Kairos Flint slashed down—and got hurt.
That was something he hadn't expected.
He had used his Devil Fruit ability, combined it with Armament Haki, yet it was still easily countered by the enemy.
Good thing he reacted fast.
The moment the Tiancongyun Sword was shattered, he quickly shifted into his elemental form. That quick response saved him.
Although the opponent's Conqueror's Haki-infused attack had landed directly on him, it didn't pierce deep. His internal organs were unharmed, not even a cracked rib. Just a surface wound.
Don't be fooled by the blood gushing from his body.
It might look severe—but it was just flesh trauma.
Still, the blood loss was significant. The wound wasn't deep, but it was wide, and the sensation was far from pleasant.
"He nearly killed me."
Kizaru muttered, face pale.
One moment of carelessness had almost cost him his life.
And this reminded him of something critical: when facing Kairos Flint, you don't fight like you're up against some low-level pirate. Sloppiness might not matter with nobodies, but against Kairos? A single slip meant death.
"A general is still a general. To stay standing even after being stabbed by me... now that's terrifying."
Kairos looked over at Kizaru as he spoke.
The words hit Kizaru like a slap.
Damn it. Was this bastard mocking him with his own catchphrase?
Dog Bites Crimson Lotus!!!
Akainu's next attack roared in.
The magma-formed dog head on his arm lunged directly at Kairos.
"Some people really never learn."
Kairos was clearly annoyed watching Akainu charge in again.
This guy was relentless.
Even after being knocked around before, Akainu hadn't learned a thing. Charging in again for close combat? It was like lighting a candle just to look for crap.
"In that case, let's try out some of my new power."
Kairos didn't think much of the Three Admirals.
Sure, they were strong.
Unleashing their full strength, they could reach Emperor level—briefly.
But Kairos Flint wasn't just stepping into Emperor level.
He'd pushed his physical power to three stages beyond the standard Emperor threshold.
That alone gave him a substantial edge. Add in his other abilities?
Among all the Emperors alive today, even Whitebeard in his prime would be a close match—maybe.
So why should he fear these three who were still stuck at quasi-Emperor level?
From the beginning, he hadn't seen them as a real threat.
The reason they were even still standing was simple: he was using them as live training dummies.
He needed someone to test out his newly developed techniques.
Ittō-Ryū: Arctic Descent!!!
Both Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki spiraled around the Third Generation Kitetsu.
But that wasn't all.
The blade now shimmered with a frigid blue glow—ice.
It was the power of a special Ice Slate ability he had developed, now condensed into the Kitetsu. Icy breath rolled off the blade, freezing the air around it.
Of course, the key to this move wasn't the Haki.
It was the integration of ice into his swordsmanship. The Haki simply served as an enhancement—to make sure it could land cleanly against Logia-type Devil Fruit users.
Whoosh!
Kairos moved!
Instantly, he vanished from sight.
Akainu's attack slammed into the ground, erupting in a burst of molten energy and smoke.
Roar!!!
The icy sword strike released a sudden pulse, temporarily blocking the enemy's Observation Haki.
That interruption didn't last long.
But in a battle between top-tier fighters like Kairos, even a fraction of a second was enough.
"Sakazuki, behind you!!!"
"Turn around—NOW!"
Even if Akainu's Haki was jammed for a moment, the others could still see.
Kizaru and Aokiji shouted at him.
Akainu, stunned by Kairos' sudden disappearance, was just now registering their warning. His body began to turn. He was preparing to swing his lava-laced left arm for another Great Eruption.
"Too slow."
Kairos' voice whispered behind him.
In that instant, a cold flash of light cut through the air.
The sword descended.
A blink later—
Tear!!!
Akainu's arm was severed.
Snap!
His arm, stripped of its magma form, returned to flesh mid-air and hit the ground.
But there was no blood spray.
The ice energy had frozen the wound upon impact. The blood was sealed by frost the moment the blade touched flesh.
Great Eruption!!!
Akainu howled in pain, swinging his other arm at Kairos with a gigantic molten fist.
But it was too little, too late.
Kairos slashed sideways.
A wave of sword energy exploded forth.
It crushed Akainu's lava attack instantly.
As the magma scattered in the air—
Akainu's form vanished.
Using elemental dispersion, he pulled away as fast as he could.
The pain of losing an arm finally snapped him out of his reckless aggression.
Ice Age!!!
Aokiji activated his Devil Fruit power immediately.
Now wasn't the time to hold back.
He had seen what happened to his fellow admirals. If he hesitated, the results would be the same.
"That kind of power won't work on me."
Kairos didn't even glance at the incoming attack.
In a heartbeat, he appeared directly in front of Aokiji.
His blade flashed.
Violent sword energy burst outward like a geyser.
Coldmouth Roar!!!
Aokiji countered, unleashing his own signature move. His energy roared toward Kairos.
But while his Devil Fruit was powerful, his opponent was Kairos Flint.
In front of that man, his attacks were barely a ripple.
Still—
Aokiji had one thing going for him.
He was smart.
The moment he fired his attack, he transitioned into elemental form.
That way, he avoided most of Kairos' deadly slash.
His body scattered into ice fragments, then reassembled further away.
He lived to fight another moment.