Chapter 429: The Battle of Final Island (Part 1)The waters of Final Island.Right now, a military spectacle worthy of the history books was unfolding here.Three massive fleets led by Marineford Admirals were deployed in a triangular formation, sealing off these waters so tightly that not even a seabird could fly in.Over a hundred warships loomed with their dark cannon muzzles staring forward; the Marine elites all wore expressionless faces, creating an atmosphere so oppressive it felt like water could be wrung from the air.Dark clouds rolled overhead, and giant waves roared below.All of this indicated... that a world-shattering storm was about to arrive.However, in a certain corner of this grim battlefield, the vibe was... somewhat out of place.On the personal flagship of Admiral "Aramaki" Aramaki,This newly promoted pinnacle of Marine combat power was lying comfortably on a beach chair, with a flashy summer parasol shielding him from above.Despite the thunder and lightning around him looking like the end of the world, he had used his fruit ability to grow a field of sunflowers, creating an "artificial sunny day" for himself."Ah~ So refreshing~"Aramaki wore sunglasses and took a cozy sip of juice from his glass, lazily beginning to ramble to the sweating adjutant beside him:"I say, why make such a big fuss?""Does it really take three Admirals to deal with a washed-up old man who can barely even collect his pension? What a waste of my time."The adjutant's lip twitched as he replied respectfully:"Reporting, Admiral!!! These are the Fleet Admiral's absolute orders!!! For the sake of the Marines' dignity, we must use overwhelming force to completely eliminate the traitor, Zephyr!!!""Tsk, what a pain."Aramaki waved his hand impatiently. He picked up a public broadcast den den mushi sitting nearby and, without even bothering to adjust the settings, started shouting at the top of his lungs:"Hey, hey, hey! Can you hear me!? This is the most handsome man in the world, your Big Brother Aramaki!""I'm issuing a final ultimatum to you bunch of old, weak, and crippled NEO Marines!"Through the broadcast, his voice instantly spread to every corner of the sea and reached the ears of the other two Admirals clearly."A remnant of the old era who couldn't even protect his own family and only knows how to vent his failures on the world dares to challenge the Marines' bottom line? It makes my stomach hurt from laughing!""Yamakaji! Strawberry! You two crews, listen up!""Don't any of you hold back later! Just pack that old geezer and his ship together and send them to the bottom of the sea to feed the fish! Do you hear me!?!?"This extremely arrogant speech, which gave no face at all, left countless Marine soldiers looking at each other in bewilderment, cold sweat pouring down....On the other side, on the flagship of Admiral"Fujitora" Issho, the atmosphere was completely different.This blind gravity swordsman sat cross-legged in the center of the deck, letting the icy sea breeze blow against his purple robes.When Aramaki's blustering voice came through the broadcast, his brow only furrowed for a moment before he picked up the teacup beside him and took a small sip.A female Marine officer, seeing him in the rain, kindly tried to hold an umbrella over him."Admiral, you..."Before she could finish, the umbrella was suddenly seized as if by an invisible giant hand and instantly crushed into a lump of scrap metal."My heart is in turmoil; there is no need to trouble yourself, miss."Although he was blind, his powerful Observation Haki had long since thoroughly scanned the tattered NEO Marine flagship in the distance."To carry out the justice in his heart... must he force himself onto a path of certain death..."He sighed deeply, his voice filled with compassion and helplessness."Truly... a tragic Sweet Commander."Hearing this, the surrounding Marine soldiers were filled with awe, each sighing in their hearts:As expected of Admiral Fujitora!Such magnanimity!Such poise!He is truly a role model for our generation!!!Of course, they didn't know that Admiral Issho's true thoughts were:'Sigh... with this rain, I'm afraid my buckwheat noodles for dinner will turn into noodle soup... o(╥﹏╥)o'...*Cough, cough, cough!*"White Hunter" Smoker, at the bow of a high-speed assault ship, fiercely stubbed out the nearly finished cigar in his mouth against the cold railing.In his mind, he uncontrollably recalled scenes from his training."A true man should use his broad back to protect everything he wants to protect!"His teacher's words from back then seemed to still be ringing in his ears.But now...He was about to personally point his gun at the teacher he once respected the most.Irritated, Smoker lit another cigar, gripping the Sea Stone jitte on his back so hard that the veins on the back of his hand bulged."Mr. Smoker! Are you okay? You look terrible!"His adjutant, Tashigi, wearing her glasses as always, approached with a worried look."Shut up! Get the hell away from me!"Smoker waved his hand impatiently, exhaling a thick smoke ring.'Fuck!'He roared in his heart,'Why the hell do I have to do this dirty work!!!'...On the main Marine flagship.This was the command center for the entire battle, as well as the location of Admiral "Kizaru" Borsalino.But today, this Admiral, world-renowned for being "wretched" and "slacking off," seemed a bit... off.He had abandoned his usual lazy demeanor and, for once, didn't say his catchphrase, "How scary~."He just stood alone quietly at the bow, looking at his long reflection on the sea; those eternal amber glasses hid all the emotions in his eyes.The adjutant behind him felt like he was about to suffocate."Admiral... what's wrong today?"He whispered to the Marine soldier next to him."I don't know. He hasn't opened his mouth since this morning. When I brought him tea just now, he didn't even say 'Oh-yo-yo'; he just stared straight at me. I was so scared I almost spilled the tea!""We're screwed... the Admiral is definitely angry! Could it be because I secretly took his limited-edition figurines to exchange for money yesterday?""What?! You dared to touch the Admiral's figurines?! You're dead meat!"Just as a group of Marine soldiers were shivering due to their Admiral's unusual behavior, Aramaki's broadcast, which was comparable to noise pollution, resounded throughout the area.When he heard Aramaki say he would sink Zephyrto the bottom of the sea to feed the fish, Kizaru, who had been playing mute, finally moved.He slowly raised his head."Aramaki.""Mind your own business."On the other end of the den den mushi, Aramaki's clamoring came to a screeching halt.Kizaru paused and said slowly:"He... is mine."As the words fell, the air on the entire warship seemed to be sucked dry."The... the Admiral... has he been possessed?!"Just as everyone was dazed by Kizaru's sudden attitude,From the watchtower came a soldier's frantic cry:"Report!!! Target flagship spotted to the northeast!!!""They... they're coming!!!"In an instant, all the joking, scolding, and inner monologues vanished at this moment.Kizaru slowly raised his head, looking at the warship sailing slowly from the end of the horizon, his lips curling into a dangerous and cruel arc."Oh-yo-yo~~~""You've finally arrived... my dear... teacher."
Chapter 430: Battle of Final Island (Part II)The sea wind howled.A tattered warship, billowing black smoke, wobbled and charged into the Marine's ironclad encirclement.That was the flagship of the NEO Marines.In front of a fleet of brand-new, shiny Marinefordwarships with polished cannons, this ship looked like a piece of junk picked up from a trash heap, so pathetic it made one want to donate money to it.But on the deck of this broken ship stood a man.Former Admiral, "black arm" Zephyr.The old man's short purple hair danced wildly in the wind as he strode to the bow, ripped off the black sunglasses he had worn for countless years, and tossed them casually into the turbulent sea.A massive, hideous mechanical right arm, gleaming with a cold metallic luster, was completely exposed to the air.Zephyr stared intently at the gargantuan Marineflagship directly ahead, opening his throat to let out a booming laugh like a great bell:"Borsalino! You little brat! Are you hiding on that ship hatching eggs? Hurry up and get out here to pay your respects to this old man!"This voice, full of vigor, made the ears of the Marine soldiers on the surrounding warships ring.On the main flagship, Kizaru pursed his lips.His body suddenly emitted a blinding golden light, and his entire being instantly transformed into countless photons, whistling into the high sky before re-condensing into form directly above Zephyr's head.He stood with his hands in his pockets,"Oh my, oh my~ Teacher~ Instead of staying home to recover from your illness, you've come to this storm-tossed sea to catch a cold~ If you strain your back~ Marineford won't be reimbursing your medical expenses~"Hearing this sarcastic tone, Zephyr didn't get angry; instead, he laughed even louder."Save it! You glowing monkey! This old man is going to flatten that punchable face of yours today!"On another flagship far in the distance, "Aramaki" Aramaki listened to the teacher-student reunion over the den den mushi, so angry he nearly crushed the juice glass in his hand.He kicked over a small table nearby and grabbed the broadcast den den mushi, roaring frantically:"Kizaru! You bastard, why are you chatting with him! Get moving already!""I'm still waiting to go back for a nap! If you won't fight, let me do it!"Kizaru, in mid-air, didn't even turn his head, completely treating Aramaki's impotent rage as wind past his ears.He looked down at the old man who, despite his wrinkled face, still stood with a straight back, a trace of something inexplicable flashing deep in his eyes."You really have grown old, Teacher Zephyr.""Borsalino, you're still as reliant on your Fruit ability as ever!"Zephyr suddenly lunged into a low stance, his massive mechanical right arm emitting a piercing engine roar as its gears spun frantically,"This old man will give you one last lesson today!""Oh my, oh my~ That truly is~ so scary~"Kizaru broke character in a second, returning to his usual wretched expression.Wasting no more words, he crossed his hands in front of his chest, and a blinding light instantly erupted from his fingertips."Yata no Kagami!!!"In an instant, the sky turned entirely into a brilliant pure gold.Hundreds of thousands of dense light bullets, like a violent meteor shower at the end of the world, carrying terrifying kinetic energy to destroy everything, poured down toward the NEO flagship below!The power of each light bullet was enough to sink a medium-sized warship.The watching Marine soldiers' jaws nearly hit the deck, their eyes bulging wide."Holy crap! The Admiral went straight to his ultimate?! Who can withstand that!""Help! Will this AOE damage hit us too? Hurry, sail the ship further away!"Countless people complained frantically in their hearts, wishing they could grow wings and fly away from this hellish place immediately.Facing this world-destroying golden rain of light, Zephyr did not retreat a single step.His legs were nailed firmly to the deck as he took a deep breath, his chest swelling high, and that giant mechanical right arm was instantly dyed an ink-black darker than night by Armament Haki.And that wasn't all...Accompanied by his roar, streaks of black-red lightning carrying an aura of destruction suddenly erupted from his body, coiling tightly around the black mechanical arm like dancing venomous snakes!Conqueror's Haki Infusion!!!"SCATTER FOR ME!!!"Zephyr twisted his waist, thrust his hips, and threw a punch!There were no fancy tricks, just