The blinding laser forced Luffy and the others to squint as it struck the ground and slowly solidified into a figure.
A tall Marine in a yellow‑striped suit stood there — Marine Admiral Kizaru, who had arrived swiftly from Mary Geoise.
When Killer and the other Supernovas saw him materialize, their eyes widened in horror. This was an Admiral of Marineford, one of the pinnacle forces of the World Government. Even the boldest pirate understood that fighting a Marine Admiral was a completely different level of danger.
Eustass Kid felt that crushing pressure radiating from Kizaru, yet excitement sparked in his eyes. He wasn't particularly afraid; an Admiral might surpass him in strength, but fighting such a high‑ranked figure was thrilling and proved one's worth. Moreover, Luffy had already drawn attention here, and Kid wasn't about to let him have all the spotlight.
He wrapped his fist tightly and let out a roar of challenge, "Hahaha, you must be Marine Admiral Kizaru, right? You showed up just in time! Let's see how strong the so‑called top combat power of the Marines really is!"
Kizaru turned to look at Kid with his typically relaxed expression and wide eyes.
"Oh, so it's Captain Eustass Kid, with a bounty of 315,000,000 berries," he said calmly, measuring Kid with a glance.
Kid smirked at the casual acknowledgement and pointed toward Luffy, "See? This guy understands power."
Luffy, however, frowned inwardly. His Observation Haki picked up the immense strength radiating from Kizaru's presence. This opponent was without a doubt one of the toughest foes Luffy had encountered since setting sail — far beyond most pirates he'd faced before.
But Kid had already shifted his focus. He lifted his right hand, and an invisible magnetic force rippled outward like ripples in water.
Immediately, every piece of metal in the vicinity — swords, guns, axes, even metal fixtures inside the auction hall — began to levitate and fly toward Kid's outstretched palm. Spectators and fighters alike stared as the metallic objects whirled and spiraled, pulled with irresistible force.
Renn gripped the sword at his side as the magnetic pull tugged at it, trying to rip it from his grasp. More and more weapons converged around Kid until they formed colossal fists made entirely of metal, each piece gleaming and humming with kinetic tension.
"What an ability! What monstrous power!" even Kizaru couldn't help but comment, his voice still composed despite the spectacle.
Luffy watched sideways for a moment, intrigued if not impressed. "That is one strange ability," he murmured.
With a roar, Kid slammed the two gigantic metal fists toward Kizaru.
Kizaru stood motionless as if lulled by his own calm, letting the weaponized construct crash into the ground.
Bang!
The impact sent a shockwave through the earth, dust and debris rising into the air, blocking sight for a moment.
Kid laughed proudly, "Is this Marine Admiral really all you've got? I should be able to deal with you with ease!"
He saw the fist hit Kizaru's head. He believed it should harm an Admiral.
Yet Luffy's eyes remained narrowed, sensing something still active within the haze.
Before Kid could revel further, a brilliant yellow beam suddenly pierced the dust cloud and shot straight through his chest.
"Ah!"
Pain flared across his body, harsh and burning. He instinctively clutched his chest and collapsed to one knee.
"Kid!!" Killer cried out, rushing to his side and trying to help, but before he could reach him, something blocked his path.
Music began to play — a strange, rhythmic melody that cut through the tension.
All eyes turned toward a nearby rooftop.
There, a lanky figure stood, headphones perched over his head, sunglasses covering his eyes, and a large tattoo reading Sound emblazoned across his torso. His fingers danced across piano‑like teeth built into his attire, and the music was clearly coming from him.
Kizaru also halted his actions and glanced in that direction.
"What's this? Who is that guy?"
Killer squinted, recognition sparking in his eyes, "Scratchmen Apoo, bounty of 198,000,000 berries."
Apoo danced lightly on the rooftop with exaggerated flair.
"Yo! Yo! Check it out! Do you hear this music, Marine Admiral Kizaru? If you hear it, don't switch the track," he sang with gleeful mischief.
Kalifa, adjusting her glasses, looked less than thrilled, muttering, "Who is this person? So noisy."
Sanji's eyes, predictably, turned into hearts as he stepped in front of Kalifa, "Do you need earplugs, Kalifa‑chan?"
"No! And this is sexual harassment," she groaned.
"Ah, is calling a name also sexual harassment?" Sanji complained, undeterred. As always, his priorities were… unique.
Apoo's music didn't just fill the air — his body itself became an instrument. With a sudden strike, he slammed a fist onto his own head, creating waves of sound that blasted outward.
Clang!
The invisible soundwaves cut through the battlefield like violent winds.
Kizaru's right arm vanished at the elbow, followed almost instantly by his left.
"!?" The Admiral looked down at his severed limbs in shock.
Then, with brutal precision, his waist split cleanly in two.
"What?!" Killer and the others could only stare, stunned beyond belief. A Marine Admiral had just been sliced through like he was nothing at all.
Luffy's gaze, however, remained calm, eyes fixed on Kizaru's broken body. Is he fine? Is that a Logia Devil Fruit? he wondered, unsure why the Admiral's pieces hadn't disintegrated.
Apoo cheered, "Wahaha! Got him!" before turning to leave.
But a blinding yellow light suddenly appeared in front of him, forcing him to block it with his arm.
Before he could fully react, a powerful kick sent him crashing hard to the ground.
Killer's eyes widened — he hadn't even seen the movement that struck Apoo.
A voice whispered just then into his ear, "Speed is power. Have you ever been struck at the speed of light?"
At that moment, a glowing foot connected cleanly with his temple.
"What?!"
From nearby, another pirate watched in wide‑eyed horror — a muscular man with wings on his back. He had rushed over, thinking to witness the Admiral's arrival, only to see this extraordinary scene unfold.
But instead of fleeing, he charged forward, wielding a thick iron rod with all his might.
Kizaru's head turned, expression still unfazed if astonished, "How scary! Are all these pirates with bounties over 100,000,000 berries so terrifying? Mad Monk Urouge, bounty of 180,000,000 berries, you've worked hard sailing for so long."
With no hesitation, he fired a golden beam that pierced right through Urouge's chest, ignoring the others entirely.
His figure reappeared in front of another pirate sitting calmly on a stone, playing with tarot cards.
"Have you calculated your life and death yet, Magician Basil Hawkins?" Kizaru asked coolly.
Hawkins lifted his head, startled to see the Admiral so close.
Kizaru then fired a laser directly through Hawkins' body, yet Hawkins didn't fall as expected. Instead, his arm transformed into a straw‑like shape, and a doll fell to the ground from within it — revealing how his Devil Fruit ability worked.
Kizaru's eyes widened with genuine surprise, "How scary! Supernovas are truly terrifying."
He raised his hand again and unleashed another laser beam. Though hesitant, Hawkins fell to the ground after the seventh strike.
Luffy watched silently, thinking to himself:
He really is frighteningly strong.
One "how scary" after another, and one supernova after another was dealt with swiftly.
---