Chapter 463: Invincible Barrier?
The smoke and dust dispersed, but the residual flames were still burning.
The once-hidden assembly hall was now nothing more than a stretch of melted, scorched earth.
The lingering might of the Meteor Volcano had not yet fully dissipated. The ground was branded with deep crimson patterns, and magma meandered through the cracks like the blood veins of hell.
The Adventure Fleet Alliance... had long been knocked completely senseless by this single strike.
The remaining soldiers were few, their cries and groans chaotic and disordered.
In the center of that sea of fire, a green screen of light still stood tall and unyielding.
It was—the barrier.
"Huff— Huff—"
Bartolomeo stood in the center of the barrier, his fingers crossed in his signature gesture. Veins bulged on his forehead as the green wall of energy flickered with light, blocking the magma, flying rocks, and raging flames from the outside.
He gritted his teeth, sweat rolling down his cheeks, yet he still grinned and laughed maniacally:
"Hehahaha... My barrier is invincible!!"
Behind the barrier, the few survivors breathed erratically.
Chinjao was kneeling on one knee, his entire body scorched by the flames. Ideo and Orlumbus leaned heavily against the wall, their chests heaving violently as sweat mixed with blood dripped onto the charred ground.
"Is this... the power of a Marine Admiral?" Ideo struggled to raise his head, his pupils trembling.
"Just... a single strike could cause this level of destruction?!"
Orlumbus gritted his teeth, looking at the still-burning hell outside.
"This isn't war... this is a natural disaster..."
Chinjao silently lowered his head, his gaze falling not far away—
There lay the spot where Sai had fallen.
He didn't even have an intact body left; all that remained were his hands, swallowed by the magma.
"Could it be... that I am truly still holding onto a delusion...?"
He whispered in his heart, his tone mixed with deep remorse and helplessness.
Up in the sky, Enel floated lazily above the thunderclouds, golden electrical arcs coiling around him.
He looked down at the ruined wasteland, his eyes filled with disdain.
"Tsk—how boring."
"A single strike completely shattered your morale... What a bunch of boring mortals."
Suddenly, his gaze swept across a massive figure on the ground—
It was the giant, Hajrudin.
"Hey, hey, hey—"
Enel's mouth curled up, his tone laced with mockery and contempt.
"Why is there a giant here? Did that guy Loki not keep a tight leash on you lot?"
"Loki?!"
Hajrudin glared furiously, veins bulging on his forehead, his rage almost igniting the air itself.
"DON'T—MENTION—THAT—BASTARD—!!!"
He roared as he stood up, the earth trembling beneath his feet as an airwave swept up dust and sparks!
Enel chuckled lightly, lightning flashing across his fingertips: "Heh, quite the temper, aren't we~"
On the other side, Sakazuki slowly turned around. His crimson coat was gently lifted by the heatwaves, and the ground beneath his feet had long since melted into magma.
His gaze swept over the fallen enemy forces, eventually stopping on the five members of SWORD.
Only after confirming that Hibari and the others hadn't suffered any severe injuries did Sakazuki slowly raise his head, locking his eyes on Chinjao ahead.
"I remember," his voice was deep and ruthless, "this area... was cleaned up a long time ago."
With every step he took, the magma burned a deep pit into the ground. That oppressive pressure swept over everyone like something tangible.
The air was filled with the smell of sulfur and iron; even breathing felt like swallowing red-hot blades.
Everyone was silent as winter cicadas. Even Hajrudin's heavy breathing trembled under that sheer pressure.
But right amidst this despairing silence—
"Hehahaha—!!!"
An arrogant laugh suddenly rang out!
The crowd looked back, only to see Bartolomeo in the center of his barrier, his fingers crossed and his face twisted into a mad grin.
"Don't be afraid—!!!"
He raised his fingers, forcefully striking that familiar pose.
"Didn't you guys see it?!!"
"That old geezer's attack—couldn't even break through my barrier!!!"
His voice was high-pitched and hysterical, yet it acted like a ray of light piercing into the hearts of everyone who had long been swallowed by fear.
"We still have a chance—!!!"
Everyone froze for a moment, turning their gazes to the massive green barrier—
Flames burned on the outside, and magma churned beneath, but this barrier alone stood steadily in the center of hell!
Akainu's Meteor Volcano—
Had indeed failed to penetrate it.
Bartolomeo's unbridled laughter echoed across the scorched earth.