the purest, most ultimate explosion of power.A straight punch slammed directly into the golden rain falling from the sky.The friction between the mechanical arm and the air caused a deafening sonic boom, and a visible hemispherical shockwave of air mixed with black-red lightning, like a tsunami surging toward the sky, collided head-on with Kizaru's ultimate move.Light and Haki collided in mid-air without reservation!BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!The blinding glare caused the sea area to lose all color for a moment.The violent energy aftershocks turned into a category 12 hurricane, sweeping frantically in all directions.Several Marine warships nearby were shaken violently by the hurricane, their sails torn on the spot, and soldiers on deck fell into the sea like dumplings being dropped into a pot."My god! Is this an attack an old man on his deathbed can pull off?!"A Marine Lieutenant Commander, who had managed to grab a mast, had his facial features distorted by the wind and let out a wail like a dying pig in his heart."We actually wanted to besiege a monster like this! Isn't this just throwing our lives away!!!"High in the air, Kizaru's eyebrows twitched as he saw his proudest rain of light being held back in mid-air, unable to advance an inch."Oh my, oh my~ You've even used Haoshoku~ You're really putting your life on the line, Teacher~"Although Zephyr relied on his supreme strength to block the lethal frontal assault, the range of Yata no Kagami was simply too vast.Ultimately, some stray light bullets still managed to hit the NEO flagship.Boom! Boom! Boom!The tattered warship suffered heavy damage once again; the deck was blasted with charred craters, flames soared, and wood splinters flew everywhere."Quick! Put out the fire! Put out the fire now!"On the deck, Binz, covered in soot, was leading a group of soldiers through the cannon fire, frantically throwing buckets of water onto the flames, jumping with anxiety.If this ship sank, they wouldn't even have a place to stand.Just then, the formation on the Marine's flank shifted."All units, listen up! Hard to port! Full speed ahead! Prepare for boarding combat!"On a high-speed assault ship, Smoker bit down on the cigar in his mouth, ripped the Sea Stone jittefrom his back, and issued the charge command with bloodshot eyes.Beside him, Vice Admiral Momonga likewise drew the long sword at his waist, his gaze sharp as a knife.Two elite fleets, like two sharp pincers, took advantage of Zephyr being pinned down by Kizaruto bite down hard on the riddled NEO flagship from both sides.The noose had begun to tighten.The lower half of Smoker's body instantly turned into white smoke, launching him from the bow of his warship like a cannonball, crossing over a hundred meters to slam heavily onto the deck of the NEO flagship.THUD!The wooden planks shattered.Smoker stood straight, swinging his jitte to knock away two charging NEO soldiers. He looked with a complex expression at Binz, who was nearby directing the firefighting, and roared:"Surrender! You idiots! Open your eyes and look around! You can't win!"He trembled with rage, pointing at the dense fleet surrounding them."Do you really have to die here to be satisfied! Drop your weapons!"Binz turned his head, his face covered in black ash.He drew his saber and pointed it at Smoker like an enraged lion."Shut up! You Marine lapdog! We've long had no way back!"Binz gritted his teeth, his feet pushing off hard as the power of the Mori-Mori Fruit activated. Countless thick vines grew frantically from the cracks in the deck, turning into green whips that lashed out fiercely at Smoker."For Teacher Zephyr! Even if we die, we're taking some of you with us!"The melee erupted completely at this moment.The waters of Final Island began to be dyed red with blood.
Chapter 431: The Battle of Final Island (III)Above Final Island, the frenzied collision of light and Haki continued, the entire sea area churning like a pot of boiling water.Mid-air, Kizaru glanced at the sea level out of the corner of his eye; a massive warship was cutting through the waves—it was Aramaki's flagship.Behind his tinted glasses, a rare, cold glint flashed in Kizaru's eyes.Kizaru held his hands in a hollow grip before his chest and then pulled them apart sharply. Countless dazzling photons converged frantically between his palms, instantly solidifying into a long, slender blade of light emitting a lethal golden glow.ama no murakumo sword!Turning into a golden line that tore through the sky, Kizaru dove straight down."Borsalino!!!"Zephyr roared, pouring what little Haki he had left into his mechanical right arm without reservation, smashing it fiercely against the blinding golden light.Fist and sword collided in mid-air without any pretense.A deafening metallic blast rang out, and visible rings of white shockwaves mixed with black and red lightning instantly shattered the eardrums of countless Marine soldiers.In just a few short seconds, the two engaged in dozens of rounds of head-on melee combat.But time, after all, is the cruelest weapon in the world.After a collision of maximum effort, Zephyr's chest heaved violently, his breathing hitched, and his massive body inevitably stiffened for half a second.Half a second, in a duel between top-tier powerhouses, is the distance between life and death.Kizaru's eyes narrowed as he swung the light sword mercilessly, tracing a perfect crescent golden arc in the air.*Slash—!*Zephyr's mechanical right arm was severed clean at the base by the ama no murakumo sword!The massive, out-of-control mechanical arm sparked with electricity and crashed heavily into the surging sea.Blood surged from Zephyr's severed arm like a fountain, staining half of his body red.Before the old lion, who had lost his claws, could steady himself, Kizaru's figure appeared directly above him like a ghost.A golden cross-shaped light shone brilliantly on Kizaru's right foot, illuminating Zephyr's weathered and weary old face."Goodbye... Teacher Zephyr."A murmur so low it was almost inaudible dissipated into the sea breeze.A full-force Light-Speed Kick slammed squarely into Zephyr's chest!*Boom!!!*Like a broken kite, Zephyr turned into a purple meteor, crashing diagonally toward the riddled neo flagship below.Wood splinters flew into the air as the hard deck was smashed into a terrifying crater several meters wide, with spiderweb-like cracks instantly spreading across the entire hull.Zephyr lay in the center of the crater, coughed up mouthfuls of blood mixed with bits of internal organs.This former Marine Admiral, who once awed the seas and trained countless Marine elites, was now like a candle about to burn out, his flame of life flickering at its weakest."Teacher!!!"Binz scrambled toward the crater, kneeling beside Zephyr and weeping uncontrollably.The battle was completely decided at this moment.The NEO Marine flagship was completely paralyzed, surrounded by dozens of massive Marine warships.Countless dark muzzles of cannons and rifles were densely aimed at the teacher and student in the center of the deck, forming a desperate wall of iron.At the bow of the Assault Ship, Smoker gripped his jitte tightly.This normally hot-tempered tough guy turned his head and closed his eyes, the corners of his mouth twitching uncontrollably around his cigar, unable to bear the tragic scene on the deck.Kizaru turned into specks of light and landed lightly on the mast, looking down at the old man in the crater as his fingertip lit up again with the light that ends everything.From afar, Aramaki's wildly arrogant laughter spread across the field via the public den den mushi:"Hahaha! Well done, Borsalino! All forces, hear my command! Fire! Blow this wreck into scrap!"Listening to the countdown to death, Zephyrstruggled to open his bloodshot eyes. Looking at the tearful Binz beside him, a look of complete peace actually managed to squeeze onto his wrinkled face."Don't cry, boys."The old man coughed up blood, his voice weak yet carrying an unyielding pride."In this life of mine, though I have lost much, to be able to carry out my convictions at the very end... it is enough."Despair spread like a plague, weighing down so heavily that the NEO Marine soldiers could hardly breathe.In that briefest of moments, just as the laser at Kizaru's fingertip was about to fire and countless Marine gunners were ready to pull their triggers.A sudden change occurred.On the pitch-black sea surface, originally shrouded by dark clouds and gunpowder smoke, a blindingly bright blue-gold light suddenly lit up without warning.The light was so bright that everyone's vision went white, as if a blue sun had suddenly exploded on the horizon!Accompanying this light was a terrifying roar, like ten thousand ancient beasts howling at once!A blue-gold beam of light, with a terrifying speed that completely defied the laws of physics, savagely tore through the towering waves, sliced through the violent sea winds, and charged straight for the tight Marine blockade!It was a very strangely designed sailing ship.The entire ship was enveloped in lightning capable of destroying heaven and earth, with its stern emitting a dazzling blue beam as it charged fiercely toward the layered iron wall!*Rumble!!!*An earth-shaking roar tore through the sky!The two large Marine warships on the outermost perimeter didn't even have time to sound their alarms before being struck head-on by this violent blue lightning.The sturdy hulls shattered like paper upon contact, the wooden planks vaporizing instantly under the terrifying high temperatures of the lightning, while countless Marine soldiers were sent screaming into the air.A massive gap was forcibly torn into the blockade!This sailing ship, wreathed in a thunderstorm, carried an unstoppable, frenzied momentum and an overbearing aura that crushed all obstacles, plowing a trench dozens of meters deep into the sea.Then, with water splashing everywhere, it made an incredibly wild drift and tail-flick, coming to a dead stop between the battered neo flagship and Kizaru!The gale swirled, and the mist dissipated.The iconic Sunflower-Lion Figurehead of the Thousand Sunny rose proudly.On the deck of the Thousand Sunny, a petite figure in white gripped the railing tightly.Seeing the blood-covered old man in the crater, the tears Ain had held back throughout the journey instantly burst forth, and she let out a heart-wrenching cry:"Teacher!!!"This cry pierced through the thunder and struck everyone's heart.Every Marine soldier present was stunned, eyes nearly popping out of their sockets and jaws dropping to the floor.The light at Kizaru's fingertip instantly went out, and his eyes widened behind his tinted glasses.Smoker bit through the half-cigar in his mouth, his face looking like he'd seen a ghost.Even Aramaki on the other end of the den den mushi stopped laughing abruptly, sounding like a duck being strangled.Amidst everyone's disbelief, as they stared blankly like they were witnessing the descent of a god.A slightly thin figure stood quietly on the lion figurehead at the very front of the Thousand Sunny.Violent blue lightning swirled around his body like a tame pet, crackling and popping.He raised his hand, pressing down the tattered straw hat on his head to cover most of his face, revealing only an extremely arrogant grin.Thunder surged, and his voice, amplified by Haki, sounded like actual rolling thunder echoing across the Final Island sea, making the eardrums of all Marines ache and their hearts race:"Hey, Marines.""Bullying a dying old man—what kind of skill is that?"The youth suddenly looked up, a raging fire of battle ignited in his terrifyingly dark eyes."From now on, your opponent... is me!!!"
