On Sabaody Archipelago, a black energy beam suddenly shot upward from the island, piercing straight through three massive mangrove trees.
Seeing the damage, Kizaru's brows tightened.
If he hadn't dodged in time, that blast might have hit him directly.
"What a frightening fellow…"
This time, Kizaru wasn't joking.
He normally said things like this to tease others, but today—facing Malverick—those words were real.
He pressed his palms together. A dazzling radiance formed between them.
"Yata no Kagami!"
A ray of light shot out, bouncing rapidly from one surface to another.
In the blink of an eye, Malverick was surrounded by reflected light—
and Kizaru's body was within those reflections, able to appear at any angle around him.
"Have you ever been kicked by light?"
"Today, you'll feel what speed-as-mass really means."
Kizaru appeared behind Malverick almost instantly and launched his signature light-speed kick.
His speed was undeniably fast—completed in the blink of an eye.
But he never expected Malverick had already seen it coming.
A new "ornament" appeared above Malverick's head—
a gemstone-made eye.
Imperial Arm — Five Sights All-Purpose, Observer!
Kizaru's speed, no matter how fast, could not escape the vision of the Five Sights.
Malverick raised his right hand and blocked the kick.
"The Pika-Pika Fruit really is impressive."
"But without your Devil Fruit… can you still manage?"
Dark energy surged from Malverick's hand, gripping Kizaru.
The light covering Kizaru vanished instantly.
"What—? My ability—!"
Feeling his powers vanish, Kizaru panicked.
Malverick chuckled, clenched his fist, and punched Kizaru square in the chest.
Kizaru's body shot downward, smashing into a building below and collapsing it entirely.
Right after, Malverick contacted Robin's group, telling them not to wait and to leave first.
The moment he ended the call—
Light burst again.
A somewhat battered Kizaru rose into the air.
His admiral coat was torn and dirty.
Several marks streaked his face.
And in his eyes—fear.
"What? Already scared?"
Malverick smiled, raising his right hand.
Darkness gathered in his palm.
"Try this. It's a move made specifically for Devil Fruit users."
A powerful suction erupted.
Kizaru felt his body pulled toward Malverick.
The force grew rapidly.
Kizaru resisted with all his might, barely holding his position.
He fired three laser beams—but they were swallowed by the darkness five meters before reaching Malverick.
Kizaru immediately retreated.
But Malverick already understood his intentions.
He pointed his palm at Kizaru, slowly closing his fingers.
Boom!
Kizaru's body lurched—
the suction multiplied several times over.
But what Malverick didn't expect was—
Kizaru stopped resisting, and instead used the suction as acceleration, rushing straight toward him.
A glowing blade appeared in his grasp.
"Ame no Murakumo!"
Gripping the golden sword, Kizaru slashed toward Malverick.
Shing!
A streak of sword energy cut through the air.
Malverick's ability countered Devil Fruits—but sword strikes weren't the fruit's energy, and couldn't be absorbed.
Kizaru had guessed correctly.
Though he relied heavily on his Devil Fruit, he was a seasoned veteran with vast battle experience.
Malverick had no choice but to block.
The blade struck Malverick's arm.
Even with Haki, Kizaru's swordsmanship was comparable to old Rayleigh—
the slash cut a visible wound.
Seeing the attack land, Kizaru's expression brightened slightly.
He used his speed and continued unleashing consecutive sword strikes.
"So annoying."
"Blackness—condense!"
Malverick punched the ground.
The surrounding earth turned into a black, muddy mire.
Everything nearby—trees, stones, buildings—was pulled in and swallowed.
After absorbing countless materials, Malverick opened his fist.
"Release!"
BOOM!
All absorbed matter exploded outward in a massive burst, scattering in every direction.
Kizaru swung Murakumo no Tsurugi, deflecting the debris as it flew toward him.
Malverick spotted his figure—
and sent a wave of darkness crashing into him.
Pfft—
Kizaru spat blood, blasted backward.
He struggled to his feet, wiping the blood from his mouth.
"Sigh… should've let Kuzan come instead."
"Being a Marine Admiral is really troublesome."
He gathered dozens of light orbs around him.
From each one, a laser shot forth.
Sword in hand, he charged again.
A storm of continuous explosions ripped through Sabaody.
Meanwhile, Aokiji and Tsuru arrived with three Marine ships.
From afar, they saw the constant eruptions across Sabaody.
Even knowing Kizaru's strength—
Malverick could not be underestimated.
Kizaru might actually lose.
Suddenly, the island trembled again.
A massive black vortex swallowed all the explosions.
Then—
A huge ball of light formed in the sky over Sabaody.
BOOM!
A mushroom cloud rose.
A massive shockwave engulfed the Archipelago.
Even the ships on the sea nearly capsized.
When the aftermath finally faded—
The Sabaody port was gone.
Blown apart and sunk beneath the waves.
During the battle, both fighters had instinctively moved away from populated areas.
The port was full of pirates—Malverick couldn't care less about their lives.
Shuu—
A streak of light landed on the Marine ship.
It was Kizaru.
He propped himself up with one hand, barely staying upright.
He had lost.
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