Alucard was genuinely shocked that Zephyr could use Armament Haki while in such an uncontrolled state. He had experimented on test subjects infected with the Blacklight Virus who had managed to survive for a period of time.
But all of them had completely devolved into ravenous beasts, forgetting their abilities and techniques. Swordsmen forgot their swordsmanship, Marines forgot the Rokushiki, and even Devil Fruit users forgot how to use their powers.
They were merely following the homicidal urges of the Blacklight Virus, single-mindedly hunting for prey.
The fact that Zephyr could still use Armament Haki forced Alucard to find an explanation. He could only surmise that the use of Armament Haki was as ingrained in Zephyr as eating and sleeping. It had become one with his very being, allowing him to use it even in this condition.
In a way, this was truly admirable, but unfortunately, his "Black Arm" was now being used against his own people.
"An ordinary punch was already that strong. And now he's adding Armament Haki."
Seeing Zephyr's black arm, Sakazuki felt immense pressure. He wasn't a man who insisted on a one-on-one fight, and upon seeing this, he was already thinking about retreating. However, Zephyr didn't seem willing to let them go so easily.
"Fire! Now you understand he's not going to die so easily, don't you?!" Sakazuki commanded. Everyone's fighting spirit was restored, and they raised their guns to aim.
He was gone!
Zephyr's movements were so fast that only Sakazuki among all the Marines present could barely track him.
"It's not good to just stay here. A lot of the ghouls have been cleared out, but there are still some left to use."
At Alucard's command, some ghouls that were scattered throughout the city and not yet completely dead slowly stood up, beginning to hunt for any remaining survivors.
Meanwhile, the blood plasma from the countless citizens of Arderay began to flow toward Alucard's location on the city's outskirts, gradually converging into a river of blood.
Some of the Marines noticed this strange activity, as the bodies of many of their comrades were being enveloped by the blood flow and moving in one direction.
It must be Alucard's doing!
The remaining Marines thought to themselves. But they had no time to worry about it now, as all their attention was focused on the monstrous Zephyr in front of them.
At this moment, sweat was dripping down the faces of the Marine snipers. The fact that they were on a mission to subdue Alucard meant they were worthy of being called "elites," yet all they felt now was endless despair.
One sniper couldn't bear the pressure any longer and said to Sakazuki, "Vice Admiral, I can't get a bead on him! He's too fast!"
The moment he finished speaking, a crimson blur flashed behind him. The blood-flushed Zephyr appeared right in front of him, kicking him away. But before the sniper was sent flying, Zephyr grabbed his body, and a whip-like tendril of blood plasma pierced into the sniper's body. Amidst his painful screams, he was absorbed into Zephyr's body.
Sakazuki watched as many of Zephyr's wounds healed before his eyes.
"He heals by absorbing people? I'm more and more convinced that this is that bastard's doing."
Sakazuki knew there was no way out. He had to act. He could order a retreat, but he couldn't back down. The even more serious consequence was... he would die at Zephyr's hands.
Suddenly, Zephyr formed a "gun" with his right hand.
Sakazuki knew something was wrong and quickly dodged. As he turned, a powerful force shot past his Marine coat, grazing his skin and leaving countless holes in the stone wall behind him.
"This is a stronger Shigan than when you were normal... But! You have betrayed justice! I will now arrest you in the name of justice!"
Sakazuki roared, enduring the intense pain in his shoulders. Both of his hands turned into molten lava, and he charged at Zephyr like a human cannon.
Even though he could use Armament Haki and Rokushiki, the current Zephyr was still just a murderous, monstrous beast. When he saw Sakazuki charging at him head-on, he didn't dodge or
avoid it. He met the two massive lava fists with his own two hands, which, though swollen, were still far too small.
BOOM!!!
Grh!
Waves of scorching heat spread out in all directions. As they clashed for about three seconds, Sakazuki almost gritted his teeth to pieces.
With a shattered shoulder, he still had to withstand the force of the infected Zephyr. In a single move, Sakazuki couldn't help but grimace in pain. The moment the strength in his hand weakened, Zephyr seized the opportunity.
Sent flying again, Zephyr took the chance to grab Sakazuki's head, as if he intended to devour him just like the sniper.
"I am not a man who will die here!"
Sakazuki knew what Zephyr was about to do. The moment he was grabbed, one hand turned into lava and delivered a fierce kick to Zephyr's stomach, forcing him to let go and allowing Sakazuki to temporarily escape the threat of death.
Suddenly, Sakazuki's expression changed again, and both of his shoulders began to tremble violently.
It seemed that his disadvantage hadn't changed.
On the other side, Zephyr simply stood there calmly, and the wound on his stomach from the lava attack healed at a visible speed.
Meanwhile, after completing his "life absorption," Alucard's attention shifted back to the battlefield. He happened to see Zephyr's attempt to devour Sakazuki and the subsequent counterattack.
"Good. Otherwise, the Magma-Magma Fruit would have been a waste," Alucard said, speaking words that no one else could understand.
He meant that if Sakazuki had truly been absorbed by Zephyr, even if Alucard killed Zephyr afterward, the Magma-Magma Fruit wouldn't have been left in the River of Death. Instead, it would have disappeared from Sakazuki's body and a new Magma-Magma Fruit would have reappeared somewhere else in the world.
He had been so focused on absorbing blood that he had forgotten about this. Thankfully, Sakazuki wasn't a weakling.