As Fujitora's voice faded, the faint sound of oars could be heard in the distance. Jinbei instinctively looked up and saw several small boats rapidly approaching.
Judging by the insignias, they were patrol boats from the Garrison Corps, but there were also people in white medical uniforms aboard—clearly here for him.
The efficiency of the Curtain Closer is truly astonishing...
Jinbei limped to his feet and moved forward to meet them.
Meanwhile, Fujitora turned his attention elsewhere.
"As for you," he said, his expression turning cold as he faced Aramaki's direction once Jinbei's safety was confirmed, "I don't know how the Curtain Closer has offended you, but barging into our territory and severely injuring our guest is beyond discourteous, don't you think?"
"Discourteous?" Aramaki sneered, the face on the tree trunk twisting into a hateful expression. "How bold of you, Pirate! You call this discourteous? My dearest friend died in Sabaody at your hands! Today, I came specifically to raze your den of thieves to the ground!"
Dearest friend?
Sabaody?
Fujitora frowned slightly. "From your tone, you don't seem to be a pirate, and the Curtain Closer never targets civilians. Could there be some misunderstanding here?"
"Enough with the excuses, Fatty!" Aramaki roared impatiently. "At this point, I might as well make it clear—even if it is a misunderstanding, it doesn't matter! I'm now an officially designated Admiral candidate for the Marine Headquarters. Marines killing pirates is only natural, isn't it?"
「Star Fall」 Issho!
To think the Curtain Closer had such a heavyweight fighter guarding their home. That name was one he remembered clearly—the man who single-handedly held off Black Arm Zephyr in Sabaody with overwhelming power.
But...
So what?
He had already strolled through Marine Headquarters with his hands in his pockets.
In his eyes, the vast Marine Headquarters had only one figure whose presence made him instinctively wary—Admiral Akainu. That was the only man he dared not provoke lightly.
If the Fleet Admiral position were to change hands in the future, it should rightfully fall upon that man's shoulders!
As for the likes of Zephyr and Garp... they were relics of a bygone era, long overdue for burial!
Holding off Zephyr?
He could do that too—no, he could even defeat him!
His strength far surpassed Zephyr's!
"Come on! I won't leave this place until I've settled things with you!"
With a violent swing of his trunk, countless sharp wooden spikes erupted from all directions, raining down like a storm upon Fujitora and Nami!
A pirate with a 600 million berry bounty and... huh, some random nobody. The latter could be ignored.
The former alone was more than enough.
Perfect to serve as a stepping stone for his promotion to Marine Admiral!
Meanwhile.
Totto Land, northwest of the glacial battlefield.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Hundreds of Biscuit Soldiers advanced in formation, their synchronized footsteps shaking the ground.
These Puppets, created by Cracker's abilities, each stood over six meters tall, clad in armor and wielding massive swords. From a distance, they resembled a medieval heavy infantry legion.
At the center of the formation...
Cracker's true body was hidden within one of the soldiers, using the soldier's eyes to gaze at the tall, solitary figure standing in the distance.
"Hehehe, how pitiful, Kuma~"
A low chuckle rang out. "With your daughter captured and out of reach, you must be anxious and restless, right? And yet, your luck is so bad that you had to pick me as your opponent..."
How foolish!
As a user of the Biscuit Fruit, Cracker excelled at wars of attrition!
By staying hidden in the rear without lifting a finger, he could rely on his Biscuit Soldiers to torment his enemies to death!
Moreover, since his own body could also transform into biscuits, making his presence indistinguishable from the soldiers...
Even Observation Haki couldn't lock onto his true location!
"Hey hey, why so quiet?"
Cracker's voice echoed from all directions, laced with the mockery of a cat toying with its prey. "Could it be you're regretting this? Or maybe you're scared—"
Before he could finish, Kuma suddenly moved.
He slowly raised his right palm, the paw pad on it glowing faintly as he aimed it at the formation of Biscuit Soldiers charging toward him.
"Pressure Cannon."
A calm voice spoke.
Bzzzt!
The air distorted abruptly.
A bear claw-shaped Shockwave, visible to the naked eye, erupted violently, instantly piercing through six or seven Biscuit Soldiers and carving a hundred-meter-long trench into the ice.
"Oho! To think you could one-shot my Biscuit Soldiers, whose hardness rivals steel! Still strong as ever, worthy of the name 'Thunderfall'!"
Cracker was slightly startled but quickly shook his head, cackling as he manipulated new soldiers to fill the gaps.
"But it's not enough, far from enough! My army is endless! Even if you can shatter a few, I can always create more!"
Kuma remained silent, simply raising his palm again and repeating the motion.
Bzzzt! Bzzzt! Bzzzt!
Pressure Cannons erupted one after another, Biscuit Soldiers continuously shattered and reformed, and soon, the surrounding glaciers were littered with biscuit crumbs.
What a waste.
