Just as everyone despaired, a black energy cannon fired from afar.
The massive cannon, carrying infinite light and heat, crushed everything in its path, heading straight for Nero.
Imu stared at Nero with a solemn expression; the charging up was just a trick. The real attack was this cannon fire from Pluton.
As for whether others were also within the attack range? It didn't matter. If Pluton couldn't truly harm Nero, then what was the point of fighting?
As the smoke and dust cleared, Imu was pleasantly surprised to find that Nero... was injured!!!
It was on her face, not very noticeable due to being covered by red demonic patterns, and it healed quickly. But this was truly the first time Nero had been injured.
And with the Vegapunk Mother Flame, she could unleash such attacks without limit.
Although Shanks and Beckman on their side were also caught in the blast and died, Imu smiled again. This was hardly a price to pay.
"Shanks? Beckman..."
Luffy almost couldn't maintain Gear Five, turning his head to look at Shanks' and their remains.
Garp slapped him on the face, forcefully turning Luffy's head back to make him look at Nero: "Idiot grandson, keep your eyes on the enemy during a fight!!"
Garp's condition wasn't much better. Imu's attack on her own allies had cost him an arm, and his Haki was mostly depleted.
Like Imu, he also noticed Nero's injury. With this, there was still hope. As for what to do about Imu after defeating Nero?
Garp didn't have time to think. He didn't believe he could survive until then in his current state.
In his Observation Haki, the Whitebeard Pirates had also suffered heavy casualties, but Ace was still alive... If they could defeat Nero, the rest would be up to these stinky brats!
"Grandpa... I understand..." Luffy touched his chest, where his heart was beating even more intensely.
They were the future of the era. Garp released his hand from Luffy's head, realizing this clearly once more. Scenes from the past flashed before him.
"Damn Garp, those are my treasured senbei!!"
"Mr. Garp... so cool!"
"I am a remnant of the old era; there's no ship in the New World that can carry me!"
"Garp, I entrust my son to you!"
"Garp?" xN
"Garp!" xN
Suddenly snapping out of his memories, Garp grinned, realizing something: "Luffy! You must become the Pirate King!"
Luffy's pupils contracted, thinking he was hearing things.
But Garp didn't explain. At this point, whatever Luffy wanted to do was fine, as long as he could survive this battle.
"Is this Pluton? Nothing special..." Nero clenched her fist, feeling the aftereffects of the recent attack, and scoffed disdainfully.
"Is that so? Then why do I see you're injured?" Golden aura rose around him, and Haki lightning split the earth. Garp regained his usual smile.
"Hmm, a scar?" Nero's beast claw traced the demonic patterns on her face: "Are you senile, Garp?"
Imu was also very pleased with Garp's cooperation. Although Pluton had enough power, hitting Nero still required someone to stall her.
There were about a dozen people left on the field. Pluton's maximum power would be much stronger than before, but Imu predicted it would take at least ten attacks to truly gravely injure Nero.
Garp, the remaining Gorosei, and the God's Knights... That's enough!
Ten attacks, and Nero would be dead or severely wounded.
But Imu overlooked one thing: Nero hadn't been serious until now, nor had she adopted any real defense.
Even the only successful hit from Pluton was merely Nero's momentary whim to confirm its power.
Meanwhile, Garp had already charged towards Nero: "stinky brat! Don't look down on people too much!!!"
[Galaxy Impact!!!]
Nero felt no anger; facing Garp's lone charge, she even had a long-lost feeling.
"Too big a difference, Garp."
"Hahahahaha..." Garp laughed, ignoring her.
Nero also chose to extend a fist. The massive fist crushed Garp with destructive force. Garp's meticulously trained fist had no resistance at all against Nero's power.
Boom—
A black pillar of light arrived as expected, even more powerful than before.
The Pluton battleship had fully entered this land. A monstrous steel beast quietly sat on the black sea, its massive muzzle still radiating scorching heat.
This time, Nero's injury was even more obvious. And Garp, who was responsible for stalling, was either dead by Nero's hand or by Pluton's cannon fire.
But Imu didn't care. The dawn of victory was in sight. She excitedly shouted: "Saint V. Nusjuro, go up and stall Nero! A few more times and we can completely defeat Nero!"
Saint V. Nusjuro: "..."
How was this any different from sending him to his death?
Saint V. Nusjuro cursed internally but still did not defy Imu's order. Imu truly held power over their lives and deaths.
If he stalled Nero and dodged at the last moment, there was still a chance of survival. But if he defied Imu, he would be dead the next second.
However, Saint V. Nusjuro didn't go directly, but called out to Luffy: "Straw Hat, don't just stand there! Avenge your grandfather and your crew!"
In his Haki beast form, Saint V. Nusjuro, with his huge boar-like body, charged towards Nero.
Luffy reacted and also transformed into his giant form, charging alongside Saint V. Nusjuro.
Luffy's advance then brought along Zoro and Ace, and finally, Marco and a few others joined the attack.
Imu's eye twitched. Saint V. Nusjuro's shout had directly taken away a quarter of the people on the field.
If these people had gone separately, at least two more Pluton shots could have been fired.
However, she was still smiling, because Imu felt she had already secured victory.
"Nero! Today is your doomsday! Be destroyed by the power of Pluton!" Imu couldn't help but boast.
However, it was this single sentence that made Nero disregard the approaching attackers and look straight at Imu.
"My doomsday?" Nero asked, seemingly amused by the question, wanting to laugh but not quite doing so.
Imu froze, feeling like she was truly foolish. She should have just quietly made her fortune instead of jumping out to mock.
If Nero really intended to kill her first, she truly had no way out. Pluton could only be operated by her alone right now.
If she were killed, Nero would achieve absolute victory. Neither Joy Boy nor anyone else, in their current state, could possibly be a match for Nero.
Oh no, Nero is going to be stalled by me!!!
Imu looked like death warmed over...
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