Night fell, and the moonlight over the Grand Line was cold as water, yet it couldn't extinguish the burning passion blazing on the Oro Jackson's deck.
A bonfire was lit, its warm glow illuminating every excited face. Having just experienced a heart-pounding battle, the crew showed no signs of fatigue—instead, their spirits were at an all-time high.
Millet was belting out some unknown tune while hugging a barrel of rum, his voice loud enough to startle Sea Kings miles away. Spencer had unusually dropped his noble airs and was heatedly debating with Blumarine about which cannonball from the earlier sea battle had the most "elegant" trajectory. Rayleigh leaned against the mast with his drink, wearing a faint smile as he watched these energetic companions.
"Gu ha ha ha! Now that's what I call piracy!" Roger threw back a big gulp of alcohol, wiped his mouth, and his boisterous laughter echoed across the deck. "Getting chased around by the Navy, then leaving them in our dust! What a rush!"
The Oro Jackson seemed to possess some kind of magic—her spacious deck and solid hull made everyone feel incredibly secure and free, capable of carrying all their ambitions and dreams.
Kyle sat on a pile of wooden crates, quietly sipping orange juice while taking in the scene. That escape maneuver had drained nearly half his stamina, but surrounded by this joyful atmosphere, his fatigue completely melted away.
"Hey, Kyle!" From the noisy crowd, Gaban approached shirtless, his bronze skin gleaming in the firelight. He hefted his two massive axes, walking over step by step with burning battle intent in his eyes. "What's the point of just drinking and singing? This deck's so spacious—why not get some exercise?"
Gaban's challenge instantly drew everyone's attention. The singing stopped, the arguments ceased. All eyes focused on these two—a battle between two veteran crew members? Now this was getting exciting!
"Oh oh oh! This is gonna be good!" Nozdon was the first to jump up, rubbing his hands together excitedly.
"Are they going for real? Mr. Gaban's really strong!" Bankuro nervously swallowed.
Roger's interest was completely piqued. He planted one foot on a barrel and shouted loudly: "Yeah! Let's have a fight! Show me how much you've both improved!"
Whoa whoa whoa, too hot to handle, Gaban-san!
Well, well, you've successfully caught my attention!
Kyle set down his juice, stood up, and unsheathed the long naginata from his back, gripping it in his hands. "Bastard Gaban! Come at me!"
The two moved to the center of the deck and squared off, while the surrounding crew immediately formed a large circle. The atmosphere was instantly ignited.
"Place your bets! Place your bets!" Nozdon hollered at the top of his lungs. "I'm betting on Kyle! One hundred berries! His abilities are too overpowered!"
"I'm betting on Mr. Gaban!" Millet slammed his barrel down with a heavy thud. "Three hundred berries! Raw power is king!"
"I'm betting on a draw—the captain will call it off!" Spencer adjusted his glasses, trying to make the most rational prediction.
Rayleigh watched the two in the ring with an amused smile, quietly saying to Colonel Mugren beside him: "I'm betting Gaban wins, but he'll look pretty rough doing it."
Ding, ding, ding—let the games begin!
Gaban crossed his twin axes in front of his chest, taking a steady stance. He didn't rush to attack—Kyle wasn't some ordinary kid, and underestimating him due to his age would be a big mistake.
Kyle didn't move either. He simply touched the end of his naginata lightly to the deck.
An invisible ripple spread out with him as the center, sensing the air currents around them, Gaban's muscle tension, and even the rhythm of his breathing.
Fruit ability plus Observation Haki—double insurance. I can see through everything! Can anyone else do that? (Light Yagami voice)
"Here I come, kid!" Gaban growled low and suddenly pushed off with his feet.
He didn't choose a direct charge, but approached at high speed in a strange zigzag pattern, each step leaving a shallow footprint on the hard deck. This irregular movement was specifically designed to disrupt Kyle's predictions.
"Shock Fist: Sonic Blast!" Kyle didn't back down, advancing instead of retreating, throwing out his left fist through the air.
Compressed shock waves with ring-shaped sonic boom clouds shot straight at Gaban's face.
Facing this building-shattering attack, Gaban neither dodged nor evaded. His right axe swept up from below! The blade covered in jet-black armament haki precisely struck the core point of the shock wave.
"CLANG—!"
As if striking invisible steel, the violent shock wave was forcibly split down the middle, becoming two chaotic streams that whistled past Gaban's body, pulverizing the two rows of railings behind him.
Railings: Feed me peanuts! Feed me peanuts!
As expected of a man who could take down a female giant—such strong haki and technique! Kyle's heart tightened as Gaban had already reached him.
"Too slow!"
Gaban's other axe came down like black lightning, screaming through the air as it cleaved toward Kyle's head!
