Even when combining soro and geppo, greatly enhancing my speed, Lindbergh was still capable of keeping up with me; in fact, with the help of his jetpack, he was even faster than me. If it weren't for my flexibility, I would've already been lying on the ground, dead or in a near-death state.
Dodging Lindbergh's rapid punches by just a hair's breadth, I tilted my body and kicked toward his side, yet he was still fast enough to retract his arms and block my leg, causing me to grunt in pain as it felt like I had just kicked the toughest object in the world with my shin.
Before he could counterattack, I kicked off of him and backed away, though he swiftly followed right after me, not giving me a single second of respite. Seeing him near me, I stopped myself with my tail by hitting it against the air behind me, and thanks to having grasped complete control over my heart, it caused one of my techniques to become even stronger.
'72 Bian, variation 1: Exploding Heart Release.' Thought Diddy, his heart beating powerfully as he used geppo and soru in tandem with his beating heart, causing him to powerfully launch toward Lindbergh at incredible speeds.
Creating a massive explosion by kicking off the air, I easily broke through the sound barrier as I arrived before Lindbergh almost instantly; however, despite my sudden increase in speed, he was still able to react as he clawed at me with his nails, though I had already anticipated he would be able to attack, so I was already prepared to dodge.
Tilting my body, I watched his blackened nails, which were mere centimeters away from touching my face, pass right by me as I continued past him, bypassing Lindbergh. Once I was several meters behind him, I oriented my body so I was facing him, and again, I used geppo and soru, making sure to time them alongside my beating heart, causing me to shoot toward Lindbergh at an even faster speed than before.
Grasping Naga-sa with my only working arm, I clutched my bo-staff, feeling it tremble in excitement as its sinister aura started to leak, causing me to smirk. Nearing Lindbergh, who had just managed to turn around, I swung my bo-staff right at him; though he did manage to block it, it was just for instance, but I'm positive I saw him frown after receiving my attack.
'Heh, it seems like Naga-sa is capable of harming him despite him coating his arms in that mysterious power. Wonderful!' Thought Diddy with a grin as he flew right past Lindbergh, and he again did the same.
"Hehe; Beast Rush." Said Diddy, launching himself toward Lindbergh for a third time, which increased his speed even more.
I continuously flew right past Lindbergh as I hit with my bo-staff before turning around and launching myself toward him again, turning myself into a Mink pinball. Every time I propelled myself toward him, my speed would increase, and eventually, my speed had grown to the point where everything around me was becoming blurry, including Lindbergh.
At my speed, although I wasn't able to clearly see Lindbergh, so I couldn't determine how much damage he was sustaining, I wasn't going to stop until his body fell to the ground, though I had a feeling I would be here for a while. However, my guess was wrong; launching toward Lindbergh for the six-hundredth time, I speedily flew directly for him, and even though I wasn't close to him yet, I was already swinging Naga-sa.
Suddenly, my instincts warned me of danger, and almost instantly after, I spotted a black object nearing my face; I didn't need to be a fool to realize what that was. Quickly tilting my face to the side, I avoided a head-on collision, but his nails still clawed half my face, nearly taking one of my eyes with that attack.
'Fuck, that was close; if I were just a little bit faster or had a little bit slower reflexes, that would've been the end of the battle.' Mused Diddy as he whizzed right past Lindbergh and flew into the distance.
Seeing how one of my own techniques was now hazardous to even myself, I decided this would be the last time; turning myself around, I forcefully increased my heartbeat, causing it to beat with even more vigor. Kicking off the air at the exact moment my heart powerfully pulsed, I propelled myself directly toward Lindbergh at the fastest speed I've ever achieved, even faster than I've done when transformed. Bringing Naga-sa forward, I appeared before Lindbergh, who was still in the motion of extending my fist, seemingly caught off guard by the sudden increase in speed, which has been at a steady rise up until now, something he must've gotten accustomed to.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
Slamming the butt of my bo-staff directly onto his face, the two of us flew straight toward the ground, and in a matter of a few seconds, we crashed into the ground, creating a decent-sized crater that caused nearby trees to be destroyed; Lindbergh having taken most of the brunt.
