As the saying goes: ten thousand people, boundless and endless. The Roberts Legion's assault on Doma City tonight was an all-out effort. Although they lost about two thousand men at Oneway Port, there were still twenty thousand here, plus the Bion Kingdom's Royal Army and Royal Guard, which also numbered tens of thousands.
Therefore, the battlefield around Doma City was vast, with surging tides of people everywhere. The intense flames of war almost illuminated the entire Gangoma Holy Mountain.
However, the Roberts Legion's main direction of attack was still the path carved out by the tornado. After all, such a massive tornado had ravaged the area, clearing out trees, soldiers, and fortresses along the way, leaving an entire small mountain barren and scarred.
Cross, observing the battle from high in the sky, naturally focused on the Roberts Legion's main assault direction, and through his Observation Haki ability, he overheard the conversations of those involved. Listening closely, he realized that these individuals were actually key figures from both opposing factions!
First was Bartholomew Roberts, the Commander of the Roberts Legion, a great pirate with a bounty of 547,000,000 Berries, and the central figure of this incident.
This man was also a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit user, specifically the Pump-Pump Fruit, which explained why he could attract so many subordinates and train them all into soldiers. A mere word from him could capture the attention of his soldiers and boost everyone's morale, making it truly the unparalleled ability for commanding an army!
And that boar was clearly Reepel the "Raging Boar," who had fought Cross earlier.
As for the dinosaur, it was Viscount Solmen. If Cross remembered correctly, this fellow was the Chief of the Royal Palace Guard of the Bion Kingdom. He commanded the Royal Guard of the Palace Castle and was an Ancient Zoan-type Dragon-Dragon Fruit user, specifically a Carnotaurus model.
Finally, the man on the city gate tower wielding a knight's sword was Marquis Hebrass. Roberts had already revealed his identity: he was the Grand General of the Bion Kingdom, the military's top figure who held command over the kingdom's forces.
It could be said that the main combat forces of both the Roberts Legion and the Bion Kingdom had almost all been deployed. If the Marines hadn't intervened tonight, this would likely have been the decisive battle between the two sides.
Realizing this, Cross knew he couldn't stand by. Since the Roberts Legion had attacked the Bion Kingdom and boldly launched a raid tonight, they must have had some confidence in defeating the Bion Kingdom. He planned to notify Sakazuki to have the Marines come in as reinforcements.
Although the Marine punitive fleet hadn't fully landed yet, only a portion of their forces would be needed. Coupled with his Enliven Legion attacking from the rear, the Roberts Legion would surely crumble under such a pincer attack.
Besides, the goal tonight wasn't necessarily to defeat the Roberts Legion, but rather to force them back, buying time for the main Marine force to land and arrive.
However, Cross reached for his Den Den Mushi, then withdrew his hand. There were already Marine Intelligence Division and CP organization intelligence agents within Doma City. The reason they hadn't reported earlier was likely because those intelligence agents weren't aware that the Roberts Legion was serious, thinking it was just a probing attack.
Now that the fighting was so fierce, even the dumbest person would know something was wrong, so Sakazuki must have already known; there was no need for him to report it.
Thus, Cross closed his eyes and began to summon his Enliven Legion.
Pere pere pere... Pere pere pere...
Suddenly, a Den Den Mushi started ringing from his pocket. Cross abruptly opened his eyes, reached into his pocket, and pulled out the incessantly chirping Den Den Mushi. He then picked up the receiver, which resembled the Den Den Mushi's back, and said, "Moshi moshi, this is Cross!"
"This is Sakazuki. Have you reached Doma City yet?" The Den Den Mushi seriously mimicked Sakazuki's expression, emitting his stern voice.
"Yes, just arrived!" Cross replied, then countered, "The Roberts Legion has already reached Doma City's base. Roberts is right under my feet. Vice Admiral Sakazuki must already know about this, right?"
"That's correct, both the Intelligence Division and CP organization have sent reports. However, when necessary, you must also assist the Bion Kingdom!" The Den Den Mushi's expression was meticulous, conveying Sakazuki's serious tone.
"Seriously, am I the only one in the punitive fleet? You guys really know how to order people around!" Cross scratched his head, unable to help but complain.
"Less chatter! I'll personally lead five thousand men to Doma City later, but before that, don't let justice be shamed!"
"Alright, Vice Admiral Sakazuki. I've already summoned the Enliven Legion. They will be my first wave of support."
"You are the commander of the Enliven Legion; naturally, you can deploy them as you wish!"
Click—
After speaking, both hung up their Den Den Mushis.
Cross put away his Den Den Mushi and turned his gaze to the battlefield below. He saw that at the gate of Doma City, after Roberts and Marquis Hebrass exchanged a few words, they abandoned the idea of further conversation.
Immediately, Roberts took a deep breath, gripped his long spear, and leaped over a dozen meters high, directly onto the city gate tower.
"Death Flight!!!"
"You're asking for death! Turbulent Sea!!!"
"..."
Boom—
Massive slashes collided, dissipating into specks of starlight in the air. Yet, the force of the collision shook the air, transforming into a surging shockwave that spread in all directions, instantly causing the sturdy gate tower to collapse with a thunderous roar, kicking up swirling dust.
Whoosh—
Close behind, a gleaming long sword split the swirling dust in two, revealing Marquis Hebrass clad in pure black armor. Then, the knight's long sword in his hand traced a semicircle, pointing directly at Roberts ahead.
"Be careful. If you die beneath my Gae Bulg, my offer will be null and void!"
Roberts on the opposite side laughed heartily. With a shake of his famous spear, Gae Bulg, he thrust out a flurry of spear flowers.
Clang, clang, clang, clang...
The two clashed fiercely on the city wall.
The long sword and long spear rapidly collided, erupting in a dense shower of impacts, and sending glittering sparks into the air.
Although Roberts's Pump-Pump Fruit was merely a support ability and lacked any destructive power, he himself was skilled in spearmanship and martial arts. Each of his moves contained immense force, requiring Marquis Hebrass to use his full strength to counter.
Cross could tell that Marquis Hebrass was a powerful sword master whose swordsmanship was even superior to his own. From this, it was clear that Roberts was an extremely powerful warrior even without his Devil Fruit ability.
"Roar, roar, roar—"
"Roar—"
"..."
On the other side, a giant boar and a dinosaur were also locked in a fierce battle at the city gate. However, Reepel seemed to be stronger. His entire body was covered in Armament Haki, gleaming with a metallic sheen.
Even when Viscount Solmen, in his Carnotaurus form, opened his maw to bite and tear with all his might, he couldn't break through Reepel's defenses. Instead, he was constantly pushed back, already having retreated into the city.
"Alright, I guess I have to join the fight too!" Seeing this, Cross sighed helplessly and patted the giant silver eagle's neck.
Screech—
The giant silver eagle shrieked in response, then plunged down like an arrow released from a bowstring, resembling a silver meteor.
In an instant, when he was less than ten meters from the ground, Cross leaped from the giant silver eagle's back, descending like a divine soldier, and landed directly on Reepel's back.
"Stupid pig, remember me?"
"Oonk, oonk, oonk—"
Immediately, Reepel shuddered all over, screaming as if a pig were being slaughtered. He thrashed wildly, jumping up and down, trying to shake the man off his back.
"???" Viscount Solmen, in his Carnotaurus form, stood to the side, a look of surprise flashing in his brown pupils.
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