"Half a day..."
Zephyr gripped the black arm of his prosthetic, his fist clenched at his waist as he flashed a grim smile at Sage, "You've underestimated this old man!"
"Who dares to underestimate you!"
Sage bent slightly, fists tightened, "But don't underestimate me either, you old geezer!"
"Is that so..."
Whoosh!
Bam!
Zephyr's figure vanished from where he stood, his left fist enveloped in black, landing a fierce punch to Sage's abdomen, causing his stomach to cave in with just one punch, sending his body curling and lifting off the ground.
"Mmm!!"
Zephyr grumbled deeply, his fist pressing against Sage's body, hurling him away with brute force.
"This old man is still a combative seventy-two years old, not resigned to old age! Show the strength that can hold me off for half a day, kid!"
Punched away, Sage spat out a mouthful of blood as the haki on his abdomen slowly faded.
This old guy's speed has increased tremendously, and the power of his haki is not what it used to be, even using haki couldn't neutralize it.
In that case...
He gritted his teeth, stomping the air with a Moon Step, leaping upwards with a sudden kick.
"Rankyaku: Great Cross Helm Break!"
Swish!
A giant pale blue slash took on a cross shape, swooping down swiftly, descending rapidly towards Zephyr.
Sss!!
The ground was sliced in a cross pattern instantly, while Zephyr sidestepped, glancing at the impression on the ground, he smiled, "Not bad!"
"The good stuff comes afterward!"
As Zephyr dodged, Sage charged in the air like a meteor, descending on Zephyr's head, his fist coated in pitch-black haki, swinging fiercely.
Zephyr instinctively extended his left fist to clash with Sage's, but as their fists were about to collide, Sage's fist bent away like a snake, his entire body spinning wildly in the air, transforming into a brief whirlwind that flickered with a mass of jet-black flames.
"Ha!"
The whirlwind exploded, revealing Sage's figure. In mid-air, he retracted his fist last-minute, wrapping all his haki around his left foot, kicking ferociously at Zephyr's right side.
The right arm is a prosthetic, it shouldn't be so...
Bang!!
The pitch-black prosthetic right arm grasped Sage's ankle harshly, a purple-black whirl like a flowing storm appeared on the black-cloth surrounded wrist.
Coiling Haki!
Bam!
Zephyr grinned toothily at him, lifting Sage's body forcefully and slamming him down.
In the rapid descent, the black flame on Sage's left foot dissipated, while his right foot coiled with flame-like flowing haki, extending like a sharp sword, aiming straight at Zephyr's throat.
"Your intention is too obvious!"
Zephyr's other hand surrounded by haki grabbed Sage's ankle, enhancing the grip, and slammed him even more forcefully to the ground.
Boom!!
As Sage's back touched the ground, the earth cracked rapidly with a loud crash, the ground caving entirely, forming a massive crater with a radius of about twenty meters.
Tiny stones scattered like bullets, a cloud of smoke exploded at the center, drifting upward.
"Sage!"
Lily, rushing to transport cargo on the Death Star, exclaimed in shock, her voice filled with concern.
As the smoke cleared, Zephyr looked at Sage lying in the center of the pit, sprawled out in a large formation, grinning, "So just big talk, huh, kid."
Saying this, he reached to grab the person in the pit.
But at that moment, Sage's eyes popped open, his legs coming together like a giant sword as he thrust forward with his hands, charging straight at Zephyr's chest.
Pa!
Zephyr's eyes widened, instinctively blocking the impact with his left fist, but the powerful force jerked his hand outward. Sage swiftly somersaulted, closing in and throwing an uppercut.
Bam!
The punch was blocked by Zephyr's prosthetic right arm, but Sage seized the opportunity to throw another punch, only to be stopped by his freshly rebounded left hand, both attacks resounding with heavy thuds.
"You..." Zephyr frowned, about to speak, but realized the young punk was grinning wickedly at him.
A fierce headbutt slammed into Zephyr's forehead, the enormous force causing his head to tilt back, his body retreating uncontrollably.
But as he retreated, Sage capitalized on the momentum, curling his legs in the air and thrusting them powerfully, this time directly to Zephyr's chest, kicking him away!
Boom!!
The circular indentation now bore a linear gash, dust and rocks sprayed outward.
Sage landed gently on his feet, looking at the smoke swirling ahead, grinning fiercely, "What's the point of boasting?"
Within the smoke, Zephyr slowly stood, the haki dispersing from his forehead and chest, his gaze focused intently on the dissipating haki along Sage's forehead and waist line.
Using haki on back and head, especially the flowing black flame on the forehead, indicated significant strength.
Haki can only be seen by people who possess it too, otherwise, even aware of its concept, they cannot see the 'color'.
This brat's amount of haki doesn't seem right at all.
Even though the fight was incredibly brief, Zephyr could tell each punch was laced with coiling, and the strength wasn't low either.
Before that, destroying the mechanical arm with such haki, even if not at its limit, was very close.
Such rapid exertion would quickly deplete haki, even if not entirely, there should be a decrease.
Yet now, Zephyr saw not a decrease, but instead his opponent becoming fiercer, his haki even more skilled than before.
Such combat style wasn't just aptitude, but a flawless demonstration.
In all his years of teaching, instructing countless talented students, only in Sage did Zephyr find this perfect utilization of the body in combat.
Head, hands, feet, even the entire body—all wielded with ease like a weapon, truly a master of body techniques.
Too bizarre...
Zephyr clenched his fist, a stern sound accompanying it, "Letting you run amok will give the Navy a troublesome enemy, this old man will apprehend you!"
"Hahaha!"
Sage laughed loudly, "Then come try it!"
With that, his expression turned serious, suddenly taking a deep breath, white air currents rose around his body, swirling upward.
Zephyr, although seeming weakened, with haki not as strong as Garp's, in a real fight... he hadn't broken any defense!
Exhausting all current resources, wrapping all his haki upon his fists, yet being countered by the opponent's stronger haki.
So if haki didn't work, then switch methods...
"Kid, here I come!"
Boom!
Zephyr's shout reached Sage's ears, footsteps blasting in the air, zooming upfront, the black of his left hand flowing like a storm, wrapped in coils, delivering a powerful punch.
Hiss!
Just then, Sage exhaled a white breath from his nose, his body rapidly expanding, muscles around him appearing savage like armor, transforming from an ordinary person to a three-meter tall figure aligned with Zephyr's height.
Dragon Transformation Breathing Technique!
"80%!!"
Sage's neck gushed with veins, with his roar, flowing haki like jet-black flame covered his hand, clashing violently against the raging whirlwind of Zephyr's fist.
Bam!!