Bang!
The fist was blocked by a ray of light, which condensed into fists and feet, steadily set in front of the Sage's fist.
"Oh... your speed is really fast." Kizaru said, "But my speed isn't slow either."
"Speedy, huh..."
The Sage sneered at him, "If your strength isn't enough, it's useless!"
Bang!
The fist, which was being held, pushed forward, and a special force instantly propelled Kizaru's legs and feet away. With a look of surprise on Kizaru's face, a punch hit his chest, sending him crashing down below with a boom.
His body went down, but it also scattered into light. After dispersing in mid-air, it quickly gathered behind the Sage, shooting another laser.
"Tenma Dragon Star!"
The Sage shattered a ring on his finger, grabbing the fragments and throwing them backward. As they were thrown, the fragments expanded and accelerated, resembling meteoric debris, rapidly shooting past and directly hitting the sea outside the island, creating several gigantic splashes, even stirring up a massive whirlpool, causing the island to shake slightly.
Kizaru, already prepared, transformed into light to dodge as soon as the Sage turned around, appearing above him. He pressed down with a leg, which the Sage blocked with his hand, but before he could grab it, Kizaru once again dissipated into light.
Sky, earth, the Sage's figure chased after Kizaru who transformed into light. From the crowd's perspective, all they could see were glaring lights or black and red Haki shocks. Each collision resulted in either the light piercing buildings nearby with explosive results or Haki shock waves shattering nearby structures into ruins.
In terms of speed, no one in the sea could match Kizaru, not even the Sage in full form.
And for someone with such speed and top-level observation, even if you're stronger, the chance of hitting them is very low if they want to dodge and fight.
If you can't be hit, you can't be harmed.
Logia-types generally have this ability, so those well-versed in Haki Techniques without any weakness can't end battles quickly when they fight.
Normally for Pirates, even for the Four Emperors, a fierce battle won't last long before a winner is decided, but against a Logia-type, it can last from two to three days, up to a dozen days; there's no solution other than wearing them down.
For someone like Kizaru, if he wants to drag out the fight, you can only accompany him, and even in the end, it might remain unresulting because you can't catch up.
In the grand seas, a fifty-fifty chance refers to Kizaru.
He can maintain parity with anyone. Sometimes ability is absolute, and light... is simply unbeatable.
"This won't work,"
The Sage released another Haki shockwave, which Kizaru evaded. The light appeared to the Sage's side, kicking over but was blocked by the Sage's hand again.
"This way, you can't take Vegapunk away," Kizaru said.
"You seem to be looking forward to it! If I remember correctly, you're only responsible for protecting Vegapunk, right? Do people like you also have emotions?"
The Sage sneered back, exerting his arm, shaking off Kizaru's leg, making him dissipate into light again, preventing the Sage from capturing him.
"That's a bit too heartless, isn't it? You know, people like me..."
Kizaru flashed forward, bringing his hands together to form a light saber, raising it to slash down.
The speed of light made it unavoidable, but the Sage had no intention of dodging, crossing his arms to catch the light saber. He pushed up, disintegrating the saber, and then, with straight arms, unleashed a massive Haki shock.
"Even a real monkey has feelings, you know."
The shock still didn't hit Kizaru, who turned into light to evade, standing mid-air with a flash of light in his sunglasses.
They had known each other for a long time.
Vegapunk was researching technology to change the world, and he was responsible for protection. Over time, they became good friends.
Later, Kuma joined the research institute for his daughter, and he also interacted with Kuma, taking care of Bonney as well.
He was well-versed in the history of the Bakania race.
Kuma wasn't a Tyrant, nor was he a Revolutionary, Kuma was...
He was just a pathetic man sacrificing himself for his daughter.
They lived together, laughed together, played together, ate together, and danced together...
Even the Nika's Dance, regarded by the Bakania race as a spiritual pillar and a legend that could liberate everything, he danced with them.
At this moment, truly...
He didn't want to see an old friend die.
Compared to dealing with the Sage...
"I have my duties too. The Navy, of course, has to deal with Pirates!"
Kizaru's whole body flickered with light, instantly dividing into countless figures, all extending hands toward the Sage below, gathering beams of light.
The clones were fake, but also real.
Because they were made of light, and the light they shot was indeed real.
Except for the original...
"You're not the only one who can do this!"
The Sage shouted deeply, his body bursting upward, fragments of himself swarming around him, swiftly passing through Kizaru's clones like a rhythm, scattering the clones like bubbles. Those shadows suddenly gathered like the wind, turning the Sage into a massive tornado, breaking through the remaining clones, directly closing in on Kizaru, once again grasping the light saber.
"Sage brat!"
Kizaru fiercely raised the light saber, slashing straight at the whirlwind.
"Old monkey!"
The whirlwind suddenly dissipated, revealing the Sage's body. He advanced forward, allowing the light saber to slash his waist, while a high-speed rotating kick smashed heavily into Kizaru's skull at the moment of attack.
"Tenmago Grand Spin!!"
Shhh!
Bang!!
A beam of light shot from the front of the Sage's foot, flying all the way to the opposite side of the island, crashing into a large battleship docked there, sinking it.
"Admiral Kizaru!!"
Amidst the chaos within the battleship, the Navy saw Kizaru lying among the ruins and shouted in surprise.
Kizaru covered his face, picked up a small Radio Snail with his other hand, and pressed a button.
"Borsalino..."
The small Radio Snail emitted a deep voice.
"I'm very sorry."
Kizaru weakly said, "I am no match for the disaster, I just got hit on the head and can't move for the time being."
"Hmm... a disaster, understood."
The call was disconnected from the other side, leaving Kizaru lying among the ruins, still covering his face, not moving.
Now... he had no intent to continue fighting.
The higher up in rank, the more he understood. In the past, perhaps he could have killed without hesitation, as it maintained stability.
The might of the Five Elders is unchallengeable.
That secret should not be known, as it could cause instability.
But when it comes to friends...
He had done what he had to do.
Leave it at that...
He was tired...
"That old monkey..."
The Sage watched the direction where the light vanished, and the wound slashed by the light saber on his waist smoked and gradually healed. He clicked his tongue, "Despite having no battle intent, he still tries to stop me... Hmph, good acting."
It was perceivable.
Even with ease, compared to the playful yet unscrupulous manner as before, Kizaru now seemed rather flustered, lacking any motivation.
But even so, that extreme speed of light was still a troublesome thing.
Counting honestly, that kick shouldn't have landed.
Yet after the Sage kicked, he couldn't even feel the resistance of Haki; Kizaru had indeed taken the blow with his body.
His Haki destruction was infused with the North Star Divine Fist; if hit solidly, survival was debatable but surely painful.
To make him do that...
The Sage descended from the air, looking up at the egg-shaped dome, frowning, "Does the Navy truly intend to eliminate Vegapunk? Has he touched history?"
The World Government he knew cared for nothing but rule and stability, and this stability wasn't something Pirates could shake, in the eyes of those people, Pirates were nothing.
The only thing that could threaten their stability...
Is that void century!