Seeing Tsuru get blasted away, Sengoku panicked for a split second.
"I warned you—don't lose focus when you're fighting me!"
Seizing that opening, Whitebeard channeled the Tremor-Tremor Fruit's power into his leg and kicked Sengoku square in his massive golden Buddha belly.
Crack—crack—crack!
The sound of shattering glass rang out.
Sengoku was sent flying, smashing heavily into the ground.
Fortunately, his Daibutsu form's immense durability kept him from collapsing outright.
He staggered back to his feet, golden blood trickling from his lips, a deep dent caved into his abdomen.
Whitebeard exhaled slowly.
"That was close. Good thing Qiye set that up beforehand."
"I never thought two Marine colonels could push me this far… but it ends here."
He raised Murakumogiri again.
"Edward. That's enough for today. We've already wasted too much time."
Chu Qiye's voice came from behind.
Whitebeard paused—and lowered his blade.
Under Sengoku and Whitebeard's watchful eyes, Chu Qiye walked out of the forest, bare-chested, his coat draped over his shoulder.
Sengoku's brows furrowed tightly.
If Black Devil was here—
Then Garp…
Forcing down his fear, Sengoku shouted,
"What did you do to him?!"
"Relax. He's still breathing."
Chu Qiye's tone was calm.
"But if you insist on blocking our path, not just him—you three will die here."
He patted Whitebeard's arm.
"Let's go."
Whitebeard nodded.
The two of them walked forward—
Passing directly by Sengoku.
Sengoku's teeth clenched.
But he did nothing.
After they were gone, droplets slid down his face and fell to the ground.
Not sweat.
Tears.
Yes.
Sengoku cried.
Tears of helplessness and humiliation.
His greatest strength was calm judgment.
But in this moment—
He hated that calmness.
If it were Garp, he would've fought to his last breath, even if defeat was certain.
But Sengoku was a strategist.
He understood clearly—
Trading three lives for a few extra minutes of delay was meaningless.
Letting them go… was the optimal decision.
And yet—
By doing so, he had abandoned the pride and duty of a Marine.
Chu Qiye and Whitebeard advanced through the battlefield.
Marine corpses lay scattered.
So did fallen members of the Rocks Pirates.
The clash of combat echoed from multiple directions.
This was no minor skirmish.
The Marines had planned this for a long time.
Chu Qiye turned serious.
"Edward, you find Rocks. I'll assist the others. We split up."
Whitebeard glanced at him.
"You sure? You don't look in peak condition. I can handle the others—you go find Rocks."
"I'm fine. Mostly recovered. And I'm faster. I can cover more ground."
Whitebeard didn't press further.
"Be careful. The Marines from Headquarters aren't easy opponents."
"Yeah."
Helping the crew was priority.
As for Rocks—
Neither of them was worried.
With his strength, he didn't need assistance. At most, they'd just go check in.
After splitting up, Chu Qiye ran toward the nearest battle sounds.
In one corner of the island—
Two giants were locked in combat.
The female giant was Nana, a combatant of the Rocks Pirates.
One of the few female members of the crew.
A tattoo marked her arm. She specialized in pure physical combat.
Bounty: 220 million Berries.
Nickname: "Raging Nana."
Her opponent—
A Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral.
A male giant, even larger than her, wielding a massive battle axe.
Nana was clearly at a disadvantage.
Knocked to the ground, she raised both arms to block the descending axe—
Barely holding it back as it pressed closer and closer to her face.
"BOOM!"
A thunderous impact.
The Marine giant was blasted away.
"Nana. You okay?"
That voice—
Like heavenly music.
Tears welled up instantly in Nana's eyes.
"Waaahhh! Qiye-bro! I knew you'd come save me!!"
She jumped up—
Grabbed Chu Qiye—
And planted a huge kiss on him.
Well… more like on his entire torso.
Covering him in slobber.
Then she hugged him tightly to her chest.
"Nana! Let go!"
Even Chu Qiye was struggling.
Though a giant, Nana was stunningly beautiful—
With a far better figure than Charlotte Linlin—
And she always wore a three-piece outfit.
She was the dream goddess of every male giant aboard the ship.
But for some reason—
She was obsessed with Chu Qiye.
Possibly a bit of a masochist.
Once, she'd tried picking a fight with him and got beaten badly in front of everyone.
Ever since—
She'd become his biggest fangirl.
The Marine giant staggered back to his feet, roaring,
"Pirates! Die!"
He raised his axe high and unleashed a massive slash wave.
Though smaller than a full-grown male giant, Nana was agile.
She grabbed Chu Qiye and rolled aside, narrowly avoiding the attack.
"Nana. Stop playing. Throw me."
"Got it!"
She hurled Chu Qiye straight at the Marine giant.
The giant swung his axe to meet him.
Chu Qiye didn't dodge.
He hardened his entire body with Armament Haki—
And collided head-on.
The seemingly indestructible axe shattered like glass.
"What?!"
The Marine giant's eyes widened in shock.
"No time to play with you today… Mountain-Splitting Five Strongmen Talisman!"
Chu Qiye leapt high—
Buffed with enhanced strength—
And chopped down with a hand blade aimed at the giant's neck.
"Tekkai!" the giant roared.
Even Garp's Tekkai couldn't withstand that strike.
How could he?
Bone shattered instantly.
The giant was sent flying, landing unconscious, eyes rolled back.
"Wow! Amazing! Qiye-bro is the strongest!"
Nana cheered excitedly and rushed forward, arms wide open for another hug.
This time, Chu Qiye wasn't having it.
He sidestepped gracefully, hopped onto her head, and bonked her.
"Quit wasting time. Go help the others."
Rubbing the bump on her head, Nana grinned.
"Yes, sir!"
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