15 Kai VS Captain Tatsuki

"Today you scum are going to be brought to justice!" With an intense gaze, Captain Tatsuki pronounced his words, his gaze fixed upon Kai and Bonney who observed him from their perch atop the Victoria Punk. Positioned behind him stood a minimum of twelve Marine Officers and Seamen, forming a resolute backdrop.

"I heard that you and your crew were the one who destroyed the Claw Pirates, I was chasing that bastard Wood who ran away after he left this scar on my forehead, but who would have tough that he would end up dead by the hands of some unknown rookies…" Tatsuki stated before his eyes shifted to Bonney who was standing near Kai, his eyes narrowed before spoke again "they never said you are present here as well, you caused quite the trouble back at Sorbet Kingdom, Jewelry Bonney"

"Tsk, don't you dare mention that in my face"

"Trouble?" Kai asked while looking at her in curiosity, he was interested to hear about her backstory which never was fully revealed in the manga.

"That's none of your business"

"Fair enough…" Kai didn't question her any further and immediately turned his attention back to Captain Tatsuki "I take it that you're here to arrest us right?, so let's get this done with"

"Don't be overconfident kid, That Captain Wood that you defeated was only a small fish in this vast ocean"

"You mean the fish that managed to leave a scar on your face and get away with it?"

"I let my guard down, a mistake that won't happen again" Tatsuki disclosed his impressive iron gauntlets, firmly affixed to his arms, while casually flexing them "According to the description I have, you must be the captain…I'll let you have the honor of fighting me one on one! Seal, you take the men and deal with the pink haired brat and the rest!"

"Yes, Tatsuki-san!" Commander Seal immediately carried out orders while their ship proceeded to dock on the Victoria Punk left side.

"Now we have no other choice but to fight--?!!" Before Bonney could even complete her sentence, Kai swiftly vanished from her side. A broad grin adorned his face, a vivid reflection of his intense excitement. Rather than opting for retreat or yielding ground, his demeanor suggested a readiness to engage in combat. Despite his outward appearance not necessarily hinting at it, Kai concealed within him a fervent passion for battle, rivaling even that of his own brother.

*SWOOOSH* Without a notice, Kai immediately jumped off the Victoria Punk and into Tatsuki's ship. While mid-air he played with the hammer in his hand before he tightened the grip on it while hardening his muscles as hard as he can.

With one mighty swing he brough its full force down at Tatsuki's head.

"Divine Retribution!!"

"A no name pirate is no match for me! I am the Captain of the Marines! Iron Fist Tatsuki!" Tatsuki gathered his power into his right fist and punched Kai's hammer back, releasing a concentrated burst of energy upon impact "Galeforce Fist!"

"I'm Eustass Kai! nice to meet you bitch…"

*BOOOM* The force of the clash sent a shockwave rippling through the air, leaving everyone around them in shock.

Commander Seal and the rest of Tatsuki's men disembarked and then boarded the Victoria Punk, attacking Bonney and the rest of Kai's crew.

While suspended in mid-air, Kai swiftly retracted his hammer and executed a dynamic spinning kick aimed at Tatsuki's head. Reacting with agility, the latter promptly raised his right arm to effectively intercept Kai's advancing leg. Subsequently, Kai gracefully disengaged, elegantly springing backward before gracefully touching down upon the floor.

"Die!" Tatsuki's veins bulged in anger as he dashed at Kai and delivered a strong right punch.

*BOOOM* With a graceful sway, Kai skillfully leaned his body to the side, causing Tatsuki's fist to collide with the ship's mast instead. The impact reverberated forcefully, generating a powerful shockwave that obliterated the mast upon contact.

"Hahaha, where are you aiming? Are you squint?" With a taunting grin, Kai ridiculed his opponent just before swinging his hammer forcefully, crushing him down to the ground. Tatsuki looked furious at Kai's comments, and he immediately got on his feet again and charged at him.

When he closed the distance, he focused his energy and sent a barrage of punches at Kai at an extremely high speed, each punch created a huge blast of energy upon impact.

"HORA HORA HORA HORA!!!!"

*BAM*-*BAM* Kai used his weapon to parry and block the attacks, but a few of them still managed to land on him and caused some damage. Tatsuki finished his attack by lifting Kai overhead, then slammed him to the ground with such force that it cracked it open.

A trickle of blood escaped from the corner of Kai's lips, which he casually licked, his grin unwavering. In one fluid motion, he swung his hammer towards Tatsuki's face, shattering his nose and propelling him to a distance.

"You fucking brat!!" Tatsuki's hand instinctively flew to his face, his fingers pressing against his nose as droplets of blood began to fall.

"Hehe…" Kai performed a kick-up to get on his feet again and ran towards Tatsuki before smoothly sliding between his legs, and then delivered a decisive hammer strike to the back of Tatsuki's head.

"You think I'm going to fall for that?!" With a vehement outcry, Tatsuki's eyes widened, a fiery crimson hue consuming them in anger. Swiftly pivoting, he employed the gauntlet affixed to his left arm to intercept Kai's descending hammer. Yet, to his astonishment, Kai followed up with yet another unexpected assault.

With a focused intensity, Kai's muscles tensed as he drew his arm close to his body, his fist hovering merely an inch away from his target. A deep breath centered his energy, and in a sudden explosion of power, he extended his arm with startling speed. The impact was swift and precise, a compressed torrent of force unleashed in that mere inch of distance, sending a shockwave rippling through the air and into his opponent's chest. The sheer concentration of energy behind the punch defied its seemingly minimal distance, leaving his adversary staggering back.

