Sister and Brother

"So troublesome!"

Law fought against Cooler, dragging his exhausted body. His opponent was extremely experienced in combat and physically strong. Not only that, but he had also mastered Observation Haki, always managing to dodge Law's various attacks.

On the other side, Nia quickly snapped out of her emotions from reuniting with her younger brother. Her yellow, slit pupils narrowed slightly as she intently watched his movements.

"You haven't just been playing around these past few years, have you?"

Neo's body suddenly vanished from Nia's sight. The next moment, he appeared directly behind her, launching another kick towards her shoulder.

Barely dodging Neo's attack, Nia tumbled across the ground in a disheveled state.

"Your strength hasn't improved at all!"

Neo didn't pursue relentlessly. Instead, he waited for Nia to get back on her feet before speaking to her softly.

"Judging by your course, you're heading for the Grand Line, aren't you? With your current strength, you won't survive on that sea."

"Moreover, you've also provoked Doflamingo. I really don't know what you were thinking. Even if you're ignorant, there should be a limit."

"Hmph! You've gotten quite a bit better in a few years, Neo!"

Nia glared fiercely at her younger brother, feeling a pang of annoyance in her heart.

Annoyance at herself.

Although she had described her brother as a complete genius when explaining family matters to Rod earlier, her strength had always surpassed his before she ran away from home.

However, after their brief exchange just now, she sadly realized that she was no match for Neo anymore.

What have I been doing all these years!?

She wanted to break free from the family's constraints, but she had forgotten that only sufficient strength was the guarantee for her to do so.

"You should come home with us. If you're worried about the King, there's no need. Dawson Bourbon is dead; the current King is Dawson Flynn."

"Dead?"

Nia blinked slightly at Neo's words.

The King who had once put immense pressure on her, forcing her to flee, was dead?

"I always called him an old geezer, but he was only forty. I hadn't heard of any serious illness before, so how did he die so suddenly?"

"Who knows."

Neo's expression remained unchanged.

"So, you should come back with us."

"Accompanying us this time is a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral, Onigumo. He's an influential hawk among the Marines. I doubt any of the pirates on this island can escape.

Although you defeated a Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral at Spiders Mill before, Vice Admiral Onigumo is completely different from them. His strength is considered top-tier even among all Marine Headquarters Vice Admirals."

"To put it bluntly, I don't think you have any chance of escaping."

"It looks like I'll have to finish you off quickly!"

Hearing Neo's words, Nia's expression shifted slightly. Then, she leaned forward, the corners of her mouth curling up to reveal sharp teeth. Two black cat ears sprouted from the top of her head.

"If I haven't finished my fight after Rod deals with that Vice Admiral Onigumo, he'll probably laugh at me."

"Devil Fruit?"

Seeing the changes in Nia's body, Neo understood slightly.

"Is this your trump card? But relying solely on the fruit won't erase the gap in our strength."

"You've become quite eloquent after not seeing each other for a few years."

Nia suddenly appeared in front of Neo, her right hand forming a claw as she slashed fiercely.

"Geppo? It seems you've learned a few things."

Neo recognized the ability Nia used at a glance.

"But it's too immature!"

Leaning back to evade Nia's attack, Neo followed up with a kick that struck her chest, sending her flying into the air.

"Geppo!"

The next moment, Neo's body appeared mid-air, flashing right beside Nia.

"The Marine Six Powers are secret techniques of the Marines, martial arts that surpass the limits of the human body.

Among them, Geppo can be considered a basic technique. To use it well, one needs not only superhuman physical fitness but also precise control over one's strength."

"And once you've mastered Geppo, Sky Walk will naturally follow."

Neo, still in mid-air, took a step forward but didn't fall. Instead, a series of "bang bang bang" sounds echoed as if he were stepping on invisible air, and he stopped in mid-air.

Nia, kicked into the air, twisted her body mid-flight, still trying to attack Neo with her claws. However, he easily dodged her attack by taking a step back with Sky Walk, and she was forced to fall back to the ground.

Looking up at Neo, who was stepping on air in mid-air, Nia frowned slightly.

"After mastering both Geppo and Sky Walk, Rankyaku will naturally follow," Neo said as he stepped on air, looking down at Nia. His voice clearly reached her ears.

"Rankyaku is a kick technique performed at super high speeds with immense power. It creates a vacuum that generates a cutting force to attack the opponent. This technique requires greater strength, as one must unleash extreme power in a very short amount of time.

Those who have mastered Soru and Geppo generally meet these conditions.

When this technique is cultivated to a high level, it can easily cleave a target in two."

"Just like this!"

As he spoke, Neo landed on the ground and unleashed a powerful kick. A curved slash then shot towards Nia. After Nia dodged it, a massive crack was left on the ground.

A opening!

Taking advantage of the gap in Neo's attack, Nia's body shot forward, lunging at Neo. She clenched her claws into fists and attacked Neo fiercely.

"Tekkai!"

Facing Nia's attack, Neo didn't dodge at all. With a low grunt, he took her punch head-on.

So hard!

Feeling the sensation from her fist, Nia was instantly startled. She then stomped her foot, and her body instantly shot backward.

Neo, who had taken Nia's punch, spoke with an unchanged expression.

"Tekkai is a defensive technique.

By accelerating blood flow and speeding up muscle movement, it infuses strength into a meticulously trained body, giving it iron-like hardness, making it impervious even to bullets and swords."

"Conversely, gathering all one's strength into the fingers and unleashing a lightning-fast attack with hardened fingers, a technique with power comparable to a bullet, is called Shigan!"

In the blink of an eye, Neo lunged in front of Nia. Before she could react, he poked his finger at her shoulder.

Puchi--

Neo's finger pierced directly through Nia's body, leaving a bloody hole.

"Just like this!"

"Damn it!"

With her shoulder pierced, Nia's movements were inevitably affected. However, she still launched a furious assault on Neo while he was close.

"Finally, there's Kami-e. This is also a defensive technique.

However, unlike Tekkai, which mobilizes the entire body's strength, this technique involves shedding all bodily strength. By sensing the airflow changes generated by the opponent's movements, one can make their body as light and thin as paper, controlling it with ease and dodging any attack aimed at them at the last possible moment."

Neo abandoned all offense. His entire body was as light as nothing, yet he could evade all of Nia's attacks and even speak leisurely.

This brat!

Nia frowned slightly, looking at Neo.

The gap in their strength was too vast!

Her attacks had no effect on Neo whatsoever, while Neo could easily inflict damage on her.

But is this brat trying to toy with me in this way?

I don't need him to teach me hand-in-hand like this!