looking somewhat embarrassed, the trio showed no signs of actual harm.

"Fascinating to effortlessly block my attacks," Kizaru muttered, his expression shifting slightly.

Even though he hadn't used his full strength, his attacks had been far more potent than those he had previously directed at other rookies. Yet, all three of them had managed to hold their ground.

This realization made Kizaru take the situation much more seriously.

"Ah, underestimated him," Luffy muttered as he rose from the rubble amidst the ruins.

Brushing the dust off his body, he adjusted his straw hat, deep in thought. In the recent battle, he had found himself at a disadvantage, getting kicked around by Kizaru.

It wasn't that Kizaru was inherently stronger; rather, Luffy had undergone significant improvements in just ten days. The gap between Kizaru and the opponents Luffy had faced before was vast, and he had underestimated the Admiral's speed and power.

It felt like going from fighting opponents of equal strength and speed to suddenly facing someone ten times faster and stronger—a jarring realization.

If he hadn't been caught off guard, even without accessing his higher gears, Luffy believed he could have held his own better. But for now, he needed to focus on the present.

Meanwhile, not far away, Zoro and Sanji also picked themselves up, showing signs of embarrassment but remaining undeterred.

"Just as monstrous as expected, Admiral, but not unbeatable," Zoro remarked with a grin, his three swords at the ready. "I'm actually kind of excited."

"Hey, Zoro, that's my fight!" Luffy interjected, watching his friend's enthusiasm with amusement. "And there are still two interesting tricks up my sleeve that I haven't shown yet."

"I never thought I'd end up being someone's stepping stone," Kizaru muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. "That newcomer's strength is truly monstrous. It's downright intimidating."

Feeling the need to take the situation more seriously, Kizaru opened his hands, conjuring countless photons out of thin air. With a swift motion, they coalesced into a sleek lightsaber in his grasp.

"The Amazon Cloud Sword," he declared, admiring the blade's elegant design—a straight blade composed of four radial rays of light and a photon ring.

Without hesitation, Kizaru transformed into photons and vanished from sight, his speed seemingly slowing down time itself. He lunged towards Luffy, intent on delivering a decisive blow.

But just as he moved, a brilliant sword wave sliced through the air from afar, like a majestic silver dragon cleaving the grassland in two.

"Ah, here comes trouble," Kizaru remarked, his body severed by the sword wave. Yet, in moments, he reformed nearby, looking somewhat perturbed but maintaining his calm demeanour.

"Pluton Rayleigh," he addressed the man who had suddenly appeared before him.

Rayleigh stood tall, his silver-white hair ruffling in the wind, a serene smile gracing his face.

"Don't pluck the buds prematurely, Kizaru. Their time is only just beginning," Rayleigh advised, his words carrying a sense of wisdom and assurance.

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