Chapter 432: The Battle of Final Island (IV)"Next, your opponent... is me!!!"The young man's voice, wrapped in thunder, exploded over the open sea.Tens of thousands of Marine elites, every single one of them, had their brains go completely blank.The sea breeze blew, kicking up a few pieces of broken wood.A Marine Major rubbed his eyes and pinched his thigh hard; the sharp pain made him grimace, and only then did he dare believe he wasn't seeing things."Is that... Straw Hat?!"A sharp, cracking voice shouted out what everyone was thinking."Why is the Four Emperors Straw Hat here?! This is Final Island! The Marines' absolute line of defense, hey!""Isn't this monster fighting Kaido! When did he teleport here!!!"Panic spread like a virus through the encirclement; the Marines, who had been aggressively preparing to clear out the fodder, now had hands that trembled as they gripped their guns.A man's reputation precedes him.That young man standing at the bow, covered in blue electrical arcs, was currently the most headache-inducing top-tier monster on the sea—an existence even Marineford had to carefully consider.Atop the mast of the main flagship, Kizaru pursed his signature lips and adjusted his amber-tinted glasses. On his eternally sleazy face, a hint of surprise finally appeared for the first time."Oh my, oh my~ This really is..."The Admiral drew out his words, his gaze gradually becoming sharp."What scary reinforcements~ But young people nowadays really don't know any manners, actually interrupting an old man's reminiscing."Before he finished speaking, Kizaru's body exploded with a blinding golden light with a "biu," and his entire being shattered into countless motes of light, vanishing into thin air."The Admiral has made his move!!!""Too fast! I can't see his movements at all!"The surrounding Marine soldiers instantly erupted into a mountain-shaking cheer; their confidence had returned.That's right, we have the highest combat power stationed here. So what if the opponent is one of the Four Emperors? The Admiral's light-speed attack will definitely teach this kid a lesson!"Straw Hat~ It's been a few years. I wonder if your skills have improved~"Kizaru's eccentric, mocking voice suddenly rang out behind Luffy's head.Golden light spots reassembled into human form mid-air, right leg raised high, the flickering light making it feel as if he could kick a mountain to pieces.There was no testing the waters; he went straight in with a merciless Light-Speed Kick!But Luffy, on the lion head of the Thousand Sunny, didn't even turn his head.The young man only slightly tilted his head, the corner of his mouth curling into an incredibly arrogant arc.His future-predicting Observation Haki had long since seen through Kizaru's movements completely."Uncle Monkey, the way you glow is really blinding."Luffy reached back with his right hand, pitch-black Armament Haki instantly coating his entire arm, as violent blue-gold lightning coiled around it like an enraged dragon.No fancy dodging, only the absolute confidence of a head-on clash.Bang!!!A muffled explosion that made ears go numb burst out, and a visible shockwave centered on the point of their clash swept out madly in all directions.The seawater was forced down over ten centimeters deep; nearby warships were blown off balance, and soldiers on the decks rolled into heaps like bowling balls.The gale passed.The moment they saw the scene in mid-air clearly, the eyes of every Marine present nearly popped out into the sea, and their jaws dropped in unison onto the decks. (⊙_⊙)Admiral Kizaru's Light-Speed Kick, capable of shattering meteors, was actually caught by Luffywith one hand! Firmly!The young man's five fingers gripped that glowing ankle; he hadn't retreated a single step, and his body hadn't even swayed."You've got to be kidding me..."A Marine Vice Admiral gasped, his voice trembling."He caught the Admiral's Light-Speed Kick with one hand? This guy hasn't even used much of his fruit ability yet!"Mid-air, Kizaru's amber glasses suddenly slid down, and his usually nonchalant face finally couldn't maintain its composure.How is this kid's strength so ridiculously immense!The Admiral felt his bones letting out "creak, creak" screams of agony as sharp pain shot straight to his brain through his nerves."Oh my, oh my~ This force is really going to be the death of me~"Kizaru mentally complained wildly: What the hell kind of power is this for a human? That crazy dragon Kaido is probably only at this level!The Admiral immediately changed tactics, pulling his hands apart in front of his chest as countless photons gathered frantically."ama no murakumo sword!"A longsword emitting a lethal golden light instantly formed, carrying a sharpness that could cleave anything, and slashed down fiercely toward the arm Luffy was using to hold him.Want to cripple my arm? In your dreams!Facing this slash that could cut through steel, Luffydidn't let go; instead, he grinned even more radiantly.Rumble-Rumble Fruit ability fully unleashed!The blue-gold lightning coiled around Luffy's right arm instantly surged tenfold, the temperature rising sharply until even the surrounding air warped from the heat."Crack—!"The ama no murakumo sword slashed heavily onto that arm covered in lightning and Armament Haki.That light sword, claimed to be indestructible, actually shattered into a sky full of dancing light motes the moment it touched that terrifyingly high-temperature lightning!Kizaru was completely dumbfounded, a trace of uncontrollable shock surging deep in his eyes.His signature technique was actually shattered by brute force?!"Uncle, you're too slow!"Luffy's hearty laughter drifted into Kizaru's ears like a demon's whisper.The muscles in the young man's right arm suddenly bulged, and the Rubber-Rubber Fruit's amazing malleability was put on full display.His arm stretched dozens of meters in an instant, then snapped back like a fully drawn slingshot, using the momentum to spin Kizaru's body in mid-air like a giant pinwheel!Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!Kizaru felt the world spinning; the dignified Marine's highest combat power was now being swung through the air like a ragdoll until he became an afterimage.The sound of the wind in his ears turned into piercing sonic booms."Go—fly!!!"Luffy let out a cheerful roar, his arm exerting sudden force as he aimed at the fortress rock wall of Final Island in the distance and hurled the Admiral in his hand!Boom!!!Kizaru was like a golden meteor, tearing through the air with terrifying kinetic energy, shattering several sonic barriers head-first.Immediately after, a world-shaking boom came from the fortress, and the entire Final Island shook violently.A massive crater over a hundred meters in diameter was smashed into the solid fortress rock wall!Terrifying spider-web-like cracks spread from the crater, and countless tons of rubble fell like a rainstorm, kicking up a cloud of dust.On the sea, tens of thousands of Marines were stunned like wooden chickens, even forgetting to breathe.What just happened?The invincible Admiral in their eyes had been casually tossed away like a baseball?!WTF? This isn't how the script was written?!On an Assault ship, the cigar in Smoker's mouth snapped with a "crack." His face wore a look like he'd seen a ghost, and his fingers holding the cigarette butt trembled uncontrollably.At the bow of the Thousand Sunny, Luffy brushed the dust off his hands and nonchalantly cracked his neck.From beginning to end, the young man hadn't used that sky-tearing Conqueror's Haki.Inside the ruins of Final Island.A dust-covered hand suddenly pushed aside a large boulder pinning it down.Kizaru crawled out of the pile of stones looking wretched; his originally crisp yellow suit was now tattered, and a trace of blood hung from the corner of his mouth.The Admiral casually wiped the blood from his mouth."Oh my, oh my... I've really been underestimated..."Kizaru took a deep breath, the golden light emitting from his body several times more violent than before. It seemed he was ready to get serious.However, at the very moment the two were about to start the second round.In the far distance, in the direction of the fleet commanded by Aramaki.A burst of life energy full of morbid vitality soared into the sky without warning, directly dyeing half the sky green!
