BOOM!!!
As the Moby Dick settled back onto the sea surface, massive waves and violent tremors surged outward, sending many crew members tumbling into the water — yet it was still ten thousand times better than having the ship capsized entirely.
"Hmm… as expected… the commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates really are something…"
Mannoroth murmured, resting one massive hand beneath his chin, his gaze vacant and impressed.
To stop a vessel of that size in such a short time, and to coordinate perfectly without exchanging a single word… it required not only immense strength but also unparalleled teamwork — the kind only built through years of fighting side by side.
Marco and Jozu returned to the bow of the Moby Dick, their expressions heavy as they looked up at the colossal creature before them. Vista the Flower Sword stepped forward.
"The only landmass nearby is that small island, now occupied by Father and the Pope. We can't use it. Does this mean we have no choice but to fight entirely on the sea?"
"I will face Mannoroth alongside Vista and the others who are not Devil Fruit users. Everyone else — protect the ship and prepare to return fire!"
Marco took charge as first‑division commander and made the decision instantly.
Pirate battles usually took place on the ocean — a major disadvantage for Devil Fruit users, whose only foothold was their ship.
If the vessel was destroyed and they fell into the sea, they were as good as dead. In naval combat, protecting the ship was always the first priority.
As a Fruit user himself, Marco dared to step forward and engage directly for one simple reason: he could fly.
Vista brandished his twin swords, his mustache twitching with resolve. "With a body that huge… could we use that to our advantage? If we could climb onto him, wouldn't we have the upper hand?"
"Do not underestimate him, Vista!" Izou, commander of the 16th Division — dressed in feminine kimono yet unmistakably male — stepped up beside them.
"He was chosen as a crewman by that man Grimm. Do you think it's only because of his size? Have you ever seen anyone under Grimm's command who is weak?"
"Haaaaah…"
Suddenly, Mannoroth tilted his skull‑like face downward and inhaled sharply, drawing a massive volume of seawater into his cavernous mouth. He locked eyes with everyone aboard the Moby Dick.
"Now I can't attack recklessly either!" Marco cried out, a bead of cold sweat rolling down his forehead. He had already guessed what Mannoroth intended.
"Those who are NOT Devil Fruit users — block with everything you have!"
The moment the words left his mouth, Mannoroth released the water in one explosive burst. The torrent surged upward and then crashed down like a towering waterfall.
If this were the Ninja World, it would be classified as a supreme‑level technique: Great Waterfall Destruction Jutsu!
Even Marco dared not stand in its path. As a close‑range combatant, to block it he would have to let the water touch him — and that was seawater.
One touch, and his powers would be sapped, his body rendered helpless.
"Do you think a trick like this can stop me, Vista the Flower Sword?!" Vista shouted, his mouth curling beneath his curled mustache.
He swung his twin blades, slicing the descending water columns into dozens of smaller streams as easily as cutting through tofu.
As the great masses of water fell, Commander Nammur led a squad of fish‑men forward.
"Fish‑man Squad — follow me! Shatter the flow!"
Nammur himself charged into the falling water first. Using his natural fish‑man strength, he slashed and spun, turning the heavy streams into mist and spray.
"Then… how will you handle this?!"
Seeing his attack neutralized, Mannoroth did not seem discouraged — if anything, he grew more excited. He plunged both hands deep into the ocean.
"He's going to flip the Moby Dick again!" Marco yelled.
Just as the helmsman spun the wheel to turn the ship away, Mannoroth grinned widely.
"Think again!"
With a roar, he gathered all his strength into his massive palms and thrust them upward. This time, it was not the ship he lifted — but the sea itself.
It looked exactly like the way Whitebeard raised the ocean with his Tremor‑Tremor Fruit.
While Mannoroth's power was barely a tenth of Whitebeard's, what he created was still terrifying beyond words.
"Very well… then let my flowers bloom this time!" Vista shouted. He and all the non‑Fruit‑user commanders plunged into the rising waves to stop their advance.
Five seconds after they entered the churning water, the wave shattered.
The five commanders — Vista, Thatch, Blenheim, Izou, and Atmos — along with the Fish‑man Squad, broke through the spray and charged straight toward Mannoroth.
"Now… what kind of flower shall I bloom for you?!"
Vista spun in mid‑air, sending countless rose petals flying like throwing knives.
They struck Mannoroth's green‑tinged bones, producing only a loud clatter‑clash of metal hitting metal. In response, Mannoroth threw a punch as large as a mountain.
"NOT GOOD!"
Vista crossed his swords in an X‑shape to use as a shield and took the blow. The other commanders rushed in behind him, pushing their strength against the giant fist to help hold it back.
"Thanks, everyone! Leave the rest to me!" Marco the Phoenix swooped down. With no more waves to block him, he could finally fight at full power.
Grimm versus Whitebeard… and Mannoroth successfully holding off the rest of the Whitebeard Pirates. Fighting on the sea gave Mannoroth every possible advantage.
CRACK‑CRACK‑CRACK!
The sound of shattering glass echoed through the air.
On the desolate island, Whitebeard held his hands level on either side and tore violently outward.
Instantly, the ground and cliffs on both sides began to break apart and collapse — but Grimm had already transformed into a streak of golden light and appeared directly above Whitebeard's head.
He brought his shield crashing down with the force of a mountain.
At the same time, a deeply ominous presence returned. This time, the shot came from the sky to Whitebeard's upper left.
Whitebeard's expression hardened. In one fluid motion, he snatched his bisento from where it had been stuck in the earth, coating the blade in pitch‑black Armament Haki.
First, he slashed through the air, shattering the incoming bullet before it could reach him. Then he swung upward, clashing directly against Grimm's shield.
But the wound from earlier burst open under the strain. Fresh blood gushed out, staining his entire arm red.
"You really are getting old, Whitebeard!"
Grimm leaped back, retracting his shield. "The last time we fought was only a year ago… and in such a short time, you've already weakened this much."
After all, Whitebeard was now a man in his sixties, while Grimm grew stronger with every passing day.
"Hah… you insolent little brat!"
Even in such danger, Whitebeard grinned fiercely, twisting his bisento in his grip. "And you… you've grown far too fond of running your mouth!"
Grimm took a large step back. A glowing magic circle instantly formed beneath Whitebeard's feet.
DNF Paladin Level 45 Ultimate: Holy Judgment.
From within the circle, countless beams of holy light and arrows of energy rose up to strike him.
But the moment the circle appeared, Whitebeard slammed his vibration‑charged blade straight down into its center.
CRACK‑CRACK‑CRACK!
The entire formation of Holy Judgment shattered like a mirror struck by a hammer.
"Truly an incredible man…" Grimm did not hold back his praise.
Rayleigh and Garp had both fallen victim to this move before — yet Whitebeard had crushed it instantly.
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