"What? Alone?"
News only reached Ivalis, Captain of the Golden Hair Pirates stationed on Skypiea, after the war on St. Poplar had already commenced.
He had long since received intelligence regarding the World Government's movements. Even though the Government intended to conceal the true cause and objective of this campaign, an operation of this magnitude was impossible to conduct unnoticed. Consequently, the Government simply went public, framing it as a punitive expedition against Alucard.
Originally, Ivalis and the others stationed on the Sky Island had been prepared to accept orders at any moment, ready to fight the Government in a massive clash similar to the struggle for Skypiea. They never expected the recent communication from Dr. Vegapunk.
They wouldn't be fighting. Alucard had already delved deep into the waters of Spring Queen Island alone. In other words... he went by himself.
This revelation left Ivalis, Benn Beckman, and the others utterly stunned.
The previous Summit War had already given them a cold sweat, but the scale of this engagement far exceeded even that.
"The power of the Celestial Dragons' National Treasure is beyond your imagination. In just two seconds, it created a Yonko-level threat..." Dr. Vegapunk's voice crackled from the Den Den Mushi sitting on the table before Ivalis and his crew. "Going there would simply be seeking death. This is a war that does not concern ordinary men. Your strength should be reserved for after the war, to suppress the global riots that will follow."
With that, Dr. Vegapunk hung up.
Ivalis frowned, glancing toward Beckman. "What exactly is this 'National Treasure'?"
"Legend says it is the key to the World Government's reign over the entire world. Since the era of Roger, there have been various speculations: Ancient Weapons, biological weapons, endless treasure..."
Beckman held a cigarette between his fingers. "It likely has something to do with those ten islands that were destroyed earlier."
Nearby, Cavendish was no longer clamoring about becoming a superstar. Instead, he swallowed nervously. Facing them alone? What kind of concept was that? If it were him, forget fighting, he wouldn't even dare go near the place solo.
"I'm going back to training," Law said after hearing the call, leading his crew away.
Regardless of the war's outcome, his goal remained unchanged. The first priority was to continuously increase his own strength.
…
"Rain of Time!"
On the battlefield of Spring Queen Island, Tashigi, wearing her glasses, gripped her sword hilt with both hands and brought the blade behind her, releasing countless silver needle-shaped sword beams that fell like raindrops.
Surrounded by a sea of Marines, Alucard didn't even spare her a glance, allowing the attacks to rain down upon him.
Those sword beams, true to their name, peppered Alucard's body like rain, yet they failed to inflict even the slightest bit of damage.
"How can this be?" Tashigi asked in disbelief. This was a finishing move she had only recently mastered.
"Tashigi, you fool! I told you to get to the rear for defensive duties!"
Smoker, the White Hunter, stepped in front of his subordinate.
In the next second, a massive shadow hand, resembling the limb of a Giant, swept toward the surroundings. Seeing this, Smoker bit down hard on his cigars. Realizing he couldn't counter it directly, he grabbed Tashigi by the shoulder, his lower body turning into white smoke as he took to the sky.
The shadow hand slammed into the ground. In an instant, untold numbers of Marines were reduced to mincemeat. Tashigi gulped. "This... what kind of power..."
Seeing the shadow hand swinging toward them again, Smoker was forced to activate his ability once more, flying back toward the rear lines. He dropped Tashigi there. "Idiot, who do you think you're facing? That is the most terrifying monster in the world."
His legs still manifesting as white smoke, Smoker turned his back to her. "Stay in the rear for defense. The front-line battle is not something someone of your level can participate in."
To ensure the life of this sword-obsessed woman, Smoker felt he had no choice but to use harsh words.
Although the strategy was to use relentless attacks to suppress Alucard and force him out of his undying state, in reality, those leading the primary assault were almost exclusively Vice Admiral rank or higher. Everyone else was relegated to long-range fire, tossing bombs, and occasionally aiming for openings to launch a sneak attack.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Momonga and Doberman slashed out several sword beams at Alucard in an instant. However, as bullets from the black and white twin pistols, the Casull and the Jackal, were fired, they shattered the incoming sword beams and even sent counter-attacks flying back.
Vroom—
Suddenly, a brilliant light appeared before the two Vice Admirals, intercepting the incoming fire.
Feeling that familiar golden radiance, Momonga spoke before even seeing the figure clearly: "My apologies, Admiral Borsalino?"
"Mmm~ Two Vice Admirals are precious combat assets. Besides, as a comrade, I can't just stand by and watch you die."
Borsalino finished speaking and turned his gaze toward Alucard. "However, to push such a monster into a corner, we must employ even more intense attacks."
Borsalino spread his hands, one above the other in front of his chest. "Yata no Kagami."
Refracting golden light connected across the battlefield. As it passed over Alucard's head, Borsalino appeared in an instant, hovering about ten meters above Alucard's crown.
"Speed is weight. Have you ever been kicked at the speed of light?"
Borsalino's right leg emitted a dazzling golden glow. As his long leg swept down, a flash of light streaked to the ground, exploding into a massive golden hemisphere a hundred meters in diameter. A second later, the gold turned into a searing, burning red.
"Blood is currency. Have you ever traded with yours?"
Alucard's voice suddenly echoed from within the exploding hemisphere, clearly mocking the Admiral's earlier words.
Before Borsalino could grasp the meaning of the statement, a hound manifested from the pool of blood lunged out of the explosion, sinking its teeth into Borsalino's arm.
Startled, Borsalino immediately transformed into light to escape, but everyone heard a distinct rip in that moment.
When Borsalino reappeared on a branch of a large tree half a mile away, everyone noticed that the right shoulder of his Admiral's coat was stained with fresh blood.
Sengoku's brows furrowed deeply. He hadn't expected that even pushing him to his limit would be this difficult.