Fire and Lightning vs. Flash

"Whoa, now... How terrifying... They actually took everyone out...? Even the Celestial Dragons..."

Kizaru landed on the deck less than a meter from Ye Mu's body, casually looking around at the scene on the warship's deck.

As far as the eye could see, there were navy soldiers collapsed everywhere, but strangely, there did not seem to be the slightest injury on them.

Still, that no longer mattered. Looking at the corpse of the dead Celestial Dragon not far away, a flash of golden light crossed Kizaru's glasses. He looked at the two pirates before him, as well as the dying navy admiral, golden light shimmering all over him as he raised his right foot high.

"Well, then... Guess there's no helping it... Young man... Speed is weight. Have you ever been kicked at the speed of light...?"

"Hm!!!"

But Kizaru's kick did not go out, because behind him, another voice rang out as well.

"Speed is weight, is it... I like that line. Then, navy man, have you ever been struck by rumbling thunder...?"

Kizaru, who had originally looked utterly unconcerned and even had time to stroke his beard, instantly changed expression. He looked back, staring at that lightning-wreathed foot flashing with blue light, and his pupils slowly widened.

"Whoosh..."

Without the slightest hesitation, Kizaru twisted his body, sending the kick that had originally been aimed at Ye Mu toward Enel instead.

"Bang..."

Powerful forces collided, lightning and light flashing, clashing, then bursting apart.

"Boom..."

A visible storm spread out with the three of them at its center, the air rippling outward like waves...

In the contest of strength, Kizaru stood unmoving where he was, while Enel was clearly already showing signs of being forced back.

"Oh... How terrifying... So you're the user of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit... No wonder you're so bold..."

As he said this, Kizaru actually still had time to turn his head and look at Ye Mu beside him. Deep beneath the disdain in his eyes, there was a profound wariness as he asked.

"Then, as the captain... what ability do you have...?"

"Hahaha..."

Ye Mu let out a loud laugh, casually threw away Gasparde's unconscious body, and drew the famous blade at his waist: Lion Maru.

"I certainly won't disappoint you..."

"This is..."

Visible to the naked eye, a scorching crimson glow appeared on Kizaru's glasses, which shone with golden light.

It was a towering flame, attached to the blade as it slashed toward Kizaru's neck...

"Not good..."

Without the slightest hesitation, Kizaru reached out one hand, golden light gathering and turning into a golden longsword.

"Ama no Murakumo Sword..."

"Clang..."

The blade of flame and the blade of light slammed violently together. In an instant, the air stirred up countless ripples, and after the fire and light exploded, they poured out in separate layers like rolling waves of cloud.

At that moment, the entire navy warship seemed to begin failing to withstand the power of the three of them. The deck rapidly started to split apart, visible cracks spreading outward with the three at their center...

"Crack... crack..."

At that moment, several drops of cold sweat finally trickled down Kizaru's forehead.

And in that instant, Ye Mu and Enel's power erupted. As they broke free from their standoff with Kizaru, they twisted their bodies and launched another blow.

One blade and one foot struck toward Kizaru.

Kizaru swiftly gripped the Ama no Murakumo Sword in both hands as well, blocking it in front of his chest.

"Bang..."

Kizaru's body visibly flew back like a cannonball, blasting through the warship's deck and being sent deep into the depths of the navy warship's cabin.

"Graah..."

With a pained howl, the enormous warship finally seemed unable to withstand that force. Centered on the huge hole smashed open by Kizaru's falling body, it split apart from the middle.

On the deck, Ye Mu and Enel, having completed that strike, looked as calm as ever as they gazed into the depths of the cabin, at the darkness at the bottom of the ship.

"How did it feel, Enel...?"

Ye Mu waved Lion Maru in his hand, extinguishing the flames on it.

Although Lion Maru was one of the fifty Skillful Grade swords and also a black blade, its material was still a little lacking and could not withstand high-temperature flames for too long.

Hearing Ye Mu's question, Enel was somewhat displeased, but he still said with great seriousness.

"He's very strong. In terms of power, I'm no match for him. As for Fruit abilities, that's not certain. As for Haki..."

"Hahaha, that's what makes it interesting. Otherwise, if he were too weak, this world would be far too boring..."

Ye Mu said with a laugh, and Enel's expression also grew excited.

And right then, from within the dark cabin, a drrr-drrr sound rang out.

"Hello, hello..."

"Kizaru, did you capture those two heinous criminals..."

"I'm very sorry... This mission may have failed... Fleet Admiral Kong..."

"What do you mean... Kizaru..."

"There was no helping it... Fleet Admiral Kong... Those two boys were both as terrifying as monsters... And one is a Logia Flame-Flame Fruit user, while the other is a Logia Rumble-Rumble Fruit user..."

"..."

Then came a long silence. Just then, in the pitch-black cabin, golden light appeared, shooting out in streaks and gathering on the deck to form Kizaru's figure. He held a transponder snail in his hand, looking troubled.

"How long can you hold them off? I'll have Zephyr bring people over immediately..."

"As for that... I don't know either... I can only try my best..."

After saying that, Kizaru hung up the transponder snail, then looked at Ye Mu and Enel.

"Sorry... That phone call delayed me a little..."

"Hahahaha... No problem... If you think that wasn't enough, I can give you a little more time... Hahahaha..."

Ye Mu answered with a laugh as well.

At that moment, they were clearly enemies, yet the atmosphere was extremely strange. Instead, it felt as if old friends were having a conversation.

Kizaru also looked at Ye Mu in front of him with some surprise.

"Interesting... No wonder you dared to kill the Celestial Dragons... Looks like my guess was right. Were you deliberately waiting here for me... Otherwise, with the fruit abilities you two have, you should have escaped long ago..."

"That's right..."

In truth, that had not been Ye Mu's plan at first. His original targets had only been the Heavenly Tribute and Fisher Tiger.

But when he came onto the deck and saw the news that One Piece, Gol D. Roger, had already been arrested, that Golden Lion had caused havoc at Marine Headquarters, and that Roger would be publicly executed in Loguetown half a month later, he changed his mind.

With Roger's arrest, the entire world had already begun to fall into turmoil. On top of that, it would not be long before Roger opened the Great Pirate Era.

Whether it was the Marines or the World Government, it would be very difficult for them to spare a large number of troops. In that case, even if one or two Celestial Dragons were killed, what did it matter...

Ye Mu was crazy, but he was not stupid.

And so-called fate was just like the words Ye Mu had once told Roger.

I am only willing to believe in the fate I like!

And now...

Ye Mu looked at Kizaru and said with a loud laugh.

"There's no helping it... As a rookie pirate who has just set out, in order to understand my own strength and determine my position in this world's food chain, I can only think of some special methods..."

"Oh... So you killed the Celestial Dragons... How terrifying..."

At that moment, Kizaru's face took on a seriousness it had never had before, because from Ye Mu's words, he heard an unprecedented ambition.

And just then, another sentence rang out, one that left him somewhat dumbfounded.

"Although it's somewhat unlikely, before the next battle begins, I still want to ask one thing..."

"Marine!!!"

"Are you interested in joining my pirate crew... I'm in great need of reliable companions right now..."