Kyle's pupils contracted. Shock waves blasted from his feet in reverse, instantly sliding his body back several meters, barely avoiding the deadly strike.
"Mirage Refraction!"
While retreating, Kyle waved one hand, distorting the light around him and instantly creating three identical Kyles on the deck, each attacking Gaban from different angles with their blades.
"Cheap tricks!" Gaban snorted coldly, unleashing his Observation Haki without reservation.
He ignored the two charging phantoms, suddenly twisted his body, and violently clapped his twin axes together toward an empty spot to his left rear!
There—that's where Kyle's real body was!
"Light Blade: Rainbow Severance!"
With his real body exposed, Kyle remained calm under pressure. Seven-colored light waves coiled around his naginata blade, and in the instant the axes came together, he traced a brilliant rainbow sword energy, slashing toward Gaban's waist.
Trading injury for injury?
A flash of surprise crossed Gaban's eyes, but his battle experience was incredibly rich. He forcibly halted his axes' pincer movement, twisted his body, and used one axe handle to block Kyle's rainbow light blade.
"Sizzle—"
Light waves and haki-covered axe handle rubbed violently together, sparking brilliant flashes of light, the scorching heat making the surrounding air swelter.
Missing with one strike, both fighters quickly separated and reopened the distance.
"WHOOOO!" The spectators erupted in thunderous cheers.
Just a few exchanges had been full of danger and skill, making their blood boil with excitement.
"Kyle, your ability really is troublesome." Gaban shook his somewhat numb arms and grinned. "But in real combat, there's no time for all that preparation!"
Before he finished speaking, he charged again, this time with even more ferocious attacks.
His twin axes danced into an impenetrable whirlwind of death in his hands, each strike heavy and powerful, sealing off all of Kyle's escape routes.
Kyle could only continuously use Shock Step for small-scale evasive movements while swinging his naginata to parry.
The clash of blade and axe rang out in rapid "clang clang" sounds, sparks flying everywhere. Gaban's axe strikes weren't just tremendously powerful—the intense wind pressure from his swinging axes even interfered with Kyle's precise control of the surrounding "waves" to some degree.
Under this storm-like assault, Kyle gradually fell into a disadvantage.
He couldn't use large-scale AOE attacks, or the entire ship would suffer. But small-range shock waves and light waves were being neutralized one by one by Gaban's powerful haki and rich experience.
This won't work!
Kyle's eyes flashed with inspiration. Seizing a gap in Gaban's attacks, he suddenly drove his naginata into the deck.
"Reverse Flow Echo!"
A strange sound wave instantly spread out. Gaban's movements stuttered—he seemed to hear his own battle roars from moments ago, the whoosh of his axes cutting through the air, even his own heavy breathing. These sounds chaotically intertwined in his mind, causing a moment of disorientation.
Now's my chance!
Kyle pulled out his naginata, concentrating electromagnetic waves at the tip to form a lightning spear, thrusting straight at Gaban's chest.
"Lightning Pierce: Aurora Spear!"
However, just as the lightning spear was about to touch Gaban's body, Gaban bit down hard on his tongue tip. The sharp pain forcibly broke him free from the mental interference.
His eyes regained clarity as he let out a roar. Rather than dodge the incoming lightning spear, he rammed it with his shoulder while simultaneously sweeping his axe horizontally, striking Kyle hard in the side.
"BAM!"
"What?! Iron... Iron Mountain Crash!" Kyle felt an irresistible force hit him, sending him flying like a broken kite. He rolled several times on the deck before stabilizing, his naginata flying from his hands.
On the other side, Gaban's shoulder had been grazed by the lightning spear, leaving a patch of charred black. His clothes were torn and smoking.
The winner is decided!
The whole scene fell silent, then erupted in even more enthusiastic cheers.
"He won! Mr. Gaban won!" Millet waved his fists excitedly.
Though Nozdon had lost money, he still shouted admiringly: "Kyle was super cool too!"
"Haha, if that blade had been a little more to the side, I'd have become a eunuch! Ha ha ha!" Gaban walked over to Kyle and extended his hand.
"What a lame joke, damn Gaban—that really hurt!" Kyle grimaced as he gripped his hand and was pulled to his feet.
"Gu ha ha ha!" Roger laughed heartily as he approached, throwing an arm around both their shoulders. "Great fight! Both of you fought brilliantly! Men, keep drinking! Let's celebrate having two incredible monsters on our ship!"
The party atmosphere was pushed to new heights again—those who lost money looked dejected while the winners bragged loudly. Rayleigh walked over to Gaban, pointed at his tattered shirt shoulder, and handed him a drink with a smile.
Gaban drained the drink in one gulp, watching Kyle in the distance being pestered by Nozdon for details about the fight. His eyes were full of anticipation for the future.