Roldy's Conqueror's Haki raged wildly, crackling as it burst outward in all directions without discrimination.
Massive trees were snapped clean in half the moment the shockwave struck them.
The ground fractured instantly, splitting open in enormous fissures.
Unlucky soldiers caught within the blast were sent flying as if struck by speeding warships, blood spraying from their mouths. After struggling briefly—
They fell still.
What happens when an Admiral-tier fighter who has mastered Advanced Conqueror's Haki Coating amplifies it thirtyfold?
Look no further than Borsalino.
The overwhelming torrent of Conqueror's Haki was so dense that even he struggled to maintain elemental dispersion. His light particles destabilized, flickering erratically.
Cold sweat poured down his forehead.
He activated his Observation Haki, attempting to predict Roldy's trajectory—
But to his shock—
He saw nothing.
It was as if his perception had been completely severed.
He faintly remembered Zephyr once mentioning such a phenomenon—
A higher application of Conqueror's Haki.
Observation Killing.
Without his predictive advantage, Borsalino could only watch as the colossal fist expanded in his vision.
It hadn't even made contact yet—
But the suffocating density of Conqueror's Haki alone nearly crushed him.
At the critical moment—
A sharp tearing sound split the air.
A massive hand grabbed his shoulder and flung him backward.
In his place—
Stood a man who seemed capable of holding up the heavens.
"Fist of Love: Star-Shattering Blow!"
Dark-red lightning surged wildly.
Garp's fist was likewise wrapped in tremendous Conqueror's Haki.
But compared to Roldy—
It was insignificant.
The collision was instantaneous.
Even Garp—
Lasted less than three seconds.
Roldy's punch shattered through Garp's attack with unstoppable force.
Garp was blasted backward like a kite with its string cut—
Colliding midair with the still-recovering Borsalino.
"…That level of Conqueror's Haki…"
Blood spilled from Garp's mouth.
The sheer brutality of Roldy's amplified Haki had already damaged his internal organs.
Residual force rippled through Borsalino's body as well, nearly knocking him unconscious.
Inside Garp's body came a series of cracking sounds—
Bones fracturing at multiple points.
The most severely struck sections were nearly pulverized.
His once-proud fists were now mangled and drenched in blood.
His right arm hung limply.
"HAHAHAHA!!!"
After that punch, Roldy felt an almost euphoric release.
Even though his face had turned pale—
What of it?
The awakening of the Mo-Mo no Mi had elevated him to an entirely new tier—
Now beyond even someone like Garp.
Yes, using that technique massively drained both his stamina and Haki—
But the power it granted was worth the cost.
"Garp!"
Even from afar, Sengoku felt the terror of that overwhelming force.
The oppressive aura made even him tremble.
Seeing his old friend in such a state, a rare fear gripped his heart.
If Roldy unleashed another wave like that—
This would not be defeat.
It would be annihilation.
Sengoku had assumed their overwhelming military strength would secure victory.
He had not anticipated Roldy matching Garp.
Nor had he expected the Moa Moa no Mi to awaken at such a critical moment.
That was his oversight.
The situation was no longer favorable.
They had to retreat.
But Golden Lion Shiki would not allow it so easily.
Seeing Garp's condition, Shiki burst into manic laughter.
His twin blades accelerated again, sticking to Sengoku like tar.
"Zehahaha! You think you can come to my territory and leave whenever you like?! Dream on!"
"Retreat! We can't continue this fight!"
Blood surged up Garp's throat again before he spat it out.
Sengoku immediately gave the order.
The disciplined Marines began withdrawing while fighting.
Pirates pursued relentlessly—
Only to be cut down by the Vice Admirals covering the retreat.
Compared in long-term foundation and organizational cohesion—
Shiki's forces could not match the Marines.
His officers were powerful, able to match Vice Admirals one-on-one—
But once coordinated tactics came into play—
They faltered.
That was the difference between pirates and the Marines.
"Vice Admiral Garp, move!"
Tokikake grabbed Garp, hoisting him onto his back, and sprinted toward the Marine warships.
Roldy scooped up a handful of sand and flung it forward.
Empowered by his Devil Fruit, the grains transformed into dense scattershot, cutting down enemies in swaths.
He did not pursue.
Not because he didn't want to—
But because he couldn't.
The awakening had transformed his ability into true multiplication.
And multiplication came with a price.
The thirtyfold amplification of Conqueror's Haki had nearly drained him completely.
He was at his weakest.
If Dragon and the others turned on him now—
The outcome would not be certain.
Besides—
The Marines were never his primary target.
The ones he truly wished to eliminate—
Had already escaped.
As the Marines retreated to their ships, the pirates continued pressing forward—
Until something unexpected appeared.
Strange cannons emerged from the Marine warships.
Their barrels were unusually narrow—almost like rifle muzzles.
Then—
Blinding red light flared within them.
BOOM!
The projectiles—
Were magma.
Scorching magma condensed into searing beams, effortlessly piercing pirate bodies.
Under soldier control, the beams swept left and right.
Short range—
But devastating firepower.
"That magma… Sakazuki's power? Looks like the Science Division has made something remarkable."
Roldy's eyes gleamed.
Whoever invented such a weapon was a genius.
But clearly—
It was still a prototype.
After mere seconds of sweeping fire, the barrels glowed red-hot, on the verge of overheating.
With this secret weapon, pirate momentum was drastically slowed.
Watching the familiar faces aboard the departing ships—
Roldy bared his sharp teeth in a grin.
"Next time we meet, I'll be even stronger."
"Justice… should never be shackled."
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