Light flashed across the center of Egghead Island. Yellow beams cut through the smoke, leaving scorched lines on the dirt. The wind carried the smell of burnt grass and ozone.
Ben stepped through the smoke. The yellow suit of the Marine Admiral blurred as Kizaru appeared a few paces away. Kizaru raised a leg, light gathering on the polished shoe. The Admiral unleashed a series of kicks, sending crescent-shaped waves of light across the clearing.
Ben did not dodge.
Ben activated the Limitless. Space around his body warped, dividing infinitely. The waves of light struck the barrier and stopped. The attacks hung inches from Ben's shirt before fading into sparks.
Kizaru tilted his head, studying the defense.
The Admiral raised both hands and crossed his fingers. Dozens of glowing orbs appeared in the sky, forming the Yasakani no Magatama. The orbs rained down, covering the area.
Ben tapped into Brandish's magic.
The ability to control size took hold.
Ben spoke one word.
The falling orbs shrank. The destructive shower became tiny specks resembling fireflies. They drifted toward the grass and vanished.
Ben stepped forward, shifting onto the balls of his feet. His posture changed, adopting the unpredictable stance of Park Ilpyo. The martial art flowed without the Nine Tails power.
Ben closed the distance.
His right foot pivoted, driving a crescent kick toward Kizaru's ribs.
Kizaru reacted, forming a sword of light to block.
Shin met light.
The impact created a shockwave that flattened the remaining grass. Kizaru slid backward, his boots carving trenches into the dirt. The sword of light flickered under the pressure.
Ben did not pause.
He dropped his foot and spun, launching a series of strikes.
Left hook.
Right straight.
Low sweep toward the knees.
The martial arts flowed together. Kizaru parried with the light sword, remaining on the defensive. He deflected a punch, the clash ringing across the clearing.
Ben created distance and raised a hand.
Ben traced a finger through the air, creating three purple magic circles in a triangle.
"Fire," Ben said.
Beams of magical energy erupted from the circles.
Kizaru turned his body into light, attempting to scatter and reform away from the attack.
Ben anticipated the movement.
Using Gojo's power, Ben pulled the space backward.
Kizaru's light was dragged into the path of the magic.
The beams struck.
An explosion rocked the center camp. Dirt flew into the air, and a crater formed in the ground.
Smoke filled the clearing.
The fighting stopped for a moment.
Kizaru reformed at the edge of the crater. Burn marks covered the yellow suit, and his glasses sat crooked on his nose. He brushed soot from a sleeve.
The high-speed fight had taken its toll. His Devil Fruit provided speed, but Ben had too many ways to counter it.
Ben stood across the crater, untouched.
His breathing remained steady.
Kizaru raised a hand, preparing to gather more light.
Ben vanished.
A sharp crack echoed through the clearing.
Ben used Apparition.
Space folded.
Ben appeared above Kizaru.
The Admiral looked up.
Ben reached down and placed one hand on Kizaru's shoulder.
The magic activated.
Ben set the destination in his mind.
A quiet island far from the Grand Line.
Space twisted.
With another crack, Kizaru disappeared from Egghead Island.
The air rushed into the space he had occupied.
Ben stood alone at the edge of the crater.
Far away, in the East Blue, waves moved gently against a deserted beach. White sand stretched along the shore, and palm trees moved in the warm breeze. No houses stood on the island, and no ships were anchored nearby.
A crack broke the silence.
Kizaru fell from the sky and landed on his back in the sand.
The Admiral groaned and sat up, looking around at the palm trees.
Waves rolled onto the shore.
A piece of white paper drifted down from above and landed on Kizaru's lap.
He picked it up.
The paper contained a short handwritten message.
Enjoy the vacation.
Kizaru stared at the note.
Lines formed across his forehead.
His mind immediately pictured Fleet Admiral Akainu sitting behind his desk, shouting about duty, handing out stacks of paperwork, and demanding twenty hours of work each day to make up for an unauthorized absence.
Kizaru sighed.
His body ached from the fight, and his mind was exhausted.
The East Blue offered warm sand and quiet water.
Kizaru crumpled the note and placed it in his pocket. He lay back down and pulled his yellow coat over his face to block the sun.
