I Fight, Therefore I Am!

Lynn was undoubtedly locked in a bitter battle.

Fisher Tiger wanted to step in and help, but before he could make a move, Lynn began shifting his feet back and forth, attacking Zephyr once more with light, butterfly-like footwork!

A left jab.

A right hook.

He retreated...

A left straight.

He leaned forward...

A right swing.

It was not merely that his punches were fast. Lynn himself was moving at an astonishing pace, so fast that afterimages nearly appeared.

Anyone familiar with the arena would have recognized it at a glance: this graceful, butterfly-like footwork was Lynn's signature technique!

A relentless barrage of punches struck Zephyr's body, yet he merely defended passively.

"Has he been suppressed?"

Fisher Tiger frowned deeply, but quickly dismissed that conclusion.

After all, aside from the first two heavy punches that had forced Zephyr back half a step, Zephyr had not moved at all in the face of Lynn's ferocious assault!

Lynn could not break through Zephyr's defense!

Suddenly, Zephyr threw a heavy punch forward. Lynn hurriedly retreated, barely dodging the blow.

Maintaining his bouncing butterfly footwork, Lynn sighed, "As expected of Teacher Zephyr."

But veins bulged across Zephyr's fist. Gritting his teeth, he growled angrily, "Brat, are you looking down on me? Why aren't you using your full strength?!"

He was not using his full strength?

Fisher Tiger, standing nearby, could not help being shocked by those words.

Facing a former Marine Admiral, Lynn still had the leeway to hold back?

But what Lynn said next shocked Fisher Tiger even more.

"Isn't Teacher Zephyr doing the same?"

Lynn suddenly clenched his fists. The calmness vanished from his face, replaced by rage as he roared, "Black Arm Zephyr, do you think you can arrest BOSS Lynn Barek without even using Armament Haki?!"

Lynn roared out the anger in his heart.

He was Lynn Barek, the undefeated king of Sabaody Arena, with four thousand victories!

Over four years, through an average of three high-intensity battles every day, Lynn had long since fused his pride into combat itself.

Giving everything in every battle was Lynn's respect for his opponents!

Yet Zephyr was fighting Lynn with an attitude of "appreciation" and "instruction," something Lynn could never accept.

Hearing Lynn's words, Zephyr suddenly shuddered and understood.

The two sides in this battle were not teacher and student, but Marine and criminal.

In other words, holding back in any way was an insult to the other party!

"Honestly, it seems this old man has been taught a lesson by you."

Zephyr removed the Justice Cape from his back and rolled up his sleeves, revealing his sturdy arms.

Then, black Armament Haki with a metallic sheen coated Zephyr's arms.

With the appearance of Armament Haki, Zephyr's presence abruptly changed.

It felt as though an ordinary goldfish had suddenly transformed into a gigantic Sea King.

The current Zephyr was no longer the gentle Rookie Instructor, but the Marine Admiral who had crushed countless pirates with his fists—Black Arm Zephyr!

"This old man is coming."

Zephyr exhaled softly, then suddenly stepped forward!

Lynn felt the ground tremble. When he looked up again, Zephyr's black iron fist had already reached his face.

So fast!

Lynn's pupils contracted as he leaned back, barely evading the punch.

But just as Lynn was preparing to retreat and adjust his footing, Zephyr's left hand moved first and seized Lynn by the head!

Then Zephyr drew back his right fist, gathering power as he exhaled a stream of hot breath.

"Don't you die on me, Hero!"

A right hook wrapped in Armament Haki landed squarely on Lynn's chest!

Black Arm Shatter!

Boom!

In that instant, Lynn felt as though a mountain had slammed into his chest. His insides were churned upside down, and even his heart stopped beating for several seconds!

Lynn spat out a mouthful of blood with a "wah," but there was not the slightest fear on his face. Instead, he looked incredibly excited.

"Of course I won't die. Hah."

Lynn exhaled.

"Thank you, Teacher Zephyr. That was a truly powerful punch!"

Energy Value: 350.

300.

200.

100!

Hero Skill: Wicked Blow!

