Think about it: are there many Admiral-level powerhouses in the Navy?
No. Not at all. They are extremely rare, even.
This makes the Marines' astonishment and the murderous intent they feel utterly clear. To possess such power and talent at such a young age—this represents limitless potential!
Who knows? In the future, this might be yet another great pirate who requires an Admiral to be subdued. It's impossible to say, so the best course of action is to eliminate the source of danger while it's still weak.
"Hey~ Snap out of it!"
"What was that?"
"I almost lost consciousness!"
As the elite forces of the Navy, many managed to regain their composure.
"Conqueror's Haki. Monkey D. Luffy." Hancock raised her finely arched brows and muttered to herself, "As the grandson of the Marine hero Garp and the son of the Revolutionary Dragon, possessing this disposition is only natural."
"That brat! Even if I kill Aeridar, I won't let him off, and that despicable Garp either!" Even though Chinjao was rescued from Impel Down by Luffy, and he had helped Luffy escape, he still hadn't forgotten his grudge over Garp flattening his drill-head.
Sakazuki looked at Luffy, who still didn't seem to grasp what had just happened, and said darkly, "It seems that move was done unconsciously."
"He is hiding a terrifying power, ne~" Borsalino glanced sideways, saying mysteriously, "Let's hope he doesn't become another Golden Ring. But then again, that lunatic, Golden Ring, is turning into Shanks."
The matter Borsalino alluded to was something that Sengoku, Tsuru, Sakazuki, and Kuzan all understood.
"Then today, we will leave all of them here!" Sakazuki's killing intent was palpable, molten drops of magma dripping from his body, melting potholes in the ground.
"Gurararararara~ Stop with the big talk, Magma brat!" Whitebeard sneered. He brandished his naginata, and a faint white sphere of air pressure appeared on the blade.
"We shall see! Dai Funka!" Sakazuki launched the first attack. The gigantic magma fist was nearly as tall as Whitebeard's body.
CRACK!
The air fractured, and Whitebeard's naginata swung through the air.
RUMBLE—
Another tremendous roar sounded, and a violent air current whipped up dust into the sky.
"Well now Don't underestimate a Marine Admiral~" Borsalino looked utterly relaxed. He slowly extended his index finger, and glittering light particles converged at the tip.
WHOOSH!
There was a rush of wind. Marco, flapping his wings of blue flame, flew in at high speed, kicking out at Borsalino.
However, Borsalino reacted quickly, instantly transforming into countless light particles and dodging Marco's kick.
"Kizaru, I won't let you hurt Pops again!" Marco said coldly.
"Oh, it's Marco. That was a close call, ne~" Borsalino pouted, then raised his arm, pointed his index finger at Marco, and unleashed three Laser Beams.
SHWOOM~
BOOM—
The laser beams instantly pierced Marco's chest, causing a massive explosion behind him that utterly destroyed a nearly hundred-square-meter section of the ground.
"That was close!"
The wound on Marco's chest burned with blue flame and was completely healed in the blink of an eye.
Dai Funka!
Inugami Guren!
Meigou!
Tremor Blade: Slash!
Airquake!
Tremor Blade: Crushing Orb!
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM…
At this moment, Sakazuki and Whitebeard once again entered into a violent conflict. High-temperature magma splashed outwards continuously, while intense shockwaves destroyed everything in the surrounding area.
"How fierce!"
Watching the renewed, intense fighting on the battlefield, Aeridar's mouth curled up. He inhaled the smell of blood, gunpowder, and the scent of roasting flesh from burnt corpses with a sense of enjoyment.
POP~
With a slight, unusual sound, Aeridar vanished from his spot.
"HA!"
Whitebeard roared, his naginata slashing down, instantly shattering a section of the ground and churning up air currents.
"Whitebeard, prepare to die!"
Sakazuki tumbled to face Whitebeard, his arm turning crimson. His magma-covered hand swiftly blasted out a series of magma fists, striking Whitebeard's body without reservation.
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM…
Taking several high-temperature magma fists in succession, Whitebeard, who was preparing to attack, stalled for a moment. Sakazuki took the opportunity to rush forward, punching Whitebeard.
THWACK!
But Whitebeard's reaction was quick. He swung his thick arm outwards, and the terrifying force violently knocked Sakazuki away.
"Ugh!"
Tumbling for a dozen meters before stopping, Sakazuki couldn't help but cough up a mouthful of blood onto the ground.
"Hm!"
Suddenly, Whitebeard, who was about to charge forward and strike Sakazuki with his naginata, abruptly turned his head. He clenched his left fist and slammed it to the side.
BOOM!
A ghostly figure appeared. A pitch-black palm firmly blocked Whitebeard's fist. The ground immediately collapsed and caved in, forming a circular crater several meters wide.
"Here's one back for you!"
Aeridar raised his head with a savage grin. He shoved Whitebeard's arm aside, took a step forward, and straightened his right arm, transforming his palm into a blade. The arm vibrated at a speed invisible to the naked eye, resembling a pitch-black longsword. He fiercely stabbed it toward Whitebeard's abdomen.
High-Frequency Vibration Black Blade!!!
SHICK—
The faint sound of a blade entering flesh, and blood dripped from Aeridar's arm onto the ground.
"Pops!"
All the pirates cried out in shock, staring at Whitebeard with the wound in his abdomen.
PLOP~
Aeridar withdrew his arm, stepped back, and said savagely, "That makes us even!"
"WAAAH~"
Whitebeard's entire body shook, and he vomited a large amount of blood. He barely managed to keep himself upright by leaning on his naginata.
"Pops! That bastard Aeridar!"
Marco was horrified. Without a second thought, he turned and dashed toward Whitebeard.
"Success or failure is decided in an instant~" Borsalino pouted, his index finger already aimed forward as light particles rapidly converged.
SHING! SHING!
Two laser beams flashed, instantly piercing Marco's chest almost simultaneously.
"Agh~"
Blood sprayed into the air, and Marco collapsed onto the ground.
"Marco!"
Jozu, who was fighting Kuzan, was horrified when he saw this out of the corner of his eye.
"Arara, letting your guard down in a fight?"
Kuzan lifted his arm, and an intense blast of freezing cold erupted, instantly encasing nearly half of Jozu's body. The ice continued to spread, covering his body.
In a single instant, the tide of the battlefield seemed to shift. The main forces on the pirate side were severely wounded in quick succession, and their morale immediately plummeted.
"Pops!"
On the execution platform, Ace's tears and snot streamed down his face. He screamed in regret, "Damn it! Damn it! That bastard Golden Ring Aeridar! This is my fault! My fault!"
Sengoku, witnessing Whitebeard being stabbed by Aeridar's palm-blade, first showed a look of joy, but then his brow furrowed. He muttered to himself, "That guy is fighting so desperately… Is he trying to gain the fame of killing Whitebeard and then take over the vacant Yonko position?"