"Everyone, listen to my command! Though our Pops is dead, his will lives on. We must rescue Ace and not let Pops' sacrifice be in vain!"
Marco soared high in the sky, shouting at the disheartened pirates, and at the same time, he flew rapidly towards the execution platform across the chaotic battlefield.
However, Marco's shouts had very limited effect.
The closest person to Renji was a gentleman in a tailcoat. He was Vista, commander of the Whitebeard Pirates' Fifth Division and a world-class swordsman.
As the one who witnessed Whitebeard being cut in half, and seeing Renji still smiling after killing Whitebeard, as if an artist admiring his masterpiece, countless emotions surged within Vista.
In an instant, his rationality was completely engulfed by a tide of emotions. Vista no longer wanted to think of anything else, he had only one thought in his mind.
Kill Renji.
Buzz!
Roses reappeared, flashing across the short distance and striking at Renji.
However, anyone familiar with Vista would notice that although the rose was still vibrant, it now exuded a strong sense of death, completely lacking its former fiery brilliance.
It appeared the same to Renji. Looking at the approaching roses, he gave an evil smile.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully injecting 150,000 Bounty points! The skill Innate Fighter (Lv. 4) has been upgraded to Transcendent (Lv. 5)!]
[Transcendent (Lv. 5): In combat, combine and apply abilities not exceeding this skill's level to their limit. High-level skills receive a 50% bonus! Same-level skills receive a 150% bonus! Low-level skills receive a 300% bonus!]
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for injecting 100,000 Bounty points to Heavenly Six Eyes. Heavenly Six Eyes (Lv. 4) has been upgraded to Lv. 5!]
In an instant, Vista's movements, in Renji's eyes, slowed down by more than ten times compared to before. All his weaknesses were completely revealed in Renji's mind.
Renji felt that with the enhancements of Lv. 5 Heavenly Six Eyes and Transcendent, even relying solely on Lv. 5 Swordsmanship, he could steadily defeat Vista.
Very good!
Renji's smile widened.
'Keep maxing it out.'
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for injecting 9,500 Bounty points! Tremor-Tremor Fruit Power has been upgraded to Lv. 4!]
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for injecting 100,000 Bounty points! Domain Expansion: Malevolent Shrine has been upgraded to Lv. 5!]
At this moment, Renji looked at the details of the next-level of Conqueror's Haki and fell into a brief hesitation.
[Conqueror's Haki (Lv. 5): The peerless power of the heart, almost divine. A bottomless abyss-like increase in Haki reserves. Conqueror's Haki undergoes a qualitative change, capable of suppressing souls, sealing awakened Devil Fruit powers, with a diffusion range of up to ten thousand meters!]
Hiss!
It seems very tempting, but upgrading Conqueror's Haki from Lv. 4 to Lv. 5 actually requires 300,000 Bounty points.
Lv. 5 Conqueror's Haki should be enough to directly contend with Shanks using only Conqueror's Haki, right?
But Shanks' swordsmanship and other two types of Haki would certainly not be much inferior.
Now, I have a Lv. 6 Conqueror's Haki storage card. I feel like during that period, I'd be able to kill gods and demons.
So, let's put that aside for now. The current opponents on this battlefield do not prompt the use of such a trump card.
Then...
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for injecting 150,000 Bounty points! Domain Expansion: Unlimited Void has been upgraded to Lv. 5!]
It's inexhaustible, I simply can't spend it all!
Keep adding for me!
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for injecting 50,000 Bounty points! Cursed Technique Reversal: Red has been upgraded to Lv. 4!]
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for injecting 50,000 Bounty points! Cleave has been upgraded to Lv. 4!]
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for injecting 50,000 Bounty points! Crimson Blade has been upgraded to Lv. 4!]
[Bounty Points: 114,000]
Damn it, it's almost at the bottom.
Renji pondered for a moment and decided to inject 50,000 Bounty points to upgrade Cursed Technique Lapse: Blue to Lv. 4.
This way, the power of the ultimate move Hollow Technique: Purple would also be simultaneously boosted.
Having done all this, he looked at Vista and licked his lips, like a wolf looking at a lamb.
"Bounty of 884 million Berries. Oh my, what I lack, comes to me."
As Vista got closer and closer to Renji, the surrounding Marines grew anxious.
"Danger, Captain Renji! I'm coming to assist you!"
"Captain Renji just killed Whitebeard, so he must not be able to fully cope with Flower Sword Vista right now. We must hurry and support him."
Such thoughts arose in everyone's minds, and they all began to move. However, their actions were frantically interrupted and intercepted by the Straw Hat rescue team.
In fact, in order to cover Renji, a path leading to the execution platform was unknowingly opened during this process.
"You're truly capable, Renji."
Golden light particles shimmered.
Buzz... Buzz... Buzz...
Just as the golden light was about to dissipate, an incredibly powerful water column pierced through it. Subsequently, the water column's power did not diminish. Like a sharp spear, it pierced a straight line across the battlefield.
Wherever it passed, even hard blades and shields were penetrated by the powerful water column in a single strike.
"Yo, Jinbe?"
Borsalino dodged the attack, then his figure condensed to the side, but a blue, plump figure had already closed in.
Fishman Karate: Secret Technique: Demon Brick Fist!
Boom!
"It's Knight of the Sea Jinbe!"
"Damn it, isn't he a warlord? Why is he helping the pirates?"
"Don't worry, we have Captain Renji and the Admirals. It's just a mere warlord, we will win."
Akainu, on the other hand, had fallen back to the execution platform route, preparing to intercept Marco. But after unleashing a Hellhound, he noticed something was wrong.
Marco's regeneration ability seemed to be much stronger than before?
On the other side, Aokiji was intercepted by Luffy and the others.
Seeing this, Renji showed no signs of the panic everyone expected.
Buzz!
Looking at the rose current slash, whose scattered slashes had already carved countless cracks into the ground, Renji merely extended a single finger. A crimson light instantly flashed and then shot out.
With the enhancement of Transcendent, it was still an instant cast, but its power was now incomparable.
Cursed Technique Reversal: Red!
Upon its release, a terrifying explosion instantly enveloped Vista's figure.
The rising smoke could obscure the perception of others, but Renji saw it with perfect clarity. With no technique burnout, Renji's lips curved into a smile, and the red light on his fingertip brightened again. Then, two more red blasts shot out consecutively.
Boom! Boom!
[Ding! Congratulations for killing Vista! You have gained 88,400 Bounty points!]
Without pause, Renji's pupils flashed with azure light. The next instant after his figure vanished, he appeared before Marco in the sky.
"Yo! Long time no see."
Seeing Renji's smile, the suppressed rage in Marco's heart showed signs of resurgence. However, having undergone his transformation, he quickly regained his composure.
Now, rescuing Ace and retreating was the best plan.
'With this guy's power, he can't kill me, especially since I've now completed my Devil Fruit Awakening. Even Akainu's attacks couldn't do anything to me.'
With that thought, Marco unleashed a full-power claw attack towards Renji.
Renji smiled slightly, Kurai wrapped in murderous Cursed Energy.
Domain Expansion: Malevolent Shrine!
Swish... Swish... Swish...
In an instant, Marco was sliced into pieces. In his disbelieving eyes, he even felt his own soul being cut by invisible slashes.
Now, on the Marineford battlefield, no one could stop Renji's advance.
...
"Gyahahaha! I'm here! Sengoku!"
[Ding!...]