"What a fearsome man~" Borsalino remarked upon witnessing the scene. "To send Dalmatian flying with a single strike..."
Meiser raised an eyebrow. "Couldn't you do the same?"
He clearly remembered how terrifying Kizaru's Light Speed Kick was—kicking a vice admiral away would be no problem at all!
Well, of course, Luffy's grandfather didn't count. That old man wasn't normal.
"Oh~" Borsalino teased, "I couldn't possibly do that~"
As he spoke, Borsalino put on an exaggerated expression, as if he truly meant it.
Meiser: ...
Was this guy mocking him?
At that thought, Meiser's eyes turned cold, and he charged toward Borsalino, aiming a punch straight at his kidney!
"Clang!"
Blocking Meiser's attack with his long leg, Borsalino said, "Ninja brat, why do you always aim for that spot?"
"Because it's a vital point, of course~" Meiser grinned.
Borsalino's mouth twitched. He had a feeling the kid didn't mean it that way.
Just then, a flash of light appeared beside Meiser, slashing down toward his kidney!
"Thud!"
With a single strike, Meiser was bisected at the waist!
Seeing this, Borsalino's lips curled into a smile before he transformed into a stream of light and vanished from the spot.
After he left, Meiser's main body twisted and then disappeared from view.
When he reappeared, he had returned to his original form.
Glancing at the Light Clone holding the Sword of Gathering Clouds standing beside him, Meiser frowned. "Kizaru's Light Clone, huh."
After shattering his Shadow Clone, instead of supporting the other Marines, it had come to target him... Was it to buy time for the main body?
He glanced at Borsalino, who had flown into the distance, and a few thoughts crossed his mind.
Just then, Kizaru's Light Clone moved.
"Whoosh~"
The light sword that had just severed Meiser's head swung toward his neck once more.
But Meiser ignored it, quickly activating Earth Release Technique and disappearing from the spot.
The next moment...
"Clang!"
The Light Clone's Sword of Gathering Clouds struck the ground, carving a massive fissure, but unfortunately, it failed to hit Meiser underground.
"Earth Release Technique?" Borsalino, sensing Meiser's location with Observation Haki, glanced back and remarked, "Quite fast."
But... it could never be faster than light!
With that thought, Borsalino snorted and appeared not far from Luffy.
"Courage alone isn't enough, Straw Hat Boy," Borsalino said, looking at Luffy. "Without strength, you can't save anyone!"
"None of your business!" Luffy roared, enduring the intense pain in his shoulder. "Get out of my way!"
As he spoke, Luffy swung his fists mercilessly toward Borsalino.
"Gomu-Gomu Gatling!"
"Rat-a-tat-tat!"
A barrage of fists struck toward Borsalino, but without exception, they all passed right through Kizaru's body, dealing no effective damage.
"No... effect?!"
Seeing his attacks completely useless, Luffy froze in shock.
"Truly... weak and ignorant," Borsalino remarked.
Out of the corner of his eye, Borsalino noticed Garp staring intently at him and thought, 'That glare is really... scary~'
Shaking his head slightly, Borsalino focused his attention back on Luffy and launched a laser attack.
"Whoosh~"
"Boom!!"
A terrifying laser beam struck the ground behind Luffy, blasting a massive crater into it.
The resulting shockwave sent Luffy flying through the air, straight toward Borsalino.
Watching Luffy approach, Borsalino said, "Kid, you should just obediently scram!"
After glancing at Whitebeard, who was watching from a distance, Borsalino raised his long leg.
Just then, a giant rocky hand suddenly emerged from the ground, grabbed Luffy, and pulled him underground.
"Hmm?"
Borsalino paused in surprise at the sight, then stroked his chin. "Earth Release Technique again."
That ninja kid really knows how to make the most of Earth Release.
"You alright?" Meiser asked.
"Cough... I'm fine," Luffy replied, clearing his throat.
Even though his shoulder had been pierced, it wasn't enough to incapacitate him.
"Good to hear."
Meiser nodded, then turned his gaze toward Borsalino, thinking, 'What's going on with this guy?'
Did he miss on purpose?
Or is his aim just that bad?
Lost in thought, Meiser pondered the possibilities.
Noticing Meiser's stare, Borsalino put on an exaggerated expression and said, "To snatch someone away right under my nose—impressive, Blood-Eyed Ninja!"
"Truly... scary~"
Meiser:..
This guy might have something wrong with him too.
"Reckless as always," Whitebeard remarked from nearby, turning to Luffy. "Charging in blindly will get you killed, kid!"
"So what?" Luffy retorted. "Even if I die, I'm saving Ace!"
Seeing the unwavering determination in Luffy's eyes, Whitebeard fell silent for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"Gurararara!"
"You might be a fool, but I like your spirit."
Then, Whitebeard looked at Meiser and said, "Ninja boy, better keep a close watch on your captain."
With that, the man gripped his weapon and strode forward step by step.
After advancing several meters, Whitebeard halted and raised his naginata, coating it with the power of his Devil Fruit!
"Come at me if you dare!"
"Gurararara!"
Seeing the translucent energy enveloping Whitebeard's weapon, the Marines' faces instantly paled with terror.
"It's that move again!"
"Quick... get out of the way!"
"Too late!" Whitebeard roared.
As his voice echoed, Whitebeard swung his naginata down with tremendous force!
At that critical moment, a crimson figure dashed forward, directly intercepting Whitebeard's massive blade!
"Clang!"
"BOOM!!"
