The training field was quiet until two figures walked in side by side—Borsalino, hands in his pockets with that same bored grin, and Sakazuki, face cold as stone.
Kuzan, who had been sitting on the grass with Boa coiled behind him, lifted one eye open and saw them.
So it finally came.
Sakazuki didn't bother with greetings.
"We're here to test your strength. Don't waste time."
Kuzan stretched lazily, stood up, and cracked his neck.
"Mm. Sure. Who's first?"
Borsalino raised one hand like he was volunteering in class.
"Fufufu~ I'll go. I'm really curious about our promising junior, you know?"
Kuzan didn't answer, just walked toward the middle of the field. The air grew tense.
Gion and Boa stood off to the side. Even Boa lifted its head, sensing the clash that was about to happen.
Sakazuki raised his arm like a referee.
"Begin."
The moment his voice fell—
BOOM!
Kuzan and Borsalino both kicked off the ground, legs coated in black armament, and their clash detonated mid-air, sending a shockwave across the field.
Both paused for half a second, legs still locked, Haki grinding against Haki.
Then they dropped back to the ground.
Borsalino tilted his head, smiling with that lazy voice of his.
"Oooh~ What a scary reaction speed. Kuzan-kun is fast."
Kuzan shrugged.
"You're not slow either, senpai."
Borsalino didn't reply. His body turned into golden particles—the air flashed.
A blade of pure light formed in his hand.
Kuzan exhaled, frost filling the air. An ice katana formed in his grip.
The moment Borsalino reappeared in front of him—
Shing—!
Kuzan's sword was already in motion.
A single slash.
A single sound of wind.
And Borsalino was blown backward, his body scattering into photons before re-forming several meters away. His jacket was sliced open cleanly across the chest.
A real cut—one that would've split flesh if he hadn't elementalized in time.
Borsalino looked down at the torn cloth and let out a slow whistle.
"Fufu… that would've hurt."
Kuzan sheathed the blade again.
"That's the idea."
Borsalino's smile faded—not annoyed, but finally serious.
"Then I'll stop holding back."
His body exploded into light.
"Yata no Kagami."
Golden beams ricocheted through the sky—he was moving faster than the eye could follow, attacking from angles that bent like mirrors.
Kuzan hardened his arms and legs, clashing with kicks made of light.
Every collision rang like steel striking steel.
The ground cracked. Air pressure boomed. Trees outside the field bent from the shockwaves.
Then—
"Ouch."
Kuzan's body was kicked across the field at light speed, crashing into a line of boulders and turning them into ice dust.
Gion held her breath.
Boa simply blinked—it had seen Kuzan in worse shape.
The ground trembled, and Kuzan emerged from the rubble, brushing off ice and dirt.
Still lazy. Still calm.
"That kick was annoying."
Borsalino grinned again.
"Fufufu,youu blocked it pretty well for someone who moves so slow."
Kuzan cracked his knuckles.
"Guess I'll speed up a little then."
Before either could move again—
A sharp voice cut through the field.
"That is enough. Take the fight to the coast—unless you three plan on destroying Marine Headquarters."
The Warring States stood at the edge of the field with several high-ranking officers behind him.
Even Garp was there, casually eating senbei like he was watching a comedy show.
Zephyr crossed his arms, nodding.
"If you're going to fight seriously, do it where the sea can take the shockwaves. Not inside my base."
The three monsters exchanged looks.
Sakazuki smirked.
Gion felt her heart race.
And hundreds of marines began running toward the coast, excited whispers spreading like wildfire.
"The three future Admirals are gonna fight!"
"Kuzan vs Borsalino vs Sakazuki?!"
"This is historic—don't blink!"
Even the families living in the HQ district came out to watch.
The sea breeze carried tension.
And every set of eyes turned toward the three men walking toward the shore—the generation that would one day shake the world.
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A/N: Advanced Chapters Have Been Uploaded On My Patreon
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