"Hajrudin, your strength might no longer be inferior to those two fellows, Brogy and Dorry!!" Sengoku the Buddha solemnly addressed Hajrudin before him.
Brogy and Dorry, the captains of the Giant Warrior Pirates, were considered top-tier warriors among the giants, possessing remarkably formidable strength. After a brief exchange, Sengoku the Buddha found that Hajrudin's power was in no way inferior to either of those two.
"But unfortunately, it's still not enough!!" Sengoku the Buddha's tone suddenly shifted, and a malicious grin appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Heavy Punch!!!"
As the only existing Marine Admiral, Sengoku the Buddha's strength was beyond question! His Haki had long been cultivated to a state of perfection!!
"Soru!!"
Sengoku the Buddha left afterimages in the air. In just a single breath, he closed a distance of several dozen meters and arrived right in front of Hajrudin. An iron fist, condensed with Armament Haki, was thrown directly towards Hajrudin's face.
"I won't let you succeed!!"
Hajrudin, whose Observation Haki had tracked Sengoku the Buddha's attack trajectory, let out a cold snort. He pulled his right arm back and swiftly followed through with his right punch.
Boom—
The two sides' powerful, heavy blows collided in a contest of strength.
Thud, thud, thud...
This time, a stalemate did not occur. After a brief deadlock, Hajrudin was repelled by a colossal force. The giant was sent uncontrollably tumbling backward, sliding over a dozen meters across the ground before finally steadying his posture. The immense force ploughed a deep trench into the ground.
"I told you, your strength is not enough."
Seeing Hajrudin suffer a setback, Sengoku the Buddha was not surprised. Although the Giant Race was hailed as the strongest kingdom, throughout nearly a thousand years of history, no giant had ever emerged as a truly peak-level powerhouse. The facts proved that the Hajrudin before him was no exception.
Hajrudin shook his arm, which had been left numb by the shock, and looked at Sengoku the Buddha, his lips curling into a slight grin:
"As expected of the Marine Fleet Admiral, your strength is indeed formidable." "However, since I've promised the Captain, I naturally won't let you defeat me easily!"
After saying this, Hajrudin paused briefly, stretched his body, and then slowly stated: "You were wrong about one thing just now. Actually, my strength already surpasses Captain Brogy and Captain Dorry!" "Baisu 'Tenfold Speed'!" (Multiplication 'Tenfold Speed'!)
With a low roar, Hajrudin's figure vanished from his original spot like a ghost. His speed was even slightly faster than the Marine Six Powers technique, Soru.
"What?!"
The vigilant Sengoku the Buddha's pupils slightly contracted, his heart filled with shock. Although the giants were massive and possessed terrifying strength, their speed was their weakness. But the speed Hajrudin had just unleashed was so fast that he couldn't even track it with his naked eye.
"It's not over yet!!" "Baisu 'Tenfold Heavy Punch'!" (Multiplication 'Tenfold Heavy Punch'!)
A chilling sound abruptly rang out from behind Sengoku the Buddha, accompanied by a punch-wind that could easily tear skin.
Sengoku the Buddha's hair stood on end; a chill rushed straight from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. With no time to think, his extensive experience instantly led him to condense Armament Haki across his entire body. Then, while turning around, he crossed his arms, shielding his chest.
Boom—
Hajrudin's Tenfold Strength Heavy Punch landed precisely on Sengoku the Buddha.
Sengoku the Buddha was blasted away by the immense force, his entire body shooting backward like a cannonball, heavily slamming into the ground. Immediately, smoke and dust billowed, and a deep crater was smashed into the earth.
The enormous commotion attracted the attention of the powerhouses on other battlefields. In fact, even though they were fighting their own battles, they all dedicated a sliver of their attention to other fronts to prevent unexpected situations.
"Admiral Sengoku!!"
Sengoku's face slightly changed as he witnessed this scene. Soon, he realized something, and he exclaimed with surprise as he looked at Hajrudin: "The Memo Memo no Mi (Multiply-Multiply Fruit)! You are using the power of the Memo Memo no Mi!!" "Has Vardo actually died?!"
