The stares from behind became like needle pricks. Some of the veterans understood the grudge between Kuzan and Nero, so they didn't think much of it, but the new recruits' thoughts were different.
The eyes of some people went from shock, to confusion, then became firm again, as if they had made some kind of decision, gripping their weapons tightly as they stared at Kuzan's back.
Kuzan: "...Since you already know, then don't make any futile struggles, Nero!"
"Hmm, is that so? It seems you can't be completely sure when they'll arrive." Nero didn't respond to Kuzan, still looking thoughtful.
Good, let's fight! If this mouth delays any longer, I might end up in a military court.
With half his body turned into ice, Kuzan leaped from the bow of the ship, his right hand transforming into an ice sculpture of a pheasant that flew towards Nero.
[ICE Pheasant Beak!]
The Primal Fire was slowly drawn, and a parry clashed precisely with Kuzan's skill.
Ice crystals fluttered down like snowflakes, reflecting the sun's light. Red demonic patterns appeared on Nero's face, and her ruby-like pupils emitted a captivating demonic charm.
"Hmm, in that case, I don't have time to waste with you. Let's finish this quickly!"
Her other hand also gripped the hilt, and red and white Haki surged along the blade.
Veins protruded from his brow, Kuzan's face darkened: "Finish this quickly? Are you saying you can deal with me at any time?"
His temper was usually good, but Nero, as an opponent he respected, used such a dismissive tone, as if he were no different from a common minion.
This attitude instantly enraged Kuzan. The sea instantly froze, and Kuzan jumped off the ship, intending to confront Nero head-on with an unpleasant expression.
"Hmm, narrow-minded men won't be liked by women, you know!" Nero teased, also jumping off the ship, her body slightly crouched in an attacking stance.
[Falling Blossom Sky Curtain!]
Red and white Armament Haki covered Nero's entire body like flames, and the air and the frozen sea were pushed aside like ripples.
She held nothing back. Just as Nero said, she was preparing for a quick battle, her figure like a low-flying object, rushing towards Kuzan.
He and Nero were old rivals, and he understood this attack quite well.
It was a swift move that reinforced the body with Haki, accelerating to an extreme speed in an instant, a single point of penetration.
'If I'm locked onto by this move, I can't dodge it with my speed. So there's only one way to deal with it: a frontal counter!'
All of his Haki gathered in his right hand, and the Devil Fruit ability activated. Kuzan's pupils contracted sharply.
'I see it! The attack path of this move!!!'
[ICE Gauntlet!]
However, Nero ducked, sidestepping Kuzan's ultimate move.
It wasn't a thrust, but a slash???
"Hmm, Falling Blossom Sky Curtain has always had two variations from the start: one is a breakthrough point, and the other is a lightning-fast slash!"
Nero, crouching low, practically dove into Kuzan's embrace. Looking up, their eyes met, and Nero's slash also swung out.
His missed punch created towering waves, but Nero stood in the safe zone of his attack, completely unharmed.
Unable to change his move in time, Kuzan took the full force of the attack, coughing up a large mouthful of blood, his eyes rolling back as his body was sent flying and embedded into the hull of the Marine warship.
"Admiral Aokiji!"
"How is that possible? Just one move?"
"Is this the Pirate King's top executive, Nero of the golden rose?"
"We can't win against an opponent like this!!!"
The other Marine soldiers instantly fell into a panic. As well-trained soldiers, such a performance was undoubtedly substandard, but this scene truly challenged their worldview.
Even an Admiral couldn't easily defeat Vice Admiral Kuzan in a single blow, could he? So, some people looked at Kuzan with a hint of doubt.
Nero didn't continue the pursuit. At the edge of her Observation Haki, she vaguely sensed two massive presences. Without a doubt, it should be Garp and Zephyr.
Now was time to escape. She didn't want to fight those two old men, especially Garp, who was stubborn and hard to shake off like sticky candy.
"Hmm, today is a bit rushed, so I'll be leaving first. Talk to you later!"
Returning to the ship, Nero didn't forget to get in one last jab at Kuzan before she left.
"Nero! You bastard... are you trying to escape?"
Kuzan had only temporarily lost consciousness and quickly woke up. At the last moment, he used both his Armament Haki and his elementalization, reducing a lot of damage, but due to the haste, he still took a considerable amount of damage.
"Hmm, those annoying guys are almost here. Being too persistent isn't gentlemanly, Kuzan!"
While saying this, Nero's movements didn't stop at all. With the throttle wide open, the golden rose sped forward.
At this point, the small boat's performance was perfectly demonstrated. Its speed was completely incomparable to a warship's, and it soon disappeared from the sea.
"Damn it!" Kuzan slammed his fist heavily onto the ice, powerless to stop Nero's departure.
Although Nero had played a trick in the previous duel, he also realized that the gap between him and Nero had not narrowed; instead, it was constantly widening.
When they first met, they could be called evenly matched. Was this the difference in talent?
As a genius who had always been looked up to, Aokiji felt the disparity in talent for the first time.
Moreover, he heard that Nero had also learned the ultimate moves of Garp and Roger. If such a person was left unchecked, she would one day become an even more troublesome existence than Roger.
At this moment, a special sense of mission arose in Kuzan's heart: he absolutely could not let Nero go unchecked any longer.
Both Sengoku and Garp's emphasis on Nero was more because she was a crew member of Roger, rather than Nero herself.
"Kuzan! Are you all right?"
The dog-headed warship approached, and Garp, from the bow, ran over using Moonwalk from afar.
"Ah, I'm fine!" Kuzan sat down ungracefully on the ice: "Mr. Garp, you're a step late!"
"Is that so? Haha, it seems that little girl Nero has really gotten a lot stronger!" Garp wasn't disheartened by Nero's escape, laughing heartily: "It seems I'll have a hard time explaining this to Sengoku!"
"I will take responsibility for this and report in person."
"Really? That would be a great help. If Sengoku knew that Nero escaped because I went to buy discounted donuts, he'd surely scold me to death!"
"Mr. Garp... are you really so kind?"
"I don't understand what you're saying, old man?" Garp scratched his head: "But Kuzan, it seems you lost!"
"Ah, an unacceptably crushing defeat!" Covering his eyes with one hand, Kuzan leaned back against the warship, cold air emanating from his hand.
"Hmm... then win it back next time! You're a young man I have high hopes for, old man!"
"Mr. Garp..."
"Garp! You bastard, if you hadn't insisted on taking a detour to buy donuts..."
Zephyr, who was a step behind in the distance, instantly understood what had happened and slammed his fist mercilessly onto Garp's forehead.
"Ouch!" Garp clutched his head and shouted indignantly at Zephyr: "Kuzan has already forgiven me!"
Kuzan: "..."
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