Raging Storm

"Common sense, huh?" Shane stated as he rolled his shoulders. He took a couple of steps forward, he brought his hands back to him and tucked them in close to his chin. It was a basic technique as it stressed the back and brought out more power, however, such a technique was never used by Shane. It felt awkward to him and he had plenty of power even without it, so why did he do it now?

Everyone understood it right from the beginning Shane was serious and for good reason. Kai was someone who radiated sheer power. Shane knew holding back would hurt him more than it would hurt Kai. And that was why he stepped forward and let his entire power flow through his body. Up and through his feet, legs and waists, and bursting through the back and arm. It was red hot and quick.

Of course, even such a basic and beautiful blow like that would never touch someone of Kai's level. They were in entirely different worlds. And Kai had every intention to show that. He leaned forward and without wasting a second let one of his own punches fly. It was the same strategy down to the T that Mikoto had just tried and failed at. However, Kai's punch quality and strength truly were on another level. His fist blasted through.

It found itself, pummeling into Shane's soft cheek and plowing the skin back in ridges all the way. Shane had to grit his teeth and try to stay conscious. However, even with his best efforts there was still an opening as far as Kai was concerned. He took one monstrous step forward, slicing through the air as he planted one foot next to Shane and locating the monster's face again, even as distorted into pain as it was. And that was that.

Ever single part of Kai's face read the same exact thing. He was intending to finish this fight in one more blow. Of course, Shane didn't have much to say about that. He could only stare wide-eyed as his opponent's fist arced in and down from above, finding its target beautifully on the way down. Or it would have had a pesky bug hadn't interfered.

Mikoto zoomed in. Using his clearly superior speed, he blasted past Kai and landed a number of blows right at his exposed face. It was just enough to cause Kai to pause, but even with that pause it was clear that Kai still had the upper-hand.

Mikoto skidded to a halt a few feet behind him. Pain racking his face. Mikoto was biting his bottom lip. He hadn't really put it together, but he had thought Shane's abdomen may have been hard enough to break his fist on if he was unlucky, but he knew for a fact that Kai's face was. Mikoto gritted his teeth and looked up at Kai, ignoring the pain of his probably broken fist.

If it came down to it, Mikoto would go for it again and again and again. He would keep aiming to get one of his punches through if Kai chose to continue this battle. But still Mikoto could already tell in terms of technique and defense he far exceeded both of them. And in terms of power he beat Mikoto, with him also edging out in the speed category against Shane.

When it came down to it Mikoto was fairly certain Kai would be capable of beating them both. And it seemed like he had every intention of proving it. Without stopping Kai took several footsteps toward his Shane. His arm becoming coated in a heavy kind of dark stone. He walked as close to his opponent as possible before swinging his arm around and into the air.

However, just like Mikoto Shane had no reason to give in and bow down just like that. Shane still had a few of his own techniques left. When Mikoto compliment Kai's technique, it was because it was the polished and perfect style someone like a professional boxer might use. It was effective and pretty to look at, but Shane's style was every bit as effective. Even if a professional boxer would never be caught dead using it.

Shane twisted around and with a swift step of his foot, brought his shoulder up rather than his fist. His shoulder smashed into Kai's chin and blew his head back a bit. Kai was physically shaken up. The unexpected blow as well as Shane's natural strength was enough to make any man wheel backwards. Of course, even after wheeling back there was no more distance between them. For every step Kai took backwards Shane took one forwards.

He stayed on top of him, perfectly keeping pace with the Yonkou. For a second you could even forget the distance that would normally separate these two. The distance between a Yonkou and a regular pirate. In this instant they were on the same level.

Shane fired a punch with all of his power forward, it was quick and powerful. It arced through the air with perfect timing and skill. Of course, if you want perfect you only need to look at the top of the world, which was where Kai was standing.

Kai reacted with speed and timing just as perfect as Shane's punch. He flowed to the side, bringing his own shoulder forward and blocking it perfectly with it. Since he used his shoulder to block his two arms were still free. He leaned in and with clean punches he fed two punches in nearly the same milli-seconds. His fists once more became clad in the rocks he had used before as he smashed Shane's head back. Shane stumbled back, his eyes widening as he stumbled a few feet back.

The opening was there again. It seemed weird that someone with skills as polished as Kai's would keep creating openings, but there it was again. A slight opening that he revealed whenever he fired a couple of punches. It was only open for a second or so and if you were being punched, you probably wouldn't even notice it.

But given Mikoto's distance and instincts he constantly saw it. Even in the thick of this battle between two highly contested fighters he could sense it. Forget even his instincts once more this excelled past what normal instincts would do. Once more he could see everything with his Colors of Observation Haki. Even a man as high up on the world's ladder as Kai could not escape his view now.

There was a slight shift in the air. And Kai read it immediately. He had taken both of their blows now and he had to say he was more impressed with the Shane kid. Mikoto's punch was indeed fast, but it was light enough for him to shake it off after being hit. Such a punch would lead to its owner's downfall. Even now, eying up the kid and feeling his animal instincts run over him. He still didn't budge. All bark and no bite.