In a matter of seconds, he had deduced two shocking conclusions.
In the world of pirates, an existing Devil Fruit can only be reborn and subsequently obtained by others after the death of its previous user. Since Hajrudin was able to use the Memo Memo no Mi's ability, it meant that the World Destroyer, Byrnndi World, had died. However, what puzzled him was the sheer coincidence that someone from the Reno Pirate Group had obtained the Memo Memo no Mi.
"What is the true origin of you people!!"
At this moment, even the usually calm and composed Sengoku couldn't help but feel a chill rising from the bottom of his heart. A pirate group that appeared out of nowhere having three powerhouses comparable to Marine Admirals was already astonishing. But now, including Linlin, there were five top-tier powerhouses whose strength was comparable to a Marine Admiral.
Such a power configuration might truly be no less formidable than the Rocks Pirates!
"Hahahaha... Sengoku, you really don't pay any attention to me at all!!" "Thirty Million Volts: Thunder Kirin!"
Taking advantage of Sengoku's momentary distraction, Jess initiated another killing move.
The Thunder Kirin he threw suddenly grew larger in mid-air. Before it even reached Sengoku, it had transformed into a terrifying giant beast measuring dozens of meters in size.
Roar!!!Roar!!!
The Thunder Kirin let out roars and howls. Enveloped in thirty million volts of lightning, with silver arcs flashing around its body, it pawed its restless hooves and lunged towards Sengoku to tear at him.
"Arrogant brat! I'll take care of you first!!"
After his angry roar, dazzling golden light flashed around Sengoku!! In an instant, a colossal Golden Buddha was revealed before everyone. Sengoku the Buddha was officially online!
"Die for me!!"
Facing the Thunder Kirin beast that was pouncing on him, Sengoku snorted coldly, his gigantic golden palm waving repeatedly. The massive palm, formed by condensed shockwaves, created bursts of sonic booms, smashing the Thunder Kirin to pieces in mid-air, where it dissipated into faint arcs of lightning.
"Today is the day you scoundrels die!!"
The moment he pulverized Jess's attack, Sengoku decisively launched a counterattack. The huge golden Buddha body leaped up, and from dozens of meters away, he struck a palm towards Jess.
"Buddha Impact!!!"
Bang!!!
A golden shockwave, spanning dozens of meters, instantly engulfed Jess's body, continuously destroying his physical functions.
"One Hundred Million Volts: Thunder Dragon!"
The trapped Jess showed no panic. Silver lightning, like a winding snake, travelled and swam around his body.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Lightning descended. Terror-inducing lightning, several times more intense than before, intertwined and wrapped around Jess, soaring straight into the sky. It echoed the ominous dark clouds above, changing the surrounding weather.
Subsequently, the one-hundred-million-volt lightning collided with Sengoku's golden shockwave. The powerful energy impact wave at the center of the collision surged outward, sweeping across the entire area! The ground, which had just been repaired, cracked open again, becoming bottomless, like the gaping maw of a beast.
"For such a young age to have developed the Goro Goro no Mi (Rumble-Rumble Fruit) to this extent, if you were given a few more years, you would undoubtedly become a great menace. I cannot let you live today!!"
Sengoku coldly snorted, his figure flashing. As he left afterimages in the space around Jess, he unleashed successive energy shockwaves. Countless golden shockwaves attacked Jess from all directions, completely sealing off his retreat.
"Armament Haki?!"
In Jess's Observation Haki perception, these gigantic golden palms not only contained powerful shockwaves but were also imbued with Armament Haki.
"Sengoku, you are looking for death!!"
Jess, who had been provoked into a rage, roared, no longer holding anything back. While condensing an electric armor around himself, he also covered it with Armament Haki.
"God's Wrath: Azure Lightning!!!"
