Garp also completely let loose.
This time, it wasn't like at Water 7, where he had to pull his punches.
"Just retire already, you bastard grandfather!" Veins bulged on Luffy's forehead. He steadily put more force into his arms.
"This old man can still fight!" Garp bared his teeth, also putting in force.
The ground beneath their feet cracked, unable to withstand the weight, collapsing. Rocks and debris flew everywhere.
With a thud—
The two, locked in a power struggle, simultaneously separated and simultaneously charged at each other.
Grandfather and grandson knew each other better than anyone.
Luffy gritted his teeth, pushing the speed of Gear Second and the elasticity of his rubber fruit to their limits. "Gomu Gomu no: Gatling Gun!"
Garp didn't go easy on him at all. "Kotsuken Gatling!"
"You know that move?!"
"Can't I learn it on the spot?"
THUD!
THUD!
The drum-like clashes rang out without pause. Each clash triggered a small-scale air burst. The core area of their battle seemed to have become a grinding ground of power. Any substance that entered would be instantly shredded!
Not far away, watching this grandfather-grandson pair going crazy like humanoid beasts of prey, Kizaru couldn't help but push up his sunglasses and complain in his slow drawl:
"Oh dear, oh dear. This family's bloodline is truly terrifying."
Those fists looked painful just to watch, let alone be hit by them.
"Likewise,"
Rayleigh, holding his long sword and remaining vigilant against Kizaru, also showed a meaningful smile and continued, "Isn't the strength of your generation's Marine Admirals also surpassing those who came before? Every one of you is like a monster."
In their era, there hadn't been nearly as many monsters in the Navy.
Kizaru shrugged noncommittally, but his gaze never left the fierce battle between Garp and Luffy.
But Rayleigh didn't let Kizaru stay idle either. "This old man hasn't fought in a long time. Since I have this opportunity, I'll give it a try."
"How terrifying~"
Kizaru said, "I don't want to fight a legendary pirate. How about we just wait until they finish?"
"Don't be ridiculous. You were already about to move a moment ago, weren't you?"
"Sharp. I thought I hadn't been noticed."
With that, Kizaru, wielding Ama no Murakumo, slashed at Rayleigh.
Meanwhile, on another front, the battle also continued.
"Sokugyoku Doku Kō!"
Sentomaru launched the first attack. He didn't use his giant axe. Instead, his huge body showed agility that belied its size, instantly closing in on Zoro. His bandage wrapped around the palm of his right hand and he pushed it forward!
This palm strike seemed unpretentious, but the moment he pushed, the air seemed to be compressed.
An invisible shockwave shot straight at Zoro's chest and abdomen.
This was an advanced application of his own powerful power combined with Busoshoku Haki!
"Bring it on!"
Zoro did not dodge. His arm muscles bulged. The Black Blade Shusui and Sandai Kitetsu crossed in front of him. Busoshoku Haki instantly wrapped around it, like black thunder covering the blades!
CLANG!
The invisible shock wave was slammed hard into the crossed blades, producing a loud bang of metal striking metal!
Zoro felt an overwhelming force transmit through the blades. The ground beneath his feet cracked inch by inch. He was pushed back a short distance before barely holding on.
"Oh?"
A flicker of surprise passed through Sentomaru's eyes. He was very confident in the power of his Sokugyoku Doku Kō. Ordinary pirates couldn't even take one hit. "I didn't expect a green-haired pirate like you to be able to use Busoshoku Haki. And your hardness is not bad."
Zoro shook his slightly numb arms and grinned, revealing the hilt of Wado Ichimonji in his mouth. "You're not bad either. And you're really strong, like a monster."
The impact and concentration of the Haki in that Sokugyoku Doku Kō far exceeded most of the opponents he had faced before.
This seemingly simple, honest fat man was definitely not to be underestimated.
"Hmph! This old man's defense is also number one in the world!"
Sentomaru said proudly, regaining his stance. "But you won't have a chance to make this old man defend."
"Oni Giri!"
Zoro stopped testing. He moved like lightning, instantly!
His three blades A strange arc traced its path. The slash, with a piercing whistling sound, struck Sentomaru from three different angles!
Sentomaru's eyes narrowed.
Now he had to defend.
He did not dodge. He planted his massive axe into the ground and crossed his arms in front of him.
At the same time, powerful Busoshoku Haki surged around him. The dark-colored Haki almost materialized, covering his bare skin and red bellyband!
"Chō Sokugyoku Doku Kō: Go!"
"CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!"
Three fierce slashes hit Sentomaru's crossed arms almost simultaneously, sparking blindingly.
Zoro felt his blades seemingly cutting into solid rock, unable to advance an inch!
"It's useless. This old man's defense is invincible!" Sentomaru shouted, then suddenly thrust his crossed arms outward!
A powerful recoil came. Zoro used... it to backflip and lightly land. He frowned slightly.
This guy's Haki and physical defence were perfectly combined. He was like an iron turtle.
"Looks like I'll need to use some real skill to crack your shell."
Zoro positioned his blades.