A terrifying shockwave erupted between the two, instantly shattering the plaza's ground!
Nearby Marines were sent flying by the force of their collision!!
"I can't let you run wild any longer, Whitebeard!" Akainu coldly stared at the pirate. "Otherwise this island won't survive!"
"Gurararara~"
"Then try stopping me!" Whitebeard laughed heartily.
The Marines watching this scene immediately showed relieved expressions.
"Thank goodness, it's Admiral Sakazuki!"
"The Admiral has stepped in!"
With an Admiral engaging him, Whitebeard wouldn't have another chance to use that damned tremor power!
"Stay away from them!" a Navy Vice Admiral shouted. "Keep your distance!"
"Roger!"
Following orders, the Marines quickly retreated to safer ground, fearing being caught in the crossfire of the two powerhouses' battle.
"So Akainu has engaged Pops."
Watching the distant confrontation, Marco unconsciously furrowed his brow.
"Where are you looking, Marco!" Navy Vice Admiral Bastille shouted.
As he spoke, Bastille charged at Marco with his Shark-Slaying Sword raised high!
"Clang!"
Blocking the strike with his arm, Marco frowned. "What a nuisance."
If not for this guy, that bastard Akainu wouldn't have had the opportunity to get close to Pops.
This thought ignited an unnamed fury within Marco.
Seizing the moment, Marco forcefully pushed back his opponent's sword, creating an opening.
Marco didn't waste this chance, thrusting directly at Bastille's abdomen!
"Azure Flame Thrust!"
"CRACK!!"
The haki-infused bird claw struck Bastille's abdomen with devastating force, shattering his armor completely!
"Argh!"
Bastille screamed in agony as excruciating pain shot through his stomach.
He was sent flying backward, crashing hard into a nearby building.
"Vice Admiral Bastille!"
The Marines stared in shock at their defeated officer, stunned by Marco's overwhelming strength.
"Pathetic." Marco said coldly.
After a brief glance at the man lying in the rubble, Marco transformed into a bird and took flight, heading toward more distant grounds.
"Pops doesn't need my help over there, so... I should look for an opportunity to reach Ace's location!"
Glancing toward where Ace was being held, Marco narrowed his eyes.
"Fufufufu~"
"As expected of the Whitebeard Pirates' second-in-command." Doflamingo grinned. "To take out a Navy Vice Admiral with a single kick."
"If he didn't possess such strength, he wouldn't be qualified to serve as commander of the Whitebeard Pirates' first division." Crocodile remarked indifferently.
Doflamingo nodded upon hearing this, not refuting Crocodile's words.
As the other had said, if that man lacked strength, he couldn't possibly hold his position securely.
After all... pirates revered strength above all else!
Even the family-oriented Whitebeard Pirates had to abide by this rule.
Then, Doflamingo said, "Whitebeard isn't injured now. Don't you want to try again?"
"I already said, I'll take that old man's life later. But before that..."
Crocodile paused, then glanced up at Sengoku. "I don't want to see these Marines looking so pleased with themselves!"
"Fufufufu~"
"So you've realized Sengoku's intention too," Doflamingo laughed heartily.
If Crocodile continued to attack Whitebeard now, it would be a boon for the Marines!
After all... no matter which of these two died, it would benefit the Marines!
Upon hearing Doflamingo's words, Crocodile merely sneered coldly and said nothing.
At that moment, the two men locked in combat in the distance broke apart, then launched another attack!
"Gurarara!"
After enveloping his fist with the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, Whitebeard also coated it with Haki, then threw a powerful punch toward Akainu.
Seeing this, Akainu unleashed his own Devil Fruit ability without hesitation, creating a Magma Fist and also coating it with Haki!!
"Die, Whitebeard!"
With a loud shout, Akainu threw a fierce punch toward Whitebeard!
"Clang!"
"BOOM!!"
Their terrifying attacks collided, immediately generating a shockwave even more fearsome than before!
"BOOM!!"
"Argh!"
Some people standing too close were directly sent flying by the force of their clash, screaming as they were thrown into the distance.
"This distance still isn't safe, get further away!" a pirate yelled. "Don't get caught in Pops' attack, you'll die!"
"Right!"
Hearing their comrade's warning, the pirates immediately ran further away, terrified of being hit by their Pops' tremors.
The nearby Marines also turned and ran toward a safer distance, leaving the battlefield to Whitebeard and Akainu. "So this is the battle between Admiral Akainu and Whitebeard," Vice Admiral Momonga muttered with a grave expression as he watched from afar. "It's truly terrifying."
From his perspective, two differently colored beams of light were locked in a struggle in the distance, looking like two separate spaces colliding with each other!
"Oh~"
"As expected of Whitebeard~" Borsalino remarked, watching the site of their battle. "Truly...
Scary~"
Hearing Borsalino's words, Meiser glanced at the man and thought, 'Why does this guy love saying that so much?'
Could it be his catchphrase?
As he pondered this, Meiser fell into deep thought.
Just then, Seventh Division Commander Rakuyo charged over, swinging his Meteor Hammer toward Borsalino's back!
"Don't even think about attacking Pops!" Rakuyo shouted!
"Whoosh~"
Transforming into light to dodge the attack, Borsalino turned his head to look at Rakuyo and said, "The seventh division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, huh?"
"That's right, it's me!" Rakuyo declared. "I won't let you interfere with Pops!"
"Really now, every one of you is as strong as a monster," Borsalino remarked. "Truly... scary~"