"I'm not used to having someone stand behind me."
Yoriichi Tsugikuni said this with a gentle smile.
Upon hearing these words, Borsalino also cracked a smile. It was clear he didn't buy the explanation one bit.
He tucked the Den Den Mushi back into his coat, then examined Yoriichi with a curious gaze before finally speaking:
"Teacher Zephyr sent me."
"On the way over, I was wondering what kind of guy would make it worth my time to come all this way in person?"
"But now that I've met you, I think I understand what Teacher Zephyr was getting at."
Borsalino spoke slowly, his tone casual and drawling, almost bored. Though his words were serious, the way he delivered them was nonchalant, even flippant completely at odds with the sharp, decisive speed he'd shown moments before.
"So, this is one of Zephyr's arrangements…"
"I figured as much."
Yoriichi nodded slightly. The fact that this man could directly connect to his personal Den Den Mushi already said a lot.
Besides, he knew Borsalino, codename Kizaru. One of the Navy's future admirals. A man who subscribed to a form of justice known as Ambiguous Justice.
Borsalino was a strange one.
In some ways, he was even more conflicted than Kuzan after the tragedy at Ohara.
To Yoriichi, this "Ambiguous Justice" was actually the closest to Garp's worldview.
After all, the essence of Ambiguous Justice was deciding right and wrong by one's own standard. In that regard, Garp was very much the same.
"Vice Admiral Borsalino, the journey must have been tiring. Why not come ashore and have something to eat first?"
"The food here's quite different from what you'd find elsewhere. Worth a taste."
Yoriichi looked at Borsalino and suddenly pointed toward the center of the island, offering the invitation with a smile. He had already guessed the reason Borsalino had come—no doubt Zephyr had asked him to check in on his progress.
Still, the man had just arrived. It was only polite to offer some rest first.
That little test-slash-attack earlier had been a bit rude, after all. If he didn't make up for it, people might get the impression he lacked basic manners.
But Borsalino simply shook his head.
"Apologies~"
"I've got other business. I need to finish Teacher Zephyr's request quickly and head back."
"So lunch... let's skip that."
As he spoke, he brought both hands together in front of his chest. Then, slowly spreading them apart, a radiant golden light burst from his palms.
"Well then, shall we get started?"
"Major Tsugikuni Yoriichi!"
A sword of pure light materialized in Borsalino's hand. With a gentle flick of his wrist, a sharp gust of wind exploded outward from around him, rippling across the field.
"Alright then. I'll be counting on you, Vice Admiral Borsalino."
Yoriichi's gaze locked onto the blade of light with open fascination.
A lightsaber! A real lightsaber!
Even someone like Yoriichi couldn't help but be intrigued. A weapon like that—it was the stuff of fantasy. The very idea of clashing blades with it had him brimming with anticipation.
"Be careful, Vice Admiral Borsalino!"
He drew the scabbard from his waist and casually plunged it into the earth beside him. Then, gripping his sword with both hands, he gave a brief warning.
At the same time, his Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) radiated outward, instantly engulfing Borsalino in its range.
Borsalino sensed it immediately. Raising his glowing sword, he pointed it directly at Yoriichi, readying himself.
BOOM!!!
Just as Borsalino finished preparing, a sonic boom ripped through the air.
Yoriichi vanished from sight in an instant. The blade in his hand now glowed with a fierce Armament Haki as it came slicing down once again—straight for Borsalino's neck.
This time, he was moving even faster than before. Clearly, he hadn't used his full strength during the earlier strike.
"!!!"
"How terrifying...!"
At that instant, Borsalino had no time to activate his Devil Fruit ability to dodge. His instincts screamed that if he tried to turn into light, his opponent's attack would strike before his transformation could take effect.
Clang!!!
Relying on his advanced Observation Haki, Borsalino predicted Yoriichi Tsugikuni's trajectory. He swiftly raised his Ama-no-Murakumo blade and intercepted the long katana swinging toward him.
Unfazed that his strike was blocked, Yoriichi moved with seamless fluidity. His left hand shot forward, aiming to grab Borsalino directly.
Yoriichi had anticipated the block. His opponent had eaten the Glint-Glint Fruit and was among the absolute fastest beings alive. Even before they exchanged blows, Yoriichi had already sensed—through a probing slash—that Borsalino's Observation Haki was exceptional. Being able to foresee attacks and defend preemptively was hardly a challenge for someone like him.
Of course, if his opponent were Kuzan instead, things might've played out differently—Kuzan's speed couldn't compare to Borsalino's.
"Trying to grab me with Haki, to keep me from turning into light?"
"Did he already realize I'm a Logia user back when I dodged his earlier attack?"
Borsalino's eyes narrowed slightly as he watched Yoriichi's hand shoot toward his head. The boy's battle instincts were razor-sharp, and his Armament Haki was formidable. He didn't fight like a boy in his teens.
"An attack like that… won't catch me."
"I am the man who ate the Glint-Glint Fruit, I am light itself!"
"Tell me, kid, have you ever been kicked at the speed of light?!"
As he spoke, Borsalino's leg shimmered into a beam of radiance, snapping upward with blinding speed toward Yoriichi's face.
From the moment they clashed, Borsalino hadn't held back. The red-haired youth before him was strong. Strong enough that holding back would've been dangerous.
"He's fast… but not quite light-speed."
Yoriichi's Transparent World and Observation Haki had already locked onto Borsalino's movements the instant he acted. His blade swung up, deflecting Ama-no-Murakumo, and in the same motion slashed at the incoming radiant leg.
CLANG!
The moment Borsalino's leg and Yoriichi's katana collided, a deafening metallic ring tore through the air.
A violent shockwave exploded outward from the center of their clash, rippling across the ground. Beneath their feet, the terrain cracked like glass under pressure. Fissures split outwards for over ten meters, and the entire platform sank inwards from the overwhelming force.
"He blocked it…?"
"He really is terrifying…"
Borsalino stared in disbelief. Few had ever stopped his kicks—those who had were all legends of the sea.
And now, a boy barely in his teens had done it.
But the real surprise was yet to come.
Suddenly, Borsalino's Observation Haki lost track of Yoriichi. Though his eyes could still see the figure before him, every trace of presence vanished.
It was as if Yoriichi Tsugikuni… simply ceased to exist.
"What's going on?!"
Borsalino's brow furrowed—but in the very next instant, Yoriichi's figure vanished. His senses failed to register it. His vision couldn't track it.
BOOM!
THUD!!!
The blunt end of a sword hilt struck him squarely in the gut. The sheer force hurled Borsalino across the battlefield like a ragdoll. He crashed through more than a dozen massive tree trunks before finally skidding to a stop.
A cloud of dust and splinters swallowed his fallen form.
Yoriichi now stood where Borsalino had been just moments earlier, his right hand lifting the hilt of his blade in a slow, deliberate motion.
Looking at the distant cloud of debris where Borsalino had landed, a faint smile curled Yoriichi's lips. He murmured:
"Just as I thought…"
"Even in this world, the State of No-Self can still conceal my presence."
"Even with his incredible speed and reflexes, once Borsalino's Observation Haki is nullified, he can't react fast enough to dynamic shifts with sight alone."
*********
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