Horn's greatsword came crashing down; Betty twisted aside at the last moment, the blade splitting the ground open with a deafening crack.
Though her footing faltered slightly, Belo Betty burst into laughter, "Is that all a Marine Admiral can do?"
"You're courting death!"
Horn's gaze burned hotter, his blade sweeping out again and again, relentless as a storm.
Yet Betty remained nimble, weaving through the strikes, deflecting where she could, narrowly avoiding the rest as she stalled for time.
There was little else she could do.
Why else would he be called "Iron Wall"?
If Hawkeye Mihawk embodied overwhelming offense, then "Iron Wall" Horn represented absolute defense.
An impregnable fortress in human form.
Back during the God Valley Incident, when Rocks D. Xebec slew a Marine Admiral in Mary Geoise, Horn had been present.
That moment carved itself deep into his psyche.
To witness an Admiral one of the Navy's greatest powers fall so effortlessly shattered his understanding of strength.
From then on, his swordsmanship abandoned aggression and turned wholly toward defense.
With that near-impenetrable style, even if his offensive power lagged behind future Admirals like Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru
Few could truly bring him down.
Meanwhile, Lindbergh had already led his unit toward the control room.
Morley's Push-Push Fruit warped the earth into rolling waves, opening a path forward.
Karasu's Susu Susu no Mi spread pitch-black soot across the port, severing all lines of communication.
Dragon stood at a high vantage point, calmly observing everything.
His voice cut clearly through the chaos:
"Remember our purpose!"
"Free the slaves! Liberate this world!"
Horn's furious roar echoed in response:
"You will not succeed!"
But his words carried no weight.
The remaining forces at Red Port were no match for the Revolutionary Army.
With Horn pinned down by Belo Betty, he could only watch as the main force seized control of the elevator.
Soon, the massive steel platform rumbled into position at the edge of the Red Line.
Dragon's cloak whipped violently in the rising heat.
Before him, Mary Geoise had become a sea of flames
Marble pillars collapsed, golden ornaments melted and curled, and countless slaves flooded the streets like a broken dam...
Dragon's expression beneath his hood did not change.
"Lindbergh, secure the elevator."
"Roger!"
The small Mink thumped his weapon confidently. "We'll pack every trip to capacity!"
Morley surged forward, reshaping the terrain.
A massive passage stretched from the densest crowd straight to the elevator, the ground itself moving like a conveyor.
A Longarm Tribe mother stumbled while clutching her child instantly, the earth rose beneath her, forming a protective channel.
Karasu's soot clones circled overhead before one reported calmly:
"Enemy reinforcements southwest."
The warning came with an explosion of black ash.
Dozens of armed guards burst through the flames, only to be swallowed by the darkness.
Ivankov's Death Wink blasted through the haze, sending them flying.
Dragon stepped forward, chains clinking beneath his boots.
Three giant slaves wearing explosive collars hesitated upon seeing him.
"Give them to me."
His fingers brushed the collars, Armament Haki surging
The mechanisms shattered instantly.
"Head to the elevator. We need strength to carry the wounded."
His calm authority left no room for doubt.
The giants obeyed without hesitation.
Then a thunderous collapse echoed from the northwest.
A shockwave tore through the air.
Dragon's cloak snapped violently as his eyes narrowed.
"A Conqueror's Haki clash... infused attacks."
"Top-tier fighters are clashing."
The chaos of Mary Geoise disrupted all perception.
Even Dragon's Observation Haki was heavily interfered with.
Far away in the manor, even Black's advanced Observation Haki was similarly restricted.
Karasu's clone rose higher into the sky, scanning the battlefield.
Though details were unclear, the location was evident:
"About five kilometers... that's"
"Fisher Tiger?"
"Keep advancing."
Dragon gave the order, then turned slightly.
"Rayleigh-san"
He paused.
Rayleigh was already gone.
Dragon let out a quiet sigh, crushing a discarded iron plate bearing the Celestial Dragon hoof symbol beneath his foot.
"Ivan stimulate the exhausted. Make sure no one collapses before reaching the elevator."
As they pushed through a third burning plaza, Betty's strained voice crackled through the Den Den Mushi:
"I can't hold him much longer!"
No matter how defensive his style was, Horn was still an Admiral.
Betty, still far from her prime, had already exceeded expectations by holding him this long.
And her Kobu Kobu no Mi required allies to truly shine.
Karasu, watching yet another group reach the elevator, immediately responded:
"Hold on, Betty. The lift is running reinforcements are coming!"
"Stop."
Dragon raised his hand sharply.
Everyone halted.
Ahead of them stood figures clad in white suits, dark ties, and eerie masks.
"CP0..."
Dragon spoke quietly.
Now, the real battle began.
These were no ordinary guards.
This was the World Government's elite.
But the Revolutionary Army had come prepared.
Dragon trusted his commanders.
Defeating them would not be easy but it was necessary.
Boom!
Another explosion rang out closer this time.
The shockwave flattened nearby structures.
Dragon's hesitation vanished.
"Advance! Break through them!"
...
"Christopher... must you oppose me every time?!"
Garin's frustration boiled over as yet another strike failed.
Christopher landed lightly, blade angled downward.
"Garin... you've gone too far."
"This world could be shaped differently."
"All intelligent life should stand as equals."
Garin gave a slow nod, his patience finally exhausted.
"In that case..."
"I'll stop holding back."
As his words fell, a deep purplish-black glow spread across the ground.
A strange, ominous pattern formed beneath his feet
A magic circle.
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