"Hmm?"
Just then, Shano seemed to sense something. After exchanging a punch with Kizaru, he took advantage of the moment they separated to look toward the distant horizon.
There, a slender ice path nearly impossible to see with the naked eye was extending toward them.
Faintly, a blurred figure could be seen pedaling a bicycle, rapidly approaching along this icy trail, skimming the surface of the sea.
"What a surprise."
Shano raised an eyebrow and sneered, "The Navy truly holds me in high esteem. If you didn't know better, you'd think I was one of the Four Emperors."
"You're not quite there yet, but you're not far off either."
Kizaru spoke in a cold tone, "When I think about your age, you're even younger than Red Hair, this kind of potential really sends chills down my spine, it's hard to sleep well."
Before he finished speaking, he swung his sword again.
Even if one person can't take him down quickly, suppressing this kid until Kuzan arrives and initiates Ice Age...
Even if he immediately abandons the fight and tries to escape into the sea, it won't be that easy.
By then.
Under the two-on-one attack, his fate can only diverge into being killed on the spot or being crushed into Impel Down, that's the only difference.
However, what surprised Kizaru was.
Shwoosh!
Instead of escaping downward, Shano's figure flashed and rose into the air, almost face-to-face with Kizaru.
"Oi."
The black-haired boy, so close, curled his lips into an arrogant smile:
"Have you ever... been kicked by Supreme King Haki?"
Boom!
A thick black-red thunderbolt suddenly lit up in Kizaru's eyes!
Just as he was contemplating, Shano had already gathered all his remaining Supreme King Haki, compressing and further compressing it, finally concentrating it all on his right leg!
The terrifying momentum, like a black hole swallowing everything, caused the surrounding rain to desperately dodge to both sides, even suspending upwards toward the sky!
The sky, already covered with dark clouds, plunged into complete darkness in that instant.
Not good!
Kizaru's pupils shrank, instinctively wanting to use Elementalization to evade, but Shano's Supreme King Haki had already locked onto his presence, nearly suppressing his Fruit Ability at such close proximity!
Boom——!!!
With one kick, the space seemed to rip apart, his war-axe-like fierce right leg, enveloped in tightly compressed black-red Haki, roared out like an angry dragon, fiercely impacting Kizaru's face!
Crack!
The sunglasses worn for countless years shattered instantly into fragments, spinning shards reflecting Kizaru's deeply wrinkled face twisted and deformed by the kick, its original features unrecognizable, and then—
Boom!
Kizaru's body shot backward like a golden meteor toward the distant sea, the speed nearly matching how he arrived, ripping the air with deafening sonic booms, the lingering traces of Supreme King Haki dragging a long black-red tail in the sky.
"Pffwah!"
Kizaru spat out a mouthful of blood, his body flickering with golden light yet momentarily unable to fully Elementalize, forced to endure the power of the kick.
And just as he was about to plummet into the sea, a figure appeared below—
Hmm?
Aokiji had just stopped his bicycle, preparing to reach the battlefield with Moonwalk at full speed, when a golden afterimage crashed right toward him.
Still showing signs of bewilderment, unable to react in time, Kizaru's body slammed into him like a cannonball.
At such a moment, the only thing he could do was instinctively activate his ability, with the icy path extending in all directions into an icefield, preventing them from falling into the sea.
Boom!!!
The icefield exploded, both of them and the bicycle rolled over onto the shore of Gr 24, the entire island shuddering, the Red Tree shook intensely, and endless clouds of dust rose to the sky.
"Cough, cough..."
After finally separating, Kizaru stood up, covering his face, not even having time to dust himself off, he became a laser and soared into the sky again, searching with a darkened expression.
But the sea was empty and void of any trace of Shano?
"Has he already submerged beneath the ocean?"
Aokiji came beside him, scratching his messy hair in dismay, "Sorry, Borsalino, it seems I've arrived a bit late."
"It's not your fault, I underestimated him. I didn't expect this guy, upon seeing you, not only didn't flee but even had the guts to strike me with full force."
Kizaru gritted his teeth, recalling the last smile Shano flashed at him, a surge of anger over being toyed with and humiliated arose in his heart.
His defensive strength and durability are also among the best in this world.
Before at Judicial Island, even facing Kaido's rage alone, despite being slightly outmatched, merely suffered some minor injuries, which would heal after some care.
So, Shano's kick just now, it hurt, but what really matters is indeed...
What a loss of face!
Returning to headquarters, this face might not recover the swelling for several days, and given that earlier scene was broadcast live by the Photography Radio Snail, who knows how many people witnessed it!
They both returned to just under the previous cliff.
"In any case, let's notify the headquarters."
Aokiji saw the recently purchased bicycle crushed into twists and sighed, distressed, saying:
"This kid isn't dead, even made such a big ruckus, using that Netherworld King Rayleigh as a stepping stone to announce his return to the world, now successfully withdrawing right under our noses… Marshal Sengoku, he's likely to flip out."