Chapter 433: The Battle of Final Island (V)Dazzling green light dyed half the sky.On the flagship in the far distance, Aramaki ripped the sunglasses off his face, smashed them onto the deck, and crushed them under his foot.This newly promoted Admiral, who usually complained about everything being a "hassle," now had veins bulging on his forehead, his face contorted like a bitter melon that had just eaten three pounds of sour lemons.The image of Kizaru being smashed into the fortress ruins like trash was broadcast clearly to every Marine through the screens on the warships.Aramaki felt like his lungs were about to burst with rage.The supreme combat power of the Marines was actually being rubbed against the sky by a mere Four Emperors. If this got back to Marineford, where would they, the Admirals, hide their faces!Violent life energy surged through Aramaki's feet and into the deck, instantly turning the massive warship into a nursery for plant growth.Countless thick, giant vines, each requiring a dozen adults to encircle, burst through the wood like a swarm of wild, green venomous snakes, instantly tearing apart several nearby unlucky warships.Piercing screams rose one after another as hundreds of Marine soldiers were sent flying into the air by their own commander's Devil Fruit ability.Aramaki didn't care about the lives of these low-level soldiers at all. His arms transformed into sharp, spiked vines as he stared intently at the sunny in the distance, roaring hysterically:"Borsalino, you useless piece of trash!!! You can't even handle a brat who's only been at sea for a few years?!? I have to clean up this embarrassing mess myself!!!"Along with the Admiral's roar, the surviving Marineofficers around him turned pale with fright, shivering behind the gunwales.Just when everyone thought Aramaki was going to go on a killing spree and vent his fury on the battlefield...An extremely impatient sigh came from the deck of the sunny.Zoro had strolled to the bow of the ship at some point.The Mosshead swordsman rested one hand on the sandai kitetsu at his waist, while the other casually picked his ear, his expression full of irritation from being woken up by the noise.Yamato approached, carrying her Spiked Club, her large eyes sparkling with excitement."Zoro! Are you going to make a move too? But that glowing treant is so far away! It's at least ten thousand meters!"Zoro ignored Yamato's shouting and slowly closed his eyes.His peak Observation Haki expanded with a boom, ignoring the cannon fire and clamor in the sky. Like an invisible giant net, it instantly crossed ten thousand meters of waves and locked onto the impotently raging Aramaki.This highly targeted, terrifying aura immediately caught the attention of the Observers on the Marine Intelligence Ship.A Marine Major held up high-powered binoculars, the lens focusing frantically until he finally saw the Mosshead figure standing on the lion's head."Look! That pirate hunter has drawn his sword! He's actually taking an attacking stance toward Admiral Aramaki!"The fat Major's voice spread through the surrounding warships via the internal Broadcast Snail.The Marine soldiers on the deck were stunned for a moment, then burst into loud laughter, which even diluted their fear of Aramaki's rampage.Ten thousand meters!That was an absolutely safe range that even the Headquarters' most advanced beyond-visual-range heavy cannons couldn't hit accurately!Even if that Mosshead was an executive of a Four Emperors crew, could his sword intent really cross ten thousand meters of ocean and strike an Admiral protected by a massive fleet?It was simply a pipe dream!"This hillbilly must be scared out of his mind! Thinking he can scare off an Admiral by waving around a couple of pieces of scrap metal!""As expected of a fool from Straw Hat's crew! He doesn't even have the most basic common sense regarding distance! Hilarious!"Mockery rose from all sides.Facing the widespread ridicule, a bloodthirsty grin curled at the corner of Zoro's mouth.His right thumb gave a gentle push."Clack!"wado ichimonji unsheathed, and he skillfully bit it in his mouth.Next, his hands gripped the hilts of sandai kitetsuand Shusui, respectively.The moment he drew his swords, a terrifying aura that changed the color of the heavens and earth erupted.The sky, already churning with dark clouds, seemed to be stirred by an invisible giant hand, instantly dropping by hundreds of meters.Deep, eerie green Conqueror's Haki erupted like a materialized pillar of light, piercing the clouds!Accompanying it was an Oni Aura that seemed to crawl out from the depths of the eighteenth level of hell, frantically wrapping around the blades of the three famous swords.The smile on the Major who had been laughing frantically just now froze instantly.A warm liquid trickled down his pant leg.He had wet himself.Not just him; all the low-level Marine soldiers within a radius of several thousand meters fainted in droves like harvested wheat under this terrifying pressure, comparable to an ancient ferocious beast.The warships lost their helmsmen and collided randomly in the waves.Those Marine officers who barely remained conscious had their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.Monster!This is also a monster!What kind of demigods are being raised in the Straw Hat Pirates!Why can even a First Mate release such terrifying Haoshoku that makes people lose even the thought of resisting!Zoro didn't have time to care about the mental states of these small fry.The muscles in his arms bulged instantly, veins coiling like dragons.The swordsman, completely enveloped in black-green Haki, exerted force from his waist, twisting his body into a highly explosive posture in the void.The three swords turned into three bolts of bluish-black lightning that tore through space, swinging fiercely toward Aramaki ten thousand meters away."Three Sword Style Secret Technique: Purgatory Onigiri!"A bluish-green crescent sword pressure, thousands of meters long and mixed with violent black-red lightning, roared out across the sea surface at an inconceivable speed.Where the sword pressure passed, the boiling and surging waters of the Final Island sea were actually sliced open!A terrifying, bottomless trench suddenly appeared before everyone's eyes.On the flagship in the far distance.Aramaki was still wildly waving his vines to vent his anger when his Observation Haki suddenly issued a fatal, frantic warning.The Admiral whipped his head around.What met his eyes was that bluish-green slash that occupied his entire field of vision, as if it were going to split the world in two.Arrogance and disdain vanished from Aramaki's face instantly, replaced by undeniable horror.You've got to be kidding me!To cross over ten thousand meters and still maintain enough power to split an island!Even Hawkeye, known as the world's Great Swordsman, might not be able to casually unleash such an absurd slash!At this life-or-death moment, Aramaki unleashed the ultimate reaction of an Admiral.Countless thick trees burst from beneath the sea, entangling and coiling frantically, transforming in the blink of an eye into a super-giant Thorny Treanthundreds of meters tall to protect him.Top-tier Armament Haki covered the treant's surface as if it cost nothing, gleaming with an indestructible, black metallic luster.The next second.The sword energy from ten thousand meters away arrived.There was no fancy stalemate.That layer of thorny defense that Aramaki had placed high hopes on...Was crushed like dry weeds!"Crack—!"An extremely crisp sound of breaking echoed across the sea.The giant treant, hundreds of meters tall, along with the two-hundred-meter-long flagship beneath Aramaki's feet, was sliced cleanly in two by the unstoppable sword energy!The break was as smooth as a mirror.Thick green sap mixed with wood chips and steel fragments sprayed into the sky like a fountain.Aramaki let out a shrill scream as half his shoulder and his entire left arm were instantly severed, crashing into the bottomless trench along with a rain of blood.On the sea, the Marine officers who were lucky enough not to be knocked unconscious by the Haoshoku fell into a state of total existential crisis.Their brains could no longer process the information they were receiving.That Aramaki, who was just showing off his power, was taken out in one hit from over ten thousand meters away by a swordsman on Straw Hat's ship?What's the point of this battle!Just go home and plant sweet potatoes!Thump.Thump.Countless officers' legs gave out, and they knelt on the deck, their weapons falling to the ground, even the strength to run drained from them.However, the terrifying vitality of the plant-type fruit showed its troublesome side at this moment.Aramaki, who had crashed into the sea, was not dead.Countless tiny vines surged frantically from his mangled wound, entangling and weaving together like granulation tissue.In just a few seconds, a brand-new arm miraculously grew back.Aramaki burst out of the seawater and stood back on the broken hull, his face contorted beyond recognition, his eyes filled with hysterical madness.Having his defense shattered by a pirate's subordinate was the greatest humiliation he had ever suffered in his life!"I'm going to suck you dry!!!"Aramaki roared, slamming both hands onto the sea surface.Tens of thousands of thorny blood-sucking vines, like sea monster tentacles, surged back frantically toward the sunny along the trench that had not yet healed.Wherever the vines passed, even the air was whipped into sharp sonic booms.Facing this sun-blotting counterattack, Zoro just snorted and casually swung his twin swords.A few fierce cross-shaped sword energies were unleashed effortlessly, instantly mincing the first thousand vines into a pile of green mush.Zoro was about to step forward and charge to the other side to finish off that annoying treant.Suddenly.The originally calm water around the sunny began to boil violently without warning.Dozens of huge black shadows rose rapidly from underwater.Crash!Dozens of large Marine warships equipped with heavy diving armor had actually completed a lethal tactical encirclement from the seabed while everyone's attention was drawn by the duel between Aramaki and Zoro!This surprise force, hidden away by Marineford, trapped the sunny in the center like steel monsters.Hundreds of heavy cannons gleaming with cold light turned their muzzles in unison, pointing their black muzzles at this seemingly fragile wooden sailing ship.The smell of gunpowder in the air reached its peak.However, facing this despair-inducing heavy firepower encirclement...The Cyborg in the floral shirt, who had been standing in front of the control console, didn't show a hint of panic. Instead, he adjusted his sunglasses and excitedly rubbed his huge steel hands together."SUPER—!!!"Franky let out an extremely eccentric laugh.
