Wuli vs. Koby and Helmeppo

"Koby, shall I go first?" Helmeppo asked, brimming with fighting spirit. Koby nodded.

Helmeppo toyed with his two kukri blades and stepped forward while Koby withdrew from the field.

"I heard you defeated my old man? Let me test whether you really need both of us to take you on." As soon as Helmeppo finished speaking, the two kukri blades in his hands began to spin.

They gradually spun faster and faster, like a whirling disc, their cold gleam biting.

Helmeppo moved, charging straight at Wuli. His kukri blades came in at tricky angles, targeting Wuli's vital points.

"Helmeppo's attacks have grown stronger again. His recent training must have improved him greatly." Koby had been undergoing hellish training under Garp alongside Helmeppo, and as his close partner, he immediately sensed the difference in Helmeppo's attacks.

Although Helmeppo's kukri blades appeared to be aimed at his chest and heart, Wuli felt faint chills at his forehead, heart, and other places.

It was as if they could become Helmeppo's targets at any moment. Still unfamiliar with his opponent's fighting style, Wuli could only probe him for now.

"I just wonder whether this Wuli really is as strong as they say. The higher-ups sent the two of us to assess him alone, so he shouldn't be weak." Koby said, rubbing his chin.

Helmeppo swung his kukri blades with extreme ferocity. One careless mistake would get Wuli hit.

"Why aren't you using your real strength against me? If you defeated my old man, you should be capable of more than this!" Helmeppo roared as he attacked.

"Or are you looking down on me?!" Helmeppo slashed Wuli back once more.

Helmeppo was somewhat angered. It looked like he held the upper hand, but he knew Wuli had not gone all out.

Whenever his kukri blades met Wuli's sword, Wuli retreated.

Wuli gradually became familiar with Helmeppo's attack patterns and could even predict his next move.

I've figured out his fighting style. I can try using the esoterica of the Shigure Soen Ryu.

He had used the Swordsmanship Esoterica Scroll at the start of his battle against the NEO Marines.

But he had never fully mastered the esoterica of the Shigure Soen Ryu. It had always felt as though something was missing.

That feeling I lacked before now seems within reach. Let's test it out. Wuli's eyes lit up.

Helmeppo's aura erupted as he prepared to end the battle with his strongest strike.

Seeing his attack about to land on Wuli, who showed no intention of dodging, Helmeppo's lips curled upward. His full-power blow would surely inflict severe damage.

As Koby was sighing over how Wuli did not seem as strong as he had expected—

His Observation Haki suddenly seemed to catch sight of flames burning amid raindrops. Helmeppo appeared to freeze in place, helplessly watching as Wuli's blade stabbed toward his chest without any defense.

Koby's expression changed drastically as he shouted, "Not good! Helmeppo, get back!"

Soru!

As he spoke, the ground beneath where Koby had been standing caved in. In the next instant, he appeared behind Wuli.

Koby fixed his gaze on Wuli's back, his eyes narrowing as he clenched his right fist. A powerful aura erupted from him, and the "Justice" uniform draped over him billowed in the wind.

"Hm?" A trace of surprise flashed through Wuli's eyes as he turned and threw a punch.

Bang!

Wuli and Koby each staggered back several steps after their fists collided.

Helmeppo regained his speed and tried to seize the chance to attack Wuli.

The flames appeared again. Koby inwardly cursed and urgently shouted, "Get back!"

Although Helmeppo did not know why Koby had said that, he chose to trust his comrade.

At the same time, Koby's attack was also rushing toward Wuli.

Wuli curled his lip in dissatisfaction. "Observation Haki really is troublesome."

The flames on his blade vanished. A glint flashed through Koby's eyes as his mind raced. Just as I thought, it's something strange about those flames. They slow Helmeppo's movements more and more. But this move isn't without a weakness. When he is attacked by someone else, it loses its effect.

"Wuli, I'm sorry, but I'm afraid you won't pass the recruitment assessment." Koby said regretfully. He and Helmeppo coordinated seamlessly as they attacked together.

Wuli could not evade their pincer attack. If he defended against one of them, he would be struck by the other.

Suddenly, a flame appeared like a flower blooming in midair.

Koby did not pay it any mind, because this move was ineffective against two people.

But then a shocking sight unfolded before him: several more flames appeared.

They flew separately toward Helmeppo and Koby. Wuli kicked at Helmeppo, and when Koby tried to take the opportunity to attack, he found his movements slowing.

After Wuli kicked Helmeppo away, Koby watched Wuli's fist close in on his face.

Thud!

Helmeppo and Koby crashed to the ground one after the other. Blood trickled from one corner of one man's mouth, while a bruise appeared on the other's face.

"You win."