Punk Hazard, Coastline.
Aokiji lowered his hands.
Yamato, seeing this, asked in confusion.
"Old man, are you giving up?"
"Yeah."
Aokiji nodded slowly, a trace of indescribable hesitation flickering deep in his eyes—a past he had always been unwilling to confront.
If there had been even the slightest possibility, he would never have initiated the Buster Call.
But now, there was no other choice.
All he needed to do was prevent them from leaving Punk Hazard and wait for the Buster Call to arrive.
Estimated time: 30 minutes!
"Little girl."
Aokiji closed his eyes, remaining silent for a long moment before opening them again.
"What awaits you next is hell."
"Huh?"
A question mark popped up on Yamato's forehead as she tilted her head, not understanding what he meant. But she could tell he genuinely didn't want to fight anymore.
She wasn't done yet!
Just then, Yamato suddenly shuddered before turning excitedly toward the island's interior—she had sensed Gurd's presence.
Gurd was back!
Aokiji also looked toward the island, his expression shifting instantly, becoming even more grave than when facing Yamato.
A scorching aura!
Gurd emerged from the Poison Mist, stepping forward until he stood before Aokiji, his gaze fixed on the Golden Den Den Mushi in the admiral's hand.
"What an honor. The Marines actually issued a Buster Call for us."
"Buster Call?"
Yamato tilted her head in confusion.
What was a Buster Call?
"Nani?! A Buster Call?!!!"
Caesar, who had been following behind Gurd, nearly lost his soul in terror upon hearing those words, his body twisting like limp noodles.
"Hey hey, you've gotta be kidding me!"
"I don't wanna die!"
"Lord Gurd, let's run away!"
Clutching at Gurd's pant leg in sheer terror, Caesar couldn't even maintain his human form, clearly frightened out of his wits.
The Buster Call—the World Government's highest-scale military operation—would unleash indiscriminate, devastating attacks on the signaled area.
Even as a Logia user, he'd be reduced to ashes under endless artillery fire. The sheer inferno from the bombardment alone would be enough to burn him alive.
That was hell!
Gurd's gaze remained calm as water as he issued an unshakable command.
"Yamato, take this idiot and wait for me on the ship."
"Got it!"
Yamato scratched her head before dragging Caesar away toward the island. She didn't know what a Buster Call was, but she trusted Gurd to handle it.
Aokiji's eyes darkened as he considered stopping the fleeing pair, but the overwhelming pressure radiating from Gurd made him hesitate.
A single opening could mean defeat!
"Whoosh—"
Gurd tore off his coat, revealing his solid, muscular frame.
Aokiji focused intently on him.
According to intel, Earth Calamity was an enormous, brawny brute—a pure strength-based fighter. He had seen him once before, but the man before him now was nothing like that image.
The only similarity was probably the bald head.
"What's your purpose in coming here?"
"Want to know?"
Gurd grinned, his muscles gradually tensing.
"Beat me, and I'll tell you."
"Ara ara, that's a bit too—"
Aokiji frowned as he spoke, but his eyes suddenly widened—the man who had been dozens of meters away was now right in front of him, his demonic face filling his vision!
No time to dodge!
"BOOM!!!"
Aokiji's cheek caved in as unimaginable force slammed into him, sending his body flying uncontrollably!
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!"
Enormous dust clouds spread for hundreds of meters!
"Eh?!!!"
"Admiral Aokiji was sent flying!"
The watching marines' eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
Within the explosion's dust cloud.
"Cough!"
Aokiji clutched his face as he struggled to rise from the rubble, spitting out a mouthful of blood onto the ground, his pupils trembling uncontrollably.
"Hey hey, this is ridiculously strong!"
He hadn't underestimated his opponent at all!
The sensation just now felt like facing Borsalino, yet different - this opponent relied purely on physical strength.
Such terrifying explosive power, even stronger than that girl from earlier.
This wasn't in the intelligence reports!
According to Navy intelligence, Gurd definitely wasn't this powerful. What exactly was happening here?
Not only had his appearance changed, but he'd also gained terrifying strength. Was this why Gurd came to Punk Hazard?
No time to think - Gurd had already appeared in the sky directly above him, his body nearly twice as large as before, exactly matching the intelligence reports.
Life Return!
Aokiji finally understood why Gurd's appearance had changed. And in his current form, the coming attack would undoubtedly be devastating!
Gurd's muscles bulged across his entire body, his fist crackling with black-red lightning while glowing orange-red with intense heat from within, suddenly bursting into flames with a "boom."
Aokiji's expression changed drastically. He immediately raised his arm toward the sky as a massive ice bird rapidly took form.
The ice bird spread its wings and soared upward!
"Ice Pheasant Beak!"
"Blast Flame·Million Ton Blow!"
Gurd's eyes widened in fury as he roared, unleashing a massive pillar-shaped flame shockwave downward that instantly shattered and melted the ice bird, continuing unimpeded toward the ground!
"BOOM!!!"
The island shook violently, all ice layers shattered completely. A gigantic Pillar of Fire pierced through the clouds, reaching into the sky!
The next moment, visibly intense heat waves rolled outward.
"Waaaah!"
"It burns! It burns!!"
"The sails are on fire!"
Marines screamed from the scorching heat as their ships' sails caught fire. When the heat waves gradually dissipated, the sight before them made them gasp in shock - the inhaled hot air burning their lungs.
All ice on the sea surface had vanished, replaced by boiling, bubbling seawater with countless fish and shrimp floating belly-up.
"What terrifying power this is!"
Even the officers felt fear.
Had they not seen it with their own eyes, they would have sworn the combatant was Admiral Akainu - only his magma powers could create such catastrophic scenes.
Calamity Gurd was more terrifying than Kaido's daughter!
"How's Admiral Aokiji?!"
The officers rushed to the bow, searching for Aokiji. No one could be unharmed after taking such a devastating attack!
The battlefield was shrouded in mist from melted ice. As the wind howled, the thick fog gradually cleared, revealing the two combatants.
Aokiji stood in tattered clothes, bearing obvious burn marks, his breathing ragged - clearly seriously injured from the attack.
Gurd faced him, his entire body radiating intense heat that distorted the surrounding air, like a moving miniature sun.
Ice crystals rapidly spread once more!
"Sizzle~ sizzle~~"
Yet before the ice could touch Gurd's body, it began melting and evaporating, leaving no trace behind.
The ground behind Gurd dried and cracked, emitting waves of scorching heat.
A blizzard raged behind Aokiji as ice spread across the land.
The two men seemed to exist in separate worlds!
"As expected... I can't freeze him."
Aokiji's heart sank completely.
His battle with Kaido's daughter had left him seriously injured, and now, facing Gurd—an Earth Calamity even stronger than her—he felt overwhelming pressure.
His only consolation was that his ice still had some effect, much like when facing Akainu, where their abilities countered each other.
Aokiji took half a step back, spreading his arms as spheres of ice formed in his palms. The surrounding cold intensified once more.
The Buster Call would arrive...
In 20 minutes!
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