The one who was shocked wasn't just Lucci — Ren was too.
He hadn't expected Lucci to be so damn durable.
Ren knew exactly how much destructive force his own punch carried.
And yet this guy just casually walked out of the rubble, almost completely unharmed?
Man… some people's bodies really make you jealous.
"Six Powers — Shave!"
Both fighters vanished at the same time.
They reappeared in midair, more than ten meters above the ground.
Both had used advanced forms of the Navy's Six Powers, temporarily launching their battle into the sky.
"New Six Powers — Sky Cannon!"
Using the momentum from his dive, Ren unleashed a reverse Sky Cannon aimed at Lucci from above.
Boom—!
Lucci didn't dodge in time and was pierced right through—
—or so Ren thought.
"Hmm? That's not right."
Ren quickly realized the hit had only torn through Lucci's cloak, not him.
At the last moment, Lucci had slipped out with ridiculous speed.
"Looking for me?"
Lucci's voice suddenly rang in his ear.
Ren's back hairs stood on end.
"Your turn to take a hit!"
Lucci punched without hesitation.
Bang!
Ren's body rocketed away like a cannonball and slammed hard into the ground.
Boom!
A crater four to five meters wide formed on impact, with Ren lying in the center, motionless for a moment.
"So, you're a Devil Fruit user too."
Ren chuckled as he looked at Lucci's half-beast form.
Devil Fruits were strong, sure, but that half-leopard form...
...always made Ren think of some questionable scenes.
"Hey... looking like that, doesn't it get awkward in bed?"
Lucci: "..."
"...Did he just joke about the boss…?"
The CP9 members nearby were stunned.
"Uh… boss, I didn't hear anything!"
"Yeah! Me neither!"
Two of them quickly turned their heads, pretending not to hear.
Only Kalifa looked confused and asked,
"Boss, does that form really make sleeping harder?"
Everyone else: "..."
"Bastard!"
Lucci exploded with rage.
He had wanted to win Ren over with strength and dominance but now? This little brat had humiliated him!
He was the CP9 commander why should he tolerate this from a mere academy student?
Lucci's aura spiked, his speed suddenly tripling.
"If it's the Six Powers you want to play with, then come on! Let's go wild!"
"New Six Powers — Shave! Flash Step — Rampaging Tiger!"
"Come at me, kitty cat! Let this young master show you how it's done!"
Fierce air pressure burst out from Ren's body, a shocking display of force.
This move boosted his combat power beyond three times his normal level.
At this stage, every strike was equivalent to a technique-level attack.
Lucci was truly furious now.
With a loud roar, he unleashed his full aura and charged in.
The two blurred into a storm of shadows so fast that even the trained eyes of CP9 agents couldn't keep up.
Their battle became a blur.
The CP9 veterans stood stunned, eyes wide, trying hard to follow the exchange.
"This is great," Lucci said, voice cold and sharp.
"You really are strong enough to make me go all out. But prepare to die!"
After transforming fully into his leopard hybrid form,
Lucci's aura surged again — sharp, deadly.
"Oh? For me to force the CP9 boss to go all-out? I'd say I'm pretty lucky."
But Ren had no plans to keep playing around.
"New Six Powers — Shave! Blade of the Gale!"
Ren stomped the ground at high speed, closing the gap instantly.
He drove his full-powered punch straight at Lucci's face.
"So fast!"
Lucci hadn't expected Ren's physical abilities to rival his own.
But in his beast form, Lucci was even faster.
Instinctively, he crossed both arms to block.
"Six Powers — Iron Body!"
"Tch. You playing statue now?"
Ren sneered.
"Armament!"
Black Haki quickly coated Ren's arms.
Bang!
The first punch shattered Lucci's block with ease.
Bang!
The second punch smashed directly into Lucci's face.
Even in hybrid form, Lucci couldn't avoid the brutal blast and was sent flying once again.
Ren didn't pursue.
He knew Lucci wouldn't be getting up anytime soon.
Sure enough, Lucci lay sprawled on the ground, struggling.
Even as his limbs strained, he only managed to crack the earth beneath him.
Ding! Congratulations, host has obtained one "Return-Return Fruit" fragment!
Huh? A Return-Return Fruit fragment?
Ren blinked, then grinned.
This was a pleasant surprise.
The Return-Return Fruit's ability was insanely powerful.
And even though Ain was his girl, Ren wouldn't mind testing it out himself.
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