"Shadow of the Sword Demon." A towering sword energy surged like a storm, sweeping hundreds of ters toward Admiral Akainu.
"What?!" Akainu was startled. According to the battle plan, all enemy forces should have been tied down by Marine Headquarters.
Could it be they didn't intend to save Fire Fist Ace? How could such a powerful attack now disrupt him? Facing Whitebeard's fierce assault, he could hardly afford distraction. Otherwise, the advantage he had just gained by targeting Ace's execution would be wasted. That strike had pierced Whitebeard's body, nearly scorching his organs, yet Whitebeard remained alive and retaliated, wounding Akainu as well.
"Dad!" Seeing Whitebeard hurt because he had been distracted by Ace's execution, the pirates around him felt a mix of shock, anger, and worry.
"Don't worry about , keep moving forward." Whitebeard finally regained his composure. That molten lava kid was indeed strong, but age or underhanded tricks were no excuse. If an enemy is strong, then so be it. Sengoku rarely acts without assurance of victory.
"But—"
"This is an order! Ace is still in Marine hands!" Whitebeard roared, his Conqueror's Haki radiating across the battlefield, striking fear into the enemy.
"Understood." Marco and the others exchanged worried glances but knew what to do. Marco already had a vague sense that this battle might co at a heavy cost. Yet they had no regrets—they were family.
A sword energy streaked past Akainu, leaving a bloody mark. Furious, he realized this strike could have delivered a fatal blow to Whitebeard. Who had ambushed him?
Hathaway appeared beside Akainu, slashing at his head. She had waited nearby for this mont.
"Bastard!" Akainu's face darkened. The attack was dangerous, clearly long prepared. Though it might weaken the enemy afterward, he was already feeling the threat.
Akainu enveloped himself in Armant Haki, looking more imposing and destructive, then launched a molten fist at her blade.
Boom! Shockwaves surged, and both were sent reeling.
"Where did this kid co from? Impressive sword energy." Whitebeard, clutching his wounds, glanced at Hathaway. He admired her skill, though it wasn't yet enough to threaten them at this level. Her potential, however, was remarkable.
Seeing Akainu retreat, the veteran Whitebeard seized the opportunity, delivering a seismic punch. Shockwaves shattered the air; Akainu's body twisted like a shattered mirror, bones creaking, blood spraying, sent flying a great distance.
"Damn it, the Dawn Pirates again! Have they allied with Whitebeard?" Sengoku closely monitored Whitebeard and Akainu's duel.
The main battlefield was Whitebeard versus Akainu, with other forces drawn around them. Secondary skirmishes included the Dawn Pirates, and the Straw Hat crew—Sabo, Jinbe, and others. Additional chaos erupted inside and outside the bay, with other notable clashes involving Admiral Aokiji, captains, the pacifist forces, and even Shichibukai in the background.
Sengoku calculated that even if Akainu couldn't defeat Whitebeard, coordinated strategy, psychological warfare, and assassination attempts should suffice. In a direct confrontation, there was little concern. He expected a major opening when Whitebeard attempted to save Ace.
Yet now, Akainu had taken serious damage. Even if Whitebeard was similarly injured, restraining him further would be difficult. And all this because of one Dawn Pirates officer—when did this crew beco so formidable? After this battle, they would need to be dealt with much more seriously.
"It's not over." Hathaway, having landed a strike, pressed the advantage. She was a bloodthirsty, aggressive queen with a strong mory for grudges. Those who opposed her, or had conflicts with her, were buried. Her current strength approached that of two admirals—her swordsmanship and Haki rivaled their level.
In so ways, her mastery of Haki surpassed even certain admirals, though her physical technique lagged slightly, limiting her overall Haki output. Should her physical skill improve drastically, she might reach the level of an admiral, potentially surpassing the current Rosen.
Even Akainu, could not quickly defeat her onslaught.
"It's you—a re pirate, daring to ambush . Where's that cowardly captain of yours?" Akainu mocked with professional precision.
"He'll co for your life soon enough." Hathaway's expression darkened as she slashed over a hundred tis at Akainu's arms, but his magma limbs blocked them. Lava and sword energy clashed, pressure mounting on Hestia.
This Marine admiral seed even stronger than the one she had faced before—his spirit and will were destructive. This was the pressure Akainu exerted in a one-on-one duel.
"Captain, this looks bad. Should we intervene early? If Whitebeard still retains so strength and rescues soone, our efforts might be wasted." In a dark corner of Marine Headquarters, Burgess spoke through the swirling mist. They constantly monitored Whitebeard's movents—he was their target.
"Indeed, it's risky," Blackbeard considered. Striking Whitebeard now felt premature and dangerous. Yet delaying ant Marine Headquarters might not have the strength to counter this monster. If they couldn't deal significant damage, even Blackbeard would hesitate to confront Whitebeard directly.
Only soone who had sailed on his ship could understand the old man's true power. If not for being ambushed, Akainu might have suffered severe losses, even fighting desperately. Should Akainu die, Blackbeard wouldn't be surprised. Whitebeard's quake ability was devastating.
"Whitebeard is old. If we don't act, we may lose the chance. I imagine the old man has desired death for a long ti. If you don't move, I will." Avalo Pizzaro could no longer restrain himself.
"Then prepare…" Blackbeard deliberated. It was dangerous, but they had no choice—after all, Akainu had gained sothing, and Whitebeard had already suffered significant injury.
"Wait, there's movent."
"Sengoku, I… I'll act." Garp struggled, then stood, crouched, and leaped across half the battlefield, landing with a trendous crash before Whitebeard.
"Ha ha… you old fool can't resist joining in?" Whitebeard greeted him joyfully; they were old friends of decades.
"You've already foreseen today's outco. This battle at Marine Headquarters cannot be lost." Garp lowered his head, fists clenched. He truly wished he didn't have to act—it was like raising a blade against his own grandson.
But the situation left no choice. Despite corruption within the World Governnt and Marine Headquarters, this was the last line preserving order at sea. If it fell, the entire sea would descend into true chaos. His sense of justice would not allow it.
"Garp!" Sengoku's expression was complex.
At the sa ti, Kizaru was thrown a distance, and a lightning bolt struck near Rosen—Enel had arrived.
Nearby, Smoker and a Marine Rear Admiral were thrown to the ground by the electricity, while Tina organized elite Marines to protect them.
"I didn't expect that lightning bastard to know a bit of Armant Haki." Smoker gritted his teeth. He thought that, with his Logia powers, he could at least restrain the enemy—but he had been defeated so thoroughly by just one officer of the Dawn Pirates.
"You're here." Rosen glanced at Enel calmly. Enel seed slightly injured but only lightly, likely encountering capable Marines.
"I saw Captain Hathaway troubling that magma admiral; things may not look good," Enel reported—a detail Rosen paid close attention to.
"Cease attacks, focus on defense. Break through the battlefield; I'll signal our forces with sand. If Kizaru attacks, defend and advance." Rosen decided swiftly—they couldn't afford for Hathaway to be endangered by lingering against Kizaru.
(End of Chapter)
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