"What terrifying talent!"
Shock was written all over Bang's face, and he wasn't the only one feeling it. Bomb, who was locked in battle with Yami, was equally astonished, almost in disbelief.
He would never have imagined that the young man in front of him could wield such a skilled Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist in their fight. Could he be a new disciple of Bang's?
But no, it wasn't just proficiency—this young man had mastered the technique to an absurd level. He might even be on par with Bang himself!
Realizing this, Bomb no longer held back, unleashing his full strength to test Yami's command of the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist. But the result was beyond his expectations.
No matter how fierce or swift his attacks were, Yami's hands flowed like a river, effortlessly absorbing the whirlwind of punches and deflecting every strike.
"That's perfect defense. This is the true Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist!"
Both Bang and Bomb, martial arts masters in their own right, recognized this immediately. The two of them exchanged glances, filled with awe, disbelief, and a touch of fanatic admiration for Yami's skill.
Yami, however, found the intense gazes of the two elderly men unsettling.
"Hey, hey! Why are you staring at me like that? You're not hiding some weird hobbies, are you?" he joked, his face filled with suspicion. "For the record, I'm not into men, especially not old ones, so let's cut that thought right now!"
"If you want to fight, keep fighting. If not, I'm out!"
With a powerful punch that sent Bomb stumbling, Yami quickly stepped back, putting some distance between them. His eyes were filled with wariness. If these old men started spouting anything weird, Yami would have to reconsider his entire view of the world.
Fortunately, while Bang and Bomb had somewhat eccentric personalities, they weren't that strange. However, Yami's words and suspicions left them momentarily breathless.
"Bastard! How dare you insult me like this?" Bomb grumbled, his face twisted in annoyance. Even with years of inner peace cultivated through martial arts, he couldn't bear such mockery. Being spoken to so disrespectfully was too much for the rigid Bomb to handle.
Anger surging, Bomb's strikes became faster and sharper.
But for Yami, there was nothing in Bomb's attacks that couldn't be dodged, even without relying on advanced techniques like Observation Haki. His body reacted instinctively, effortlessly avoiding every move. Yet, Yami wasn't interested in simply dodging.
This wasn't a life-and-death battle, and he didn't need to focus on defeating his opponent in one blow. Instead, Yami saw this as an opportunity to learn more. Both the Navy's Six Styles and Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist were, to him, just techniques—each with its own intricacies, strengths, and weaknesses.
Learning new skills was always valuable, and Yami wondered if he could eventually combine the best aspects of each style to create his own unique martial art.
Bomb's Whirlwind Iron Cutting Fist had also caught his eye, and instead of confronting it head-on, Yami aimed to understand its subtleties.
In truth, Yami's initial talent wasn't all that remarkable. But through countless simulations and the accumulation of various abilities, his natural talents had been greatly enhanced over time.
In particular, the talent of the Sun God Nika from the pirate world had granted Yami a unique edge in physical combat. This is why, after watching Bang's Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist only once, he could immediately use it with such proficiency.
There are always geniuses in every world. For example, in the One Piece world, Luffy managed to learn the "Soru" technique from CP9 in a short amount of time. Similarly, Bang's former disciple, Garou, learned the Whirlwind Iron Cutting Fist in a limited time after fighting Bomb, and even mastered the combined attack of Bang and Bomb.
Such talent wasn't unheard of, though still rare.
As Bomb's attacks rained down, Yami continued to defend using the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist, not bothering to counterattack. He focused on mastering this newly acquired skill while carefully observing Bomb's fighting style.
Then, the unique properties of the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist—its ability to absorb and return force—began to manifest. With each clash, Yami redirected Bomb's power back at him, leaving noticeable marks on his body. The pressure from Yami's defense was overwhelming.
Bomb's fists couldn't break through at all. Yami remained untouched, while Bomb was starting to look a bit worse for wear. Not even when sparring with Bang had he been put in such a position. Despite the challenge, he felt exhilarated.
It had been a long time since he had faced someone so strong!
"I think it's time to stop playing around, old man Bomb. You'd better team up with Bang. Otherwise, you won't stand a chance against me on your own."
Yami's words were filled with confidence, and his patience for prolonging the stalemate was waning. He was ready for a real challenge now.
"Hmph! You're bold, young man," Bomb snorted, his voice tinged with stubborn pride. "I'll admit you're strong, but to say I need help? That's too arrogant! You haven't reached the level where my brother and I need to fight you together."
Despite his words, Bomb's frustration was evident. Yami just smiled and shook his head.
If this old man was so insistent, then he'd have to learn his lesson through experience. After all, his younger brother, Bang, had already been through it. If Bomb couldn't share in that experience, what kind of brother would he be?
"Alright, let's end this!" Yami shouted, launching into the next round of attacks with newfound energy. "Whirlwind Breaker!"
With that, Yami's movements shifted dramatically. The gentle flow of his previous technique was replaced by a sharper, more aggressive style.