The violent clash of Conqueror's Haki between Red Count and Kane instantly alerted Kuzan, Borsalino, and Sakazuki at the G-5 base.
All three rose abruptly from their drinking table, their expressions shifting as they sensed the world-destroying aura emanating from the distant sea.
"Haki of this intensity..." Sakazuki's face was filled with gravity - this was a power level he had never experienced before.
"Yee~ really now, I haven't even warmed the money I just got, and we have to work overtime already..."
Borsalino took off his sunglasses, wiping them slowly, but even the lenses couldn't conceal the sharp golden light dancing in his eyes.
In the next instant, he transformed into a golden beam, tearing through the night sky as he shot toward the battlefield first.
"Ara ara... with commotion like this, we've got quite the guest arriving."
Kuzan exhaled a cold white mist, a crystalline Ice Road rapidly forming beneath his feet that carried him away at high speed.
Sakazuki snorted angrily, magma erupting beneath his feet as he transformed into a human-shaped cannonball, soaring into the sky and charging straight for the battlefield!
...
When the three arrived, they witnessed the explosive moment when Kane's furious Black Blade slash met Red Count's Red Umbrella.
The terrifying shockwave tore a bottomless chasm in the sea beneath them.
"So full of energy~"
Borsalino's lewd drawn-out tone echoed above the battlefield.
In the next instant, countless Light Pellets poured down, indiscriminately covering all of Red Count's evasion space.
"Yasakani Sacred Jewel!"
Almost simultaneously, Sakazuki's furious roar came from high above.
"Great Eruption!"
A Magma Giant Fist larger than a warship, trailing long black smoke, came crashing down toward Red Count's head!
The scorching high temperatures even distorted the air itself.
Kuzan's figure followed close behind, his hands pressing directly against the sea surface.
"Ice Age!"
Extremely cold freezing energy swept out in a fan-shaped frenzy, instantly freezing the entire sea area and completely enveloping the residual waves of light and fire attacks, forming an execution prison woven from ice and fire!
Facing this thunderous combined assault from the three future Admirals, even Red Count showed a trace of surprise on his face.
His Red Umbrella danced into a dizzying blur of afterimages, each seemingly casual swing precisely deflecting those lethal attacks.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The ice beneath his feet was pierced by light beams and melted by magma, yet he always managed to borrow the force unharmed, his movements elusive and unpredictable.
"Hmph, such noisy flies."
Red Count twisted his body strangely in mid-air, evading Sakazuki's pursuit, while the tip of his umbrella flicked upward, actually reflecting a golden beam back with perfect accuracy!
"Don't look down on us!" Sakazuki roared as more magma fists rained down like a storm.
Seeing this, Kane grinned, his figure disappearing with a sonic boom.
Tensa, Zangetsu drew a pitch-black arc of death, fiercely slashing toward Red Count's neck from another direction!
A cold light exploded in Red Count's crimson eyes.
He truly felt pressure now.
This Navy soldier before him - his Haki was sharp, his sword technique ferocious, and his speed was truly unimaginable.
The three beside him—light, magma, and ice—possessed troublesome abilities, and their coordination displayed a seamless, almost innate synergy.
"Four of you teaming up... what a tremendous surprise."
Red Count's tone was no longer relaxed. His figure suddenly shot upward as he thrust his Red Umbrella forward, its tip tracing a faint blood-red line through the air, aimed straight at Kane's throat!
Clang—!!!
The collision between Zangetsu and the umbrella's tip erupted into an ear-piercing shriek.
"How terrifying~ Four against one, that's just too unfair~"
Amid Borsalino's mocking voice, a laser beam silently shot toward Red Count's ankle.
Red Count was forced to halt his movement.
In that split second of hesitation, Sakazuki's magma and Kuzan's ice blades had already sealed off his retreat from both sides.
Boom! Crack!
Red Count swung his umbrella to block Kane's slash, simultaneously twisting his body at an impossible angle to dodge Sakazuki's magma fist. However, his left arm was grazed by Kuzan's ice blade, leaving a shallow cut.
Redfield glanced at the three young Navy officers who had suddenly appeared, then at Kane, who wore a fanatical grin not far away. Even with his temperament, he couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.
What the hell kind of place was this?
Just a branch base—how could it be hiding four monsters?!
Each of them possessed the potential to dominate the seas in the future!
"Mad dogs of the Navy."
Red Count straightened his slightly disheveled collar, his elegance gone, his voice tinged with genuine anger.
"For a mere toll fee, are you trying to take me down with you?"
"Take you down with me?"
Kane grinned wildly, pointing his pitch-black Zangetsu directly at Red Count.
"You think too highly of yourself!"
He abruptly turned and barked at the three behind him, who were preparing to attack again:
"Fall back for now! Stand aside and watch!"
Sakazuki and the other two were taken aback.
"Kane! Have you lost your mind?!"
Sakazuki's stern face twisted in anger, magma bubbling on his fists.
"He's a legendary pirate on par with Roger! What's the point of sticking to some outdated rule about one-on-one fights at a time like this?!"
"Enough!"
Kane's tone was icy and domineering.
"This guy is my prey!"
Ignoring his companions' shock, he turned back, his eyes locked firmly on Red Count, his boiling fighting spirit almost tangible.
"Red Count! What comes next is just you and me!"
He wanted to test his limits—90 points of physique, combined with Ryou, the Storm Fruit, and Tensa, Zangetsu!
Kane slowly raised his right hand toward the sky.
The once-clear night sky instantly darkened with thick clouds, countless silver snakes of lightning writhing wildly within them!
Storm Fruit ability activated!
"Thunderclap!"
A terrifying bolt of lightning, thicker than a barrel, descended from the heavens, instantly targeting the small boat beneath Red Count's feet.
Boom—!!!
Accompanied by deafening thunder, the pitiful boat was blasted into dust, completely vanishing from the icy surface.
Kane bared his teeth in a fanatical grin, his eyes blazing. He looked back at Red Count and declared, word by word:
"Let's fight to the death, Red Count!"
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