"Hmph! It's just a sword! I refuse to believe this nonsense!"
"Razor! Tiger Fang Barrage!"
As the commander of G-5 Base, Vice Admiral Morris naturally possessed far more strength than he had shown.
Although he had lost the initiative at the start, he quickly adjusted his state.
Combining the Rokushiki into a composite technique, he charged toward Vista while unleashing another wave of attacks with his Grade Blade.
Using his speed advantage, Morris launched slashes from every direction.
In an instant, countless blue flying slashes descended upon Vista.
The demonized Vista was completely under Muramasa's control.
Facing the incoming barrage, a dense blood-red energy suddenly erupted.
It was the blood energy devoured by the Demonic Blade.
The enormous power condensed into a crimson energy barrier.
Morris's slashes splashed against it in waves of red light but failed to break through its protection.
"Magmatic Blast!"
Just as Morris was running out of options, Sakazuki moved.
The fully charged Divine Axe Rhitta fired instantly.
A stream of scorching magma energy shot forward like a meteor and slammed into the blood-red barrier.
BOOM!
The violent collision made Vista's body tremble before he was forced backward.
The energy barrier shattered into countless crimson sparks.
"Vice Admiral Morris, leave this to me!"
"Great Eruption!"
Sakazuki lunged toward Vista, magma surging from his body.
With the overwhelming offensive power of the Magma Fruit and the combat enhancement provided by Divine Axe Rhitta, even the Demonic Blade could not easily neutralize his attacks.
Under Sakazuki's relentless pursuit, Vista was gradually forced onto the defensive.
Having stepped back, Morris let out a heavy sigh.
"The new generation really has replaced the old one..."
"I'm getting old..."
The battle continued.
At first, Vista had been completely overwhelmed.
But under the enhancement of the Demonic Blade, he gradually adapted and began improving.
The crimson glow of demonization intertwined with the red glow of magma.
Though it was a deadly battle, the scene looked almost like a grand spectacle.
"Vice Admiral Morris, bad news!"
"A Whitebeard Pirates ship has been spotted on the sea!"
"The Moby Dick is heading this way!"
A Marine soldier rushed over and delivered news that could not have been worse.
The moment Morris heard it, his expression darkened.
His eyes locked onto Vista.
"Hmph."
"That old Whitebeard bastard has come to rescue his so-called son?"
"Damn it..."
Under normal circumstances, Morris would have immediately led his forces into battle against the Whitebeard Pirates.
After all, Marines fighting pirates was only natural.
But Sakazuki was tied down, and Morris only had two squads with him.
If they clashed with Whitebeard now, it would be like throwing eggs against a stone wall.
And this wasn't at sea.
On land, facing Whitebeard's terrifying powers...
The only thing Morris could think was:
'Damn it.'
"Prepare to retreat!"
Morris finally gave the order.
The two Marine squads immediately began withdrawal preparations.
But Morris knew the hardest problem was Sakazuki.
The man was fighting with all his heart right now, and he was not someone who retreated easily.
Although Morris himself belonged to the aggressive faction, he still understood tactical withdrawals when faced with overwhelming force.
Sakazuki, on the other hand, was basically a lit firecracker.
Touch him, and he'd explode.
"Sakazuki! Prepare to retreat!"
As expected, the moment Sakazuki heard the order, he turned around and shot Morris an irritated glare.
"What kind of joke is that?"
"I'm about to finish him off!"
"Why should we retreat?!"
Trying to stop this Mad Dog from fighting was a guaranteed way to get cursed out.
Morris's already foul mood finally exploded.
"You little bastard!"
"Whitebeard is here!"
"If you don't want that Demonic Blade and Whitebeard teaming up to kill you, then retreat!"
"Otherwise, when we get back to G-5, I'll transfer you to G-8!"
"You can spend the rest of your days in the first half of the Grand Line!"
"Let Whitebeard deal with that cursed blade himself."
"Maybe it'll knock one of the old bastard's teeth out."
Against a battle maniac, the most effective threat was taking away his battles.
As base commander, Morris knew exactly where Sakazuki's weak spot was.
"Damn it!"
"Morris, you old fossil!"
As soon as Morris threatened to transfer him, Sakazuki immediately deflated.
After all, Morris was still the commander of G-5.
If he decided to reassign personnel, Sakazuki couldn't do a thing about it.
Sigh.
One rank higher really could crush a person.
"Hmph!"
Snorting coldly, Sakazuki swung Divine Axe Rhitta with all his strength, forcing Vista backward.
Then he quickly disengaged.
Before leaving, he still tossed out a Great Eruption, filling the area with magma and blocking Vista's advance.
After reaching Morris's side, he shot him a vicious glare and, without saying a word, charged toward the shoreline.
Morris shook his head helplessly and followed.
Seeing his opponents escape, Vista was naturally unwilling to let them go.
With a furious roar, he charged after the retreating Marines.
"Pops, that's a Marine warship."
"G-5 Base."
"Is that mad dog over there?"
"Looks like they've spotted us. Are they retreating?"
"Should we attack, Pops?"
Standing at the bow of the Moby Dick, Marco immediately spotted the steel behemoth docked at the shore.
Whitebeard casually glanced at the Marine vessel before shifting his attention back toward the island's interior.
"Our objective is Vista."
"It seems those Marines came for him as well."
"My sons!"
"Bring us to shore!"
"If the Marines dare harm my son, we'll make them pay!"
With a wave of Whitebeard's arm, deafening cheers erupted across the Moby Dick.
The ship immediately headed toward the coast of Ridgerichled Island.
"Vice Admiral Morris!"
"The Moby Dick is approaching the shoreline!"
"I can see it!"
"All personnel, board the ship!"
"Prepare to retreat!"
"Sakazuki, go cause that old Whitebeard bastard a little trouble!"
Watching the Moby Dick draw closer, a malicious gleam appeared in Morris's eyes.
Then he called on Sakazuki.
Sakazuki glared at him first.
Then he turned toward the approaching Moby Dick, battle spirit burning in his eyes.
Without the slightest hesitation, he opened with a major attack.
"Meteor Volcano!"
Magma erupted across the sky.
Countless volcanic projectiles rained down toward the Moby Dick.
On the Whitebeard Pirates' side, however, nobody looked concerned.
Over the years, they had fought this Marine mad dog many times.
Magma.
Volcanic bombardments.
They were used to it.
"Stand back, my sons!"
"That annoying Marine Mad Dog Number Two!"
"Seaquake!"
Whitebeard shattered the air with a single punch.
The terrifying shockwave obliterated every incoming volcanic projectile.
As the last of the magma bombardment disappeared, the Marine steel giant successfully set sail and withdrew.