One Piece Solar Rift Conqueror!

The battle spilled onto the docks as Marines poured down onto the ground, their numbers dwindling before Solian's relentless onslaught. His body ached with exhaustion, but his flames grew hotter than ever before. His Plasma Strike had sliced through the weaker soldiers with ease, and his Solar Afterimage let him dodge attacks just in time, leaving behind blinding illusions to confuse his enemies.

But now, he had but a single enemy remaining.

Lieutenant Gregor scowled, gripping his twin sabers close with a furious face. His once-spotless uniform was now sweaty and dirty, and a red scratch disfigured his cheek where Solian's last blow had barely missed him.

"You've caused enough trouble," Gregor snarled, rolling his shoulders. His fingers clumped, and an odd, wet sound issued from his hands. "Guess I have to dirty my hands."

Solian's eyebrows furrowed as the gluey, heavy, and frighteningly fast-moving goo oozed off of Gregor's hands onto the ground.

A Devil Fruit.

It looks like this fellow wasn't so much of a regular Marine after all then.

"Gross," Solian grumbled, stepping back as the clay-like goop slithered inexorably toward his feet.

Gregor sneered. "Nendo Nendo no Mi. Clay. Unlike those useless morons you just reduced to cinders, I have a Devil Fruit." He bent his wrist, and the material hardened to jagged spikes, heading for Solian.

Solian barely dodged out of the way, teleporting three meters to the side. The clay-hardened spikes went into the wooden docks, going through like nails in paper.

"Tch," Solian clicked his tongue. "Pestering."

"You don't get it," Gregor sneered. He stomped the ground, and a thick wave of clay spread out beneath them, coating the area in a sticky mess. Solian jumped back, but his foot skimmed the edge—and instantly stuck.

Crap.

"Once my clay hardens, it's as strong as stone," Gregor said smugly. "Your little teleport trick won't help if you're glued to the ground."

Solian's hands clenched with fury as the Marine charged towards him, sabers wrapped in a hardening shell of moist clay. The sabers were heavier now, stronger now, designed to cut through defense with brute force.

The first strike came fast. Solian managed to turn his body to the side in time to avoid it, feeling the blast of air whip across his shoulder. The second came faster than the first—Solian had to defend.

Steel wrapped in clay met fire-seared fists. The impact vibrated through Solian's skeleton.

Gregor grinned, seizing the opportunity. "Here you die, pirate."

Solian's mind reeled. He was more powerful now, faster, more skilled, but Gregor was not weak. The binding clay limited his motion, and the set sabers packed heavy impact.

He needed a counter.

Solian inhaled deeply, fire flickering around him. If this dude was going to wrap him up in clay, he'd just have to punch his way out.

Gregor attacked again, swinging down with an overhead cut.

But Solian did not dodge.

Rather, he ran into the blow, wrapping his arm in blinding solar fire.

Plasma Strike!

Their battle sent the docks into shock. The blast of flame dissolved the clay into a bubbling ruin mid-swing. Gregor's eyes widened as his club shattered in his hand.

Solian grinned. "Guess your clay isn't heatproof, huh?"

Gregor growled, but before he could retreat, Solian vanished.

Not teleportation.

A Solar Afterimage.

Gregor flailed blindly at the whirling shape in front of him—only to discover too late that it was an illusion.

The real Solian reappeared behind him, flames surrounding his leg.

"Solar Rift Kick!"

BOOM!

The fire kick struck Gregor's side and sent him flying through the docks. He burst through a stack of crates before slamming into a stone wall, trailing fire in his wake.

There was a moment of silence.

Then Gregor fell forward, out cold.

The fight was over.

System Notification:

Enemy Defeated: Marine Lieutenant Gregor

Reward: +10 System Points

Solian exhaled, his body still humming with power. He stared at his hands. Plasma Strike and Solar Afterimage.

He'd never even realized it in the moment—but pushing himself beyond his limits had unlocked new abilities.

And he'd just punched the crap out of a Marine lieutenant.

He could already feel this wasn't finished. The Marines would be coming for him with more fury than ever before.

But for now.

Solian stood upright, gazing out over the devastation of the battlefield.

This was just the beginning.