Sleep came within seconds.
Back on Egghead Island, the eastern front battle continued.
The earth looked like a plowed field. Trenches cut through the dirt, while broken trees lay scattered across the mud. Ju Peter thrashed through the area, churning the ground.
Emeth stood among the ruins.
The ancient robot raised an iron fist. Gears turned inside its frame as Emeth drove the punch into the side of Ju Peter's head.
The impact sent mud outward and rippled through the puddles.
Ju Peter hissed and opened his mouth.
The worm snapped toward Emeth, trying to bite the metal arm.
Nami moved.
The navigator crossed the mud quickly, her boots barely touching the ground.
Nami gripped the Clima-Tact.
"Extend," Nami ordered.
The staff shot forward, growing in length and thickness.
The metal end struck Ju Peter's lower jaw, forcing the mouth shut and redirecting the bite away from Emeth.
Nami continued.
"Fulmen."
Electricity gathered at the tip.
A bolt of lightning erupted from the staff and struck the wet mud beneath Ju Peter.
The water conducted the electricity.
Ju Peter convulsed as the current traveled through his body, locking the worm's segments in place.
Above the mud, Vivi hovered.
Vivi aimed downward.
"Bounded Field," she said. "Chains of the Desert."
The Uru metal glowed.
Magic circles appeared in the mud around Ju Peter.
Chains made of golden light emerged from the circles and wrapped around the worm's body, pulling tight and pinning it to the ground.
"Chopper, now!" Vivi called.
Chopper stood nearby in Heavy Point. He raised both hands and focused.
"Bombarda Maxima!" he shouted.
A sphere of explosive magic shot from his hooves.
The spell struck the center of the restrained worm.
The explosion tore through the air, damaging the outer layers of Ju Peter's hide.
Brook entered the fight.
The musician moved along the golden chains of light.
Brook leaped into the air, cane sword in hand.
"Gravity," he whispered.
He swung the blade downward.
Purple energy struck Ju Peter.
The gravity around the worm increased tenfold.
Ju Peter sank deeper into the mud as the increased weight pressed its body downward.
Brook landed on the worm's back.
The cane sword glowed with alternating light and dark energy.
Brook dashed along the spine, delivering a series of slashes.
The dark magic cut into the flesh, while the light magic burned the wounds.
Ju Peter thrashed.
A mechanical hum cut through the battle.
Carue flew into the air above the worm.
The riding duck wore a suit of Iron Man armor. Red and gold plates covered his body, with repulsor thrusters keeping him airborne. A visor displayed targeting information.
Carue quacked.
The duck raised both wings.
The gauntlets charged.
Twin repulsor blasts struck the open wounds on Ju Peter's back, driving the worm deeper into the mud.
The group paused.
Nami lowered the staff.
Vivi hovered with the spear ready.
Chopper breathed heavily.
Brook sheathed the cane sword.
Carue remained in the air as the repulsors cooled.
Emeth stood ready.
Then the dirt shifted.
Ju Peter rolled over.
The golden chains shattered into dust.
The gravity effect faded.
Dark aura leaked from the worm's hide.
Regeneration began.
The lightning burns disappeared.
Brook's cuts closed.
The damaged hide from Chopper's explosion reformed.
Ju Peter rose from the mud.
The worm opened its mouth and roared, vibrating the puddles around it.
Nami sighed and brushed a strand of orange hair away.
"The healing is unfair."
Vivi tightened her grip on the spear.
"The attacks deal damage. The beast simply resets the board. We lack a permanent solution."
Chopper cracked his knuckles.
"Then we keep dealing damage. We hold the line."
Brook drew his cane sword again.
"A war of waiting. A familiar tune."
Carue quacked in agreement as the repulsors began charging.
Emeth stepped forward.
Its gears turned as the ancient robot raised a fist.
The eastern front returned to the same pattern.
The group attacked together.
Ju Peter absorbed the attacks, healed, and struck back.
Mud churned beneath them as magic, lightning, and repulsor blasts filled the battlefield. Emeth traded blows with the worm while the others worked to restrain and damage it.
Neither side gained ground.
The battle against Ju Peter became a stalemate.