"So, you're determined to stop me, is that it?"
Caesar looked expressionlessly at Roger, showing none of the nostalgic feelings Shiki had upon reuniting with an old friend.
Roger subtly glanced at the remaining five Marines, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
He didn't see Garp, didn't see Sengoku, didn't see the familiar faces of Marine soldiers.
And in a battle of this intensity, Garp and the others wouldn't have been able to stay out of it.
So it seemed that all those familiar faces from his memories had already passed away.
He couldn't help but sigh.
"There's no need to annihilate everyone, Caesar!"
"Actually, they're not our enemies as pirates - the Celestial Dragons are. The World Government is the common enemy of us pirates and the Marines alike!"
"With differing ideologies, battle is inevitable. No need for further words."
As Caesar spoke, he looked toward Shanks nearby.
"Shanks, I remember telling you last time. The next time we meet will be when we decide life and death. Are you prepared?"
Shanks looked at Caesar, whose imposing aura reached the heavens and whose body still burned with blood-colored flames, a complex expression appearing on his face.
But he didn't hesitate, responding resolutely.
"Since we've come, we're not afraid to die!"
"Good!"
Caesar looked at the few remaining members of the Beast God Pirates on the field.
Shiki, Kaido, Loki, Redfield, Gin, Doflamingo, Crocodile, Yamato, King.
That stubborn fellow Gin actually didn't leave with Katakuri but insisted on staying.
In contrast, Roger's side seemed to have the numerical advantage.
But...
Whoosh!
A hazy phantom appeared in the field as Caesar's burly figure suddenly vanished.
Roger was stunned, then felt a chill in his heart.
He released his Observation Haki that surpassed the top level, Listening to the Voices of All Things, sweeping across heaven and earth to try to locate Caesar.
"Can't find him? Is it Observation Killer?"
Wrapping oneself in incomparably powerful Conqueror's Haki to achieve an isolating effect that prevents others from sensing with Observation Haki!
This is Observation Killer!
Roger's mastery of the three types of Haki was incredibly powerful—one could say that in terms of Haki proficiency across the seas, he undoubtedly ranked within the top three!
But the current Caesar's Haki was so formidable that it was already on par with his!
Moreover, the sheer depth of his Haki had reached an unprecedented level!
Though Caesar's location remained elusive, Roger possessed the extraordinary ability to Listen to the Voices of All Things.
This ability allowed him to perceive information from both living and non-living entities!
Thus, when Roger, through the sky and earth of this island, locked onto Caesar's position from the information he gathered, his expression shifted dramatically!
"Caesar!"
Roger roared, his muscles tensing as he burst into motion, ready to charge toward Caesar's location!
"Captain Roger! Your sword!"
Shanks swiftly tossed a long sword over.
Roger caught the blade and immediately slashed through the air!
"Divine Departure!"
Divine Departure was Roger's signature sword technique.
Both Shanks and Rayleigh were capable of using this move.
But now, executed by Roger himself, its power far surpassed that of Shanks and the others by several times!
Boom—!
The atmosphere roared as a blade of light, crackling with endless lightning, split the earth of G-1 Island and shot toward the distant figure who seemed both demonic and divine.
Far away, after battling Shiki for most of the day, Akainu—his Haki and stamina nearly depleted—wore an expression of utter humiliation as he was seized by the neck like a chick in Caesar's massive hand.
If looks could kill, Caesar would have been riddled with holes and long dead.
But there were no such ifs!
"Sakazuki!"
Caesar's speed was so incredibly fast that neither Fujitora nor Kizaru had noticed.
It was only when they saw Akainu captured by Caesar that they reacted in shock, preparing to lend assistance.
But Roger's slash was faster!
The pillar-like blade of light, blindingly brilliant, turned everything before their eyes snow-white, reaching Caesar in an instant!
With cold indifference, Caesar drew Candle Dragon and swung it horizontally with his right hand!
"Thunder God Bagua!"
Two intersecting slashes collided, causing the ground to erupt like a rolled-up carpet, layer upon layer!
Massive chunks of bedrock shattered under the terrifying shockwaves, while red and black lightning ceaselessly bombarded the entire plaza!
"Evade! Everyone! Disperse! Get away from them!"
Rayleigh and Gaban, faces pale with alarm, urgently shouted.
"Gaban!!"
Suddenly, a hysterical roar echoed.
"Who's calling me?" Gaban paused in confusion.
But soon, he spotted a ferocious figure charging straight toward him, completely ignoring the surrounding storm of destructive energy.
"It's you, kid?" He recognized Gin.
Gin's eyes blazed with ferocity, his fighting spirit boiling like a hot spring within his chest.
"Defeating you! I, will become Admiral-level!"
Gaban was momentarily stunned, then laughed.
Drawing the twin axes from his waist, he unleashed a furious barrage of strikes!
Before Shanks, Roger's figure had already vanished as he pursued Caesar.
The moment Caesar seized Akainu, he slammed his forehead—coated in peak Armament Haki—directly into Akainu's.
The impact was like a meteor striking the Earth.
Akainu didn't even manage a grunt before he was knocked unconscious.
Only then did Kizaru and Fujitora react, drawing their weapons to attack Caesar.
"Release Sakazuki!" Kizaru's missing leg was replaced by a prosthetic made of light, and the black light sword in his hand shot out a thick black beam that blasted into Caesar.
Caesar ignored him, tossed aside the Candle Dragon, and thrust his right hand directly into Akainu's forehead!
"No!" Fujitora was horrified, wildly swinging his cane sword!
"Gravity Blade! Fierce Tiger!"
This time, Caesar's body couldn't withstand the power of the Gravity Fruit and was sent flying by gravity comparable to a mountain.
Akainu's body fell to the ground, protected behind Kizaru and Fujitora.
"Sakazuki! Are you alright?"
Fujitora warily watched Caesar ahead, while Kizaru observed Akainu's injuries behind him.
After being shaken a few times by Kizaru, Akainu slowly regained consciousness.
"Great! You're okay, Sakazuki!"
Kizaru's face broke into a smile, relieved.
"Borsalino! Come closer, I have something important to tell you!"
Akainu frowned deeply, panting as he spoke to Kizaru.
Kizaru was stunned and instinctively leaned closer to Akainu.
"Dog Devouring Red Lotus!!"
A deep red, scorching magma fist instantly pierced through Kizaru's chest, sending him flying like a cannonball under his incredulous gaze!
"Sakazuki! What are you doing?"
Fujitora's eyes nearly burst, almost unable to believe what he was seeing!
Even Shanks and the others, who had retreated to a distance, were stunned and shocked.
"Has that mad dog Akainu finally gone completely insane?"
Yasopp muttered to himself.
"Admiral Borsalino!"
The remaining Marine Vice Admirals, Momousagi and Tine, looked in horror at Kizaru, who had been pierced through by Akainu.
Looking at the Akainu who still appeared the same as always but had a completely changed aura, Fujitora felt as if he were a stranger.
A thunderous realization struck his mind, and he suddenly thought of a possibility!
"The Memory Fruit! It's the Memory Fruit!"
Fujitora gritted his teeth, letting out a beast-like howl of grief, and with one slash sent the already severely injured Akainu flying.
His face filled with sorrow and fury, he looked incredulously at Caesar.
"You! So you're the one who has the Memory Fruit ability! You actually have two Devil Fruit abilities, just like Blackbeard!"
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