<One Inch Punch>

Adopting a technique inspired by his idol Bruce Lee, Kai executed the One Inch Punch with precision, catching Tatsuki off-guard and landing a decisive blow. Yet, Kai's actions didn't conclude there, seizing the advantage presented by Tatsuki's disorientation, he followed up with another calculated strike and culminated with a powerful flying kick.

Tatsuki swiftly crossed his arms, managing to barely deflect the kick, but his defense faltered as Kai unleashed a rapid barrage of hammer thrusts from various angles. Despite Tatsuki's effort to shield himself with his sturdy iron gauntlets, the relentless assault was steadily forcing him to retreat.

"ENOUGH OF THIS!!" With a resounding roar, Tatsuki soared into the air, his body swiftly coiling into a rapid spin. As he descended, a vortex of power surrounded him, culminating in a forceful strike upon Kai. The impact was overwhelming, propelling Kai through the air in a tumultuous retreat "Cyclone Smash!"

Kai's body collided with the wooden railing of the ship with a thud, the impact reverberating through his bones. He struggled to regain his balance, his breath slightly labored as he assessed his opponent. Tatsuki was relentless, his attacks fierce and unrelenting. Kai's lips curled into a wicked grin, his eyes locked onto Tatsuki's furious gaze.

"Is that all you got?" he taunted, his voice laced with a mix of arrogance and excitement. Tatsuki's growl was the only response he received before the Marine Captain charged at him once again.

Kai met the assault head-on. He twisted and turned, his movements fluid and unpredictable as he evaded Tatsuki's punches and strikes. The clang of metal against metal echoed in the air as Kai's hammer clashed with Tatsuki's iron gauntlets.

"Your punches are strong, I'll give you that"

As Tatsuki aimed another blow at Kai's head, the pirate captain abruptly shifted his weight, allowing the attack to graze past him. With a swift twist of his body, Kai swung his hammer low, aiming for his legs. The impact sent shockwaves through Tatsuki's body, his balance disrupted as he stumbled backward.

Kai seized the opportunity, his movements a blur as he closed the distance between them. He launched a rapid succession of strikes. Tatsuki's iron gauntlets barely managed to keep up with the onslaught, each clash resonating with sparks of energy.

"You're tough, I'll give you that," Kai grunted, his hammer connecting with a powerful uppercut that lifted Tatsuki off his feet. "But let's see how you handle this!"

Gathering his strength, Kai focused all of his strength on the next attack. With a primal roar, he swung the hammer with all his might.

"Divine Retribution!!"

"AUURRGHHH!!! D-Damn y--!!" Tatsuki's eyes widened in shock as the force of the attack slammed into him, his body lifting off the ground before hurtling through the air. The Marine Captain's form disappeared over the edge of the ship, his furious shout fading into the distance before he lost conscious, falling into the sea.

"Well, that was entertaining" Kai said while resting his hammer on his shoulder before he turned his gaze to the Victoria Punk where Bonney and his crew were having a fight with the remaining members of Tatsuki's men.

Bonney employed her ability to age Commander Seal rapidly, subsequently expelling him from the ship as an elderly man.

As her attention wavered, a vigilant marine officer seized the opportunity to launch a surprise attack from behind. Unaware of his presence, she was caught off guard when her gaze finally met his. In the crucial moment before the marine's sword could find its mark, a figure materialized seemingly out of thin air, promptly intercepting the impending strike.

"Looks like I was late to the party" remarked the figure, just before deftly slashing across the marine's chest.

"Killer-san!!" exclaimed the rest of the crew, their relief palpable upon witnessing his sudden appearance.

"And who the hell are you?" Bonney asked him.

"You're welcome" Killer coldly replied.

"You're finally here, Killer!" Kai said, waving his hand as he approached them.

"Sorry for being late, Captain"

With Killer, Kai and Bonney teaming up together, they easily dealt with the rest of the marines.

"Is he part of your crew?" Bonney asked Kai.

"Yeap, meet the Vice-Captain and my childhood friend, Killer!" Kai enthusiastically introduced him to Bonney.

"Yo!" Killer casualty greeted her.

"I guess you guys aren't as weak as I though before" With a turn of her head, Bonney shifted her gaze in the opposite direction.

"If that's the case then how about you reconsider my offer?"

"No"

"Haha don't be so cold towards us, I thought we were starting to understand each other?"

"Why are you so hang on making me join you anyway?"

"You're strong and beautiful, what more can I ask for?" Kai's words hung in the air for a moment, a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes as he observed Bonney's reaction. The corners of his lips curled into a playful grin as he watched her cheeks flush with a delicate shade of pink.

Bonney huffed in response, crossing her arms and avoiding his gaze "T-The hell are you talking about?..Ahem!...Anyway, since you're so persistent it can't be helped then, and I still haven't decided what to do so I'll stick with you for now and see what happen" she retorted, though her tone lacked its usual bite. She was known for her confidence, but Kai's comment seemed to catch her off guard, leaving her momentarily flustered.

"Is that a yes?"

"YES!! So stop asking useless questions!!" Bonney retorted sharply at him as she pivoted and strode off.

"She got quiet the temper" Kai commented on her behavior amusingly.

"Are you sure about this, Kai?" Killer asked him, he looked curious about her since Kai showed initiative and invited her to the crew.

"Trust me, she has a lot of potential" Killer didn't question Kai's decision any further since he trust him.