Morito's Strength!

Morito didn't interfere with the battle between Kuzan and Vulture.

The Byakugan's perception and field of vision were both terrifying. Vulture and Kuzan had used the same tactic: creating a decoy to fool their opponent, then waiting for a chance to deliver a fatal blow.

Unfortunately, Vulture had seen through Kuzan's plan, while Kuzan hadn't seen through Vulture's intentions.

You had to admit, experience counted for a lot.

Kuzan was too young!

Kuzan was the Navy's greatest combat asset, while Vulture was the Pirates' greatest. Vulture's defeat of Kuzan meant the battle would end in victory for the Vulture Pirates!

The battle on the main front naturally drew a lot of attention. The moment Kuzan fell, everyone noticed.

"How is that possible? Kuzan actually lost?"

"A Logia can't beat a Zoan?"

Momonga, Kazan, and the others fighting aboard the warships noticed what was happening on the ice field. Their faces filled with disbelief.

Kuzan's talent was no less than that of any of the Three Monsters. He was simply younger. Give him a few more years, and he would surely catch up with them.

That wasn't to say Kuzan was weak now. Ordinary pirates with a bounty of 100 million Beli were no match for him.

But Vulture was one of the main fleet captains under Golden Lion's Flying Pirates.

His strength far exceeded what his bounty of 102 million Beli suggested.

While Momonga, Kazan, and the others looked grim, the pirates' morale soared, and they attacked the warships with even greater ferocity.

"A guy like you shouldn't have such a low bounty."

Kuzan's back burned with pain. Even the slightest movement made him suck in a sharp breath.

A bounty was one indication of how dangerous a pirate was, and that danger was directly tied to their own strength!

Though victory was within Vulture's grasp, he gave Kuzan no time to catch his breath.

"Who knows!"

Vulture licked the talons on his hand, a murderous glint flashing in his eyes.

The next second, Vulture closed in and thrust out his talons. Reinforced with Armament Haki, they shattered the ice with a single swipe.

"Ice Time Capsule!"

"I told you, it won't work!"

Crack, crack, crack!

The black talons struck the ice crystals, which shattered like a mirror. A vicious glint flashed in Vulture's eyes, and he sped up his attack.

He was confident this strike would finish Kuzan!

In that split second, there was a bang! Kuzan's body suddenly twisted. He bent at the waist like a shrimp and shot sideways out of the way.

Vulture's talons plunged into the ice, sending shards flying in every direction.

When did that kid show up?

He's fast!

"You looking to die too?"

Vulture was stunned, but kept his shock off his face. He glared murderously at Morito and thrust his talons toward the opening at Morito's chest and abdomen.

Morito was still in the pose he'd used to kick Kuzan away. Without breaking stride, he planted a foot on Vulture's reaching talons.

Using the force to leap, Morito sailed over Vulture and landed behind him.

"Don't... Run! You're no match for him!"

Kuzan gritted his teeth and staggered to his feet, drawing Vulture's attention.

Vulture had already badly wounded Kuzan, and then Morito had kicked him flying.

Morito had only kicked him to save him, but couldn't he have gone a little easier? Kuzan's lower back had gone numb!

Just as expected, Vulture's attention shifted to Kuzan.

Compared to Morito, an unknown nobody, Vulture was more wary of Kuzan.

Even seriously injured, Kuzan was still an opponent on his level.

Morito moved faster, striking before Vulture could.

Noticing something off in the battle, Vulture immediately beat his wings and took to the air, abandoning his position. But Morito wasn't attacking him.

He was attacking Kuzan!

A hand blade coated in Armament Haki came down.

Badly wounded already, Kuzan never expected Morito to launch a sneak attack. He barely had time to react before Morito knocked him unconscious.

Morito grabbed Kuzan by the collar, swung his arm, and tossed him onto the open ground behind him.

"If you're injured, just lie down."

Kuzan had been caught off guard because someone on his own side had attacked him, but Morito had still managed to knock him out with a single strike.

Vulture's gaze toward Morito grew serious.

There was no mistaking the Reserve Navy uniform, but Morito wasn't some ordinary grunt. He must have been a Naval Academy cadet who hadn't graduated yet.

It was no secret that former Marine Admiral Zephyr had stepped back from the front lines to become the Naval Academy's chief instructor. Any pirate crew with a little influence knew about it.

"Who are you?"

"Would it make a difference?"

At that, Vulture immediately transformed into Hybrid Form. His arms became wings, his legs became talons, while his body and bald head retained their original human form.

The Navy and pirates were destined to be enemies. There was no choice but to fight.

Caw!

Vulture took advantage of his height in the air and dived down toward Morito on the ice field, his sharp talons reinforced with Armament Haki.

The same move again and again?

Who did he think he was dealing with?

Morito hadn't just been standing around before. He'd been watching Vulture's fighting style the whole time. Kuzan and Vulture had fought for two and a half episodes, and Morito had already figured out the bald bird's habits.

Shave!

Morito vanished from where he stood, using incredible speed to evade Vulture's attack. Once Vulture's talons sank into the ice, Morito flashed back to his original position.

"Did you think I wasn't prepared?"

Vulture sneered and swept a wing back at him.

He'd noticed Morito's speed as soon as Morito had saved Kuzan: Marine Six Styles—Shave.

But not all Shave techniques were the same.

Morito's Shave wasn't just a matter of compressing his physical strength and releasing it in an instant. He combined it with an explosive burst of Chakra.

His speed was astonishing.

"So what if you were prepared?"

Vulture spread his wings, casting a vast shadow as they swooped down. Yet Morito remained perfectly calm.

Whether using Gentle Fist or a hard-hitting style, close combat was best.

Now that he'd dodged Vulture's opening attack and closed in, it was Morito's turn.

He gathered Chakra at his fingertips and used the Byakugan to see the meridians and pressure points in Vulture's wing.

Instead of using brute force, Morito applied a subtle touch. He raised his hand and brushed his fingertips across the feathers, following the direction of the descending wing.

With a light sweep, Chakra shot from his fingertips into a pressure point on the wing.

Vulture suddenly felt that the wing he'd swung at Morito was no longer under his control.

One wing drooped limply. Suspended in midair, Vulture immediately lost his balance, tilting sideways and crashing toward the ice.

Vulture reacted quickly. He slammed a palm down, shattering the thick ice beneath him.

He actually managed to support his tilting body with the strength of one arm.

Then he sprang back to his feet in a kip-up.

"Impressive technique. But it's time for you to clock out."

Morito tapped the air with his fingertip. A Chakra bullet shot through the air, colorless and invisible, striking Vulture right between the eyebrows.

His body went rigid, frozen in place as if time itself had stopped.