Consumes a large amount of Energy Value, stacking up the damage received before unleashing a frontal punch in one direction.

The greater the damage received in a short period of time, the greater the power of this punch!

Lynn roared. His blood mixed with his shout as it reached Zephyr's ears. Zephyr's pupils abruptly shrank, and a dangerous sensation surged through his heart.

Not good!

Zephyr hurriedly released Lynn and tried to retreat, but Lynn's Wicked Blow had already struck Zephyr in the abdomen first!

Boom!

A dull sound like a beating war drum!

The force of the punch penetrated Zephyr's body, shattering his shirt.

Zephyr clenched his teeth, yet several drops of blood still seeped through them.

"Hah... hah, I really am getting old."

Zephyr looked at Lynn as he steadied his breathing. "Is that a Devil Fruit ability?"

Lynn panted heavily and nodded.

Zephyr said seriously, "Turning damage you receive into a counterattack... that move is far too dangerous. Brat, don't rely too heavily on your Devil Fruit ability."

"You really are strict, Teacher Zephyr."

Lynn gave a bitter smile and assumed his stance again.

"You still want to continue?" Zephyr was somewhat surprised.

Although their exchange had seemed evenly matched, Zephyr knew clearly that he held the absolute advantage. He believed Lynn understood that as well.

"Don't keep fighting. You'll die." Zephyr looked at the badly wounded Lynn and slowly said, "The outcome has already been decided."

"This has nothing to do with victory or defeat, Zephyr!"

Lynn's right arm had become a bloody mess from the previous attack, and several of his ribs were broken.

He panted heavily. Both arms hung limply at his sides, yet he forced his body upright with everything he had.

"There is only one reason I'm continuing to fight—"

"Because I'm still standing here!"

Lynn forcibly raised both arms, clenched his fists, and took up a fighting stance.

"I fight, therefore I am!"

Lynn shouted, glaring at Zephyr without the slightest wavering in his eyes.

He clenched his fist, then threw it forward in fury!

Zephyr watched Lynn, then watched as his punch struck Zephyr's Armament Haki.

It landed with a bang, as though striking a shield.

"That's enough, brat!"

Zephyr slowly said, "Give up. I'll do my best to ensure that you receive a fair trial."

As he said this, Zephyr felt a little guilty, because he understood the identity of the brat before him.

A Celestial Dragon's slave.

Someone branded with the Hoof of the Celestial Dragon could never receive a fair trial before the World Government.

To the World Government, slaves were not "people."

But Lynn merely wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and slowly adjusted his breathing.

He still had one final move.

Hero Form—Ultimate Skill: Showstopper!

Consumes a large amount of Energy Value. Using one's monstrous strength as a foundation, carry the enemy forward for a distance before smashing them viciously into the ground!

Yet the enemy Lynn faced was the former Marine Admiral, Black Arm Zephyr.

Lynn had no confidence whatsoever that Showstopper could shake Zephyr's Armament Haki.

More accurately, deep down, Lynn believed that he could not shake it.

But he had to try.

Taking his stance, Lynn prepared to use all the Energy Value within his body to unleash that final Showstopper.

This was his last hope.

He did not need to defeat Zephyr. So long as he could stop him briefly and give himself and Fisher Tiger time to board that warship, they would still have a chance to escape the harbor!

Zephyr also saw through Lynn's intentions. He let out a soft sigh, preparing to carry out his duty as a former Admiral.

However, at the instant Lynn was about to make his move, Fisher Tiger suddenly lunged toward him!

To be honest, Lynn was startled. A huge crimson Fish-Man face flying toward him was rather terrifying.

"Watch out!"

Fisher Tiger lunged and pulled Lynn away. Then came a—

Boom!

A cannonball landed where Lynn had just been and exploded violently.

Only then, absorbed in his duel with the Admiral, did Lynn realize they still had another major problem to deal with.

The Celestial Dragons' indiscriminate bombardment of every harbor was still continuing!

The original text was revised a little. It seems the chapter comment for that original line was deleted. My sins, my sins...