Law raised his long blade upright and aimed it at the entire battlefield.
"Scan."
His eyes turned like X-ray vision. In an instant, the whole battlefield became clear. Smoke surged from multiple directions, rolling toward this area and continuously polluting the air.
Some of it suddenly mutated, forming poisonous red substances.
"So that's it… I really got taught a lesson…"
In that moment, he fully understood where the poison that invaded his body had come from.
The missiles Queen fired earlier all carried certain toxic base materials. On their own, they did not stimulate the body and were automatically judged as harmless substances. That was why he had not noticed them.
But in the final round of missiles, Queen added seastone powder and then introduced the last component. The reaction instantly formed a deadly poison.
In his vision, the substance was about to sweep down onto the sea. Many soldiers had already inhaled the earlier materials. If this final wave spread out, the entire fleet would die on the spot.
But now that he understood it, the solution was simple.
Whoosh!
Law vanished and appeared in midair. One hand pointed toward the fleet. The other pointed toward the sky.
"Conducting Baton."
An invisible force swept through the area. The soldiers below felt lighter, as if something had been lifted from inside their bodies.
Two faintly discolored clouds of gas gathered around his hands. One was extracted from the soldiers. The other condensed from the poison rushing down from above.
He merged the two gas clouds and attached them to the spinning blade. He then aimed at the giant mammoth locked in battle with Drake.
"Injection Shot!!!"
The rotating gas fused and fired out. The originally pale clouds turned into a black-blue arrow of extreme poison.
* * *
Far away.
Queen, who was falling from the sky and preparing to return, suddenly sensed something. When he saw the poisonous arrow flying toward Jack, cold sweat poured down his face.
He knew that black-blue color all too well. Law had only inhaled a tiny amount, yet half his body had been instantly invaded.
Even with Jack's strong physique, if that dose pierced him… he would survive at best by shedding a layer of skin.
Queen's arm shot forward. Mechanical parts shifted and transformed. A laser cannon emerged, aiming straight at the poisonous arrow.
Whoosh!
Boom!!!!
The arrow was shattered by the blast, but the black-blue toxic mist spread outward with the explosion.
Queen's laser cannon gathered energy again and aimed at the two ancient beasts locked together and tearing at each other.
A beam of light fired out.
Jack, who was colliding head-on with Drake, was blasted away.
Drake's dragon eyes narrowed.
"Wha—"
Whoosh!
He was instantly transferred away by Law's ability.
The black-blue toxic mist swept across the area.
* * *
Whoosh!
Drake appeared on a Marine warship.
"What the hell…"
He shook his head. That familiar feeling of teleportation again.
Law calmly ordered the fleet to retreat and regroup.
"Temporary ceasefire."
His tone was relaxed, as if the earlier battle meant nothing to him.
Drake clicked his tongue. "Tch. I wasn't even done yet. That guy…"
Law gave him a strange look. "Weren't you getting beaten up?"
Drake's expression froze, then anger flared in his eyes. "What do you know! Zoan fights are about evenly matched momentum!"
Law's mouth twitched. "Yeah, yeah."
He turned around with a face that clearly said he believed him.
Veins bulged on Drake's forehead.
"Hey! What's that look supposed to mean… bastard!!!"
* * *
Beasts Pirates fleet.
The pirate ships were fleeing at full speed. Yes, fleeing.
They did not have abilities like Law's. They had no way to move or block the toxic mist. They were terrified of getting touched and dying on the spot.
Queen stood calmly on the deck and looked toward the distant Marine fleet.
"What a shame…"
The fish had been lured out, but it still slipped off the hook. Next time, it would not be so easy to catch.
Jack stood beside him with a tense expression.
"Big brother Queen! The toxic mist is coming!"
Queen snorted. "What are you yelling for? I'm here. No one's dying…"
He raised his hand and fired missiles. The explosions created shockwaves that disrupted and scattered the spreading toxic mist. Queen turned around and walked back into the cabin.
"Attack like this. That poison cloud only happened because I had to save you. You're responsible for blocking it, Jack the Stooge."
Jack straightened immediately.
"Yes!"
In his head, he started thinking about how to create the same effect using missile explosions.
"External Armament Haki?"
* * *
Grand Line. Sabaody Archipelago.
Sengoku hung up the Den Den Mushi and looked at Issho beside him.
"Looks like you won't be leaving for now. Sakazuki just called. He wants you to wait for another newly appointed admiral and head to Marineford together."
Issho showed some interest. "Oh? Another new admiral…"
Sengoku nodded. "That's right. He was also recruited through the World Military Draft. The appointment letter and uniform have already arrived. Starting tomorrow, I'll show you around Sabaody.
"Jinbe of the Seven Warlords is also on the island. If you have time, you can visit Fish-Man Island. You two should get along well."
Issho gave a nod. "Alright."
* * *
Grand Line. A deserted island near Diep Island.
At this moment, nearly half the island had sunk. The remaining half was covered in plants that radiated a dangerous aura.
Borsalino turned into a beam of light and landed on a giant tree.
"How scary~ What a terrifying ability~ It's almost impossible to guard against~"
A green-haired Aramaki laughed cheerfully.
"Rahahahaha. Oh, not at all. Admiral Kizaru's ability is simply unbeatable! You can't even touch him."
The corner of Borsalino's mouth twitched slightly.
"Ohh~ The test is over. Time to report back to Fleet Admiral Sakazuki~"
* * *
New World. New Marineford.
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office.
An extra desk had been added. Carlo was sitting there, working.
Purururu~ Purururu~
The Den Den Mushi on the Fleet Admiral's desk rang.
"Sakazuki" picked it up.
At the same time, Carlo answered a one-way Den Den Mushi on his desk and pressed a button. A soundproof barrier, similar to Rosinante's ability, formed around him.
Borsalino's voice came through. Carlo nodded slightly and spoke.
"Since it's finished, return directly to the New World. Move quickly and take command on Kaido's front.
"As for Aramaki. Welcome to the Marines. This is an extremely correct decision. There is a task that requires you immediately.
"The Vinsmoke family of the North Blue has colluded with an Emperor. The charges are confirmed. Except for the main leader, Judge, leave no one alive…
"After that, head to Sabaody Archipelago and proceed to Marineford with Issho. The appointment letter and admiral uniform will be delivered by assigned personnel…"
The strange part was this.
Inside the light barrier, Carlo's mouth moved, yet no sound came out. Meanwhile, the words spoken by "Sakazuki" behind him perfectly matched Carlo's speech.
The voice and fluctuations were indistinguishable from Sakazuki himself.
**
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