Both fighters possessed the power of the Glint-Glint Fruit.
Their speed had already surpassed what the naked eye could follow.
In the blink of an eye, they had already exchanged more than a hundred moves.
"Kid, your use of the fruit isn't bad," said Kizaru.
At that moment the two of them were once again locked in a clash, their Ama no Murakumo Swords pressed against each other.
Kizaru stared at Renji with growing confusion.
The Light Fruit was extremely difficult to master.
Having incredible speed was certainly a powerful advantage in combat, but adapting to that speed and actually using it effectively in battle required enormous time and effort.
[You picked up a Devil Fruit growth experience.]
[You picked up an Observation Haki insight.]
[You picked up 1 point of strength.]
"I'm still inferior compared to Admiral Kizaru," Renji replied honestly.
His Ama no Murakumo Sword swung again.
Strength, speed, Observation Haki, and Armament Haki were all pushed to their limits as Renji fought.
Only by using everything he had could he match Kizaru in battle.
Clang!
Neither Renji nor Kizaru held a real weapon.
Both swords were formed entirely from light.
Yet when they collided, the sound resembled metal striking metal.
[You picked up a Devil Fruit growth experience.]
[You picked up a strength attribute.]
[You picked up 1 point of agility.]
The two moved at incredible speed.
Their battlefield shifted from the eastern edge of the island to the western edge in an instant.
Hundreds more exchanges followed.
Soon they were back at the original location.
Renji felt the growing power within his body and a smile appeared on his face.
Kizaru could not understand it.
This was a brutal battle that might even decide life and death.
Yet Renji looked happy.
Could it be that Renji already possessed the power to kill him?
Kizaru grew suspicious.
"Why are you so happy?" he asked.
Renji answered calmly.
"Because I'm fighting a strong opponent like you."
His strength was increasing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
During the three years since Renji arrived in this world, only his battle with Jack had improved his strength faster than this one.
And this battle was far more interesting.
Back then he had held back because he was afraid Jack would not survive his full strength.
But now things were different.
Before the fight began, Renji had actually been slightly weaker than Kizaru.
[You picked up a speed attribute.]
[You picked up an Armament Haki insight.]
[You picked up a strength attribute.]
But during the fight, that small gap was rapidly disappearing.
[You picked up a stamina attribute.]
Renji's smile widened.
He had never feared prolonged battles or being worn down through repeated fights.
Not because his stamina was naturally limitless.
But because stamina itself was an attribute that could be collected.
Even though stamina did not directly increase combat power, in battle it was invaluable.
"Light…"
Renji retreated rapidly.
His entire body transformed into golden light.
In an instant, he pushed the Light Fruit to its absolute limit.
His body resembled a blazing golden sun.
"Great Explosion!"
As Renji shouted the name of the technique, a beam of light three meters in diameter burst from his body and shot straight toward Kizaru.
Kizaru frowned.
"Using the Light Fruit like this?"
He could achieve the same effect, but it would cost a huge amount of stamina.
Such attacks were difficult to land on an opponent.
Because the laser's penetration was already extremely powerful, there was no need to develop such inefficient techniques.
But now he faced a worthy opponent.
Feeling Renji's energy, Kizaru's body also began gathering immense light.
For a moment, it looked like three suns had appeared in the sky.
"Light… Burst!"
Kizaru shouted.
Although the names differed, both techniques worked on the same principle.
Compress the Light Fruit's laser energy inside the body, then release it with maximum force.
Boom!
The two massive beams collided.
A violent explosion shook the battlefield and clouds of smoke filled the air.
[You picked up a Devil Fruit growth experience.]
[You picked up an Armament Haki insight.]
[You picked up a strength attribute.]
Renji nodded with satisfaction.
High-intensity attacks like these produced even richer attributes.
Five hours had passed since the battle between Renji and Kizaru began.
After five hours of rapid growth, Renji's strength had finally reached the same level as Kizaru's.
Even though the battle had not ended yet.
Even though no one could clearly say who held the advantage.
Renji had already won.
And he had won big.
"Again!"
Renji shouted excitedly.
The cry felt like an outlet for the burning blood in his chest.
Five hours of fierce combat.
And he was still a young man in his twenties, filled with passion.
Nothing about his reaction seemed strange.
"Then let's go again!" Kizaru replied.
Even he had been provoked into fighting spirit.
He crossed his arms.
Another Ama no Murakumo Sword formed.
This time the blade was faster and denser than before.
Seeing this, Renji mirrored the action.
He clasped his hands together.
"Ama no Murakumo Sword!"
Once again both fighters formed blades of light.
But this time the blades were nearly solid.
Their different understandings of swordsmanship became clear.
Kizaru's sword resembled a Western two-handed greatsword.
Because of his three-meter height, holding it with one hand looked natural.
An eagle pattern decorated the blade.
Renji's weapon, however, took the form of a traditional Chinese Han sword.
Specifically an Eight-Sided Han Sword.
His Light Fruit energy had been compressed to the extreme.
Even the dragon-shaped pommel and silk-like patterns on the blade were clearly visible.
"Ha!"
"Ha!"
Both fighters rushed forward again.
Hundreds of meters vanished in a single moment.
They clashed once more.
[You picked up a stamina attribute.]
[You picked up an Armament Haki insight.]
Kizaru looked at Renji and spoke.
"Kid, you're the most promising young fighter I've seen in nearly twenty years."
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