Retracting Naga-sa from the crater, I landed on the ground relatively fine from the aftermath and retreated since, despite the mighty blow, I could sense Lindbergh was still alive; not a second later, I saw a full black object emerge from the crater before landing on the ground a few meters before me.
"Hehe, forget about Paradise; with your level of strength, you may even be able to enter the New World, though I should've expected at least this much from someone who dares to make themselves an enemy of the WG, not to mention you also a Mink, a race of warriors." Stated Lindbergh with a chuckle as he ripped off his damaged goggles, revealing his bright blue beast-like eyes, and took off his jetpack, which was now just an empty husk of destroyed metal.
"Hehe, and I suppose I should expect a commander of the Revolutionary Army to be at least this powerful; otherwise, I would've been greatly disappointed." Remarked Diddy as he clutched Naga-sa with his only remaining arm and stared at Lindbergh with a feral expression.
"Before I get serious, I'll ask again: join the Revolutionary Army. Despite you being a pirate, I don't wish to kill one of my own, especially one as young and talented as you." Said Lindbergh sincerely with furrowed, though all he got in response was a bolt of lightning zapping the ground just before him.
"How many times must I tell you? Over my dead body, will I ever follow someone else's orders, not when I'm finally allowed the chance to do what I've always dreamed of! There is no way I'll give it up in hell or heaven, especially not over something stupid like changing the world, which will only result in failure." Declared Diddy as intense lighting cascaded around his body while his haki trembled in response, causing nearby trees to sway slightly, something Diddy noticed but didn't bother investigating.
"I see, and although I'd prefer if things ended differently, I respect your decision; being willing to die for what you believe is a rarity in this world. I prefer fighting with my gadgets and inventions; however, it is only right for me to show you proper respect by fighting like a proper Mink." Said Lindbergh with a small sigh as he lowered his stance and bared his fangs toward Diddy while hissing, his own electricity coiling around his body, though Diddy's was far more intense.
"Hahaha, bring it on! I'm not dying until I've become the strongest! The absolute pinnacle of strength!" Yelled Diddy with chaotic laughter as he and Lindbergh lunged toward each other, causing loud noises every time they traded blows.
___
___
"Fuck me!" Said Trenza as she ran through the city while firing upon the numerous marines chasing behind her.
"Get her! She's part of the Frenzy Pirates!" Yelled one of the marines as they chased after Trenza while also firing at her, though luckily for her, their aim was terrible.
'Dammit! There are too many of them; if I get caught, there is no way I'll escape. I need to regroup with Captain, where he is!?' Mused Trenza as she shot at the marines, killing each one with a shot.
Despite killing several marines, too many were chasing behind me, not to mention they were slowly gaining on me; it was only a matter of time until they caught me. All of a sudden, while I was running through the city, in the forest, a bolt of lightning appeared, causing the marines to be distracted, which I then used to run into an alleyway and hide.
"Huh? Where did she go!?"
"She disappeared! Quickly, everyone find her!"
"She couldn't have gotten far!"
Hearing the marines, I hid behind a trashcan and peeked, seeing the group of marines run right past the alleyway I was hidden in; I continued hiding until I could no longer hear them, and only then did I finally sigh in relief.
"Haa, finally; now to find Captain, which shouldn't be too hard, just follow the lightning." Muttered Trenza as she took a second to catch her breath before holstering her pistols and running down the alley toward the forest.
A few marines were guarding the exit gates, but sneaking past them wasn't too hard, especially considering one of them was sleeping. Exiting the city, I headed into the forest, which was where the bolt of lightning appeared, though I don't remember the exact spot other than it being south.
Eventually, though, as I navigated through the forest, I got close enough to the point where I started seeing broken trees, burn marks, claw marks on nearby trees, and numerous small craters.
'If this isn't the right spot, I don't know what is.' Mused Trenza as she warily headed deeper into the forest, following the signs of destruction, which only got more prominent as time passed.