Clang—!!!Boom—!!!
A sword aura overflowing with domineering pressure and a blazing wave of scorching heat erupted beside Red at the same time.
Zoro and Sanji stepped forward together, leaping straight out of the Going Merry's cabin.
Below them, the swarm of insects seemed to have received some unseen command. They instantly parted, opening a clear passage, making it look as if the two had crossed through space itself as they landed on the marble surface of the Bridge of Hesitation.
"It's you!?"
At the same moment—
On the Marine warship at the opposite end of the Bridge of Hesitation, Kizaru felt two familiar auras suddenly appear ahead of him. His expression sharpened instantly.
Although Zoro and Sanji had worn Akatsuki uniforms that concealed their faces and physiques back on Sky Island, he still recognized them immediately.
Whoosh—
A brilliant golden beam flashed past as Kizaru transformed into light itself, arriving on the bridge ahead of the approaching warship.
The laziness in his eyes vanished, replaced by a sharp glint.
Having just received his pay yesterday, Kizaru's loyalty to the Marines and the World Government was currently at an all-time high.
He abruptly pulled his hands apart, forming a laser longsword that radiated dazzling light.
"Why are you here?" Kizaru asked, his tone filled with confusion.
Truthfully, his thoughts were in chaos.
After the battle on Sky Island, having personally clashed with members of the Akatsuki, he had immediately reported everything he knew to the Marines and the World Government.
But at the time, the Marines' full attention had been devoted to tracking the Whitebeard Pirates, and numerous Akatsuki imitators had begun appearing all over the world…
As a result, both the World Government and the Marines had been forced to temporarily shelve the matter of the Akatsuki.
Yet barely over a month after that major incident, the very criminals they had been searching for appeared right before his eyes—
And in such an audacious manner!
Meanwhile, on the Marine warship some distance away from the bridge—
A Marine soldier came running over in a panic, clutching two yellowed bounty posters.
"We found them, Admiral Zephyr!!!"
"They're rookie pirates who only recently entered the Grand Line… Their captain has a bounty of 180 million Beli—Monkey D. Luffy!"
"Monkey!?"
Hearing that familiar surname, Zephyr's brow furrowed sharply.
Still, now that the other party was clearly identified as pirates, he didn't dwell on it and instead asked in a deep voice:
"And the two confronting Kizaru—who are they?"
"Those two…" The Marine flipped through the bounty posters somewhat clumsily before answering in realization,"They're also members of the Straw Hat Pirates. Roronoa Zoro, bounty 79.5 million Beli, and Sanji, bounty 77 million Beli!"
"79.5 million? 77 million?"
Even someone as experienced as Zephyr couldn't help but freeze in astonishment.
He immediately turned his gaze toward Zoro, who was releasing Conqueror's Haki and exerting immense mental pressure on Kizaru, and Sanji, whose body radiated searing heat that warped the surrounding air.
This kind of presence… is that really something pirates with bounties under 80 million can possess!?
Zephyr couldn't make sense of it.
And just as doubt filled his mind, another figure suddenly descended from the sky.
A straw-hatted boy dropped down, laughing loudly midair.
"Wahahahaha~! Zoro! Sanji! I'm here to help!!!"
Tap!
Luffy landed lightly on the ground before the bridge, his straw hat settling neatly against his back.
"Luffy~" Zoro and Sanji stepped forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with him.
In an instant, overwhelming pressure burst forth from all three of them.
Ferocious Conqueror's Haki, ominous demonic aura, and blazing heat fused together, unleashing a terrifying shock that slammed into Kizaru's body and mind alike.
Feeling this familiar yet alien presence, Kizaru tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing into slits.
"How frightening~"
"If I let you kids keep running wild, those big shots won't let me off so easily."
His expression grew serious.
"What an extremely dangerous crew of pirates."
Whoosh—
This time, Kizaru abandoned all intent of toying with his opponents.
He leapt into the air, his arms erupting with endless flashes of light as countless light bullets poured out like a storm, sweeping toward Luffy and the others.
