BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Most of the magma fists targeted the Oro Jackson, while a smaller portion flew toward the Steam Pirates' ships.
Enormous explosions sounded across the sea, sending countless columns of water rising from the ocean.
The already turbulent sea grew even more dangerous as waves dozens of meters high constantly crashed against the pirate ships' sides.
"This cannot continue."
Roger, Whitebeard, and Rayleigh simultaneously took action.
Countless terrifying sword beams flew up from the deck, slashing Sakazuki's attacks right out of the sky.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Their combined efforts instantly eliminated most of the threats to the Oro Jackson.
The remaining minor threats were left for the others on the ship to handle.
Rayleigh's expression was exceptionally grim as he stared at the figure shielding Sakazuki.
It was him—Vice-Admiral Christian Raleigh.
Ever since the young Marine killed Gaban, Rayleigh had been furious enough to want him dead, but the Marines' overall strength was just too much.
Even in that chaotic situation, the Marines still had enough power to handle emergencies.
Specifically, there was someone blocking Rayleigh who was quite familiar to him.
It was Garp's adjutant, Bogard—an exceptionally skilled yet remarkably low-key swordmaster.
Over the past several years, Garp had been chasing Roger all over the world.
The most frequent clashes occurred between two pairs of longtime rivals: Garp versus Roger, and Rayleigh versus Bogard.
Thus, when Bogard made his move to block him, Rayleigh missed his best opportunity to eliminate Raleigh.
Ever since Raleigh recovered from his injuries, neither Whitebeard nor Roger had been able to find an opening to kill him.
Seemingly aware of Rayleigh's furious gaze, Raleigh deliberately waved in his direction.
'That bastard is taunting me!!!'
Rayleigh instantly appeared on the railing of the deck, preparing to leap into the air to confront Raleigh in battle.
"Rayleigh, do not go!"
Whitebeard and Roger materialized beside Rayleigh, each firmly gripping one of his shoulders.
"Roger, let me go! I am going to finish them off!!!"
After exchanging a glance with Whitebeard, Roger suddenly struck the back of Rayleigh's neck with a heavy blow.
Caught off guard by his captain's attack, Rayleigh immediately lost consciousness.
"Bullett, take Rayleigh inside the cabin and let him rest properly."
Roger handed Rayleigh's unconscious body to Bullett.
He then turned his gaze toward the distant island where Sakazuki and Raleigh were recovering their strength.
"Newgate, we cannot continue like this."
The Marines had launched several attacks targeting their ships.
First, it was Sakazuki; soon, it would be Borsalino's laser attacks.
This constant harassment from the Marines was giving Roger and Whitebeard major headaches.
All four of their current opponents possessed top-tier Logia Devil Fruits, and each had mastered exceptional Observation Haki and Elemental Transformation.
Whenever Roger and Whitebeard attempted to jump to the island, their opponents would simply transform into their elements and escape before the pirates could get close.
Then, a fully rested Sengoku and Garp would leap onto the island to engage them in close combat instead.
"Still no signal?" Whitebeard asked after a moment of silence.
Roger pulled a drowsy Den Den Mushi from his pocket, shaking the snail slightly before responding.
"Nothing. The Marines have completely jammed communications in this sea area. Aside from managing to send out a few messages at the very beginning, we cannot transmit any information now."
Whitebeard's eyebrows furrowed tightly, forming deep creases.
"Roger, the Navy's strategy is to boil us like frogs in warm water. They are gradually exhausting our strength while they wait, completely refreshed, to finish us off. They are blocking signals in this area precisely to prevent us from calling for reinforcements, forcing us to rely solely on ourselves."
Whitebeard paused briefly before continuing. "Roger, you do not need to stubbornly hold out here because of me. If we have not found a solution by noon tomorrow, we will proceed with my plan. I will find a way to hold off Sengoku and Garp while using my Devil Fruit power to clear a path for your escape."
Roger fell silent upon hearing these words.
To be frank, the Roger Pirates had originally come primarily out of concern that Whitebeard might actually die—something that would interfere with Roger's future plans.
But now, it appeared that not only might Whitebeard perish here, but even the Roger Pirates' chances of escaping alive seemed uncertain.
Gaban had followed him through countless battles in treacherous seas without ever suffering a serious injury, yet here he had unexpectedly lost his life.
This had briefly made Roger doubt his own judgment, but his strong will quickly reaffirmed his conviction.
"Newgate, all of this is my own choice." Roger smirked. "Besides, if we still cannot find a way to break the deadlock by tomorrow at noon, the Roger Pirates will leave without hesitation."
Upon hearing this, a faint smile appeared on Whitebeard's originally gloomy face.
...
On the island, unaware of Roger and Whitebeard's plans, Raleigh launched his attack as usual.
"Lion: Gale Wind!"
As soon as the words fell from Raleigh's mouth, all the wind in the surrounding area was mobilized by his power.
"In that case, I will go all out." After laughing heartily, Whitebeard turned his gaze toward Raleigh, who was launching the attack.
"Hmph, a Marine brat daring to bully this old man. It is time to teach him a lesson."
Whitebeard activated his Tremor-Tremor ability in his right hand, forming a glowing, translucent energy bubble around his fist.
His legs slammed forcefully against the deck, propelling his massive figure rapidly toward Raleigh.
Crack!