Chapter 434: The Battle of Final Island (VI)Hundreds of heavy cannons, glinting with a cold, metallic light, swiveled their muzzles in unison.On the bow of the leading warship directly ahead stood a Marine Rear Admiral with a handlebar mustache.The Rear Admiral unsheathed the commanding saber at his waist and pointed it at the sunny, laughing so hard his jaw nearly dislocated."Listen up, Straw Hat crew! No matter how much of a monster your swordsman is, on this sea, firepower is the only truth that measures everything!""Your ship is now surrounded by the Headquarters' most elite Heavy-armored Diving Fleet!""All cannons have finished charging! Surrender now with your hands up, or we'll blast you and your ship into smithereens at the bottom of the ocean!!!"The Marine soldiers on the surrounding warships followed with unrestrained, boisterous laughter.Facing the point-blank fire of hundreds of heavy cannons, even the Four Emperors themselves would be turned into a honeycomb.On the deck of the sunny, Yamato was jumping with impatience.The young woman gripped her massive Spiked Club tightly, not taking those cannons seriously at all."Wow! So many prickly iron lumps! I'm going to smash them all into iron pancakes! Luffy said we're going to make a huge scene!!!"Just as Yamato was about to step on the gunwale and leap out to smash them, a palm suddenly reached out and blocked her.Law had walked to the bow at some point.Trafalgar Law's face was grim, his right thumb already pushing against the tsuba of kikoku."Don't be impulsive. They're too close; the explosion from a simultaneous volley will definitely damage the hull. Step back. I'll use my ability to slice those barrels and the warships altogether."Law's gaze was as cold as a blade. His fingertips twitched slightly as he prepared to forcibly open an awakened-level Room to clear out these bothersome flies as quickly as possible.A steel palm as large as a clay pot descended from above, pressing down on Yamato's and Law's shoulders respectively.Franky squeezed his way to the bow with an incredibly arrogant, swaggering stride.A red light flashed across the lenses of the cyborg's black sunglasses, looking immensely cocky."Hey, hey, hey! Don't you two underestimate me! I'm the future Pirate King's personal shipwright!!!"Franky put his hands on his hips and wiggled his steel-cast waist with flamboyant flair."You'll have your turn to show off during the upcoming landing and melee combat. For now, save your energy!""Dealing with this scrap metal that can't even see the tail lights of the era is more than enough for me and the sunny!!!"Franky didn't give them a chance to argue, turning around and striding toward the main control console under the mainmast.His steel right fist slammed hard against the metal plate on his chest.Accompanied by a crisp metallic bang, a massive, bright red button rose from the center of the console.Franky grinned widely, revealing a mouthful of shiny white teeth, and slapped it down hard."Let you bunch of sheltered frogs in a well see what true firepower deficiency phobia looks like!!!""Hidden Armament Mode! Full power deployment!!!"The ear-piercing sound of mechanical gears meshing instantly drowned out the whistling of the sea breeze.The lion-headed sailing ship, which originally looked harmless and even fairy-tale-like, completely bared its hideous metallic fangs at this moment.The beautiful wooden panels on both sides of the hull flipped outward, revealing the heavy, cold, dark-gold alloy armor beneath.The deck reorganized rapidly like a Rubik's Cube, and rows of Electromagnetic Cannon barrels, thick enough to fit a cow inside, sprang out from the gunwales like bamboo shoots after rain.The crow's nest atop the mainmast split right down the middle, and an exaggeratedly large High-energy Laser Emitter rose up.The armor plates on both sides of the stern fell away instantly, revealing a dense, honeycomb-like array of Tracking Missile launchers.The entire transformation process took less than three seconds.A seemingly ordinary pirate ship, right before thousands of pairs of eyes, turned into a steel war fortress armed to the teeth!!!The mustache-wearing Rear Admiral, who was arrogantly shouting with his commanding saber just moments ago, had the smile on his face completely frozen Σ( ° △ °|||)︴.The Rear Admiral's saber dropped onto the deck, hitting his toe without him even noticing, as cold sweat poured down his forehead like a waterfall.The thousands of Marine soldiers around him were all frozen in place as if under a binding spell.Countless eyes bulged as if they were about to fall into the sea, and mouths hung open wide enough to fit a large watermelon.Holy crap, what kind of world-class joke is this!!!What kind of decent person hides so many heavy weapons that completely defy the laws of physics inside a wooden sailing ship?!These barrels glowing with dazzling blue light look ten times more terrifying than Marineford's ultimate fortress, okay?!Is this a pirate ship or a legendary Ancient Weapon?!The Marines' psychological defenses completely collapsed the moment the sunny finished its transformation.Franky gripped the two joysticks on the console tightly and let out an incredibly perverse, wild laugh toward the sky."Experience despair!!! The gap in technology is a chasm that you pieces of trash will never cross in your lifetime!!!"Franky's thumb pressed down hard on the red fire switch.The sunny erupted with a deafening metallic roar!!!Hundreds of Electromagnetic Cannons finished charging simultaneously, and azure electromagnetic beams, like countless giant swords of light slicing through the darkness, surged across the sea surface with terrifying heat capable of melting steel.The high-energy laser cannon on the mainmast shot a crimson beam over ten meters in diameter, instantly vaporizing the three heavy diving warships directly ahead.Not even a splinter of wood remained; a terrifyingly large vacuum zone was instantly evaporated from the seawater.The honeycomb launcher at the stern spat out hundreds of long white trails.The red-tailed Tracking Missiles, like Reapers with eyes, traced chaotic yet lethal arcs of death through the air, accurately slamming into every Marinewarship attempting to fire or flee.The sounds of explosions merged into a continuous roar.The blinding firelight illuminated this oppressive stretch of sea brighter than a desert at noon.The encirclement that had been so aggressive moments ago was completely blasted into flying scrap metal under this terrifying, dimension-reducing deluge of firepower, before they could even fire a single shell.The sturdy heavy diving armor was as fragile as a piece of scrap paper before the Electromagnetic Cannons.The wreckage of the warships rose into the sky with plumes of burning black smoke, while charred wood chips and scalding metal fragments pelted the sea surface like a torrential rain.The Marine officers who were lucky enough not to be killed instantly were splashing desperately in the boiling seawater, wailing for their parents and cursing the Marine intelligence department's ancestors for eighteen generations.You call this a wooden sailing ship?!This firepower is enough to level Marineford to the ground, isn't it?On the deck of the sunny, Yamato covered her mouth tightly with both hands, her large eyes filled with little stars of admiration (☆ω☆), completely dazed by the sight.Law sheathed his sword, the corner of his eye twitching wildly.Pure firepower suppression can sometimes be more despair-inducing than Haki.The chain of explosions on the sea gradually subsided, leaving burning wreckage and charred wooden planks everywhere.The sunny remained moored in the middle of the sea of fire, unscathed.Franky released the joysticks and flamboyantlly flicked the iconic tuft of blue hair on his forehead.The cyborg's arms snapped together in front of him to form a pentagram shape, letting out a thunderous shout."SUPER---!!!"Franky cocked an eyebrow triumphantly at the stunned Yamato, his large steel face practically begging for the word "Awesome" to be painted on it."Don't be too surprised. This is just a preliminary modification I made by absorbing some of Vegapunk's technology and combining it with the legendary pluton blueprint. Even I'm scared of the sunny's ultimate form!!!"Yamato clapped her hands vigorously in cooperation, her eyes turning into sparkling star shapes.Just as the two were celebrating this crushing victory.Law's expression instantly became extremely grim.This surgeon, who usually maintained absolute composure, suddenly broke out in a fine cold sweat on his forehead, his pupils shrinking to the size of pinpricks.His peak-level Observation Haki pierced through the smoke, crossed the chaotic battlefield, and locked onto the bottom hold of the riddled neo flagship in the far distance.A terrifying energy surge, violent enough to completely erase the entire Final Island along with this stretch of sea, was frantically awakening there.The countdown to destruction had already begun.Law spun around and grabbed the railing."Everyone shut up! The real trouble is here!!!"Law stared fixedly at the direction of the sinking wreck, squeezing out a few words through his teeth."Something in the hold is about to blow! It's the power rock!!!"
