A Fierce Battle, Composure, and the Bearing of a Conqueror!

But...

"I really was being underestimated!"

A dark figure shot into the air, grabbed Binz by the ankle, and slammed him down.

Whoosh!

Binz crashed into the ground like a meteor, blasting a massive crater into the earth. The shock wave spread outward, making the surrounding ground heave.

"Gah!"

Binz immediately spat out a mouthful of blood.

So strong.

This guy's strength was far beyond anything he could contend with...

"Hahaha! You think you can block my way at that level?"

The fugitive landed in the crater, grabbed Binz by the neck, and lifted him up. "If you don't die, who will?"

Binz's head spun. He couldn't even think straight.

Was this as far as he could go?

In the end, had he accomplished nothing?

"Binz!!"

Behind them, Binz's partner could finally hold back no longer. He roared as he leaped from the treetop and sprinted toward them.

He hadn't learned the Six Powers yet.

"You've got an accomplice?"

The fugitive grinned. "Don't worry, I'll send him to join you soon!"

He drew back his right hand, holding it like a blade, and aimed for Binz's heart.

"Die-"

"Rokuogan!"

An invisible shock wave erupted at the fugitive's chest, punching straight through his body and continuing to wreak havoc behind him.

"Gaaaaah!"

Caught completely off guard, the fugitive let out a bloodcurdling scream, even spewing tiny fragments of his internal organs from his mouth. Binz slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground, while the fugitive himself was blasted away.

"Tempest Kick!"

A huge, razor-sharp vacuum wave appeared out of thin air again, hurtling toward the fugitive as he flew through the air.

"Hah!"

A figure descended from the sky and swung a greatsword down, cleaving the vacuum wave apart.

Luna held the greatsword in one hand and caught the fugitive with the other, then flung him back onto the deck.

Among the people watching from a distance, a few well-traveled onlookers froze the moment they saw Luna.

"N-no way. Is she from the Lunarian Tribe?"

"Binz! Are you all right?"

The empty air trembled slightly, and Naito and Ain emerged from it.

Ain crouched down and asked Binz, who lay on the ground, if he was all right.

"Ain?"

Binz forced his eyes wide open and looked at Ain's face, then turned his gaze to the figure in front of him. "Naito—you're too damn slow, aren't you?"

"You were too fast. But I'll admit it this once, Binz. You looked pretty cool."

Naito didn't look back. "Now it's my turn to look cool. Rock, take Binz and leave first. Ain, keep your distance and use your ability to cover me when you get the chance."

"Damn it, you'd better look cool this time too, Naito!"

The marine named Rock rushed over, roared, and hoisted Binz onto his back before running back the way he'd come.

"Understood."

Ain nodded and retreated into the distance with Rock.

Weakly, Binz looked back from Rock's back at Naito. "Naito, be careful. It'll be a little while before Teacher Zephyr gets here."

On the ship nearby, the coating continued to expand, nearly halfway complete.

At the rail, Anthony studied Naito. "Did that kid just turn invisible? He's pretty strong."

"Miss Luna!"

Salt shouted at the top of his lungs, "Do you need our help?"

"No."

Luna held her greatsword calmly. "It wouldn't be bad to play a little before we leave."

"Understood."

Salt nodded firmly.

Buckingham curled her lip.

It was that kid.

Then what the hell were they fighting for? Wasn't this just an act to fool the marines?

What a show.

Naito studied Luna.

It had been almost a year since they last met in person.

Then let me see how much you've improved over this past year, Luna.

"Let me show you,"

Luna raised her greatsword and pointed it straight at Naito. "My power."

The next instant, the wings on her back beat, and she shot forward like a phantom.

The corners of Naito's mouth rose slightly.

You're coming? Then so am I!

"Soru!"

Chapter 16: A Fierce Battle, Composure, and the Bearing of a Conqueror! (Please keep reading!)

Even without extinguishing the flame behind her head to switch to speed mode, Luna was remarkably fast. Her greatsword traced a razor-sharp arc.

But in the next instant, that arc shattered.

A pitch-black iron fist smashed into the greatsword's edge.

The air exploded, the ground crumbled, and a tremendous blast of air whipped up a gale.

Luna felt her arm jolt. Her greatsword flew backward out of her control, throwing her off balance with it.

What incredible strength!

As expected of Lord Naito!

Naito grinned.

The Lunarian Tribe's bloodline was incomparably powerful, but it didn't add all that much in terms of sheer strength.

His own body, on the other hand, possessed extraordinary strength even though he wasn't from a special race.

In strength, he was superior.

In speed, he was faster.

In Haki, he was tougher.

Luna, it looks like I really have improved more over this past year!

"Shigan: Shower!"

Naito's hands produced hundreds of afterimages as he struck at the off-balance Luna like a raging storm.

His index fingers, coated in pitch-black Armament Haki, stabbed every part of Luna's upper body in an instant.

"Miss Luna!"

Anthony cried out from the ship's rail.

Wait, wasn't she supposed to be his representative? How is she this weak?!

It'd be one thing if she were just weak, but she was so arrogant too, saying she wanted to play. Isn't she done for now?

We're done for. If Miss Luna gets taken out, he won't take it out on us, will he?

That was what he thought.

"Calm down, idiot. Look closely!"

Buckingham's tone was grave.

Anthony was startled. He immediately focused his gaze, and what he saw left him dumbfounded.

He wasn't the only one.

"How is that possible?!"

A short distance behind them, Ain, who had been watching the battlefield intently, cried out in disbelief. "Naito's attacks aren't working at all!"

Naito's attacks were ferocious and swift. Even steel should have been full of holes by now.

But the white-haired woman's skin hadn't even been broken. All of Naito's attacks seemed to do nothing more than tickle her.

"What on earth is going on?"

One fugitive couldn't help asking in astonishment, "Miss Luna isn't even using Haki to defend herself, is she?"

"That must be the Lunarian Tribe's innate ability."

Salt spoke in amazement. "How terrifying."

That kid's attacks were already pretty strong, but they couldn't do a thing to Miss Luna.

She's really tough.

Naito couldn't help marveling inwardly as well.

As a Lunarian, Luna had to train her stamina, strength, and Haki herself.

Defense alone required no training.

As an adult Lunarian, Luna's physical defense was probably no weaker than King's. Even across the entire sea, there weren't many people capable of breaking through it.