The two stared each other down.
Lightning crackled violently around Ryo, snapping across the ground and splitting the air with sharp bursts of red. It grew louder, more unstable, more eager—just like the grin stretching across his face.
He was going to enjoy this.
Kizaru, on the other hand, looked completely unbothered. His hands rested loosely at his sides, expression lazy as ever.
A vein bulged at Ryo's temple.
The ground beneath him exploded.
He shot forward like a launched spear, fist wrapped in roaring lightning as he aimed directly for the Admiral's jaw. The speed was blinding, the air shrieking in protest as he closed the distance in an instant—
He swung.
And hit nothing.
Kizaru had already dissolved into light.
Ryo's lightning-coated punch tore through empty space.
Then he heard it.
That familiar sound.
The faint hum of photons gathering.
He twisted his head—
Kizaru was beside him, leg glowing with blinding intensity.
Kizaru: Prepare to be kicked at the speed of light.
The kick came down.
But Ryo was already moving.
Mid-attack, he shifted his weight and snapped his own leg upward to counter. Their strikes collided—
And the air detonated.
A violent shockwave burst outward, tearing up the ground beneath them and sending cracks racing across the surface. The clash shook the artificial forest, scattering debris in all directions.
Kizaru's foot pressed harder.
Kizaru: Not bad... but do better.
The light around his leg intensified.
The force multiplied.
Ryo was blasted backward, launched like a projectile toward Vegaforce-01.
But he adjusted mid-air, twisting his body with feline precision. He landed perfectly atop the massive robot, boots skidding slightly as he steadied himself.
Luffy (eyes wide): No way, Ryo!
The captain instantly recognized the opponent—and instantly began whining.
Luffy: Aww, come on, Ryo! Let me fight him inst—
Ryo cut him off with a sharp, stern glare. The lightning around him flared violently.
Ryo: Don't interrupt us, bro. This one is mine. Please allow me to handle this. I owe this guy multiple beatdowns. You don't know how long I've waited for this!
The air exploded.
Ryo vanished—becoming a bolt of lightning tearing across the battlefield at blinding speed. When he broke out of it, something had changed.
His hair had turned white.
His fox ears and tail glowed pale as snow.
His eyes burned a deep, radiant gold.
He had entered his Sulong form.
He was done playing.
Even Kizaru's expression shifted—just slightly.