He brandished his three blades from different starting stances. His aura began to rise. A malevolent aura spread out, like that of an Asura from hell.
"Santōryū: Kuro Nawa Ō Tatsumaki!"
Zoro's body spun rapidly. His three blades transformed into a terrifying tornado, wreathed in black Haki, sweeping up sharp sword energy, charging at Sentomaru!
Wherever the tornado passed, the ground was deeply gouged. Nearby buildings were cut to pieces by the stray sword energy.
Sentomaru's expression finally became grave. He felt the threat of this move.
He again planted his stance firmly, condensing his entire body's Haki into his arms and chest.
"Shūkyoku Sokugyoku Doku Kō: Fudō Myōō!"
He thrust his palms forward. In front of him, a visible, massive shield of Haki solidified, firmly blocking the roaring tornado of sword. energy.
KABOOOOM!
The sword energy and the domineering shield wall were consumed like crazy, producing a deafening roar.
The rampaging sword energy continuously cut into the shield wall, while the shield wall stood firm, holding Sentomaru's position.
The two entered a brief stalemate. The powerful energy conflict cleared a vacuum zone around the battlefield.
Inside the tornado, Zoro gritted his teeth. He could feel that the other's defense was indeed unbelievably solid, but not without flaws.
This state of all-out defense was bound to be unsustainable. And his mobility was limited.
"Not over yet!"
A gleam of light flashed in Zoro's eyes. The force of his spin suddenly changed!
Sentomaru also felt the pressure. He was secretly alarmed:
"This green-haired guy is much more troublesome than the intelligence suggested. The Straw Hat's crew really are all monsters."
Just then, a loud noise came from the distance.
It almost simultaneously drew the attention of both.
Had total war begun?
Zoro knew from the moment Sentomaru and the Pacifistas appeared.
He hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.
The clouds in that direction were churning. He had seen this scene before—when Luffy and Shiki's Conqueror's Haki collided.
That meant another Marine with Conqueror's Haki had arrived?
Among the Navy, Zoro only knew one such person.
Luffy's grandfather.
If that was the case, he couldn't be held up here.
If his captain was fighting at that level, how could he stand still here?
"Enduring hardship without complaint, this is the path of Asura—"
"Kiki: Kyūtōryū: Ashura: Maku Sen!"
A red light flickered in Zoro's eyes. His figure flashed. Three heads, six arms, nine blades slashed into Sentomaru.
As he flashed past Sentomaru's body, several sword shadows bloomed. Zoro appeared behind Sentomaru, standing like a standing Shura.
CRACK.
Sentomaru slowly turned around, an expression of disbelief on his face. Then, several blood slashes burst from his body. He collapsed to his knees.
"Not dead yet? Your body is thick enough. But you're out of strength too, aren't you?" Zoro said calmly.
Sentomaru's strength was very high—especially his understanding of Haki. For pirates in the first half of the Grand Line, he was like a dimensionality reduction strike.
But Zoro was stronger!
His physical technique, swordsmanship, physical condition—and he had rediscovered the feeling he had back when he cut through steel.
The breath of all things.
Zoro didn't have time to waste on these enemies.
He had at least to complete the task assigned by his captain.
Just as Zoro sheathed his swords and prepared to leave, his eyes suddenly widened. Cold sweat formed on his forehead. He turned his head and saw the huge figure that had abruptly appeared behind him.
It was Kuma!
"Are you the real one?" Zoro abruptly distanced himself from Kuma.
"Only you remain, 'Pirate Hunter' Zoro." Kuma said flatly.
What did that mean?
"What did you do to them?!" A bad feeling arose in Zoro's mind.
"Eliminate the Straw Hat crew. I am carrying out my mission." Kuma said flatly.
"You bastard!"
Just as Zoro was about to draw his sword, Kuma was already in front of him. He leaned down and said, "You are strong... but still far from enough."
What did that mean?
There was no time to think. Zoro's body stiffened. The aftereffects of using that Asura technique just now hit him. He could only watch as Kuma's palm came down.
SWISH.
Zoro's figure vanished.
"Hey, Kuma, what are you doing?"
Not far away, Sentomaru's eyes widened. He just watched Zoro disappear.
"Carrying out the highest directive: eliminate the Straw Hat crew." Kuma said flatly.
"Bullshit. You obviously..." Sentomaru trailed off.
Didn't he know Kuma's ability?
Under the current situation, with the Navy surrounding the Sabaody Archipelago, no pirate should have been able to escape.
But noticing Kuma's expressionless face, Sentomaru fell silent.
"What about Bonney?" Sentomaru asked.
"'Big Eater' Bonney is the second directive. Already eliminated."
Sentomaru: "..."
Kuma's gaze fell on Sentomaru's injuries. He took a step forward, then withdrew it, walking off to the side.
"Hey, where are you going?" Sentomaru hurriedly called out.
"Carrying out the highest directive: eliminate the Straw Hat crew."
Sentomaru: "Are you going to let Straw Hat go too?"
"Carrying out the highest directive: eliminate the Straw Hat crew."
Kuma repeated the phrase as he left.
***
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