Suspended in the void, Jess looked like the descent of a Thunder God. Dazzling bright light flashed around him, his hair stood on end, and even his pupils turned a horrifying silvery-white. White Azure Lightning, whose power was exponentially greater than a normal lightning strike, violently descended, shattering all the golden giant palms in its vicinity.
"Thunder Emperor Flash!"
Having neutralized Sengoku's attack, Jess immediately launched his offense. The blinding light caused Sengoku to cover his eyes with his hands instantly. Seizing the opportunity, Jess immediately closed the distance and initiated his counterattack.
"How about that?? Now do you realize how foolish you Marines are?!"
Flame Flower covered her mouth and chuckled lightly as she looked at the battered figure of Zephyr before her. It wasn't that she had gained a huge advantage in the fight just now. It was simply that her abilities involved either ice or earth, and even if they couldn't pose a fatal threat to Zephyr, they still left him utterly dishevelled.
Zephyr paid no mind to the mud and ice chips on his body, his gaze darting toward the other two battlefields. Admiral Sengoku the Buddha had been smashed into the ground by a punch from Hajrudin, putting him slightly on the back foot. The battle between Sengoku and Jess was locked in a fierce stalemate, and the "Electric Boy" could not be subdued immediately.
"Then I'll kill you first, and then I'll go help them!!!" "Soru!" "Armament Haki!"
Sensing that things were taking an unfavorable turn, Zephyr no longer held anything back. The battle between Sengoku and Jess was manageable, but Hajrudin, possessing the Memo Memo no Mi, was truly tricky. Earlier, he had only demonstrated tenfold strength. Zephyr knew very well that the Memo Memo no Mi could ultimately amplify both strength and speed by up to a hundredfold.
Even if Hajrudin hadn't developed the Memo Memo no Mi to that level yet, even a few dozen times the strength would be absolutely terrifying. The situation had to be broken open starting with his fight.
With this thought in mind, Zephyr's aura instantly changed, becoming several times sharper than before.
Flame Flower, who had been sneering just a second ago, immediately dropped her smile. She naturally sensed the shift.
"Die! Crush - Heavy Punch!!!"
Zephyr charged forward, his heavy punch, wrapped in high-density Armament Haki, slamming toward Flame Flower's face. If this move connected, even with Flame Flower's defense, she would at least suffer severe injuries.
"Are you already losing your temper??" "Little Earth, Rock Spikes!"
With a thought, the Tsuchi Tsuchi Homie (Earth Homie) burrowed into the ground, sensing the rhythm of the earth and merging with it. As long as they were on the ground, its perception was even better than Observation Haki.
Although Zephyr's speed was fast, it was completely within its control. Sharply pointed rock spikes shot up from the ground, attacking Zephyr from below.
Zephyr did not dodge, swinging his massive fist and directly exploding the spikes, turning them into rubble. But every time he blew up one, another one immediately appeared in front of him, emerging endlessly. And his strength was being worn down little by little.
"Little Ice, Flock of Bird Ice Pillars!"
Seizing the opportunity, Flame Flower simultaneously manipulated the Kōri Kōri Homie (Ice Homie). The Ice Homie expelled intensely freezing cold air, which solidified, bringing countless ice bullets into existence. They densely filled the space, resembling countless ice birds, lowering the surrounding temperature by several degrees.
Not only that, but Flame Flower also condensed her own Armament Haki onto them.
She never intended for the Tsuchi Tsuchi Homie's attack to actually harm Zephyr; she merely wanted to stall Zephyr and consume his strength.
Watching the rock spikes that Zephyr kept shattering yet kept emerging from the ground, Flame Flower slightly curled her lips, showing a hint of a playful arc.
"Go!!!"
The countless ice birds, wrapped in both Armament Haki and the power of ice, shrieked as they swooped down towards Zephyr.
Zephyr, who had just shattered a stone pillar, suddenly looked up. Seeing the dense hail of ice bullets attacking him, his expression couldn't help but show urgency. These attacks were not fatal to him, nor did they pose a great threat. However, the opponent's methods were endless, making it impossible for him to break away, let alone end the battle quickly.
