At the center of the training ground, the aftershocks of lightning and iron fists continuously exploded through the air with deafening booms, making the entire field tremble as if two colossal beasts were tearing it apart.
The two figures were almost impossible to follow with the naked eye. All that could be seen were streaks of slanted lightning and afterimages of jet-black Armament Haki colliding wildly.
After dozens of consecutive exchanges of fists and kicks, Zephyr fully understood that Rock was not merely putting on a brave front.
It was a combat method born from careful consideration, one that made perfect use of his Devil Fruit's properties.
Electric light continuously danced across Rock's body. Every movement of his muscles came with precise electrical stimulation, causing the activity of his muscle fibers to multiply.
Zephyr was shaken. "Using electricity to stimulate the muscles and enhance the body's elasticity... even his reaction speed has been pushed to its limit..."
"So that's how it is... To think he came up with such an application at such a young age?!"
The corner of Zephyr's mouth curled upward. The next instant, his presence surged sharply!
—Armament Haki flowed through his veins like an inky black sea!
His shoulders, arms, fists, and fingers were all covered in black, like perfect weapons forged by a master craftsman.
"Rock, kid! I admit you're impressive!!!"
His foot shattered the ground beneath it, and his powerful body vanished in an instant!
"—Soru!"
A black shadow raced low across the ground like a fierce tiger pouncing over the plains!
Lightning burst around Rock as his reaction speed kept up instantly. He raised his arm to block!
"Bang!!!"
Both of them were knocked back, but Rock's assault did not stop. Thunder exploded once again!
"Kami-e: Flash!!"
Zephyr's body continuously twisted and evaded amid the exploding lightning. His limbs moved as nimbly as paper, letting every one of Rock's lightning strikes graze past him.
Rock's eyes lit up. "Six Powers? Interesting..."
—Lightning suddenly erupted!
"Lightning Step: Flash!!"
His feet directly stamped trails of lightning into the ground, pushing his speed to the limit!
The two figures chased and collided, blasting ring after ring of shockwaves into the air above the training ground!
"Geppo!!"
Zephyr leaped into the air, transforming into a black cannonball as he plummeted toward Rock's head!
"Good!!!"
Rock gathered lightning in both hands, and a ring of electricity suddenly spread outward!
"Lightning Burst—!!!"
"Boom!!!"
Zephyr burst out of the lightning, his right leg black as a blade!
"Rankyaku: Rending Wind!!!"
Several slashing winds imbued with Armament Haki descended from above!
Rock crossed his arms, instantly raising a wall of lightning!
The instant their techniques exploded in midair, the ground was swept as though by a hurricane! Rubble, dust, and sparks scattered in every direction!
"Shigan: Piercing Iron!!!"
The dust exploded apart as Zephyr closed in and thrust forward. His five fingers shot toward Rock's chest like steel spears!
Lightning patterns spread over Rock's body, and his Lightning Armor instantly thickened!
"Bang—!!!"
The Shigan, condensed with extreme Armament Haki, struck the Lightning Armor and sent out flashes of electricity and sparks. Both men were knocked back at the same time!
Zephyr stared at his fingertips in surprise. "It actually can't pierce through? The Lightning Armor is hard enough to withstand Armament Haki?!"
Rock licked his lips, excited like a wild beast. "Zephyr, you're strong—"
"But I won't lose either!!!"
The two charged at each other again!
"Tekkai · Steel!"
Zephyr hardened his entire body, turning himself into a living weapon as he counterattacked with an elbow strike!
Lightning blazed around Rock. His muscles instantly tensed as thunder surged across his body. His muscles swelled in an instant, raising his strength another level!
The two once more met fist against fist!
"Boom—!!!"
A massive section of the training ground was forcibly crushed into collapse!!
The sound of fists and kicks colliding was like war drums, rhythmic yet violent, making the soldiers' hearts seem to beat along with them.
"Bang!!!"
"Boom!!!"
After dozens of exchanges between top-tier Armament Haki users, a faint layer of black gradually appeared over Rock's fists.
At the sight, Sengoku's glasses nearly slipped to the tip of his nose, and his pupils contracted sharply. "His Armament Haki... broke through?!"
Even Tsuru could not help showing a stunned expression. "He comprehended Armament Haki reinforcement by force in this kind of head-on clash?!"
Garp was already laughing so hard he could barely catch his breath. "Hahahaha! I told you that kid was a monster! Do you believe me now!!"
But merely breaking through did not mean Rock could immediately catch up to Zephyr.
The gap in strength between their Armament Haki was still enormous.
"Ha!!!"
Zephyr suddenly exerted force, driving a kick into Rock's abdomen with the weight of a hammer striking iron!
"Thud—!!!"
Rock was sent flying, crashing through the ground and smashing out a pit several meters deep. The entire field shook!
The soldiers screamed, "Vice Admiral Zephyr is getting serious!!"
"That kick... It hurts just watching it!!!"
Without giving him time to catch his breath, Zephyr used Soru to instantly arrive before him!
His figure vanished from the air, appearing above Rock's head the next instant!
"Haah!!!"
A blackened iron leg of Armament Haki, carrying enough force to smash through a rock wall, came crashing down at Rock's face!
Rock raised his arm and blocked it head-on!
"Bang—!!!"
The force was so great that Rock's entire arm immediately went numb!
The instant Zephyr landed, he followed up with a storm of punches, forcing Rock back step by step!
"Your thunder is indeed powerful!"
"But your Armament Haki is still far too lacking!!!"
Covered in battle scars, Rock panted beneath the gale-like pressure, yet a smile still curved his lips. "Mm... In close combat, you really have been overwhelming me."
"But—"
He suddenly raised his eyes, azure lightning flickering deep within his black pupils.
Sengoku's heart tightened outside the field. "This kid... he's changing tactics!!"
Seeing this, Zephyr roared, "It's over!!!"
His fist shot toward Rock like a cannonball. Just as that Iron Fist was about to strike—
Rock stopped moving, and the corners of his mouth slowly spread into a grin. "Zephyr."
"Don't forget—"
"I am lightning."
The next instant.
"Bzzzt—!!!"
Rock's body suddenly shattered into countless threads of lightning!
Zephyr's death blow Iron Fist pierced through the lightning, striking nothing but air!!
Zephyr's pupils shook. "He actually turned elemental at a time like this...!!?"
Behind him.
"Crackle—!!!"
The lightning reassembled, restoring Rock's complete form!
He rose into the air and hovered above the training ground, thunder pouring from beneath his feet like flowing water.
"Rumble—!!!"
High above, dark clouds began gathering at a speed visible to the naked eye!
They rapidly spread!
They swallowed the training ground!
They swallowed the Headquarters building!
They swallowed all of Marineford!!
The sentries in the distant harbor looked up, their faces instantly turning pale. "W-what... why did the whole sky suddenly go dark?!!"
"Is this a natural phenomenon?!!"
Sengoku's breathing visibly paused for half a second. "These aren't ordinary thunderclouds...!"
Tsuru looked at the lightning-shrouded figure floating in the sky, shock appearing in her eyes. "This is practically... a natural disaster..."
Zephyr slowly raised his head. Lightning illuminated his face, making the iron-blooded Vice Admiral reveal true shock for the first time:
"An influence on this scale...?!!"
Lightning gathered into thick thunder serpents that roared and darted through the dark clouds.
Rock stood high in the sky and raised one hand. The entire heavens answered with a rumble.
He slowly spoke, his voice not loud, yet it shook the entire field:
"Zephyr—"
"You'd better be careful from here on."
Thunder roared, and heaven and earth changed color.
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