Chapter 435: The Battle of Final Island (VII)The cyborg Franky gasped, drawing in a sharp breath of cold air."power rocks?!"The legendary, terrifying minerals that trigger a world-shaking explosion the moment they are exposed to air!Their explosive power is said to rival even the legendary Ancient Weapons!A piece only the size of a fist could blast the fortress of Marineford into powder!"Franky clutched his iron head and howled toward the sky."If the power rocks in that wreck explode, never mind our ship—the surrounding Marine fleet and Final Island will all go GG together!"The Marine officers floating on the sea's surface had been paddling desperately for their lives!Suddenly hearing Franky's scream, every single one of them was dumbfounded!"power rocks?! They're about to blow?!""Run!!! Swim!!! If you don't want to die, start swimming now!!!"The Marine camp descended into total chaos; countless soldiers wished they had two extra legs as they thrashed desperately in the churning seawater.Law had no time to deal with the surrounding mess. He took a deep breath, his gaze so focused it seemed capable of freezing the air.In the end, it always fell to him, the surgeon, to clean up after this group of idiots who only knew how to cause trouble.Law placed his right hand on the hilt of kikoku and gave the guard a gentle nudge with his thumb; a section of ghostly blue blade-light snapped out in a blink.Ope-Ope no Mi Awakening—Full Outburst!!!An ear-piercing hum exploded in the air without warning; it wasn't loud, yet it made everyone's heart skip a violent beat.A pale blue, translucent sphere—so massive it defied belief—erupted outward from Law's body, skimming the sea's surface.The sphere expanded faster than the speed of sound, instantly swallowing the surrounding broken warships, the struggling Marines, and the riddled neo flagship in the far distance.The pale blue light, vast enough to blot out the sun, inverted over the sea, turning this stretch of ocean into Trafalgar's absolute domain.On the shattered deck of the neo flagship.Zephyr lay in a massive crater, his chest rising and falling slightly, already prepared to embrace death.Binz was sprawled beside the old man, weeping uncontrollably, his face smeared with snot and tears.Smoker stood not far away, teeth clenched tightly, his jitte creaking under his grip, his heart filled with the frustration and fury of witnessing his mentor's impending death.Suddenly, that eerie pale blue light swept over their bodies.Smoker felt his vision blur as a powerful sensation of weightlessness surged through him, making his stomach churn violently."Splat!!!"The White Hunter slammed hard onto solid stone, getting a mouthful of salty silt and sand.Dizzy, Smoker scrambled to his feet, spat out the dirt, and instinctively felt for the jitte at his waist; no parts were missing, and his body was intact.The White Hunter looked up blankly, surveying his surroundings.He was surrounded by collapsed giant stone pillars and cracked rock walls—this was definitely not the crumbling wreck from a moment ago.Turning his head, he saw Zephyr and Binz lying sprawled five meters away, both of their faces equally written with utter confusion."This is... the fortress ruins of Final Island?"Smoker's eyes widened, and his brain completely stopped functioning.One second he was waiting for death on a powder keg that could explode at any moment, and the next, he had been sent directly to a safe zone on land tens of thousands of meters away.Spatial displacement?That Surgeon of Death from the Straw Hat Pirates?!...On the sea, the giant pale blue space was still flickering.Law stood at the bow of the sunny, his left index and middle fingers pressed together, pointing toward the lonely neo flagship floating in the distance, and gave a gentle upward flick."Rise!"A single, incredibly calm word escaped his lips.That giant steel warship, hundreds of meters long and weighing thousands of tons, completely broke free from the shackles of gravity.The heavy hull rose straight up with the sound of whistling wind, shooting upward at a maddening speed that made one's scalp tingle.One hundred meters...Five hundred meters...One thousand meters!!!The surviving Marine soldiers on the sea collectively craned their necks back.Is this a damn war or a magic show?!A ship that big just went into the sky! Who could possibly handle this!Just as the warship reached a height of a thousand meters, the violent energy in the lower hold, suppressed to its breaking point, finally erupted.A red light of destruction radiated from within the warship.Law didn't give the power rocks a chance to act freely.The Surgeon gripped the extra-long hilt of kikokuwith both hands, his gaze reaching an extreme of coldness, his muscles tensed like a fully drawn bowstring.Ghostly blue light compressed to the limit on the blade, emitting an ear-piercing crackle of electricity.Law aimed at the warship a thousand meters up and, with all his strength, swung a final strike capable of cleaving the heavens."Gamma Knife: God Cut!!!"A streak of ghostly blue sharp light, as dense as ink, crossed the thousand-meter vertical distance in a flash, slicing with incomparable precision through the flagship that was about to explode.Screeeech!!!It was as if a blue scratch appeared in the sky, silkily dividing the entire warship and the out-of-control energy within into two.The next second.BOOM!!!An incredibly dazzling, small golden-red sun radiating terrifying heat hung abruptly in the sky above Final Island.The world-shaking sound of the explosion followed shortly after, vibrating the sea below into towering waves dozens of meters high.An invincible spherical shockwave swept out in all directions from the center of the blast.Golden sunlight poured through the hole in the clouds, spilling onto the turbulent sea.A catastrophe capable of destroying the entire island and all the fleets had been snuffed out by Law in the high sky through a method that bordered on a miracle.Law let out a long breath of turbid air and sheathed kikoku.An imperceptible, rapid panting sound came from his throat; the web of his right hand holding the scabbard was trembling slightly due to the extreme overexertion of his stamina.But Law's back remained straight, and his cold face showed no hint of fatigue.This was the dignity of the Great Strategist.On the distant fortress ruins, Smoker puffed on his cigar, staring blankly up at the golden-red fire cloud that had not yet fully dissipated.The White Hunter looked down at his own hands, then at Zephyr, who was leaning against the rubble nearby, gasping for breath.The Marines watched their mentor go to his death, yet a pirate had spared no effort and exhausted his strength to save them.At this moment, the word 'Justice' seemed exceptionally ironic... and piercingly bright.
AI Model: gemini-3.0-flashChapter 436: Battle of Final Island (Part 8)"Well then, round two, landing!"Luffy's words had just fallen.A blinding burst of blue-gold electric light exploded from the deck beneath the boy's feet.In less than the blink of an eye, Luffy's figure vanished thin air from the spot.In mid-air, Kizaru had just transformed into countless golden specks of light, preparing to pull back to a safe combat distance.The Admiral's body hadn't even had time to fully reform.A face grinning with a mouthful of white teeth pressed up against the tip of his nose with extreme abruptness.Blue-gold lightning, like countless tiny venomous snakes, crackled wildly in the extremely close space between the two, making a scalp-numbing "sizzle" sound."Old man, where do you think you're going?"Luffy had both hands behind his head, floating backward through the sky, his speed surprisingly on par with Kizaru's light-speed movement.The teleportation mechanism of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit was simply an unreasonable BUG on this sea.Kizaru's eyes behind his tinted glasses suddenly widened.The Admiral was so startled he even forgot to maintain his signature pout, his body instinctively retreating backward at high speed."Young people these days really have no respect for the martial arts code."Kizaru complained in his characteristic drawn-out tone.His right leg snapped up instantly, a golden cross-shaped flash kicking toward Luffy's head without reservation.Luffy didn't even look.The boy tilted his head to the side with extreme casualness, letting the dazzling beam—powerful enough to level a mountain—graze past him.Immediately after, Luffy extended his right hand, pitch-black Armament Haki instantly coating his fist.He slammed a solid punch right into Kizaru's leg of light.BAM!!!A deafening muffled explosion erupted thousands of meters in the air.Golden light and blue thunder turned into two meteors, beginning an incredibly frantic chase within the clouds above Final Island.This wasn't some evenly matched peak confrontation at all.It was completely a one-sided game of cat and mouse.Luffy, with a grinning face, zipped through the sky on electric sparks, casually throwing out thick lightning dragons.Kizaru was chased all over the sky; while he was still sarcastically complaining on the surface, he had already cursed the kid opposite him eight hundred times in his heart.Every collision between the two would tear a giant hole in the thick dark clouds.The violent shockwaves turned into Category 12 hurricanes, shattering the remaining fortress rock walls below into dust.The Marine soldiers all craned their necks upward, not even noticing when the guns in their hands dropped onto the deck.Their CPUs were completely fried.This battle was impossible to fight; even an Admiral was being chased and beaten like a rat. Low-level soldiers like them didn't even have the qualifications to be cannon fodder.Unknowingly, the battlefield was divided into several sections by an extremely natural tacit understanding.On the other side of the fortress.Zoro was preparing to cross that bottomless sea trench to completely cut down that annoying treeman.The sky overhead suddenly darkened.An indescribable, terrifying gravity, like an invisible mountain, pressed down brutally from the high heavens.The seawater within a few hundred meters was instantly flattened; not even a single wave could rise.The blind swordsman Fujitora descended from the sky, standing on a floating piece of rubble.His Cane Sword was drawn half an inch.Purple gravitational ripples undulated wildly in the air."pirate hunter Roronoa, I cannot simply let you pass."Fujitora's eyes were tightly shut, and the cross-shaped scar on his face looked exceptionally cold.Zoro stopped in his tracks.The Mosshead swordsman didn't just fail to back down; instead, he revealed an extremely bloodthirsty smile, his white teeth gleaming."Another Admiral? Just in time to test my blades on you."A sky-piercing Shura Oni Aura instantly erupted from the three famous swords.Blue-black Haoshoku and the purple gravity field collided head-on without any frills.Crack! Crack!The hard rocky ground was torn apart by these two top-tier powers, forcing open a terrifying crater over several hundred meters in diameter.And on the distant coastline.Ryokugyu Aramaki had gone completely mad.The humiliation of an Admiral having his arm severed made him lose all reason."I'm going to suck all you pirate scum dry!!!"Countless thick vines, like crazed giant pythons, swirled toward the sunny, blotting out the sun.A white figure leaped high from the deck.Yamato gripped that Spiked Club, which was taller than she was, her large eyes filled with light from extreme excitement."Wow! What a big tree! I'm going to chop some wood!"The girl activated her Hybrid Form directly in mid-air.An extremely cold icy breath spread instantly, her white fur dancing wildly in the wind."Back! Back! Back!!!"Yamato shouted at the top of her lungs.The Spiked Club in her hands was wrapped in ice-blue Haki as she smashed it into the dozens of thick vines charging in the lead.Crack!The extreme freezing temperature instantly froze those life-filled vines into rock-hard icicles.Then, under the terrifying monstrous strength of the Spiked Club, they shattered into a ground full of ice shards.Following behind Yamato were two lightning-like giant figures.Nekomamushi and Inuarashi, these two top combatants of the Mink Tribe, brandished their blades and charged into that thorny jungle without mercy.Aramaki was fuming with rage, yet he was being beaten back by the joint attacks of these three.The entire Final Island had turned into a boiling pot of porridge.Flying in the sky, smashing on the ground—everywhere were world-destroying Fruit abilities and Haki collisions.However.On the very edge of this completely trashed ruin.There existed an extremely eerie area.No flashy lights and shadows flying across the sky, no eardrum-shattering explosions.Only the dull thuds of fists hitting flesh.Pfft!Smoker spat out a mouthful of saliva mixed with blood.The White Hunter had long ago tossed aside that Marine coat with the word 'Justice' written on it.The Sea Stone jitte in his hand had also been discarded in a pile of rubble.Smoker was bare-chested, his chest heaving violently.He stared fixedly at the blood-covered old man in front of him, his eyes so red they looked like they might drip blood.Zephyr's condition was too tragic to look at.The place where his mechanical right arm had been severed by Kizaru was still dripping blood drop by drop.The old man's stamina was completely overdrawn.The Armament Haki wrapped around his remaining left fist flickered in and out.He was on the verge of being unable to maintain even the most basic Haki."Is this the extent of your strength now! Smoker!"Zephyr panted heavily, but his wrinkled old face was full of wild laughter.The old man didn't take any defensive stance.Step by step, dragging his heavy pace, he closed in on his prize pupil."Why don't you dodge!"Smoker let out a beast-like roar, his voice filled with uncontrollable pain.The White Hunter suddenly clenched his fist, top-tier Armament Haki instantly dyeing his entire right arm a shiny pitch-black."In my dictionary, the word 'dodge' has never existed!"Zephyr laughed out loud.Even though his body was riddled with holes, that heroic aura belonging to a former Marine Admiralstill made it hard to breathe.The two charged at each other at almost the same time.No dodging.No defending.They completely abandoned all combat techniques and paths of retreat.Smoker's fist whistled through the air, carrying all his inner conflict and reluctance, as it smashed hard toward his mentor.Zephyr's left fist, flickering with Haki, also used the last ounce of strength in his body to strike his proudest student.BAM!!!Both fists slammed heavily into each other's faces at the same time.Dazzling blood suddenly splattered in mid-air.At this moment, the scene froze in a tragic tableau.
