Rolan stepped forward, his resolve solid. Knowing this was a trap set for him, and that both Aokiji and Akainu might join the fray, he wanted to test his limits. With that decision made, Rolan infused his fists with Conqueror's Haki and Armament Haki, and in a flash he appeared beside Kizaru.
He struck Kizaru's temple with a powerful punch. Kizaru tilted his head as though ready to dodge, yet the force of impact still sent him flying dozens of meters, crashing him down at the far end of the Bridge of Hesitation. He staggered, straightened up, then spat out fresh blood.
Looking up at Rolan, shock filled Kizaru's eyes. He had clearly dodged, and the punch shouldn't have connected — so why was he sent tumbling? Could this be the result of Armament Haki infused with Conqueror's Haki?
"That level of power… terrifying for someone so young," whispered one of the onlookers.
Rolan raised his fist, a satisfied glint in his eyes. He had no intention of giving Kizaru time to recover. He knew if Aokiji and Akainu arrived, escape might become impossible. For now, he had to neutralize this dangerous Light-Light Fruit user — avoid being outnumbered later.
Suddenly, Rolan appeared above Kizaru and aimed a stomp downward. But Kizaru, already bracing himself, vanished from where Rolan expected him to land. In a single step, he moved more than ten meters back.
The moment Rolan's foot slammed into the bridge, the entire span began to crumble. Dust swirled and planks cracked. Nearby, Kizaru floated, wiping cold sweat from his brow. "You truly have no respect for your elders, … Rolan," he muttered.
Rolan didn't reply. Instead he reached out, clenching his fingers toward the sky. Electric arcs crackled as they gathered into a massive lightning dragon made of pure electromagnetic energy.
"Electromagnetic Power: Thunder Dragon!" he declared.
In an instant, the dragon hurled itself toward Kizaru at lightning speed. Its electromagnetic field disrupted the Light-Light Fruit's photon-based powers, almost freezing him in place. Kizaru forced his body into a Haki cloak, but before he could react, the dragon surged through him. His body convulsed, skin tingling, a faint scent of burnt hair drifting from him.
Rolan reappeared before him, but the Kizaru standing there flickered and dissipated into photons. Then, on the Bridge of Hesitation, a new pile of photons pooled, reforming into Kizaru's body — though now disheveled and shaken. He coughed violently, blood at the corners of his mouth.
Before he could gather his bearings, Rolan was beside him once more. He raised his fist, aimed at Kizaru's head — but then he shifted direction, punching the air to his left instead.
A fiery red flash illuminated Rolan's face.
"Oh, Red Dog finally shows himself,but that's not honorable of you," Rolan said coldly, as magma droplets fell around them, sizzling as they struck the bridge.
The newcomer was none other than Admiral Sakazuki — Akainu. His right hand had turned into molten magma, dripping down and burning the ground beneath. He glared at the young man before him, lips tightening. At a glance he looked younger than expected.
"There is no 'sneak attack' or 'honorable fight,'" Akainu spat, magma dripping from his fist. "As long as it ends you, it is justice." His eyes burned with fanatic intensity.
In Rolan's previous life this man's ideology had sickened him — how twisted absolute justice could become. Even so, Akainu's strength was indisputably fearsome.
Rolan sneered. "Red Dog, a Magma-Magma Fruit user. You want to dance too?" There was no hint of reverence in his voice, only contempt.
"I will end your voyage today, pirate scum," Akainu snarled. With that, he thrust his magma fist forward. Scorching wind howled toward Rolan's face, threatening to sear his flesh. At the last moment, Rolan vanished.
He reappeared at Akainu's left. Haki of Armament and Conqueror's Haki coiled around his leg, red-and-black lightning spiraling around it. Before Akainu's Observation Haki could react, Rolan launched a kick at near-light speed straight into the admiral's ribs.
Akainu flew through the air, molten fragments trailing behind, some dripping into the sea and turning into white steam. The force of the blow cracked at least five of Akainu's ribs; he coughed and clutched his chest, face pale. Blood stained his lips. He glared back at Rolan with pure rage.
Moments ago, Akainu had dismissed this younger fighter as overrated, but now he saw the truth. The Haki coiled around Rolan's foot had been no weaker than that of legendary admirals or vice-admirals like Garp and Sengoku. If he continued underestimating him, defeat would come quickly.
Rolan pursed his lips, almost pitying him. His kick had been powerful — enough to send a vice-admiral straight to the underworld. Yet Akainu had barely even braced for impact. That was his nature: brutal, unyielding — the same man who stood after being crushed by Whitebeard, driven by that twisted sense of justice.
Rolan clenched his hand in midair. "Electromagnetic Blade!" he snapped. In the blink of an eye a glowing blue blade nearly one and a half meters long appeared. Designed to resemble ancient sword shown in novels from Rolan's previous life, this blade confined intense electromagnetic energy within a metal frame.
He materialized before Akainu and slashed across — targeting his neck. The blade cut through the air, distorting it with heat. In less than a heartbeat, the tip was mere inches from Akainu's throat. The speed was too fast; Akainu could only lean back. The blade grazed his nose, the air around crackling and scorching flesh.
Akainu staggered back. He touched his nose, eyes wide with fear and fury. Had he not ducked away, he would have been decapitated. Rolan smirked, flicked the blade aside, and tossed a remark: "Nice blade, but I'm no swordsman. Punching flesh feels better."
Akainu's eyes burned like molten magma. "You damned pirate brat, this old man will tear you to pieces," he hissed. Rage twisted his features, his will to destroy immense.