At that moment, a magnificent inferno appeared above the Bridge of Hesitation as if summoned by magic, forming a massive vortex of flames that intercepted every single light projectile.
"Nice one, curly-brow!"
Boom!
A swift figure shot out from the flames, a pair of dragon wings steeped in ominous aura spreading wide behind him.
With a powerful flap, the wings carried Zoro high into the air as he charged straight at Kizaru.
"Three Sword Style · Dragon Nether Flash!!!"
Whoosh!!!
Three blades flashed at once, carving black lightning across the sky as they instantly reached Kizaru's back.
Boom—!!!
A thunderous roar echoed through the air.
Kizaru's body, struck by the lightning slash, suddenly split apart and slid to both sides.
At the fracture point, golden light shimmered brightly.
It was obvious—he had used elementalization to evade Zoro's strike.
This time, however, there was no trace of leisure left on Kizaru's face.
Clutching the split in his body, he turned back with a shocked expression, staring solemnly at Zoro.
"What terrifying youngsters…"
"In just this short time, you've grown this far already!?"
Kizaru remembered clearly—just over a month ago, that Three Sword Style swordsman had only been able to unleash such astonishing power with the aid of a strange Devil Fruit user.
But today, while Zoro's level hadn't risen dramatically, being constantly pushed by Sanji had driven his understanding of swordsmanship and his control over Pokémon energy to terrifying new heights.
When it came to utilizing Pokémon energy, Zoro was unquestionably the strongest among the Straw Hats—
And by an overwhelming margin far beyond the others!
That was what shocked Kizaru the most.
Yet Zoro's attack was only the beginning!
Before Kizaru's elemental body could fully recover, a figure shrouded in blood-red steam shot up from the ground, appearing instantly at his side.
"Gum-Gum—Warrior God · Spear!!!"
Whoosh!
A massive fist, completely wrapped in uniquely colored Armament Haki, blasted forward, smashing straight toward Kizaru's face.
At this moment, Luffy's strength had already opened an enormous gap between himself and Zoro and Sanji.
If Zoro and Sanji, at full power after triggering Facade, could be considered mid-to-high tier among the Seven Warlords of the Sea—
Then Luffy had long since reached the level of top-tier Yonko commanders like Katakuri and King.
He might not yet match a Marine Admiral, but the difference was no longer overwhelming.
With Zoro and Sanji supporting him—
The outcome of this battle was anything but certain!
…
…
Meanwhile, on the other side—
Beside the collapsed Tower of Justice, Spandam, wearing a half-face metal mask, staggered to his feet from the rubble with the help of several World Government guards.
"Chief Spandam, this is bad!"
"The Bridge of Hesitation ahead has been occupied by pirates!"
"What did you say!?"
Bruised and disheveled, Spandam turned pale in shock.
He scrambled up the broken wall, squinting desperately into the distance.
At once, he saw the Marine warships encircling the bridge—and Admiral Kizaru scattering light through the sky.
"Haa~"
Spandam let out a long sigh of relief.
But before he could turn around and scold his subordinates for their recklessness, a gigantic fist suddenly blotted out the sky above him, plunging the world into darkness.
"Gum-Gum—Giant Spirit · God King Gun!!!"
Rumble—!!!
A deafening roar exploded across Enies Lobby!
In Gear Fourth: Warrior God Form, Luffy swung a fist as large as a Marine heavy warship, smashing it ferociously toward Kizaru in midair.
The terrifying shockwave pressed downward, forcing the vast sea below into a massive concave depression.
Caught between Zoro and Sanji's coordinated assault and left with no time to elementalize, Kizaru could only concentrate all his Armament Haki to the front of his body.
The next instant—
The colossal fist slammed into him, blasting his body straight toward the Gates of Justice behind the bridge.
Boom!!!
A resonant hum like a great bell echoed across the sea, as if a god had descended and struck a ceremonial chime—
Celebrating the arrival of a new era!!!
(End of Chapter)