Chapter 437: The Battle of Final Island (Part 9)Boom!The sound of a fist smashing into flesh echoed continuously through the ruins.Smoker, bare-chested, swung his pitch-black right fist, coated in Armament Haki, fiercely forward.The wind from his punch tore through the air, creating a piercing screech."Concentrate those world-destroying power rocks on Final Island and detonate them! Sink all the islands in the entire New World along with it!""Is this the plan you came up with?!"The White Hunter's eyes were so red they looked ready to bleed. A beast-like roar erupted from his throat as his right fist slammed solidly into Zephyr's remaining left arm."What about the ordinary people on those islands who have never even set foot on the sea!""What about the civilians who can't even get enough to eat!""To kill every last pirate, are you going to kill the very civilians you once fought to protect!"The massive recoil sent Smoker stumbling back three steps, the stone slabs beneath his feet shattering inch by inch.Zephyr's massive frame also slid backward, coughing up mouthfuls of dark blood. Yet, on his weathered old face, there was an incredibly arrogant smile."Put away your naive and ridiculous rhetoric, Smoker!"The old man unhesitatingly bared his scar-covered chest and strode toward his charging disciple, his left fist flickering with the dim light of Haki."The New World has long been rotten to the core!""As long as those pirate scum live for even one more day, the disasters for civilians will never end!""To completely sever the root of this pain, someone must step up and be the villain who destroys the world!"The two fists collided once more without any fancy tricks.The violent shockwave directly overturned all the rubble within a few hundred meters."So you're dragging everyone down with you! You're even willing to let your own students go to their deaths!""What is the difference between you now and those pirates who treat human life like grass?!"Smoker gritted his teeth hard, abandoning all defensive movements. He let Zephyr's heavy punch graze his cheek, drawing a long trail of blood, while his own right fist shot out like a cannonball straight for his mentor's face."I haven't been a Marine for a long time!""As long as I can end this damn Great Pirate Era, I won't regret it even if I go to the eighteenth level of hell after I die!"Zephyr laughed out loud, not intending to dodge at all, puffing out his broad chest to meet the White Hunter's heavy punch.Boom!The dull sound of flesh impacting flesh rang through the entire fortress ruins.Smoker's fist slammed into Zephyr's right cheek, and that face etched with time's hardships instantly distorted.Zephyr's left fist, which had lost its Haki protection, slammed into Smoker's chin at almost the same time.Age had finally drained the last bit of stamina from this former Marine Admiral.The old man's fist no longer possessed the terrifying force that could once shatter mountains.Smoker gasped for air, his legs plowing two deep grooves into the ground to force himself steady. Tears finally slid down his dust-covered cheeks from his eyes.Zephyr staggered backward, his massive body falling face-up and crashing heavily into the field of rubble.The thick black clouds over Final Island happened to crack open a tiny, narrow slit.Sunlight spilled precisely onto the old man's blood-stained face, illuminating a smile of profound relief....Nine thousand meters in the air.Luffy was hanging upside down beneath a large floating piece of rubble, his hands lazily clasped behind his head.The young man's Observation Haki was like an invisible giant net, instantly capturing that flickering life force in the ruins below.The Straw Hat boy scratched his messy hair and let out a long breath with a mumble."Oh dear, it looks like old man Zephyr is really about to kick the bucket..."Luffy flipped over to stand on the rubble, patting the dust off his pants with an incredibly relaxed tone."I promised Ain before we left that I'd bring him back in one piece. A man can never break his word."Luffy crouched his legs, preparing to jump straight down into the ruins below to retrieve him.A blindingly bright golden light exploded overhead without any warning.Kizaru transformed into countless photons, reforming his tall, thin figure. His right leg shone with a cross-shaped starlight capable of leveling an entire island.A dangerous cold light flashed behind the Admiral's tinted glasses. Seizing the perfect moment while Luffy was distracted by the ground, he launched a light-speed kick with full force toward the back of Luffy's head."Looking away during a battle will cost you your life, Straw Hat boy."Before that sarcastic, eccentric taunt could even finish...Kizaru's heart suddenly constricted, and his breathing stopped for that instant.The space within several hundred meters was completely sealed off by a dark red Conqueror's Haki that felt as solid as a physical entity.The Admiral's most prized top-tier future sight instantly turned into a pitch-black void under this irrationally domineering pressure.Red-Haired Shanks' signature divine technique, Sight Kill?!Luffy slowly turned his head, casually holding down his battered straw hat."Kizaru, you keep jumping around, it's really getting in the way. I'm in a hurry to go pick someone up, could you please move out of the way?"Before his voice even faded...Luffy's right arm muscles surged wildly as if inflated, instantly encased in shiny black Armament Haki.Top-tier Ryou Haki intertwined with frantic blue-white lightning, forming a layer of physical armor with explosive, terrifying destructive power.The survival alarms deep in Kizaru's brain rang frantically. He couldn't care less about his Admiral's poise anymore.Practiced and swift, he crossed his arms in front of his chest, covering his entire body in top-tier Armament Haki. Deep in his eyes, a glimmer of "those who know, know" resignation flashed.Luffy pulled his arm back into an absurdly exaggerated arc, his waist exerting sudden power."Gomu Gomu no... White Lightning Revolving Shell!!!"His right fist, entwined with lightning and Haki, instantly broke the sound barrier.The fist slammed into Kizaru's crossed arms without the slightest resistance.Kizaru's signature yellow-and-white striped suit instantly exploded into flying strips of cloth.The Admiral was sent flying like a struck golf ball, leaving a tens of thousands of meters long trail of golden light as he shot crazily toward the horizon.On the sea.The Marine elites who had been standing ready collectively turned into lifeless stone statues."This... this..."A Vice Admiral's legs went weak, and he knelt shamefully on the deck, his voice trembling so much he couldn't even finish a sentence."That's Admiral Kizaru!!! The headquarters' ultimate combat power!!! He was punched out of sight by one of the Four Emperors?!?!"An officer wearing Rear Admiral epaulettes clutched his head tightly, tearing at his hair like a madman.The fear of his faith collapsing shattered the Rear Admiral's sanity, and he kept repeating nonsense that those around him couldn't understand."Rumble!!"Kizaru's flying body was like an indestructible world-ending meteorite, smashing through five fully loaded heavy cruisers and triggering a series of cataclysmic explosions.The sky-high flames instantly dyed half the sky red.A monster.An invincible monster that crushed all common sense.A dark cloud of despair weighed heavily on the heart of every Marine.Amidst the continuous explosions in the sky...Luffy's figure was like a streak of blinding white lightning, crashing onto the fortress ruins of Final Island with a boom.His landing was pinpoint accurate, standing firmly in front of the fallen Zephyr.Luffy slowly stood tall, the straw hat on his head fluttering in the gale.Frenzied silver-white lightning coursed over the youth's solid muscles, emitting a scalp-numbing electromagnetic roar.The dark red Conqueror's Haki spread outward in layers like a world-ending tsunami, ruthlessly crushing the already crumbling psychological defenses of the tens of thousands of Marines nearby.In the distance, the frenzied Aramaki suddenly froze his vine-controlling movements under this physical, terrifying pressure, his eyes filled with extreme horror.Even the blind Admiral Fujitora, who was clashing with Zoro, turned grave, his brow furrowing.Veins bulged on the back of his hand holding his Cane Sword, forced to divert most of his energy to resist the erosion of this pressure.Luffy looked up slightly and casually patted the dust off his hands.The young man slowly extended his left hand, his thumb pointing arrogantly at the old man lying in the crater behind him.His incredibly relaxed voice, wrapped in Haki, pierced through the howling sea wind with absolute dominance, ringing clearly in the ears of every Marine present."Hey, this big old man in sunglasses—I'm taking him with me to finish my job.""Who's in favor, and who's against?"
