Chapter 66: Perfect Presentation!
"Half a day..."
Zephyr gripped the black hand of his prosthetic limb, his fist held tight at his waist, and grinned menacingly at Sag. "This old man is being underestimated!"
"Who would dare underestimate you!"
Sag bent slightly, clenching his fist. "But don't you underestimate me either, old undying bastard!"
"Is that so..."
*Whoosh!*
*Bang!*
Zephyr's figure vanished from his spot. His left fist, coated in black (*Busoshoku Haki*), fiercely struck Sag's abdomen. The fist dented inwards, and just that single punch caused Sag's body to curl up, lifting off the ground.
"Nngh!!"
Zephyr let out a muffled grunt, his fist pressing straight into Sag's body, forcefully slamming him outwards, sending him flying.
"This old man is seventy-two and can still fight! I don't accept being old! Show me the strength to stall this old man for half a day, kid!"
Sent flying by the punch, Sag spat out a mouthful of blood. The Haki on his abdomen only then slowly faded.
This old guy's speed had increased too much, and the power of his Haki was different from before. Even using Haki couldn't completely offset it.
If that's the case...
He gritted his teeth fiercely. His body, still in the air, stepped onto the air, used *Geppo* to jump upwards sharply, and kicked out.
"Rankyaku: Jūji Ōkabutowari!" (Cross Great Helmet Splitter!)
*Swish!*
A huge, pale blue slash in a cross shape rapidly plunged downwards, falling swiftly towards Zephyr.
*Chih!!*
The ground was instantly cut with a cross mark. Zephyr flashed sideways, glanced at the indentation on the ground, and smiled, "Not bad!"
"What's 'not bad' is still to come!"
Just as Zephyr dodged, Sag's legs fiercely propelled him through the air. Like a shooting star, he descended upon Zephyr's head, his Haki-coated, pitch-black fist swinging down rapidly.
Zephyr instinctively raised his left fist to collide with Sag's, but just as their fists were about to touch, Sag's fist curved away like a snake. His entire body spun fiercely in the air, transforming into a brief whirlwind, and within that whirlwind flashed a dense, pitch-black flame (*Haki effect*).
"Hah!"
The whirlwind exploded open, revealing Sag's figure. In mid-air, he temporarily retracted his fist, wrapping all his Haki around his left foot, and kicked fiercely towards Zephyr's right side.
*The right arm is a prosthetic, it shouldn't be that...*
*Boom!!*
The pitch-black prosthetic right arm fiercely grabbed Sag's ankle. On the wrist, covered in black cloth, a cluster of purplish-black appeared, like a flowing fierce wind.
*Haki coating!*
*Bang!*
Zephyr looked up, baring his chilling white teeth at him. His right hand suddenly lifted upwards, bringing Sag's body with it, and smashed him downwards fiercely.
During this rapid descent, the pitch-black flame on Sag's left foot dissipated, while his right foot was wrapped in flame-like flowing Haki. His foot extended like a sharp sword, aiming straight for Zephyr's throat.
"Your intention is too obvious!"
Zephyr's other hand wrapped with Haki, also grabbing Sag's ankle. Both hands pulled his ankles, adding another layer of force, smashing him even more rapidly onto the ground.
*Boom!!*
As soon as Sag's back touched the ground, the earth rapidly cracked. With a huge sound, the ground completely caved in, forming a giant crater about twenty meters in radius.
Countless small stones flew outwards like bullets, and a cloud of smoke exploded from the center, drifting upwards.
"Sag!"
Lily, who was accelerating towards the Death Omen Star to move goods, was startled and cried out worriedly.
The smoke dispersed. Zephyr looked at Sag, who was lying spread-eagled in the center of the crater, and grinned. "Turns out you were just boasting, kid."
Saying this, he reached out to grab the person in the crater.
But just then, Sag's eyes snapped open. His feet came together like a giant sword, and with a forceful push from his hands, he thrust forward, charging straight at Zephyr's chest.
*Pa!*
Zephyr's eyes widened in surprise. He subconsciously used his left fist to block the impact, but the strong force unexpectedly bounced his hand away. Sag quickly flipped over, closing the distance, and smashed an uppercut.
*Bang!*
The punch was blocked by Zephyr's right prosthetic arm. Sag seized the opportunity to swing another punch, but it was stopped by the left hand that had just been bounced away. Both attacks emitted heavy, muffled sounds.
"You..." Zephyr frowned, about to speak, but found this young kid grinning fiercely at him.
A headbutt struck his forehead hard. The huge impact made Zephyr's head tilt back, and his body could no longer stop, retreating backward.
But just as he retreated, Sag's feet, which had just been bounced back and curled up in the air, fiercely thrust out again, this time striking Zephyr's chest directly, kicking him away!
*Bang!!*
The circular crater was plowed open into a straight line, sending sand and stones flying everywhere.
Sag's feet landed lightly. He looked at the smoke rolling forward and curved his lips into a fierce grin. "What's there to boast about?"
Amidst the smoke, Zephyr slowly stood up. The Haki on his forehead and chest dissipated. He stared at the gradually fading Haki on Sag's forehead and waist/rib area, a serious expression appearing in his eyes.
*His back and head were both protected by Haki, especially the black-flame-like flowing Haki on his forehead, indicating considerable strength.*
*Haki could only be seen by those who also possessed Haki. Otherwise, even knowing the concept, one couldn't see the 'color'.*
The amount of Haki this kid was using felt very wrong.
Although the battle just now was extremely short, Zephyr could feel that every punch this guy threw was coated, and the intensity wasn't low.
Before that, he had also used this level of Haki to knock down the mechanical arm. Even if it wasn't his limit, it was close.
This rate of full-strength consumption should quickly exhaust his Haki. Even if it wasn't exhausted, it should have decreased somewhat.
But now, not only did Zephyr not see any weakening, but the opponent was fighting more fiercely, and his Haki usage was even more proficient than before.
Moreover, that fighting style couldn't even be called mere aptitude; it was a kind of *perfect presentation*.
Zephyr had taught for so many years, instructed so many outstandingly talented students, yet only in Sag did he discover this perfect combat application of the body.
Whether it was his head, hands, feet, or any part of his body, he could use them freely, like well-honed weapons. He was simply the most perfect martial arts master.
Too strange...
Zephyr clenched his fist, making cracking sounds, and said gravely, "If I let you continue your rampage, the Marines might gain a troublesome enemy. This old man must arrest you!"
"Ho-hahahaha!" Sag threw his head back and laughed. "Then come and try!"
With that, his expression turned serious. He suddenly took a deep breath, and a white airflow rose from the surface of his body, wrapping around him and transpiring upwards.
Zephyr, although his willpower felt weakened and his Haki wasn't as strong as Garp's, when they really fought... he hadn't broken through his defense at all!
He had almost exhausted his current capabilities, coating his fists entirely with Haki, but it was dissolved by the opponent's stronger Haki.
Since Haki wasn't effective, then change the method...
"Kid, here I come!"
*Boom!*
Zephyr's shout entered Sag's ears. He saw Zephyr's feet explode against the air, rapidly rushing forward. His left hand surged with pitch-black, flowing, fierce wind. Under the coating, he smashed down a fierce punch.
*Chih!*
Just then, white breath sprayed from Sag's nose with his breathing. His body size rapidly expanded, and the muscles all over his body appeared ferociously like armor, transforming from a normal person to the same three-meter height as Zephyr.
Turning Dragon Breathing Technique!
"80%!!"
Veins popped on Sag's neck. With a roar, flowing Haki covered his hand like black flames, colliding fiercely with the madly surging fierce wind on Zephyr's fist.
*Bang!!*
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