"Oh~"
Kizaru's lips curled as he looked down at the water domain, now reduced to less than half its original size.
"Seems my method is quite effective~"
He raised the intensity of his attacks, accelerating the evaporation.
"…Tch."
Inside the shrinking sphere, Jin clicked his tongue.
Light… was truly annoying.
The sheer heat had reduced his entire domain to this.
Dodging was getting harder. One mistake—and he'd be pierced.
'No point maintaining this anymore…'
He looked up—
Eyes sharpening.
"BOOM!!"
The spherical domain trembled—
Then—
Several massive water dragons surged upward!
"ROAR!!"
"Oh~"
"So you're finally coming out~"
Kizaru smiled lazily.
If Jin had delayed even a bit longer—
He could've crippled him through the water itself.
"WHOOSH—!"
Kizaru turned into light, instantly evading the dragons—
Then—
Pulled forth a blade of pure light.
"Ame no Murakumo Sword."
"BUZZ—!"
He swung—
"CLANG!"
"BOOM!!"
The water dragons were shattered instantly—
Exploding into droplets that rained down.
Standing below, soaked—
Jin frowned.
"…You're a swordsman too?"
That wasn't a beam.
That was a flying slash.
"…Didn't expect that."
"WHOOSH—"
Kizaru landed lightly.
"Why is that surprising?"
"After all… I've trained for many years~"
Even without his Devil Fruit—
He had no weaknesses.
"…Fair enough."
Jin didn't argue.
A Marine Admiral… mastering swordsmanship wasn't strange.
"So…"
Kizaru tilted his head.
"Got any more tricks, kid?"
"If you do, I don't mind playing a little longer~"
That relaxed attitude—
Annoyed Jin.
"Maintaining that level of attack… must be draining, right?"
"Don't underestimate a Marine Admiral~"
"I can fight for days."
"…Monster stamina too, huh…"
Jin spat.
Dragging this out wouldn't work.
'But… enough time has passed.'
If Luffy and the others reached their destination—
He'd survive.
After all—
Kizaru wanted him alive.
"Done?" Kizaru asked.
"Then I'll move."
"Let's try it."
"BOOM!"
The ground beside Kizaru exploded—
A shadow clone burst out—
Punching straight at him!
"I told you—"
"Ambush doesn't work."
"Not necessarily!"
"Earth Style: Rock Hand!"
"CRACK!"
A massive stone arm erupted—
Grabbing Kizaru—
And—
"BAM!"
The clone's Haki-coated fist smashed into his face.
"…Huh?"
Even Jin blinked.
That actually landed?
Wasn't he light?
"…Rude brat."
"CLANG!"
Golden light burst—
The stone arm shattered—
And Kizaru instantly reappeared in front of Jin—
Sword raised—
"YOU—"
"STOP!!"
"…Hm?"
Kizaru paused—
Turning.
A woman stood there.
"…Who?"
"…Galette?!"
Jin froze.
Why was she here?!
Did she not realize—
This was a Marine Admiral?
"Oh~"
"You know her?"
Kizaru smirked.
"…A pirate too?"
"Yes."
Galette stepped forward.
"I'm a pirate."
Jin: ???
"Are you insane?!" Jin snapped.
"Do you even know who he is?!"
"…That makes things easy then~"
Kizaru lifted his leg—
"Wait!"
"Run, idiot!" Jin shouted.
"I'm not leaving you," Galette said firmly. "I came to save you."
She faced Kizaru.
"My name is Charlotte Galette."
"I'm from the Big Mom Pirates."
"…Think carefully before you touch me."
"…Hm?"
Kizaru stopped.
"…A Yonko crew, huh…"
He scratched his head.
"…Scary~"
Charlotte.
That surname—
No doubt.
Big Mom's daughter.
…That complicated things.
Without authorization—
Even an Admiral couldn't casually provoke a Yonko.
Especially now.
"…Tch."
He lowered his leg.
Galette exhaled.
"…Did that actually work?" Jin muttered.
"…Don't make it sound like I'm scared," Kizaru said flatly.
"…Sure."
Kizaru: …
This brat…
"Don't touch him," Galette said.
"…Why not?"
"Because—"
She didn't hesitate.
"He's my man."
Kizaru: ???
He stumbled slightly.
"…What?"
"He's my husband."
"…!"
Kizaru stared.
Was this kid… tied to a Yonko crew?
Then—
Why join the Straw Hats?
"…Interesting."
He turned to Jin.
"…So?"
"Are you part of the Charlotte family?"
"…Did you betray your crew?"
Jin didn't answer.
He glanced at Galette—
She was signaling desperately.
Say yes.
Survive first.
He paused.
Then—
Smiled faintly.
"…I appreciate it."
"But I won't betray the Straw Hats."
"…Oh~"
Kizaru chuckled.
"…So it was a lie."
"…You idiot!" Galette snapped. "At least pretend!"
"Living comes first!"
"…You're right."
Kizaru grinned.
"…Shame you didn't listen."
"Cut it out," Jin said coldly.
"You never planned to let me go anyway."
"…Oh?"
"…You noticed?"
"You think it's hard to guess?"
"I killed three Celestial Dragons."
"If you let me go—your government becomes a joke."
"…And you want my abilities."
"…Correct."
Kizaru nodded.
"I'm taking you. No exceptions."
He glanced at Galette.
"…Leave."
"Before I change my mind."
"…Or I'll take you too."
Silence.
Then—
"…I see."
Galette stepped forward—
Standing beside Jin.
"…Then kill me too."
Kizaru: ???
Jin: !!!
"…Are you crazy?!" Jin snapped.
"Leave!"
"I'm not joking."
She looked straight ahead.
"I've chosen you."
"I won't watch you die."
"…We barely know each other."
"So what?"
"If you die—"
"My life ends anyway."
"…Then I'd rather die here."
No hesitation.
No fear.
Only resolve.
Jin was stunned.
"…What a touching scene~" Kizaru said lightly.
"But I don't have time for drama."
"Leave."
"Or I attack."
"CRACK!"
Galette's veins bulged—
A ring of butter formed in her hand.
"…You think I'm acting?"
"Don't underestimate my resolve!"
"WHOOSH—!"
She attacked.
The butter ring shot forward—
Wrapped around Kizaru's arm—
"…Got him!"
"Jin—!"
But—
Kizaru calmly removed it—
And tossed it aside.
"…What?"
Her eyes widened.
…No effect?
Not even a second?
"…So weak…"
"…This is an insult."
Kizaru's smile vanished.
"You've attacked a Marine Admiral."
"…Be ready."
He raised his hand—
Light gathered—
"Laser."
"WHOOSH—!"
"BOOM!!!"
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on P@treon if you're interested:
patreon.com/ZoroTL442