However, Kai didn't make a name for himself turning down challengers. He pushed Shane to the side, Shane was still recovering from the last few punches so he was fine with it. He just gritted his teeth and swallowed a little dignity. As soon as his power was back he'd hit Kai with everything he had. He'd let Mikoto distract him until then.

Then again Mikoto wasn't the type to distract. He would be going at full just like Shane was planning to. Mikoto stepped in. Kai breathed out deeply. Just like Shane Mikoto used a customized fighting pose and everything like that. Despite having very different natural talents the two of them shared techniques and skills.

Meaning that if Kai crushed one of them he would crush them both.

Right from the get-go though the fight started out to be something Kai would never had expected. It became damn near impossible for him to keep up with him. Mikoto blasted off and took to a whole new level of speed. Spinning around Kai, using him as the axis, Mikoto took to circling his opponent.

Of course, just running in circles around his opponent wouldn't be considered an attack. It could barely even be considered a strategy. The attacks came next and they came fast. A constant barrage. Quick, clean, and cutting edge. They were all sharp and dangerous. Well, they would've been to a normal human.

Once more Kai showed off his clearly superior side. His power. The power of the Vodayonay of Seastone. Just like Hiro-Shu or Armani Dove he had a power gifted to him from an unusual source. Something that no one else could ever match. The power of the Seastone was a godly one. In a place where Devil Fruit powers ran rampant it might just be considered to be in the highest echelon of power.

Chalking all of its power up to its Devil Fruit negation abilities would probably be a bit much, though. Seastone's hardness was also something of a god-like ability. It was said to even rival that of diamonds. This turned Kai into something of an unnatural brute. His strength was legendary all the way through to the end.

Then again even saying half of Kai's power came from this power may be a stretch. In all honesty Kai's strength was something that too few and far people would ever achieve. Perfectly measured all the way to the bone. Punches that had been practiced a thousand times a night. There was no room for a mistake in Kai's perfect design. And if sensed a mistake in someone's else fighting he would snuff it out. Just as he intended to do to Mikoto.

He had already gathered that Mikoto lacked power for someone of his caliber. It wasn't so far low that he was weak, it was just low enough that it wouldn't harm him unless he got truly careless and let Mikoto pile them on. Indeed Kai would put 20 of Mikoto's punches against even one of Shane's and call them equal. If Mikoto truly wanted to go for broke let him. Kai would be more than happy to see him there.

Kai lead Mikoto forward. Letting Mikoto grace him with his punches. However, while Mikoto had to have unleashed about 30 punches by now not a single one landed cleanly. A fast, yet solid guard had enabled Kai to take whatever punches Mikoto dealt out. Kai had stood tall as one of the three deadliest men in the world, in order to get there you needed power, but to stay there you needed good defense.

Mikoto's punches all seemed fast and good, but to Kai they were all slow and weak. Just like Mikoto's instincts and Colors of Observation, Kai had experience as well. That's not to say he lacked Colors of Observation. No, he had mastered both forms of Haki and were quite prolific in using them...when he needed to.

Against someone like Mikoto there was no need. Kai could sense the punches coming. Mikoto was someone who fought with instincts and in such a case Kai could read them like a book. His punches were all aimed at vital spots, which were good it forced Kai to dodge, but also allowed Kai to guess where his punches would be.

Still Kai had to admire the guy's attempts. They were all well-placed and with just enough snap a lesser man, might be tempted to rush the fight and try to end it. But Kai wasn't like that. He'd let Mikoto tire himself out. His fast tempo with his feet and fists were bad to start taking their toll on him. An eventually decrease in stamina would result in him slowing down...or even better, him risking a big blow.

Then again every bit as skilled Kai had become from practice Mikoto had experienced in fights. The top of the world was a lonely place when looking for rivals and Mikoto had had rivals by the plenty. He would've learned not to risk a big punch, he would've gained good stamina, and he would've put together a way to change the look on Kai's face.

If that meant putting it all on the line Mikoto would do just that. Mikoto rushed in, finding a few more places to land blows. All of them accurate, sharp, and soulfull. His fist prized location was at Kai's liver, forcing him to lower that painful guard. His second was much higher, above the newly guarded liver and right at the head. Followed up by a mid-section blow at the heart. Alternating between highs and lows, mixing it up whenever necessary, ordinarily such a strategy would be sound, but against Kai not a single blow ran true.

However, the Kid Coyote paid little heed to his own failed blows. All of his attention had fallen onto Kai's fists. He had to focus on that and only on that. When one of Kai's punches rang out Mikoto would have to dodge it. He knew he could take one or two, but Kai was like Shane, if he sensed weakness the hammer would fall and it wouldn't stop.

A raging storm from the world's greatest power would soon begin.

A Yonkou Supreme