The force of Kyros's twisting waist traveled up through Vergo's legs, sending shattered stone spiraling outward.
His vision spun. Vergo felt his belt suddenly tighten, and his entire body was lifted off the ground.
High in the stands, Doflamingo's sunglasses reflected the scene in the arena.
He had seen this move before-a pink-haired boy had used the same technique on a training ground many years ago.
Once an opponent's center of gravity left the ground, even the greatest strength lost its anchor.
"Throw him out!"
"Lord Kyros, finish it just like that-"
Amid the shouts, the muscles in Kyros's arms bulged.
The deep blue sea at the arena's edge glittered in the sunlight. Once Vergo crossed that boundary, the fight would be over.
But the tremors coming through his palms interrupted his exertion.
In midair, metallic black markings suddenly covered Vergo's skin.
It was not simple hardening, but some more violent eruption-the tremendous shaking between Kyros's finger bones felt like a struggling sea beast, forcing his ten fingers to loosen half an inch.
That half-inch gap was enough for Vergo to break free.
As he flipped over and landed, his soles plowed two scorched tracks across the stone.
"You almost had me."
Vergo rolled his neck, the black markings receding to his forearms like a tide.
His perpetually expressionless face grew even colder. "But there won't be a second time."
A true fight to the death was never limited to trading punches and kicks.
Even in this world of supernatural powers, human joints and vital points remained weaknesses.
Armament Haki could cover the skin, but it could not change the structure of the bones or the distribution of nerves.
"Vergo is at a disadvantage in technique."
In the shadows of the stands, Rossi spoke softly.
"But he has Armament