"Damn it!!!" "Shatter!!!"
Zephyr roared, spreading his arms. The powerful shockwave formed by the external release of Armament Haki swept across the area, crushing all the surrounding ice birds and stone walls.
"Flame Flower, you die now!!"
"Truly worthy of being a Marine rising star, you are quite formidable!" "Ice Wall Prison!"
No sooner had Zephyr's roar faded than a prison constructed entirely of hard ice instantly trapped him within.
"You f**king..." ... "Hahahaha… It seems you Marines have no advantage at all." "Garp, why don't you consider joining my pirate crew?"
In the midst of their fist-to-fist exchange, the relaxed Reno issued an invitation to Garp.
"Nonsense! You scumbags of the sea! I am a Marine! My only mission is to eliminate all of you!" "To restore peace and justice to the seas!!"
Garp, eyes blazing with fury, continuously roared and delivered heavy punches towards Reno.
"Laughable!"
Reno, who had only been joking initially, instantly changed his expression, which turned extremely gloomy upon hearing those words.
"In my opinion, you so-called righteous Marines are nothing more than dogs of the Celestial Dragons!!" "How dare people like you talk about justice?!"
Reno punched out, aiming directly for Garp's face.
"Enough! No matter how smooth your tongue is, you can't deny the fact that you are a pirate!!" "Furthermore, you killed three Celestial Dragons! You absolutely cannot be allowed to live today!!"
Garp, not to be outdone, also swung a punch, meeting power with power!
The shock force generated by the collision made both men step back simultaneously.
"The name 'Iron Fist' is truly well-deserved!"
Reno frowned. He felt that what he had just smashed into was not a person's fist but hard steel.
Garp felt the same way. Facing Reno, he felt like he was facing the Linlin from last time, perhaps even more formidable, because Reno's Armament Haki surpassed Linlin's.
"Today, we must eliminate you at all costs!!"
Garp gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with menace. He knew this was the Marines' only chance. If they couldn't defeat these youngsters today, in time, they would pose an even greater threat.
"Die!!!"
Garp moved swiftly, swinging his iron fist downwards towards Reno. His attacks were aimed at vital spots; even though the head could be covered in Armament Haki, its fragility was ultimately less than that of the torso.
Even from several meters away, Reno could feel the powerful punch-wind from Garp's fist. For an ordinary powerhouse, this punch-wind alone could easily tear them to shreds!
Reno retreated, creating a safe distance from Garp while leaping into the air. Garp's attack arrived instantly, missed, and struck the ground. Like a meteor impact, the earth cracked in layers, rubble flew everywhere, and fissures spread for hundreds of meters.
"Garp, just using fists is too boring. Let me show you something fun!" "Chidori - Screaming Flight!"
Reno laughed loudly. As he waved his palm, hundreds of lightning birds, nearly a meter in size, were brought to life and floated in the air. Of course, Reno knew that pure lightning power could not harm Garp.
Buzz—Buzz—
Accompanied by two buzzing sounds, two streams of aura, one black and one red, erupted from Reno's body. They intertwined and flowed separately into the lightning birds. All this happened in the blink of an eye!
Locking onto Garp in the dust, Reno waved his hand, and the lightning birds all shrieked in unison!!!
They let out a sharp cry as they swooped down towards Garp below! Like a storm, they poured all their power onto Garp. The lightning birds continuously exploded, and a terrifying domain of lightning and Haki completely swallowed Garp.
Boom! Boom! Boom!Boom! Boom! Boom!
The explosions lasted for a full minute. Lightning surged to the heavens, and the hard ground was forcefully split into a massive deep pit, with black burn marks covering the surroundings.
"Holy sh**!!!"
"Is Vice Admiral Garp alright?!"
"Reno's strength is actually this terrifying?!"
The Marine soldiers on the warships were horrified when they saw this scene. Perhaps ordinary lightning power could not harm Garp. However, these attacks were condensed with both Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki, enough to break through Garp's defense and pose a threat to him.