Kuma thought silently. If Bonney were here with him, she'd probably be overjoyed at the sight of these soldiers, her eyes sparkling with delight.
She might not even need his help—she could probably devour all these Biscuit Soldiers by herself, then clutch her stuffed belly and complain about being too full...
A faint smile tugged unconsciously at Kuma's lips.
"Smiling?!"
Cracker's voice suddenly rose, filled with indignant disbelief. "You bastard, you actually have the nerve to smile?!"
Kuma still didn't respond, merely lifting his gaze toward Whole Cake Island, the smile on his lips deepening slightly.
"Damn it! Don't look down on me!"
Cracker gritted his teeth.
It seemed his leisurely assault wasn't putting enough pressure on this guy. This wouldn't do!
He needed to go all out for a wave of attacks first, then return to slowly wearing him down!
Crack! Crack! Crack!
All the Biscuit Soldiers suddenly raised their greatswords in unison, the blades gleaming with the black sheen of Armament Haki, their strides accelerating as they swarmed Kuma from all directions, slashing down at him!
All closing in at once, huh?
Kuma blinked slightly. Wasn't this...? Slowly, he removed the glove from his other hand and tucked it into his pocket.
"Finally feeling the pressure?"
Cracker sneered. "Now let's see how you block this—"
BOOM!!!
Kuma's eyes suddenly gleamed with light as an unprecedented ferocious aura erupted from his entire body, causing his black coat to flutter violently in the shockwave.
A deep voice rang out—
"Fierce Push Pressure Cannon: 108 Calamity Phoenix!"
This was a newly developed technique, though he didn't understand the name—it had been suggested by a young newcomer on the ship.
In the next instant.
Dozens upon dozens of massive Bear Paw Shockwaves bloomed simultaneously, spreading wildly in all directions like unfolding flower petals, leaving no blind spots!
Crack! Crack!
All the Biscuit Soldiers crumbled instantly upon contact with the shockwaves, disintegrating into countless starch fragments that scattered in the wind.
Cracker's true form, with nowhere left to hide, was forced into visibility. He let out a pained scream as he was sent flying backward.
"How is this possible?!"
His face twisted in panic as he barely managed to steady himself midair, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "An attack of this scale and intensity… How could your stamina possibly sustain—"
His words cut off abruptly.
Because Kuma's figure had already appeared before him like a ghost.
Kuma looked down at him, his forehead drenched in sweat, his breathing ragged. It was clear, just as Cracker had said, that this move had taken a tremendous toll on him.
But…
"Why wouldn't it be possible?"
Kuma's voice was low and steady. "You… don't underestimate a father's resolve."
As he spoke, his massive palm gently pressed against Cracker's chest.
BOOM!!!
...
A deafening explosion!
A blinding crimson light illuminated half the sky.
"Damn it!"
Zoro gritted his teeth, crossing his two swords in front of his chest as he braced with all his might.
But before him, Charlotte Oven's molten-hot fist still sent him staggering backward, sweat pouring down his face.
Hiss~
The ice beneath him melted continuously under the scorching heat, steam billowing upward and creating no small amount of trouble.
If not for Zeff's meticulous training since childhood, which had honed his footwork, he would have long since lost his footing and plunged into the boiling seawater.
"If I recall correctly, you're one of this generation's Supernovas, aren't you?"
Oven sneered down at him, radiating terrifying waves of heat. "How arrogant! What, did joining the Curtain Closer give you this confidence? A mere rookie with a 100 million Berry bounty dares to stand in my way!"
The Curtain Closer was strong, yes—and that Xiano was an unprecedented monster among the younger generation…
But not just anyone could instantly transform just by joining and becoming his subordinate!
And he, Oven, was one of Katakuri's triplet brothers! Back in the day, he had even sailed with their mother on that ship led by Rocks!
His bounty? Sure, it was only 300 million Berries…
But that was only because, as an elder brother, he had yielded many opportunities for fame to his younger siblings.
His Heat-Heat Fruit was on par with that Marine Akainu's power. If it came down to pure strength, he was nearly at the level of a Sweet Commander!
"Heat Wind Fist!"
BOOM!!!
The power of this punch surged even higher.
Zoro finally couldn't hold on any longer. He was sent flying violently, crashing through several glaciers before finally embedding himself deep into a frozen Tart ship.
He coughed up a mouthful of blood, his two swords clattering to the ground. He tried to reach for them, but his arms—burned and numbed by the relentless heat—had lost all sensation…
Thud.
Another deafening explosion echoed through the air as a figure spewing blood plummeted from the sky, landing right at his feet.
Zoro froze, looking down.
The man also struggled to lift his head and meet his gaze.
"Mosshead?"
"Damn Curly Brow?"
The two stared at each other, instinctively wanting to trade insults, but in the next moment, they simultaneously fell silent:
"..."
Not far away.
