Kizaru, already sensing the clash of Haki from the air, sped toward the location: "Teacher Zephyr, I must make it in time."
Weevil disregarded everything, determined to kill Hera, who had killed his Mama. He charged toward Hera, enduring Zephyr's heavy blows, but Hera was not so easily caught. With the help of Zafkiel and the ability, trying to catch Hera without Observation Haki capable of predicting the future was utterly impossible.
He lunged left and right, trying to strike Hera, but due to Hera's "First Bullet, Soru" and her occasional use of "Fifth Shot" to predict the future, Weevil, lacking sufficient Observation Haki, could only be toyed with by Hera.
Suddenly, Hera stopped. Weevil didn't think much and charged forward again. Zephyr, who was trying to intercept, saw Hera stop moving and cried out anxiously: "What are you doing? Get out of the way!" But Hera still didn't move.
Faster than Weevil was a beam of light: "How terrifying. Is this Whitebeard Jr.? He truly has the demeanor of the young Whitebeard."
Kizaru's lazy voice rang out: "Teacher Zephyr, Hera, are you both alright? Where are the other students?"
Binz, who was currently working hard to stabilize the hole in the battleship using the Ripe-Ripe Fruit, said: "The other students are fine. They are inside Hera's City of Devouring Time."
Zephyr said: "Kizaru, you brat, you came just in time. Let's take this guy down together."
Kizaru noticed that Zephyr's asthma was about to flare up and his Armament Haki wasn't stable. He said to Zephyr: "Teacher Zephyr, just rest on the side. I can handle a wounded pirate by myself."
Zephyr laughed and scolded him: "You brat, now you're looking down on your teacher? Fine by me." He then turned to Hera and said: "Release the others. Let them witness the Marine's highest combat power."
Kizaru's arrival completely reassured Zephyr. With the two of them present, they could even contend with a lone Four Emperors, let alone Whitebeard Jr. He decided to let the students gain some experience, as battles between such powerhouses were rare.
Upon hearing this, Hera expanded the City of Devouring Time. The Marine recruits were spat out as if the City of Devouring Time had rejected them, seemingly dissatisfied that it could only store them and not absorb them.
Kizaru said: "Don't worry, I'll let your City of Devouring Time have a feast soon. Yata no Kagami." Shining spheres of light shot out from Kizaru's hands and concentrated their bombardment on Weevil. Facing an absolute enemy, Admiral Kizaru's aim was no longer the 'Eight Feet Edge-Tracing Orb'; the focused bombardment on Weevil forced him to retreat continuously.
Kizaru was slightly surprised that one wave hadn't killed him: "What a monstrous physique. How about this move then? Ama no Murakumo." Golden light gathered in Kizaru's hand, forming a sword. Weevil's stamina and Armament Haki, having been depleted by Zephyr's onslaught and the Yata no Kagami, were already running low. Kizaru flashed golden light, and Weevil's head fell to the ground.
Hera quickly manipulated the City of Devouring Time to swallow Weevil before he was completely dead.
Weevil's severed head stared straight towards the sea. Just before death, his volatile heart suddenly felt relief. For a moment, he no longer thought about killing powerful enemies or avenging Mama, but instead recalled the toys he had seen when they last went ashore: "Mama, I really want to play with those toys too."
Whitebeard Jr. died at the beginning of his journey. This poor child, controlled by Miss Bakkin, escaped her manipulation at the cost of his life. Hera closed his eyes and sighed: "A life manipulated by an ambitious schemer. It's a pity you never met Whitebeard; otherwise, you might have had a different ending."
For Hera, the death of Whitebeard Jr. meant many different things. It signified that everything in this world could be changed by her. Her previous actions had only slightly affected certain areas, but Weevil's death would have massive subsequent repercussions. Yet, no one had intervened, which undoubtedly gave Hera more confidence in her plans.
After absorbing Weevil's time, the ability also underwent a change. Hera felt the unsealing of the 'Archer's Bullet' and sensed that she could mobilize more spatial power. The might of her techniques, such as Rankyaku: Great Cut, was further enhanced.
The heavily damaged battleship was kept from completely falling apart by the vines matured by the Ripe-Ripe Fruit, but its propulsion system was entirely destroyed. However, since the location wasn't too far from Marine Headquarters, a rescue ship quickly arrived.
On the new ship, Hera suggested to Zephyr: "Your illness affects your combat ability too much. Why don't you go see a better doctor or Vegapunk? Maybe the smartest person in the world has some insight into your condition."
Kizaru also suggested: "Go see him. If your illness hadn't flared up suddenly, you wouldn't have been dragged into such a tough fight against this opponent."
Zephyr hadn't expected this. He had previously felt the Marines no longer needed him and hadn't paid much attention to his illness. Since this time it had nearly caused a disaster, he said: "I will consider it."
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