He didn't even glance, his pupils fixed on the turbulent sea, a ferocious intent rising in his eyes.
Escape from the sea?
Dream on! It's not that easy!
He suddenly raised his arms, lava-infused fists pointing directly to the sky—
"Meteor Volcano!!!"
In an instant, countless giant lava fists rose into the air, and like falling meteors, densely covered and completely engulfed the entire sea area!
Boom!
Boom!!
Boom!!!
Scorching magma crashed into the sea, instantly evaporating massive areas of water.
The terrifying high temperature caused the waters within a radius of several kilometers to boil and churn, countless fish floated belly-up to the surface, only to quickly melt into a pool of black sludge.
The entire sea near Thor Island had turned into a hell of lava in just a few seconds!
"...!"
In the deep sea, Shano's pupils constricted abruptly, the exposed wounds on his body burning painfully from the scorching magma.
Danger!
Must leave this sea area quickly!
If the temperature continues to drop, even if he swallowed his last Immortal Bean, facing Akainu who was in pursuit, the odds would still be against him this time!
Without hesitation, he mobilized all his power, a whirlwind howling from nowhere, gathering in his arms, a power only accessible to those who have crossed the threshold of the Great Sword Master's Dual-Sword Style—
"Dust-Sealing Absolute Thought Slash!"
Swish!
Surging Sword Qi howled and sliced through, the sea before him roiling violently and parting to the sides, forming a vacuum belt for a moment.
And when Shano's figure reappeared, he had flashed three to four kilometers away like a ghost.
But he was still within the range of the Meteor Volcano, and the high temperature was eroding down to the deep sea at an increasingly rapid pace, the scorching magma pursuing relentlessly like a bone-attached gangrene!
"Again!"
Shano gritted his teeth, ignoring his exhausted stamina, and activated his ability once more!
"Dust-Sealing Absolute Thought Slash!"
Swish!
Once again, he flashed three kilometers away, finally shaking off the boiling lava hell behind him completely.
"Huff... ha..."
He floated up sharply, broke through the sea surface, greedily breathing in fresh air while continuing to swim forward with all his might, occasionally looking back.
Thor Island was now a distant, blurred outline, while above that sea area, crimson lava still raged, dyeing the entire sky a blood-red, as if the end of the world had come.
"Heh..."
The black-haired youth cracked a wide grin.
"Can't catch me now, huh?"
He wiped the seawater from his face, imagining Akainu standing on the shore, impotently furious, unable to help but laugh.
What a pity, can't see the expression on that red dog's face!
...
On the shore.
Akainu stood at the shore, his pupils now a dark red, staring intently in the direction Shano escaped, magma dripping from his right fist, scorching the reef into sizzling white smoke.
How did he do it...
How exactly did he do it!!!
His Observation could clearly sense that the opponent used some strange method to blink repeatedly in a short period, widening the distance greatly.
Completely severing his hope of pursuit.
"M-Mr. Sakazuki..."
Dalmatia limped over, just about to speak but suddenly froze, his Adam's apple moving, forcefully swallowing back the latter half of his words.
In all the years they've known each other, he had never seen Akainu like this—
The military cap that accompanied him for years was gone, the dark red suit was left only with the pants, shattered beyond recognition;
His exposed chest was covered in bluish-purple bruises, his lava-infused right arm even showed unnatural twists.
But all that was manageable, recovery in a couple of days would restore it to its original state.
The crucial part was...
The burnt and uneven blackened holes on Akainu's neck, with bloody, mangled edges, still clinging with remnants of Armament Haki.
Even a part of his right ear was blown off, blood streaming down his cheek, dripping on the lava on his shoulder, making a "sizzle" sound as it evaporated.
These were irreversible, permanent injuries, even with emergency surgery by the Headquarter's medical team, they would certainly leave noticeable scars...
That Shano, the Great Blade Sword Master, could actually injure Mr. Sakazuki??
"Mr. Sakazuki."
Dalmatia, conflicted for a long time, finally spoke through gritted teeth, "It seems our Headquarters underestimated that kid's true strength before, but please don't worry, with his exhausted strength, and the lethal poison left by Bumaya on him, I'm afraid he won't last long and will die in the sea..."
"I say..."
Akainu suddenly spoke darkly, turning his head slowly, causing Dalmatia's heart to suddenly contract.
That wasn't a human gaze.
It was the look of a fierce beast completely enraged, the dead silence before a volcanic eruption.
Akainu's face was expressionless, but the murder intent in his pupils was nearly tangible:
"Dalmatia, have you been pounded senseless?"
"Even I couldn't take down that troublesome kid in nearly an hour, and you actually think Bumaya's useless poison can kill him."
A mere Vice Admiral, who was at the bottom of the power rankings among his peers at the Headquarters.
If that monstrous kid would die from something that ridiculous, it would also insult him in the process.
Doesn't that imply that he, a dignified Navy Grand Admiral, is also a joke!
"..." Dalmatia realized his faux pas, lowered his head slightly, and dared not speak anymore.
"I'm asking you... lift your head up, I'm asking you."
Akainu's voice suddenly raised, carrying an uncontrollable fury:
"Never mind Bumaya, I didn't expect much from her anyway, but with you personally overseeing, how on earth did you let the small fry under that kid escape too?"
It wasn't unjust to blame him; there was reason in his accusation!
At that time, if attention hadn't been drawn by the sudden orange fireworks in the sky, compelling him to rush to the pier to block that pirate ship—
The kid might never have gotten the chance to use that strange method to replenish his strength!
"Small fry, huh..."
Dalmatia chuckled bitterly, "Grand Admiral, it's not just Shano whose strength was underestimated, but also the people under him, all those crew members, aside from that underage girl, are formidable themselves..."
That black-haired, high-ponytail swordswoman, clearly young in age, yet her swordsmanship was terrifyingly fierce.
In combination with the punches of the blue-haired girl, they managed to face him, a seasoned Vice Admiral, holding their own for a while.
As for Bumaya...
This Vice Admiral with slightly exaggerated strength was completely entangled by the traitorous White Hunter Smoker and Redfoot Zeff, unable to extract herself from the bitter fight.
If that were all, it wouldn't be too much of an issue.
Relying on the immense stamina granted by the Zoan-type Fruit, his endurance was far beyond ordinary.
Given a little more time, he was tenable of gradually turning the advantage into victory, thus defeating those two girls.
But...
There was also a huge wolf, a terrifying giant wolf that could emit electricity and fire, whose combat power couldn't be ignored!