After a fleeting moment of shock at Lin Xuan's sudden appearance, Marshal Kong quickly pieced things together. Roger's eerie resurrection and the mysterious return of his pirate crew—it all pointed to Lin Xuan. But his attention soon shifted to the figures standing beside him.
At Lin Xuan's side were only three people: Kaguya Otsutsuki, Conis, and Orochimaru. No one else was in sight. Kong scanned the surroundings, confirming that none of the other Ninja Guild members, like Uchiha Madara or Hashirama Senju, were present.
"Could this guy really have come with just these few?" Kong's mind buzzed with uncertainty. Still cautious, he signaled Vice Admiral Tsuru, who understood immediately. She sent scouts to sweep the area around Marineford, but they found no trace of other Ninja Guild members.
The confirmation made Kong's heart skip a beat. Lin Xuan had really shown up at Marineford with just three companions? It seemed almost too bold to be true.
Kong had been keeping tabs on the Ninja Guild's movements for a while. He knew most of their members were scattered across the world, far too distant to reach Marineford in time. In other words, Lin Xuan was isolated.
A glint of opportunity flashed in Kong's eyes. This could be the perfect chance. The Ninja Guild had been a thorn in the World Government's side, a sword dangling over their heads. Even the Celestial Dragons, now confined to the Holy Land of Mary Geoise for their safety, were growing restless and dissatisfied. The government had been plotting ways to dismantle the guild, and now, seeing Lin Xuan with only three allies, Kong saw a golden opportunity to strike. If he could eliminate Lin Xuan, the guild's leader, crushing the rest would be far easier.
Before Kong could act, Doberman, the closest to Lin Xuan, made the first move. His longsword gleamed with Armament Haki as he lunged, his body a blur, closing the distance in an instant. The blade arced toward Lin Xuan's head with deadly precision, driven by a single thought: kill this menace and end the chaos.
But before the blade could connect, a terrifying pressure erupted, flinging Doberman backward through the air. Kaguya had acted, though she only repelled him without pursuing further.
Lin Xuan barely reacted, simply gesturing to Orochimaru. "Deal with him."
Kong sighed. Even alone, Lin Xuan wasn't an easy target—especially with that white-haired, white-eyed woman by his side, whose strength was undeniable. Still, he couldn't let this chance slip away.
Just as Kong prepared to move, three figures appeared before him, halting him in his tracks. He recognized them instantly: three of the Five Elders.
One was the bald monk who had clashed with Lin Xuan before. Another had golden hair and a matching beard—Goldbeard, as some called him. The third sported a white mustache shaped like the number eight—Eight-Mustache. Each radiated a commanding aura, their presence alone exuding immense power.
Their arrival stunned the battlefield. Sengoku, Garp, and others exchanged shocked glances. To think the World Government would deploy three of the Five Elders to deal with Lin Xuan! Yet, after the initial surprise, relief washed over them. With these three powerhouses, victory seemed assured.
Goldbeard glanced at Kong. "Focus on stabilizing the battlefield. Leave that man to us."
Without waiting for a response, he and the other two turned their attention to Lin Xuan. The bald monk's expression was particularly dark. His last encounter with Lin Xuan had ended in defeat, nearly costing him his life. If not for Lord Im's timely intervention, he'd be dead. Now, his eyes burned with vengeance.
"So, you're the troublemaker causing all this chaos and killing Celestial Dragons?" Eight-Mustache said coldly, his tone carrying the weight of authority, as if addressing a subordinate.
Lin Xuan merely glanced at him, offering no reply. While the Elders sized him up, he studied the two newcomers, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. One against three Elders? It sounded like a challenge worth taking. His last fight with the bald monk had been tough, and now, facing three at once, the pressure was unlike anything he'd felt before. Yet, instead of fear, it ignited a fierce excitement within him. His recent training hadn't been for nothing.
The three Elders bristled at Lin Xuan's silence and the way he eyed them like prey. Fury surged through them, and in the next instant, a terrifying aura erupted from all three.
Kaguya stepped forward, ready to intervene, but Lin Xuan raised a hand to stop her. "Protect Conis. I'll handle these three myself. I've been itching for a fight."
His words only fueled their rage. The bald monk, Goldbeard, and Eight-Mustache glared, itching to tear him apart.
The four stood apart, separated by a tense distance, but for warriors of their caliber, that gap meant nothing. In a flash, the three Elders struck.
Boom!
In the span of mere seconds, the four clashed hundreds of times, their movements a blur of devastating power.
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T/N:
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