Chapter 47: Fierce Battle Against Zephyr
"I'm Cole. Wherever Han-ge goes, I go too," Cole said, glancing sideways with determination.
What a waste, Zephyr thought silently.
Then he glanced at Luo Han and Cole's half-beast form.
He quickly pieced things together—that unseen attack earlier must've been from this Luo Han kid.
Such potential! So young, yet already this powerful.
Both of them seemed to be Devil Fruit users. Cole could fly—likely an Ancient Zoan—and Luo Han must possess a special Paramecia-type.
That's exactly why they can't be allowed to grow further, Zephyr thought grimly.
If they're left alone, they'll become the next Whitebeard and Golden Lion.
As that thought sank in, Zephyr's expression turned serious.
"It's unfortunate—but today, I'm sending both of you to Impel Down for reformation," he said, brows furrowed.
Luo Han's expression shifted. His spiritual sense warned him—Zephyr's Haki was now much denser.
"Be careful, Cole," Luo Han warned.
Boom! Before Luo Han finished speaking, Zephyr appeared in front of Cole and landed a blackened fist squarely into his gut.
Waves rippled through Cole's body from the blow. Boom!—an explosive sound rang out as Cole was slammed into the island below.
"Zephyr!! You bastard!" Luo Han's face darkened.
Clang! Zephyr suddenly appeared before Luo Han too, hurling a punch.
Luo Han tried to block with a telekinetic barrier—but it shattered in an instant.
Bam! The punch landed square in Luo Han's stomach, sending him crashing down next to Cole.
Crash! Luo Han hit the ground hard beside his friend.
"Han-ge! Are you okay?!" Cole sat up quickly at the sound.
Huff… Huff… Luo Han gasped for breath, too winded to speak. He waved a hand to signal he was fine.
It hurt like hell. That dense Haki punch felt like a power drill boring into his gut.
Fortunately, his body was strong now—but not as sturdy as Cole's.
Zephyr's attacks were vicious. Luo Han could endure for a bit, but prolonged combat would wear him down fast.
Most importantly—it really hurt.
Boom! Zephyr landed on the island too.
"Impressive Observation Haki," he commented, referring to Luo Han's earlier reactions.
"Still didn't stop you from getting hit, though," Luo Han shot back, gritting his teeth. "But next time, I won't let you land a hit."
"Cole, go all-out. I'll back you up."
"Got it, Han-ge!" Cole nodded.
He charged forward, fist cloaked in Armament Haki.
But Zephyr had more experience—and a sharper sixth sense. With a sidestep and a twist, he dodged Cole's punch and countered with a kick aimed at Cole's gut.
But Luo Han's spiritual sense picked it up.
Not this time, he thought, launching a blast of telekinesis at Zephyr's torso mid-motion.
With no foothold, Zephyr had no way to resist the hit and was pushed toward Cole.
Smash! Cole slammed a reverse punch into him—it sounded like steel on steel.
Zephyr, midair and unable to anchor himself, was knocked flying.
Crash! He landed deep in the island's interior.
Meanwhile, Garp and Sengoku—fighting their own battles—noticed.
"This is bad," Sengoku thought.
"Haha! Not bad, huh, Sengoku?" Whitebeard said smugly.
"Luo Han's Devil Fruit is a real headache."
Sengoku didn't respond. He kept replaying the scene in his head—Zephyr getting launched.
"That ability's insane. It attacks without form or trace—unless you can see the future, you're not dodging it," Garp muttered.
Sengoku's face darkened. Garp was right.
Even if Zephyr's Armament Haki could block the blows, he had no way to defeat Luo Han and Cole like this.
The plan was failing.
"Stop overthinking, Sengoku!" Garp shouted. "Once I finish off Newgate, I'll help clean up those two kids too! Hahaha!"
Boom! Whitebeard summoned a quake-powered slash and swung it at Garp.
"I'll finish you first, Garp!" he growled.
"We'll see, Newgate!" Garp countered with a punch.
They clashed midair, their standard attacks causing shockwaves that tore across sea and land.
The oceAnne and the island looked like cakes being sliced apart.
The Marine warships and the pirate ship were pushed far back.
The pirates left on the ship were awestruck. They'd seen these guys go all out before—but it never got less terrifying.
Sister Shao, however, was more concerned for Luo Han and Cole. Seeing Zephyr get blasted away brought her some comfort.
Deep in the island, Zephyr climbed to his feet.
He checked himself—no major injuries.
Cole's force was great, but it wasn't true power. Force can push someone away. Power injures.
Zephyr figured Cole's Armament Haki still wasn't well-trained.
Tap, tap, tap! Zephyr walked back toward Luo Han and Cole.
He looked at Luo Han and frowned. Only two attacks, yet he already knew—if Luo Han landed a hit, he wouldn't be able to avoid it.
Which meant… he'd be on the defensive the whole time.
But that's battle—adapt and overcome. Zephyr wasn't discouraged.
Shave! He launched himself at Luo Han again, hoping to land a repeat blow.
But Luo Han was ready. Fully focused, he had fused telekinesis into his body—his speed had jumped up a level.
He ducked, slipped past Zephyr's punch, and countered with a blow of telekinetic force.
Boom! Zephyr was sent flying again—right toward Cole.
Cole's whole body vibrated subtly. He was charging up his ultimate: Giant's Spear—Hegemony.
Sensing danger, Zephyr twisted and escaped using Moonwalk.
He hadn't taken damage—but Luo Han's attacks lacked Haki.
Zephyr redirected his focus—strike back at Luo Han.
But Luo Han was gone—Shave!—he vanished just in time.
A beam-like shockwave from Zephyr's punch sliced past where he had stood, cutting deep into the ocean.
Luo Han had thought about redirecting Zephyr again—but timing was too tight. He and Zephyr would both have taken Cole's attack, and Luo Han wasn't ready to gamble his life on that.
Boom! Both Luo Han and Zephyr landed on opposite sides of the clearing.
They looked forward—only to see a deep trench left in the ocean. A semicircular path of water, carved clean through, took a moment to settle back.
Back on the ship, the pirates were pale.
"That beam passed right by the bow…"
"I almost died!!!" one pirate muttered, gulping.
"Lord Cole is so strong… we're so lucky to have him!"
The lackeys drifted into dreamy admiration once again.
"What a reliable comrade," Sister Shao murmured to herself.
(END CHAPTER)
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