He's in One Piece, but he's also part of the Phantom Troupe.

Chapter 172 Clash of the Top Level

The deep pit has been transformed into a purgatory ravaged by thunder and lava.

Kuroro and Akainu's figures crisscrossed at high speed amidst the flames and lightning of the explosion, each collision triggering a deafening roar.

"Sizzle!!"

Kuroro once again used lightning teleportation to dodge Akainu's tricky lava elbow strike, appearing ten meters above and to the side of Akainu.

He did not immediately dive down, but instead suddenly spread his arms wide, his eyes blazing with lightning!

"Warm-up complete—Akainu!" Chrollo's voice boomed through the thunder. "Try this!"

"Rumble-Rumble Fruit - The Strongest 2 Million Volt - Thunder God's Wrath - Electric Discharge!!!"

Indiscriminate, all-encompassing ultra-high intensity discharge!

Centered on Kuroro, a massive, dragon-like torrent of azure plasma, visible to the naked eye, shot out and exploded in all directions in a spherical shape, like the core of an out-of-control thunderstorm!

The blinding blue and white light instantly engulfed the space within hundreds of meters, the air was ionized, emitting a burnt ozone smell, and the rubble on the ground vaporized instantly upon contact with the plasma!

Faced with this devastating thunderstorm, Akainu's pupils contracted slightly, but his face showed no fear.

He crossed his arms over his chest and roared, "Netherhound - Lava Barrier!"

Dark red, viscous lava surged wildly from his body, instantly forming a thick, constantly flowing, high-temperature compressed lava sphere around him, firmly protecting him inside!

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

A violent 2 million volt plasma slammed into the lava barrier!

Lightning and molten lava collided and annihilated each other with tremendous energy!

The blinding light was so intense that it was impossible to look directly at it!

The surface of the lava barrier was blasted, with lava flying everywhere, violently fluctuating, and even cracks appearing, but Akainu roared and continued to output lava to replenish and reinforce it!

The barrier withstood this terrifying storm!

As the lightning subsided, the lava barrier burst open, revealing Akainu, who was slightly panting but whose eyes were even more ferocious.

His general's coat had scorch marks on the edge, but the coat itself was unharmed.

"Is that all?"

Akainu said coldly, lava erupting beneath his feet, and he shot into the sky like a rocket, heading straight for Chrollo in mid-air!

At the same time, he pulled his right fist back, and the lava was compressed and rotated wildly, forming a ferocious lava dog head shape, exuding a destructive aura!

"Inu-gna-gumi Crimson Lotus!!"

The lava dog head opened its massive jaws and lunged at Kuroro!

This attack was not only fast, but also carried a strong sense of tracking and locking, with a wide coverage area and an alarmingly high temperature!

Kuroro's expression turned serious.

He didn't try to take the hit head-on. With a thought, he activated the super-fast flight ability granted by the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, transforming his body into a Z-shaped lightning bolt. He made rapid changes of direction in the air, far exceeding the agility of "Moonwalk," narrowly missing the edge of "Inu-Gnaw Crimson Lotus"!

The scorching lava scraped against his lightning shield, making a hissing sound.

"Observation Haki - Open the Mind Network!" Kuroro silently chanted in his mind.

In an instant, his senses spread rapidly from himself, like invisible radar waves!

It's not just about capturing Akainu's movements and attack trajectories, but also about listening to every subtle electromagnetic fluctuation, airflow, and even—the emotions and thought fragments of living beings in the surrounding space!

He "heard" Akainu's "heart voice," which was as molten as lava, firm, and filled with an absolute will to destroy. He also "predicted" the possible landing point of Akainu's next attack—a "Hound of the Dead" thrust that was about to be launched three meters to his left!

"I anticipated it!" Almost at the same moment that Akainu made his move, Kuroro had already shifted to the right!

However, Akainu has an incredibly rich combat experience.

Seeing Kuroro dodge in advance, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and the "Ghost Dog" attack suddenly changed direction halfway through, the lava ray drawing a strange arc, still tracking after him!

At the same time, he pressed his left hand lightly against the ground—

"Volcanic Meteor - Lockdown!"

Dozens of smaller lava fists erupted from the ground, not to attack Kuroro, but to anticipate and block his various aerial paths that he might dodge!

Kuroro felt a chill run down his spine; Akainu's Observation Haki and battle instincts were equally terrifying!

He instantly increased the speed of lightning to its limit, weaving through the dense rain of lava fists like a petrel in a storm, a truly perilous journey.

Occasionally, when there was lava that he couldn't completely avoid, he would shatter it with fists wrapped in Armament Haki or with lightning strikes, but each contact caused his blood to surge due to the terrifying heat and impact.

"Rapid long-range strike!" Kuroro seized an opening and tapped his fingers rapidly!

"Thunderbolt - Railgun Barrage!"

Several highly compressed lightning rays, imbued with Armament Haki and traveling at speeds comparable to a true electromagnetic cannon, shot towards Akainu's vital points at tricky angles!

These rays were not only fast, but Kuroro, through his "Mind Web" ability, aimed them at Akainu whose old powers had been exhausted.

The new power has not yet been generated, or the lava defense is relatively weak at that moment!

Akainu either dodged, countered with his Lava Fist, or elementalized parts of his body to withstand the attacks. Although he looked somewhat disheveled, he did not suffer any substantial damage.

His mastery of Armament Haki and control over elemental transformation is simply too profound!

"Your attack—is weak and ineffective!"

Akainu growled, enduring a Super Cannon blast, and suddenly charged towards Chrollo, his fists transforming into countless lava fist shadows!

"Great Fire-Breathing - Hundred Styles of Rampage!"

Like a volcano erupting continuously, countless lava fists enveloped all of Kuroro's dodging space like a storm!

Speed, power, range, and high temperature are combined perfectly!

Kuroro pushed his "Mind Network" and lightning speed to the limit, leaving countless afterimages in the air. His fists were also covered with Armament Haki and lightning, attacking against attack!

"Thunder Fist: Thousand Birds Stream!"

The lightning fist shadow and the lava fist shadow collided wildly!

A series of blue and red fireballs exploded in the air!

The shockwave spread outwards like ripples!

However, the exchange of attacks lasted only a few seconds before Kuroro felt the pressure increase dramatically!

Akainu's magma fist was not only incredibly powerful, each punch sending numbness through Akainu's arm, but also carried an extremely high temperature!

Even with Armament Haki and lightning protecting him, his Armament Haki defense is being rapidly depleted and weakened during prolonged close contact!

My skin felt a burning sensation, and the air I breathed was scalding hot and burning my lungs!

"Sizzle!" A swirl of lava grazed Kuroro's left shoulder, leaving a charred burn mark even with Armament Haki protection, and a sharp pain shot through him!

"Bang!" Another heavy punch collided, and Kuroro was sent flying backward. He felt a sweet taste in his throat and forcibly swallowed the blood that surged up.

Akainu pressed his advantage relentlessly, closing in with his right fist, the lava highly concentrated and a deep, blood-red color!

"Crimson Lotus of Dog's Gnawing - Tooth Piercing!"