"Left!" Ron muttered to himself, taking a quick step to the right as a flash of light sliced through the air on his left.
Clang!
Ron's sword met Kizaru's blade, deflecting the Admiral's surprise attack. The force sent Kizaru staggering back.
"Well, well… it seems your Observation Haki is quite advanced," Kizaru commented with a smirk. "No wonder Aokiji's attacks had little effect on you. It's not just your Armament Haki; your Observation Haki is also top-notch. I suppose trying to predict your movements won't be enough."
"Figured that out, did you?" Ron chuckled. Indeed, his Observation Haki had given him the upper hand during his fight with Aokiji. He hadn't even needed to dodge the Ice Age completely because he wanted to test its strength for himself. But he wasn't about to let Kizaru's blade touch him.
"Observation Haki or not, let's see how you handle this!" Kizaru's tone sharpened as he summoned a barrage of golden photons behind him.
"Yasakani no Magatama!" With a swift wave of his hand, the Admiral unleashed a rain of light projectiles, covering a massive area. The attack's speed and volume far exceeded that of Aokiji's previous ice attacks, leaving Ron with little room to maneuver.
Crackle, crackle, crackle…
Ron moved swiftly, his blade dancing through the air to deflect or slash the light projectiles. Despite his efforts, a few stray beams managed to graze him, but his powerful physique endured the minor burns.
"Impressive durability," Kizaru acknowledged. "It seems even these blasts can't harm you significantly."
"Then how about this?" Kizaru's expression grew more serious as he activated his next move. "Yata no Kagami!" Multiple mirrored surfaces appeared around Ron, distorting the battlefield.
Kizaru's figure vanished, darting between the mirrors at the speed of light, closing in from all directions.
"Try this sword on for size!" Kizaru emerged from one of the mirrors behind Ron, swinging the Ama no Murakumo blade towards his target's back.
Clang!
Ron spun around, meeting Kizaru's blade with Sandai Kitetsu. "Still too slow," he said, his eyes narrowing.
"How are you still keeping up?" Kizaru's frustration showed in his voice. He had tried to disorient Ron as much as possible, yet his speed-based assault still failed to land a significant hit.
"Got any other tricks?" Ron taunted, applying pressure to Kizaru's blade before breaking the deadlock and swinging his sword. "If not, then I'll be taking my turn now. And once I do, you won't get another chance!"
"Tch!" Kizaru snorted, dismissing his light sword. Without missing a beat, he lunged forward, unleashing a barrage of "Light Speed Kicks."
Bang bang bang bang…
Within an instant, Kizaru had launched hundreds of rapid kicks at Ron, aiming to push him back toward the ocean.
Ron's expression remained calm. He didn't even raise his sword, instead using his hands to block the flurry of kicks, his Armament Haki shielding him from the impact.
Below them, the deck of the warship couldn't withstand the sheer power of their clash. It shattered under the pressure, sending debris and ice splinters into the air as the frozen surface of the ocean cracked beneath.
As Ron teetered on the edge of falling into the water, Kizaru pressed his advantage, increasing the intensity of his kicks.
"Not good!" cried Kaya, who watched from the Ark. Tears welled up in her eyes. "Brother Ron… he's in danger!"
"What do we do?!" Apis paced back and forth in a panic.
"Stay calm! Ron will be fine!" Nami said, trying to reassure everyone. Despite her anxiety, she prepared to assist, charging the power of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
"Nami, hold back!" Robin interjected. "At that speed, you might hit Ron instead of Kizaru. The Admiral can easily dodge any attacks that aren't precisely aimed."
Nami hesitated, her hands trembling. She knew Robin was right. At this range and with their speed, it was impossible to clearly distinguish between friend and foe.
"I'll go check on Ron!" Marianne said. "I can fly. If he falls into the sea, I can reach him quickly and help him out."
"Please, do!" Nami nodded gratefully.
"Be careful!" Apis and Aisa called after Marianne as she took off.
Back at the battlefield, Ron found himself continuously pushed back by Kizaru's relentless kicks. Yet, his composure didn't waver.
"Your attacks are certainly fast," Ron admitted. "But speed alone isn't enough. There's still a vast gap in our strength."
Boom!
With a powerful stomp, Ron shattered a large piece of ice beneath him, using the momentum to launch himself toward Kizaru.
Kizaru's eyes widened. "This isn't good…" He attempted to dodge, but Ron was already upon him.
Smash!
Ron's left fist, coated in Armament Haki, crashed into Kizaru's torso, sending the Admiral flying like a ragdoll.
Ron landed gracefully on another piece of ice, while Kizaru tumbled through the air, barely regaining his balance before smashing into the newly frozen sea surface, creating a deep crater.
"Freeze!" came a familiar voice from the wreckage of the warship. It was Aokiji. He extended his hand, rapidly spreading ice across the sea to cushion Kizaru's fall, saving the Admiral from plunging into the ocean's depths.
Ron pointed his sword at the two Admirals, his voice steady and clear. "Enough games. Let's finish this—both of you, at once."