With his hands crossed, the green wall of light shone amidst the blazing flames, as if flipping the bird to hell itself.
Hearing this maniacal laugh, the remaining soldiers experienced a brief surge in morale—
But to Sakazuki's ears, this laughter sounded like the grating buzz of a mosquito.
Splash.
It was the sound of a leather boot stepping into the magma.
Sakazuki's face remained completely expressionless as he slowly walked forward. And right at this moment, a calm voice sounded from behind him.
"Reporting—"
It was Hibari.
She looked up, her expression as calm as usual, yet exceptionally clear amidst the burning flames and rolling thunder.
"Bartolomeo. Barrier-Barrier Fruit user, Captain of the Barto Club Adventure Fleet."
"Originally from Loguetown. Before setting out to sea, he was a mafia boss controlling over 150 town districts. Arrogant, conceited, and extremely egocentric. Frequently extorted civilians under the guise of 'protection fees'."
Her tone was devoid of emotion as she continued to read: "In pursuit of greater profit, he led his men out to sea, establishing a pirate crew that burned, killed, and pillaged everywhere."
"Later, due to the Marines' Great Purge, he disbanded the pirate crew and disguised them as an 'adventure fleet,' but their underground businesses... remain their primary operation."
The air fell still.
But everyone could feel the temperature—rising bit by bit.
The sound of the magma deepened, as if even the underground volcano was holding its breath.
Up in the sky, Enel floated, golden light flashing across his face.
He sighed, reaching up to slap his forehead with a wry smile: "Idiot~"
He looked at Bartolomeo inside that green light, his tone laced with a hint of exasperation.
Down on the ground, Sanji had a cigarette in his mouth, his eyes half-squinted as he looked at Drake.
"The upcoming scene... might be a bit brutal."
He turned around, lightly blowing out a puff of smoke, and smiled faintly: "Ladies, please excuse yourselves for a moment."
Kujaku and Hibari exchanged a glance. Kujaku was about to speak, but Drake grabbed her arm.
"Let's go."
Usopp, carrying his sniper rifle on his back, took one last look at Bartolomeo's still-arrogant grinning face and murmured:
"I hope he can keep that smile up in a bit..."
The group turned around, their heavy footsteps leaving the burning ruins as their silhouettes vanished into the end of the heatwaves.
The wind stopped.
Sakazuki raised his head, his gaze locked onto that patch of green light.
His eyes were like blocks of iron in the magma—devoid of anger, devoid of emotion.
They were simply "cold."
"A barrier, huh..."
He muttered to himself. His tone was flat, yet it sent shivers down one's spine.
He raised his right hand, the magma slowly flowing in his palm. A single drop of boiling lava fell to the ground, instantly burning a deep pit into the stone floor.
"Even Justice... you dare to block it from passing?"
"Then this old man—will just melt that thing of yours right along with you!"
Bloop—bloop—
The churning sound of magma abruptly intensified!
An unprecedented extreme heat instantly swept the surroundings. The air itself burned, and the ground let out metallic groans from being scorched.
Bartolomeo's laughter finally ceased.
In that moment, he saw Sakazuki transform into a giant of magma, looming over his barrier—
It looked like the very shape of hell itself.
"Hey... you've gotta be kidding—"
His words were cut off.
"BOOM!!!!"
Blinding, searing light swallowed everything about him.
The instant the green light and red flames intertwined, Bartolomeo's agonizing scream tore through the night sky!
"AAAAAAHHHHH—!!!"
The magma poured down, swallowing him and everyone around him. The ground shook, and blazing flames soared into the heavens.
—Several minutes later.
Enel floated in mid-air, looking down at the scorched black ruins.
Scratching his head, he was just about to leave when—
Suddenly, the Den Den Mushi at his waist rang.
Puru... Puru...
He answered it, and the Den Den Mushi spoke in a familiar, lazy tone: "Yo~ I heard you guys went to back up Drake?"
"By the way, there's a guy named Bartolomeo in there. Remember to bring him back."
"His Devil Fruit ability... is actually pretty useful."
—It was Roy.
Enel froze for a moment, his gaze slowly drifting toward the ground.
Down there, the magma was still churning. Only a half-scorched, blackened hand reached out limply from the molten rock—
He remained silent for a few seconds, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly as he muttered softly:
"...Sorry about that, Roy."
"That 'useful Devil Fruit'—has already been burned to ashes."
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