Chapter 438: Battle of Final Island (10)"Who agrees, and who objects?"These two casual questions echoed over the open ruins.Thousands of Marine elites, holding their guns and cannons, collectively turned into lifeless stone statues.The sea breeze blew past, swirling a few pieces of scorched wooden planks.Within the vast encirclement, not even a single cough could be heard.Agree?Who the hell would dare to stand up at a time like this and shout, "I object!"Didn't you see that the Marine's highest combat power, Admiral Kizaru, was punched through the sound barrier by this kid? He's probably flown past the boundaries of the New World's high seas by now!A bearded Marine Vice Admiral gritted his teeth so hard they nearly broke, his thighs trembling uncontrollably. The Skillful Grade Sword in his hand, said to cut through iron like butter, felt as heavy as a mountain right now; he couldn't lift it no matter how hard he tried.From the corner of his eye, the Vice Admiral saw those green recruits who had already been scared witless and were foaming at the mouth, and he cursed frantically in his heart. (╯°Д°)╯︵ ┻━┻Just what kind of god from another dimension is this monster who can hit an Admiral like a golf ball!Luffy stood at the edge of the crater and waited for a few seconds. Looking at the silent Marine fleet around him, he nodded with great satisfaction.The youth grinned widely, revealing an incredibly brilliant smile."Very good. It seems everyone is quite reasonable, so I'll be taking this old man with me!"As soon as he finished speaking...Luffy suddenly stopped in his tracks, his right hand abruptly pressing against the left side of his chest.The youth lowered his head, the shadow of his straw hat masking most of his face. His originally relaxed breathing rhythm underwent a world-shaking change in an instant.Thump-thump!Thump-thump!The sound of a heartbeat, like an ancient giant beating war drums, exploded in everyone's ears without warning.The sound wasn't loud, yet it carried an incredibly eerie penetrating power, completely ignoring the defense of Armament Haki to strike deep into the souls of every Marine present.Even the boiling seawater beneath Final Islandbegan to rise and fall rhythmically with this strange heartbeat."Beat, my heart."Luffy murmured in a low voice, his grin widening further until it practically reached his ears.An unbelievable scene unfolded before the gaze of a hundred thousand wide-open eyes.The youth's ink-black messy hair began to lose its color from the roots at a speed visible to the naked eye, turning into a pure silver-white.Even the red vest he wore was instantly dyed a pure white without any impurities.The wild blue-gold lightning originally wrapped around his arms seemed to receive some supreme summons, all transforming into holy silver-white lightning that circled the youth like docile white dragons.Luffy bent his legs slightly, and his entire being seemed to lose gravity, floating slowly into the air.His silver-white hair turned into a mass of blazing white flames behind his head, dancing wildly in the wind."Aha ha ha ha! Aha ha ha ha!!"An uninhibited laugh, filled with ultimate freedom and joy, pierced through the heavy clouds and resounded across the entire sea.The Marine camp completely boiled over.The bearded Vice Admiral rubbed his eyes, his jaw hitting the deck with a clatter.His hair turned white?Not only did it turn white, but this kid is actually floating in the sky laughing without even using Moonwalk?Did he eat a Devil Fruit, or was he possessed by some ancient evil god!A strong sense of crisis frantically stimulated the nerves of every Marine officer present.In mid-air.Luffy, having transformed into a White God, finished his laughter and slowly lowered his head.His eyes, which were originally clearly black and white, had now completely turned into strange Ringed Eyes, shimmering with a silver-white light that made one's soul tremble.BOOM!!!A concentrated silver-white Conqueror's Haki, centered on Luffy's body, turned into a super tsunami of destruction, sweeping frantically in all directions.The silver-white ring swept across the sea.The dozens of heavy cruisers on the periphery emitted the piercing sound of twisting steel. Their sturdy hulls were forced down over ten degrees by this Haki, nearly capsizing.On the decks.The Marine soldiers who were aiming their guns just a second ago didn't even have time to groan.Thousands of elites armed to the teeth were cut down like wheat by an invisible scythe of the Grim Reaper.Their eyes rolled back.They foamed at the mouth.The crisp clatter of weapons falling onto the decks merged into an eerie symphony.Thud! Thud! Thud!The sound of bodies hitting the ground was as dense as a rainstorm.In just the time of a single breath.In the entire sea area of Final Island, except for a few powerful officers who were still struggling to hold on, all combat forces below the level of Admiral... were completely wiped out.A clearing of the field.The most violent Haoshoku field clearing.At the edge of the fortress ruins' deep pit.Smoker clawed at the hard rock with both hands, his ten fingers dripping with blood, his nails having long since snapped off.The White Hunter's entire body was convulsing violently, his bones making muffled, overburdened cracking sounds under the pressure of the silver-white Haki.His vision went black in waves, and his consciousness was wandering frantically on the edge of collapse.Zephyr, lying at the bottom of the pit, gasped for air. Looking at the unyielding silhouette above, a complex light flashed in his cloudy old eyes."Fall down, Smoker. To have lasted this long under Haki of this level, you are already a qualified Marine."The old man's weak voice drifted in the gale."Don't mess with me!!!"Smoker suddenly bit his tongue, using the sharp pain to gain a moment of clarity. A desperate, beast-like roar of a dying animal erupted from his throat."I am the Marine who is going to personally send you to the Great Prison!""How could I possibly bow my head to a pirate in a place like this!!!"Obsession, anger, and unwillingness reached a terrifying peak at this moment.Hum!!!A violent, dark red aura erupted from Smoker's battered body without warning.Dark red lightning, like blood-colored spears surging upstream, valiantly pierced toward that silver-white ocean in mid-air.Conqueror's Haki awakening.Under the extreme pressure of a desperate situation capable of crushing the spirit, this unruly White Hunter finally stepped into the realm of kings that only one in a million possesses.In mid-air.Luffy raised an eyebrow, a clear look of admiration flashing in his Ringed Eyes.The youth stopped releasing his Haki and leisurely crossed his legs, sitting in mid-air while giving a thumbs-up to the man below."Smoky, you really are something!"The world in Smoker's eyes had completely turned blood-red.The newly born dark red Haki lasted less than three seconds under the silver-white pressure before being completely extinguished like a candle in the wind.The White Hunter exhausted the last trace of strength in his body, yet his lips curled into a rare, proud arc.His massive frame fell straight forward, crashing heavily into the pile of rubble, falling into a complete coma.Zephyr looked at his unconscious star pupil, and an incredibly relieved smile blossomed on his weather-beaten old face.The future of the Marine, after all, still has hope.On the other side of the battlefield.The blind swordsman Fujitora had his legs deeply embedded in the rock layer, the veins on his hands gripping the Cane Sword bulging prominently.The purple Gravity Ripples were suppressed tightly by the silver-white Haki, barely able to protect a three-meter radius around him.Fujitora kept his eyes shut tight, cold sweat rolling down his forehead like a waterfall.This Admiral, who always carried benevolence in his heart, truly felt what absolute dominance above all living beings meant at this moment.On the ice far away.Aokiji sat on a bicycle, exhaling a thick cloud of white mist.His tall frame looked exceptionally lonely in the cold wind.The former Marine Admiral gazed at the dazzling White God above Final Island, the look behind his sunglasses as dark as a bottomless pit."Monkey kid, is this the path you've chosen?"Aokiji murmured to himself, then mounted his bicycle. Accompanied by the creaking sound of the chain, he calmly rode into the depths of the thick fog.And in the wreckage of a warship tens of thousands of meters away from the main battlefield.A huge steel armor plate moved slightly.Kizaru, his face covered in dust, secretly pried open a gap. Seeing the blinding silver-white light in the distance, he shuddered in fear.The Admiral expertly pulled a half-burnt piece of canvas over his head, folded his hands over his stomach, and closed his eyes peacefully.Can't win, simply can't win.I only earn so much salary a month; there's no need to risk my life against a monster that doesn't listen to reason.Sleep, sleep...Kizaru entered his 'playing dead' mode with a clear conscience.However.Not all Admirals could be as sensible as Kizaru.At the edge of the coastline.Ryokugyu Aramaki had completely fallen into a state of madness.That silver-white Conqueror's Haki sweeping the field was like a resounding slap across the face of this Admiral who believed in the supreme ideology of the Celestial Dragons.Aramaki's proud Mori Mori no Mi ability actually began to show severe disorder under the erosion of this god-level pressure.The originally vibrant, thick vines were now like withered wood drained of moisture, withering and snapping in large patches.The psychological gap brought by extreme fear instantly crushed Aramaki's already fragile self-esteem.A lowly pirate—how could he possibly unleash such terrifying power like a god descending to earth!How could he trample the Marine, who represent the world's highest authority, under his feet!Unforgivable.Absolutely unforgivable.Aramaki's eyes were bloodshot, his eyeballs bulging as if they might fall out of their sockets at any moment, his entire face twisted into the terrifying likeness of a malevolent ghost."Stop playing god over there!!! You're just a piece of pirate scum!!!"A scream of extreme shrillness tore through his throat.Aramaki abandoned all defense, frantically injecting all the remaining life energy in his body into the ruins beneath his feet.Dark red vines, carrying a piercing sound of breaking air, crushed all the architectural debris along the way and lunged recklessly toward Luffyin mid-air.The frenzied Admiral was determined to drag this White God down from his pedestal.