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Yosaku steadied himself, raising his shield as Jabra lunged towards him. The wolf zoan's claws scraped across the metal surface, unleashing a frenzied barrage of strikes. Yosaku steeled himself, bracing against the impacts that jarred his arm. He swung his axe in retaliation, but Jabra easily dodged the counterattack.
In his hybrid form, Jabra was very powerful. In both strength and speed, he was better than Yosaku, or that's what he thought.
"Is that the best you can do, pirate scum?" Jabra taunted, baring his fangs in a savage grin. "You can't beat me. My techniques are based on Tekkai Kenpo, which allows me to move while using Tekkai… even my normal punches and kicks are strong…"
But before he could finish his sentence, "You talk too much," Yosaku said with a deadpan. "Must like hearing your own voice."
"Why you…"
Yosaku could have used his special shield, but didn't. There was a reason for that. Even though Jabra was better in some ways, Yosaku was confident in beating him without using his shield.
Also, using a devil fruit weapon would usually drain your stamina a lot quicker. Even Zoro and Luffy struggled with it. So Yosaku was keeping his special shield —which was shrunken down, hidden in one of his pocket— in case of an emergency.
But even without it, the shield he was currently using was quite good. Sure not on the same level as the other one, but good enough for the fight.
Yosaku adjusted his stance, as his opponent attacks in wide swipes. Not caring for anything. Jabra pressed on with his attack, raking his claws across Yosaku's shield and driving him back step by step. The strikes reverberated through the metal, numbing Yosaku's shield arm.
From time to time Jabra would try to use Soru to get around and try to do damage, but Yosaku was managing to keep himself safe. Even though Jabra boasted about his tekkai, it wasn't anything noteworthy.
Even Yosaku was able to move while using Tekkai, though he had to admit. Jabra was much better at it. But there was an easy way to counter that.
Yosaku collected something in his mouth and…
"The fuck?! Did you just spit in my face?" Jabra asked his brow twitching with fury.
"What? You into that shit, pussy?" Yosaku asked with a shameless smile. Yeah, he was completely taking a note out of Gin's book.
Jabra raged in fury attacked. "I'm gonna kill you!"
Yosaku just laughed, "You say the sweetest of thing, dogyy-boy!"
And like expected it did work. Yosaku could see much more openings due to Jabra loosing his temper.
Around them, the sounds of battle echoed through the ravaged courtyard of Enies Lobby. Anchor wasn't holding back, so wasn't Hatchan. Marines and World Government agents were either hiding or taking shelter from the ongoing battles. Too weak to do anything.
But Yosaku tuned it out, focused solely on the wolf zoan before him. Jabra was relentless, targeting any perceived weakness in Yosaku's defense. The pirate braced his legs, refusing to give ground. He had trained under Luffy for too long to let this bastard shake his spirit.
With a roar, Jabra launched himself skyward, bouncing off a nearby wall, using Geppo to go up, before dive-bombing Yosaku from above. "Is using that shield only thing you can do?"
Yosaku rolled to the side just in time, the impact cratering the stone where he had stood. Capitalizing on the brief opening, Yosaku lashed out with his axe, using Soru at the right moment. The blade parted only air as Jabra twisted away with uncanny flexibility, using Paper-art. "Heh, almost had me there…"
"Still do," Yosaku replied, kicking Jabra on the side of his leg, throwing off his balance, before bringing his axe down trying to decapitate him. But again Jabra moved away, a bit pissed off that he was almost caught off guard.
'I can finish this clown, if I use that… but I will be a laughing stock to others if I do so. Damn Lucci…' Jabra thought with a growl. Now that Lucci had one of the zoan-drugs in his hands. If Jabra used it before him then it would mean that he's weaker then Lucci. Which in fact, he was. But still Jabra had some pride left, and wasn't willing to do it, until it was an emergency.
Jabra had to admit, even with him using Tekkai, Yosaku's attacks were powerful. Few times he got hit, it almost broke through his defense. Almost as if he was used to fighting opponents with stronger durability.
'Maybe it's because of that damn ancient zoan… Gintaro or something… that bastard was his crewmate. Maybe the vice-captain? Who knows, but his skills were no joke,' Jabra thought, the pain his throat almost flaring up, 'Good thing we killed him back there at Water seven.'
Of course, the CP9 agent was unaware that Gin was still alive and was fighting in the same island with Vice Admiral Onigumo. Due to fighting happening here, the noises coming from the end of the island was being covered up.
"You're more persistent than you look," Jabra grudgingly admitted. "But it won't save you."
"Hmm?" Yosaku said, "Did you say something? I am just so overly strong that sometimes the voices of incredibly weak mutts don't register."
"Ho… I'm going to enjoy this more then I should."
Jabra moved again, his form burling in front of his opponent. He feinted a kick then pivoted, raking his claws toward Yosaku's torso. Yosaku turned the blow with his shield then smashed the pommel of his axe into Jabra's elbow as he overextended. The wolf zoan hissed in pain and surprise. First blood went to the pirate.
Jabra's grin turned savage, the scent of his own blood firing his battle-lust. He launched into a whirling tempest of strikes, claws and feet striking from all angles. Yosaku's shield rang like a bell from the impacts as he struggled to track the assault.
To anyone their movements were a blur. A choreographed dance of death. Each one striking to the intent to kill.
——