"If you think you can beat me, then go ahead and try."
A simple statement, but it radiated pure confidence from Kairos Flint.
However, when these words reached the ears of the three Navy Admirals, they felt more like a slap in the face.
Even Kizaru found the remark grating.
Was this guy seriously looking down on them that much?
"Hellfire!!!"
Akainu's face darkened. Without a word, he lunged at Kairos with a massive lava-coated fist, magma coiling and bursting with simulated volcanic force. The impact was devastating, enough to obliterate most foes. Even opponents at Admiral level would find such an assault extremely difficult to handle.
But this opponent wasn't just anyone.
Divine Arts: Tyrannosaurus Fist!
Kairos wrapped his fists in Conqueror's Haki, focusing the energy at the front of his punch.
In the next instant, his fist collided with Akainu's molten onslaught.
BOOM!!!
A thunderous explosion followed by a violent gust of wind erupted from the impact.
Less than a second later—
Whoosh!!!
Akainu's body was hurled backwards, flung through the air.
The result of going head-to-head with Kairos?
The same as Kizaru and Aokiji before him—utter defeat.
As Akainu tumbled away, Kizaru took action.
He ascended into the air using his light-speed ability, raising his arms to gather dazzling beams of light.
Yasakani no Magatama!
Countless radiant energy bullets fired rapidly from his hands.
Their accuracy? 100%.
Kairos could only smirk.
"Second time now... So Kizaru, still pretending you weren't just acting during the Marineford War? With this kind of aim, nobody believes you were going all out."
Clang!
Kairos unsheathed the Third Generation Kitetsu. Armed Haki coated the blade as he sliced at each incoming light bullet, cleaving them perfectly in half.
Though he neutralized the bulk of the attack, the explosive energy still caused a minor tremor across the battlefield.
Not that it affected him in the slightest.
Just as he dispelled the last of Kizaru's attacks—
SWOOSH!
Aokiji struck.
"Ice Time!"
Suddenly, Aokiji appeared beside him, icy mist swirling around as he lunged to grab Kairos.
If he succeeded, his Devil Fruit powers would activate instantly, freezing Kairos in under a tenth of a second.
But in the middle of a fight like this, how could Kairos not sense him with Haki?
"Hey," Kairos said casually, glancing at the Admiral who was about to embrace him, "If it were a beautiful woman, I wouldn't mind. But Aokiji... sorry, I don't swing that way."
Shinra Tensei!
A pulse of repelling force exploded outward from Kairos' body.
BANG!!!
At point-blank range, Aokiji's lunge was halted, and the Admiral was launched away, turning to ice mid-air before crashing down.
Still, Kairos knew well—it hadn't truly hurt him.
Aokiji had fast reaction speed, and in such close combat, there wasn't enough time to coat the attack with Armament or Conqueror's Haki.
And even if he had, minimal Haki would barely scratch a seasoned Logia user.
In other words, it might not even deal 1 HP worth of damage.
"Hell's Judgment!!!"
Akainu launched his next strike—his lava-infused arm stretched out at terrifying speed, slamming toward Kairos again.
But—
Divine Arts: Tyrannosaurus Fist!
Kairos spun on his heel, switching Kitetsu to his left hand, and threw a powerful punch with his right—just like earlier against Aokiji.
BOOM!!!
Akainu's "Hell's Judgment" was fast.
Powerful enough to split half of Whitebeard's face in the future.
But right now?
It didn't even make a dent.
PFFT!!!
Akainu took the punch full force and spat out a mouthful of blood.
His earlier attack had already left internal injuries, and this second hit only worsened it.
His magma-arm reverted to flesh, though his right fist was now torn and bleeding.
Taking two direct hits from Kairos, both infused with Conqueror's Haki, had shredded his defenses.
No one could simply "tank" such raw power.
Even an Admiral.
"To think Sakazuki got beaten up this badly…"
Kizaru muttered, watching Kairos walk toward the wounded Akainu.
Still in his photon form, Kizaru appeared in front of Kairos, a sword of light forming in his hand.
"Ama no Murakumo Sword!"
Formed purely from light and reinforced with Armament Haki, the blade glowed fiercely.
But even Kizaru, an old acquaintance of Kairos, hesitated.
From start to finish, they had ganged up on Kairos—yet never once had he been at a disadvantage.
Quite the opposite—he'd dominated them all.
If this were Sabaody Archipelago, he'd have already withdrawn back to Marine HQ.
But now, trapped on the battlefield?
Retreat wasn't an option.
Unless…
Someone else decided to intervene.
But Kizaru glanced behind him—
That man was still casually snacking on rice crackers, watching their battle unfold.
He had no intention of stepping in yet.
"Autumn Equinox Slash!"
Kairos wasn't interested in banter.
He wrapped Kitetsu in Conqueror's Haki and slashed.
A massive wave of sword energy burst forth, roaring toward Kizaru.
Kizaru lifted his Ama no Murakumo Sword, coating it in Haki as well.
The moment the weapons clashed—
CLANG!!!
Kizaru nearly lost his grip.
The sword trembled violently in his hands.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
Kairos' technique—every single one of his moves—had grown sharper, stronger, deadlier.
CRACK!
Kizaru's blade, though strengthened with both his Devil Fruit and Haki, couldn't withstand the force.
It shattered into particles of light.
The remaining sword energy hit Kizaru head-on.
BANG!!!
He was blasted across the field, crashing into the rubble.
Moments later, he staggered back up—
A deep gash sliced across his chest, blood pouring from the wound.
His expression was pale, tense, and grim.
Kairos Flint's slash had seriously injured Borsalino.