The air in front of him was violently torn apart by Whitebeard.
The explosive shockwave completely shattered Raleigh's gale winds.
"Watch out, Whitebeard is coming!" Sakazuki pressed both of his hands into the magma on the ground.
"Rise!"
Two massive magma pillars erupted violently from the island, extending endlessly toward Whitebeard's flying figure.
"Hmph, have you run out of other tricks?"
Whitebeard snorted coldly.
His right hand spun Murakumogiri before gripping its hilt tightly.
Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki instantly covered the massive blade, releasing an overwhelming aura. Swinging his bisento in a wide semicircle, Whitebeard fiercely slashed toward the two magma pillars.
"Break!"
The two magma pillars were effortlessly split by Whitebeard, just like a hot knife cutting through butter.
The resulting sword beam seemed completely unaffected by the magma, continuing to fly toward Raleigh at an even faster speed.
"Not good, Raleigh and Sakazuki are in danger!"
Sengoku and Garp, who were constantly monitoring the battlefield from their warship, instinctively activated their abilities as they witnessed Whitebeard's fierce assault, hoping to cross the distance to save Raleigh.
'Trying to kill me, old man? Then let's see what you're capable of!'
Facing the threat of death, Raleigh adopted a defiant attitude.
This strike was aimed directly at him and seemed to have already locked onto his presence, leaving no way to avoid it.
His right hand gripped the hilt of Mikazuki Munechika.
Leaning his body forward with his left hand holding the scabbard, he assumed a traditional sword-drawing stance.
"Sword Drawing Technique: Sky Hunt!"
Just as the flying slash was about to reach him, Raleigh suddenly drew his sword.
The speed was so fast that even the incoming attack and everything around it seemed to enter slow motion.
A dazzling white light burst from the scabbard, instantly illuminating the entire area.
"Break!"
Mikazuki Munechika's sharp blade swiftly cleaved through Whitebeard's semicircular flying slash, swinging directly toward Whitebeard himself.
Clang!
The two incredibly sharp Supreme Grade blades collided, followed by the simultaneous explosion of Whitebeard and Raleigh's abilities within the confined space.
"Hmph." Raleigh grunted softly.
A mouthful of blood welled up from deep in his throat, carrying a metallic sweetness.
He pressed his lips tightly together, refusing to spit it out.
Witnessing the young Marine's struggle, Whitebeard's arm muscles bulged even more.
The veins on his arms writhed like churning earth dragons as he channeled his full monstrous strength to press down on Raleigh.
Beneath them, Sakazuki plunged his hands into his magma and withdrew a three-meter-long giant cleaver made of hardened, burning rock.
In close-quarters combat, his large-scale area attacks were not suitable.
"Magma Column: Rise."
Instead of using the Moon Walk to ascend, Sakazuki activated his Devil Fruit ability, allowing the magma pillar beneath him to lift him automatically.
His lower body had transformed into magma, seamlessly merging with the pillar. He closed in on Whitebeard and Raleigh at incredible speed.
"Whitebeard, taste my blade!"
Sakazuki's upper body, carried by the surging magma, flew to Whitebeard's side.
In the next instant, the giant magma cleaver, thickly coated in Armament Haki, slashed toward Whitebeard's torso.
Raleigh, who had been struggling under Whitebeard's overwhelming pressure, suddenly erupted with bulging veins.
He locked Whitebeard's Murakumogiri in place with his own sword, preventing the pirate from disengaging to block Sakazuki.
Killing intent flared once more in Whitebeard's eyes.
His arms swelled another notch, and the translucent energy bubble of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit materialized directly at the tip of Murakumogiri.
BOOM!
Even before Whitebeard could fully unleash his earthquake ability, Raleigh's form began to shift.
He had already transformed most of his body into wind, poised to escape the range of Whitebeard's power at any moment.
Whitebeard intensified his force, abruptly crushing Raleigh downward with overwhelming might.
Seizing the tiny opening, Raleigh swiftly disengaged from the clash and retreated.
Sizzle—
With Whitebeard unable to block, Sakazuki's magma cleaver struck Whitebeard's back unimpeded.
Crack—
Though the cleaver's destructive power was staggering, Whitebeard was, after all, the world's strongest man.
His physique, honed to absolute perfection and reinforced with Armament Haki, allowed him to endure the blow.
Despite Sakazuki embedding the magma cleaver deep into his flesh, it failed to inflict critical, life-threatening damage.
"Your turn, magma brat."
Whitebeard activated his vibration ability in his left hand.
He spun around violently, seized Sakazuki by the collar, and yanked the Admiral-candidate forward.
The power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit in his left palm slammed mercilessly into Sakazuki's chest.
"Aaaaaaaah!!!"
An excruciating tearing sensation ravaged Sakazuki's body.
Whitebeard's devastating earthquake strike inflicted internal damage even through Sakazuki's elemental magma transformation.
Yet, despite this agonizing pain, Sakazuki refused to yield.
Staggering, he raised his right hand, aiming it point-blank at Whitebeard's face.
"Hellhound!"
At ultra-close range, Sakazuki unleashed his attack directly onto Whitebeard.
The melting, piercing force of the Hellhound was something not even Whitebeard could completely nullify.
Half of his iconic ivory-white mustache was obliterated, and the intense heat temporarily blinded one of his eyes.
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