Aokiji could see the burning intensity in Kei Yuki's eyes. It was the look of a predator eyeing its prey.
Clearly, this refined young man had already deemed him his target.
He was a bold one indeed, daring to harbor such thoughts towards a Marine Admiral candidate. But it was also understandable.
If they weren't audacious, the Ninja Pirate Crew wouldn't dare to pull off something like this.
By now, Aokiji was certain that the Ninja Pirate Crew was behind this incident. They definitely had some ulterior motive.
"Since you're unwilling to talk, I'll just have to make you." Aokiji said, an ice spear materializing in his hand as he charged towards Kei Yuki.
Facing the oncoming Aokiji, Kei Yuki smirked, an ice spear also forming in his hand as he met the charge.
As they moved, a chilling white mist filled the air. A wave of coldness made those nearby shiver, their hairs standing on end.
Finally, the two ice spears collided. Kei Yuki and Aokiji's faces drew close, their eyes locked on each other.
"You think you can fool me with such a petty trick?" Aokiji said coldly, a sarcastic smile on his face.
"Of course not." Kei Yuki wasn't surprised by these words, calmly replying.
Then, his entire body transformed into a mass of ice covered in explosive tags.
It was a self-destructing clone.
While he coveted Aokiji's power, Kei Yuki didn't intend to clash head-on. Aokiji was stronger than him; he could only resort to using strategy.
However, Aokiji was the Hie Hie no Mi user. He simply transformed his body into elemental ice, completely nullifying the attack.
"As expected, elemental clones are hardly effective against someone with strong Observation Haki." Even though he had anticipated the outcome, Kei Yuki still sighed.
But that's what made it interesting!
Thinking this, he formed a single-hand seal. Ice walls sprung up, each containing a Kei Yuki within.
He had used the technique derived from his Kekkei Genkai.
"Yoyo yo, a battle of ice against ice. How rare." Kizaru commented in his characteristically quirky and languid tone, but he had no intention of interfering in their fight.
There was no need.
Turning his head to look at the pirates already engaged in a fierce melee, Kizaru felt a headache coming on. Why had this war even started?
"What a troublesome matter." He muttered, then prepared to enter the battlefield. He was a Marine, and an Admiral candidate at that.
However, just then, he suddenly froze. He sensed a dangerous presence.
Turning around, Kizaru's gaze landed on a woman. She was in her twenties, with beautiful features and a gentle smile that seemed perpetually present on her face. Standing on the ice, she exuded a sacred aura.
"Quite the remarkable young lady." He commented, his attention now fully focused.
"You're Kizaru, right? You really are as...disgusting...as the rumors say." Konan spoke, a smile gracing her lips.
Like a blooming flower, like light scattered amidst the clouds, like an angel descended upon the mortal world. Such a smile even stunned Kizaru for a moment.
Then, he spoke in his usual manner: "To think that the Ninja Pirate Crew has such a beautiful woman. How unexpected.
"However, the Ninja Pirate Crew is too dangerous. You should leave that pirate crew as soon as possible, little lady."
He spoke with a tone suggesting he had her best interests at heart. However, Konan just smiled.
"On the contrary, I think you should leave that sanctimonious Marine Headquarters and join the Ninja Pirate Crew, a symbol of freedom, peace, and beauty." Konan's words left Kizaru speechless.
"It seems we have different ideals. In that case, I have no choice but to capture you and slowly reform you." Kizaru said, now serious.
"I was thinking the same thing." Konan replied, raising her hand. Sheets of paper flew out from her hand.
"Oh, what a peculiar ability." As Kizaru finished speaking, he transformed into a beam of light and shot towards Konan.
"Have you ever been kicked by light?" He instantly appeared beside Konan, launching a kick.
Whoosh!!!
But the Konan he kicked instantly turned into scattered pieces of paper, startling Kizaru.
They knew that members of the Ninja Pirate Crew could use clones.
But these clones could only deceive ordinary people, not those with strong Observation Haki. They could be sensed.
However, this time, Kizaru's Observation Haki didn't detect any difference between Konan's clone and her real body.
"Truly impressive." He commented, watching Konan reform as her paper pieces reassembled.
He was now wary. This beautiful woman was not weak.
"You're quite fast," Konan said, a pair of pure white wings suddenly sprouting from her back, formed from countless small pieces of white paper.
At this moment, she truly transformed into an angel, descending upon the world.
"In the name of the Guardian Angel of sage shinobi and the one who safeguards the Sage, I shall judge you!" Konan declared.
With a flap of her wings, a rain of paper feathers shot out, transforming into sharp blades that flew towards Kizaru at incredible speed.
This speed was so fast that ordinary people wouldn't be able to react.
However, Kizaru was no ordinary person.
He was powerful, possessing both the ability to transform his body into light, granting immunity to physical attacks, and extremely advanced Observation Haki. Therefore, he could completely rely on his reflexes to dodge such an attack.
"Logia Devil Fruit abilities are truly troublesome." Konan muttered aloud, more in awe than frustration.
She looked at Kizaru, her white wings flapping. A unique aura emanated from her, captivating Kizaru for a moment.
Rip!!!
Paper sliced through flesh, blood slowly trickling down his cheek. Kizaru looked at the holy angel before him, a chill running down his spine.
Just now, he was almost killed by this woman. Logia intangibility wasn't invincible; it had two weaknesses: Armament Haki and reaction speed.
Kizaru, as the user of the Pika Pika no Mi, was renowned for his speed. With such speed, how could his reaction speed be not up to par?
Under normal circumstances, even if Konan was a super Kage-level expert, she shouldn't have been able to attack Kizaru so easily, let alone almost instantly kill him. But with genjutsu, things were different.
As Hui's Guardian Angel, Konan had practically been raised by him since childhood.
How could she not know genjutsu? Not only did she know it, she was also very proficient.
Moreover, Konan didn't use chakra-based genjutsu, but natural energy-based sen-genjutsu, targeting spiritual energy instead of chakra.
"How terrifying. I almost got killed." Kizaru said, his tone still lazy, but his mind was now completely focused.
This angelic woman definitely possessed a demonic side when dealing with enemies. When fighting her, even a slight carelessness could result in death.
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