He acknowledged Garp's strength.
But he had treated their earlier fight as a sparring match. Intense as it was, that was all it had been.
In a fight to the death, he would not defend, much less refrain from using Teleportation.
Since the old man wanted to see him fight at full strength, he would grant his wish.
Bang!
His right foot drove backward, collapsing the ground in an instant. Using the recoil, Kuta shot straight toward Garp like a bullet fired from a gun.
"One Sword Style: Flash!"
Kuta vanished mid-charge and appeared behind Garp.
He lowered his head, nebulae swirling in his azure-blue pupils as he fixed his gaze on the back of Garp's neck. With a ringing shing, he drew his sword and slashed.
Clang!
As though he had foreseen it, a red light flashed in Garp's eyes. The instant Kuta disappeared, he turned and punched behind him, striking the descending blade squarely.
Kuta had expected this.
Old as the man was, his reflexes and the combat muscle memory forged through countless battles arguably made him the world's strongest close-quarters fighter.
Whoosh!
Kuta vanished again, appeared on Garp's right, and swung once more.
Clang!
Once again, a fist blocked Zankū's blade.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Kuta flashed around Garp, swinging relentlessly, but every strike met a fist coated in pitch-black Haki.
Clearly, the old man's Observation Haki had reached the point where he could predict the future.
That was how he knew where Kuta would emerge from each teleportation and where each slash would fall.
"Hahaha!" Amid the flashing blades, Garp's fists blurred as he caught every strike. He laughed. "Brat, even if you can teleport, you can't do a thing to me in close combat!"
"Oh... really?"
Clang!
After another exchange, Kuta used the force of the