Charlotte Daifuku, one of the triplets alongside Katakuri, descended from the sky, striding forward side by side with Oven. Behind them loomed a massive Genie of the Lamp.
"Seems like the seniors are all doing well in their fights," Zoro forced a bitter smile, the corner of his mouth twitching. "Only you and I got beaten this badly. What a disgrace."
"Cough..."
Sanji struggled to prop himself up, pulling out a lighter from who-knows-where to light a cigarette. He took a deep drag before muttering, "Don't lump me together with you. At least I can still light a smoke. You, on the other hand, look like you can't even hold your swords anymore."
"?"
Zoro glanced at Sanji's legs, which had been twisted like rope by the genie.
"Caught me, huh?"
Sanji let out a dry chuckle, exhaling a smoke ring. "But Mosshead, now's not the time for bickering. Those two brothers won't give us a breather."
Zoro looked up.
Indeed, Oven and Daifuku were closing in, arms crossed, their faces wearing the smug expressions of cats toying with mice.
The gap in strength was just too vast!
Once they finished off these brats, they'd hurry over to help Big Brother Perospero.
Earlier, they'd caught a glimpse from afar—their eldest brother was actually trading blows with that blue-haired girl who fought with her fists, unable to gain the upper hand for the moment.
Tch, what a disgrace to Mama as the eldest son!
"Heh, guess we have no choice."
Zoro spat out a mouthful of blood, forcing himself to rise by pressing his knees against the ice. He kicked the two swords on the ground toward Sanji's feet, then hoisted the immobile Sanji onto his back.
"You're..." Sanji was visibly moved.
"Hmph, isn't it obvious?"
Zoro grinned. "At times like this, the only hope of winning is to combine our strengths. From here on out, I'll handle the kicks—you take the Two-Sword Style."
"My first-ever team-up in life had to be with you... How unsatisfying."
Sanji burst into laughter. "But I'll give credit where it's due—even a mosshead like you can have moments of brilliance!"
He took one last deep drag before flicking the cigarette away. "Alright, let's show those two what a truly scorching combo looks like!"
Sanji gripped the twin swords tightly as Zoro charged forward. Their movements were initially uncoordinated, wobbling unsteadily on the ice.
Oven and Daifuku exchanged glances, their expressions turning odd.
"Are they... performing a circus act?"
Daifuku snorted with laughter. "Hey, hey, hey—rookies like these are fit to join the Curtain Closers? In my opinion, they'd be better off joining that Pirate Crew Katakuri captured earlier. What was it called again?"
"Can't remember. The Circus Pirates, maybe?"
Oven shrugged, his arms once again igniting with scorching heat. "Doesn't matter. They're just flailing in desperation anyway. Let's finish them quickly... Heat Wind Fist—Barrage!"
Daifuku also commanded his Genie of the Lamp, its massive fist descending with a howling gale:
"Djinn Smash!"
Faced with their combined assault, Zoro and Sanji moved with surprising synchronization.
Zoro stomped hard on the ice, flames erupting from his toes as his body spun like a top. Meanwhile, Sanji seized the momentum to violently unsheathe his blade, unleashing a massive Flying Slash!
"Diablo Jambe: Three Thousand Worlds!"
The blazing fiery kick collided with Oven's Heat Wind Fist, erupting in a shocking shockwave. Simultaneously, the Sword Aura struck the Genie of the Lamp square in the chest, forcing the demon to grunt and stagger back several steps.
Daifuku's expression froze: "Impossible?!"
Their combined attack's power seemed greater than the sum of its parts, actually managing to block both his and Oven's assault!
"Not done yet!"
Sanji flexed his arms and hurled Zoro from beneath him. The swordsman soared through the air, his legs spinning like a whirlwind:
"Prime Meat: Lion's Song!"
Oven raised his arms to block but was kicked backward repeatedly. Seizing the opportunity, Sanji charged forward with crossed blades:
"Two-Sword Style: Luncheon Meat!"
The sword flashes struck like lightning, aiming straight for Daifuku's throat. Daifuku hastily commanded his genie to defend while dodging backward, but he was half a beat too slow—the blade grazed his shoulder, sending blood flying.
"Bastards!"
Oven roared in fury, clenching his fists as his body temperature began skyrocketing. "How dare you make us bleed, you brats! You've thoroughly pissed me off!"
It was time to go all out!
If he raised the temperature further, these two brats wouldn't stand a chance!
He smashed his fists into the ice, unleashing a terrifying heatwave that melted the glacier at a visible rate.
Zoro and Sanji's footing vanished instantly, forcing them to retreat. However, they were already near the glacier's edge—if the heat kept spreading, they'd have nowhere left to escape.
But just then—
BOOM!
A thick black-and-red lightning bolt streaked overhead, followed by a plump figure in a pink polka-dot dress soaring high into the sky before crashing into the distant sea.
Oven and Daifuku instinctively looked up, their pupils shrinking in shock as they screamed:
"Mama!"
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