"The times have changed, old codger!"
"Still clinging to Haki and physical strength?"
"The power of Devil Fruits is where it's at, isn't it?"
"I only matched you in physical strength and Haki earlier because I wanted to see if I could learn something from you, but it seems now that there's clearly no such opportunity!"
"Since you don't know Conqueror's Haki coating, then there's no need for me to continue matching you in physical strength!"
"Come, let me show you how a mage of the new era fights!"
Before his words faded, purple lightning surged from Kyle's body once again.
"Thunder Meteor!"
A thick bolt of purple thunder crashed down from the sky again, its target aimed directly at Wang Zhi below.
!!
Wang Zhi's entire body tensed instantly, his fists immediately coated in Armament Haki, making his already scorched black fists appear even darker.
He threw a fierce punch.
Crackle!!
The moment his fist collided with the purple thunder, countless fragmented purple lightning serpents burst forth, spreading outwards.
Wang Zhi's body abruptly sank, the ground beneath his feet crushed even finer by the immense force.
After holding firm for several breaths, he was suddenly blasted away by the strike. The purple thunder crashed onto the ground, unleashing an incredibly powerful shockwave.
Wang Zhi's feet scraped continuously against the ground, plowing a long trench. The moment he halted his body, his legs bent slightly. He leaped with all his might towards Kyle, his face somewhat contorted.
"Don't get too cocky, you brat!!"
Wang Zhi clenched his right fist, drawing his arm back and continuously building power. Even his back curved like a drawn bow. Terrifying strength ceaselessly gathered in his fist.
Even from a considerable distance, Kyle could faintly sense the might of that punch. If he were hit, he probably wouldn't fare well.
But the thing was—
Wouldn't it be fine if he just didn't get hit?
While Wang Zhi was still a good distance away from Kyle, Kyle's form instantly vanished into purple lightning. When he reappeared, he was already one thousand meters above the ground, quietly looking down at Wang Zhi below.
Wang Zhi: ???
What?! Can't take it??
He had no means for a secondary launch in mid-air, so he was supposed to launch himself up to one thousand meters in a single jump?!
Not even a flea could jump that high!!
With this in mind, Wang Zhi immediately changed his approach. The heavy punch he had been charging was suddenly hurled towards the sky.
A powerful emission of Armament Haki burst forth, forming a shockwave that sped straight towards Kyle.
He truly couldn't jump that high, but his attack could certainly reach that altitude.
"Thunder Dragon!!"
Kyle uttered softly. Wild purple lightning surged and rolled around him, finally coalescing into a colossal thunder dragon over a hundred zhang long.
It shot fiercely downwards to meet the incoming shockwave.
The distance between them closed in an instant, and they collided.
In that split second, a thunderous blast resounded in the air. Countless purple lightning bolts scattered, transforming into fragmented serpentine sparks spreading in all directions, like the moment fireworks burst open.
Below, countless pirates on Hachinosu had instinctively lifted their heads, gazing at the sky, staring at that brilliant purple hue.
For a moment, everyone was captivated by the spectacle.
But anyone knew the immense danger hidden beneath this seemingly enchanting scene.
Just looking at those fragmented purple lightning bolts, feeling their dangerous and violent aura, made their hearts tremble uncontrollably.
This was their instinctive biological fear.
And while they were dazed, staring upward, their opponents certainly weren't going to let this opportunity slip.
"Gum-Gum… Rocket!!"
Luffy's fists, coated in Armament Haki, slammed fiercely into a dazed pirate in front of him. Tremendous power erupted from his palms, instantly blasting the pirate away. The pirate spat a mouthful of blood in mid-air before crashing heavily into a house.
The house collapsed instantly, debris burying him within.
Luffy withdrew his arms, a hint of disdain in his eyes.
"How dare you get distracted while fighting me? Do you think I'm one of those guys like Sabo? I'm actually very good at seizing opportunities!!"
After dealing with the opponent in front of him, Luffy turned his gaze to the ceaselessly dispersing purple thunder above, muttering under his breath while stroking his chin:
"Is that Wang Zhi really that strong? To think he's pushed Kyle to this extent?!"
"Brat!!"
"You've got it wrong. The question should be: is your partner really that strong, to have pushed Captain Wang Zhi to this extent!"
"You are the challengers here!!"
Just then, a deep voice came from a certain direction. Luffy's eyes instantly narrowed as he looked towards the source of the sound.
What came into view was a man with dark skin, wearing a tight night suit and fingerless gloves.
"Who are you?!"
Luffy asked.
"Heh~ Shouldn't I be the one asking you that? You're the ones who barged into our territory. Shouldn't you introduce yourselves first?"
The newcomer sneered.
Hearing this, Luffy mulled it over with his not-so-bright little head, thought it sounded very reasonable, and so earnestly replied in a loud voice:
"I'm Monkey D. Luffy, the man destined to become the Marine King!!"
"Heh~"
Hearing Luffy's declaration, Zeno couldn't help but laugh.
"Marine King? I've never heard of the Marines having a Marine King?!"
"That's because you're short-sighted and ignorant, that's why you don't know!"
Luffy shot him a faint glance filled with disdain.
Zeno's brow immediately furrowed, his gaze turning sinister.
"Brat, you've got quite a mouth on you!!"
"Enough with that. Who are you?!"
Luffy ignored his nonsense and asked Zeno's identity in turn.
Hearing this, a proud look immediately appeared on Zeno's face. He confidently declared:
"I am Dark Claw Zeno, with a bounty of ninety million Berries!!"
"Well?! Scared stiff hearing my name, huh, you brat?!"
"Hahaha…"
Zeno burst into laughter.
But Luffy's next sentence instantly froze the smile on his face.
"Dark Claw Zeno?! Never heard of him!!"
(⊙o⊙)...
???
Zeno immediately became agitated, straining his neck as he roared at Luffy:
"Brat, are you some kind of fake Marine? How can you not know my name?!"
"Don't know!!"
Luffy shook his head again, looking at Zeno with a serious expression.
"I only know Wang Zhi!!"
Luffy wasn't lying. Regarding the pirates on Hachinosu, he only knew Wang Zhi; he didn't know the others.
His brain simply couldn't hold information on that many people!!
But to Zeno's ears, these words were a blatant mockery.
Only knows Wang Zhi?! Didn't that imply that pirates like him weren't even worthy of Luffy's attention??
Thinking this, an expression of extreme anger instantly appeared on Zeno's face. His figure shot forward, charging at Luffy.
"Don't know me, huh, brat?! Today, I'll make sure you remember, I'll make you etch my great name into your memory!!"
...
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