Flame and Lightning vs. Flash

"Hey, hey... How terrifying... They were all dealt with... Even the Celestial Dragon..."

After landing on the deck, Kizaru stood less than a meter from Ye Mu. He casually surveyed the scene on the deck of the warship.

Everywhere the naked eye could see, Marines had collapsed, yet strangely, they didn't seem to have suffered the slightest injury.

But that was no longer important. Looking at the corpse of the Celestial Dragon in the distance, a golden glint flashed across Kizaru's glasses. He looked at the two pirates before him and the Marine admiral who was barely clinging to life. Golden light shimmered across his body as he raised his right leg high.

"Well then... I suppose it can't be helped... Young man... Speed is weight. Have you ever been kicked at the speed of light...?"

"Hmm!!!"

But Kizaru's kick never landed, because another voice sounded behind him.

"Speed is weight, huh... I like that line. Then, Marine, have you ever been struck by lightning...?"

Kizaru had looked completely disdainful, even having time to stroke his mustache. But his expression changed in an instant. He turned around and saw a lightning-coated leg flashing with blue light. His pupils slowly widened.

"Whoosh..."

Without the slightest hesitation, Kizaru turned around. The leg that had been aimed at Ye Mu now met Enel instead.

"Boom..."

Powerful forces collided. Lightning and light flashed and fought against each other before exploding.

"Boom..."

A visible storm erupted with the three of them at its center, and the air rippled outward like waves...

In the contest of strength, Kizaru stood motionless, while Enel was clearly showing signs of defeat.

"Oh... How terrifying... He's actually a Rumble-Rumble Fruit user... No wonder he's so bold..."

Even as he spoke, Kizaru had enough leisure to turn his head and look at Ye Mu beside him. Beneath the disdain in his eyes was deep apprehension as he asked,

"Then, as the captain... what kind of ability do you possess...?"

"Hahahaha..."

Ye Mu laughed loudly, casually threw aside Gasparde's unconscious body, and drew the skillful-grade blade at his waist: Lion Maru.

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

"This is..."

Visible to the naked eye, a blazing crimson light appeared over Kizaru's golden glasses.

It was a surging flame clinging to the blade as it slashed toward Kizaru's neck...

"Damn it..."

Without the slightest hesitation, Kizaru extended one hand. Golden light gathered and formed a golden-yellow sword.

"Ame no Murakumo..."

"Clang..."

The flaming blade and the blade of light slammed into each other. Countless ripples instantly spread through the air. After the explosion, the flames and light poured outward in layers like rolling waves and clouds.

At that moment, the entire Marine warship seemed unable to withstand the power of the three men. The deck began to split rapidly, visible cracks spreading outward from the three of them...

"Crack... crack..."

At that moment, several drops of cold sweat finally appeared on Kizaru's forehead.

Just then, Ye Mu and Enel's power erupted. They broke free from their standoff with Kizaru, spun around, and launched another attack.

A slash and a kick struck toward Kizaru.

Kizaru quickly gripped Ame no Murakumo with both hands and raised it before his chest.

"Boom..."

Kizaru's body was visibly sent flying like a cannonball. He pierced through the deck of the warship and was blasted deep into its hold.

"Roar..."

Following a painful howl, the massive warship finally seemed unable to withstand the force. Centered on the hole smashed open by Kizaru's falling body, it began splitting apart.

On the deck, Ye Mu and Enel stood calmly after completing their attack, looking toward the dark depths of the hold and the bottom of the ship.

"How do you feel, Enel...?"

Ye Mu waved Lion Maru, extinguishing the flames covering it.

Although Lion Maru was one of the fifty skillful-grade blades and a black blade, its material was still somewhat lacking. It couldn't withstand high-temperature flames for too long.

Hearing Ye Mu's question, Enel was somewhat displeased, but he still answered seriously,

"He's very powerful. I'm no match for him in strength. As for Devil Fruit abilities, that's still uncertain. As for Haki..."

"Hahaha, this is what makes it interesting. If he were too weak, this world would be far too boring..."

Ye Mu laughed as he spoke, and Enel's expression grew excited as well.

Just then, a crackling sound rang out from within the dark hold.

"Hey, hey..."

"Kizaru, have you captured those two heinous criminals...?"

"I'm very sorry... This mission may fail... Marshal Kong..."

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

"It can't be helped, Marshal Kong... Those two young men are both terrifying monsters... One is a Logia Flame-Flame Fruit user, and the other is a Logia Rumble-Rumble Fruit user..."

"..."

A long silence followed. Then, in the pitch-black hold, golden light appeared and shot out in streaks. It gathered on the deck, forming Kizaru's figure. He held a Den Den Mushi in his hand and looked troubled.

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

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

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

"Sorry... The call took a little time..."

"Hahahaha... It's fine... If you think that isn't enough, I can give you some more time... Hahahaha..."

Ye Mu answered with a laugh.

At that moment, although the two sides were clearly enemies, the atmosphere was extremely strange. Instead, they chatted as if they were old friends.

Kizaru also looked at Ye Mu before him with some surprise.

"Interesting... No wonder you dared to kill a Celestial Dragon... It seems my guess was right. You were deliberately waiting here for me, weren't you...? Otherwise, with the abilities of the two of you, you should have escaped long ago..."

"That's right..."

In fact, Ye Mu's original plan had not been this. His initial targets had only been the Heavenly Tribute and Fisher Tiger.

However, when he arrived on deck and saw that One Piece Gol D. Roger had already been captured, that Golden Lion had caused a commotion at Marine Headquarters, and that Roger was going to be publicly executed in Loguetown half a month later, he changed his mind.

With Roger's capture, the entire world had already fallen into turmoil. Moreover, before long, Roger would usher in the Great Pirate Era.

Neither the Marines nor the World Government would be able to spare a large number of troops. In that case, what would it matter if he killed one or two Celestial Dragons...?

Ye Mu was crazy, but he wasn't stupid.

And as for so-called fate, it was just like what Ye Mu had once told Roger.

"I'm only willing to believe in the fate I like!"

And now...

Ye Mu looked at Kizaru and laughed loudly.

"It can't be helped... As a rookie pirate who has just set out, I had to think of some special methods to understand my own strength and determine my position in this world's food chain..."

"Oh... So you killed a Celestial Dragon...? How terrifying..."

At this moment, an unprecedented seriousness appeared on Kizaru's face. From Ye Mu's words, he had sensed unprecedented ambition.

Just then, another sentence that left him dumbfounded rang out.

"Although it's somewhat unlikely, before the battle begins, there's still something I'd like to ask..."

"Marine!!!"

"Would you be interested in joining my pirate crew...? I'm in desperate need of reliable companions right now..."