Chapter 111: Can You Take Me Down, Akainu?!
Whoosh~
Before the puff of smoke had even dissipated, he saw Kuina flash past overhead, her sword glinting as she charged toward Dalmatian.
"Hey, hey, hey…"
Dalmatian raised an eyebrow, a little surprised. "Coming straight for me, are you? Isn't that a bit…"
"…too arrogant, pirate!"
Kuina's blade was just about to reach his throat when a red light flashed in his eyes. He snapped his head to the side, dodging the blow. His half-beast dog-paw, already coated in a thick layer of Armament Haki, shot out to grab her wrist—
CLANG!
With a deafening crash of metal on metal, Kuina blocked the blow with her sword. She used the force of the impact to flip backward, the tip of her blade scraping sparks on the ground as she landed gracefully.
Dalmatian was also pushed back two steps by the force.
He looked down at his paw. On the steel-hard knuckles, there was now a thick white mark spanning all five fingers.
"Interesting…" he said, licking his sharp canine teeth. "Not bad, little girl. A pity your strength is still a little lacking."
Kuina didn't answer. She just slowly regulated her breathing, her hand, though slightly numb, still holding the sword as steady as a rock.
"So…" Dalmatian suddenly crouched, his leg muscles tensing like springs. "…if that's all you've got, it's not going to be enough!"
SWISH!
His figure suddenly vanished, leaving only an afterimage.
Kuina's pupils constricted. Although she hadn't yet mastered Observation Haki, her keen swordswoman's intuition told her exactly where to react—
To the left!
CLANG!
The blade of the Wado Ichimonji just barely blocked the incoming claw. The immense force of the blow sent her sliding back several meters.
Dalmatian reappeared, his assault relentless. His claws came at her like a torrential storm.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The sound of metal on metal was incessant, sparks flying. Kuina's swordsmanship was as fluid as running water, each blow precisely blocked, yet she was pushed back step by step by the sheer force of the impacts.
"Hey! What's wrong?!" Dalmatian sneered. "Can you only defend? Where'd that confidence from before go?"
CRACK! His tail suddenly shot out like a whip, fast and vicious.
Kuina's attention was focused on his claws. She dodged hastily, but her side was still grazed. A searing pain shot through her, and she stumbled, nearly falling to the ground.
But in that moment, Nojiko finally broke through the blockade of several Marine Captains and arrived.
"I'm here to help!"
A blue light flared from her Mithril Gloves. Her right fist shot out like a cannonball, aimed at Dalmatian's side!
"—Ripple Fist: Extreme Collapse!"
"Hmm?"
Dalmatian's dog-ears twitched. He paused his assault and brought his left paw back to block.
The moment their fists collided, Kuina seized the opening, her blade slashing upward in a diagonal arc. "Counter-Wind Cut!"
SLASH!
Dalmatian's military-green suit was torn, and a bloody gash stretched from his abdomen to his chest.
He roared in pain and fury, clenching his right paw into a fist and smashing it at Nojiko's face!
Nojiko didn't hesitate. She pulled her fist back and crossed her arms in front of her. VWOOM! A dark, inky Armament Haki instantly coated her arms.
THUMP!
With a dull thud, she was sent flying by the punch, tumbling several times on the ground before landing on her feet with a kip-up.
She shook her slightly numb but uninjured arms, a look of excitement on her face.
"Nice punch, big doggy," she said, cracking her knuckles. "But—that's more like it!"
A year ago, in Cocoyasi Village, when her martial arts had reached a critical stage, Shane had been her full-time sparring partner.
His strength was about the same as her brother's back then, maybe even a little weaker.
I can handle this!
"…?"
Dalmatian looked down at the wound on his chest, blood slowly seeping out. The unacceptable sight instantly made his eyes gleam with a ferocious light.
"You two insolent brats!"
His body began to swell, his fur growing wildly. In a flash, he had completely transformed into a massive black-and-white spotted dog, over five meters long, even larger and more muscular than Gin.
"In that case, I'll show you the true strength of a veteran Vice Admiral from Headquarters!"
Kuina and Nojiko stood back to back. They turned and exchanged a look of tacit understanding.
"I'll take the lead, as we planned," the black-haired girl with the high ponytail said in a low voice.
"Understood," the blue-haired girl said, bumping her fists together. "I'll create openings for you from the flank."
"ROAR—!"
Dalmatian's hind legs slammed into the ground, cracking the solid pavement of the docks.
His massive body, however, was incredibly fast. In the blink of an eye, he was in front of them.
His sharp fangs glinted in the sunlight, reflecting the resolute gazes of the two girls as they looked up at him.
And in that reflection, another battlefield was visible—
…
"White… Blow!"
"Shoulder Meat SHOOT!"
THUMP!
Smoker and Zeff knocked back the Marines who were trying to surround them and landed on the ground, standing side-by-side.
Their gazes were locked on the alluring figure in the Justice coat just ahead of them.
Vice Admiral Broumaya was lightly licking the tip of her syringe, her eyes shining with a morbid excitement.
"Hey, old man," Smoker said in a low voice, a cigar between his teeth. "This woman seems a little off. Her Devil Fruit ability is strange too. Be careful."
"I've been alive for so long, what kind of lunatic haven't I seen?" Zeff grinned, his right leg slightly raised, the joints of his steel prosthesis creaking. "But you, Smokey, don't you go dragging me down."
"Heh…" Smoker's lips twitched. He said no more, gripping his jitte, Armament Haki silently coating it.
"Yahoho, this is so exciting~" Broumaya suddenly giggled, covering her mouth. "Are you two going to come at me together? Oh, goody! You know, I just love… to poke holes in tough guys like you, bit by bit!"
SWISH!
She shot into the air with Moonwalk, her figure flickering. She reappeared above Smoker, her syringe plunging down like a spear!
"Time for your shot, little boys!" she giggled.
Shave!
Smoker instantly dodged. The ground where he had been standing was pierced by the syringe, and a blackened, corroded pit instantly formed.
"Poison?!"
Zeff's pupils constricted. "Be careful, Smokey! That syringe can release a deadly poison!" he roared.
"You're only just realizing that now? Too late~"
Broumaya's figure appeared behind Zeff like a phantom, the syringe sweeping toward his neck.
"Is that so?!" Zeff's eyes were fierce. He didn't hesitate to spin around and kick back.
A simple sneak attack like that? Does she really think I'm old and senile?!
CLANG!
His steel prosthesis, coated in Armament Haki, deflected the syringe with a whip kick!
Broumaya was knocked back, but she just giggled and, still in mid-air, the tip of her syringe suddenly began to spin rapidly, spraying a cloud of pink mist!
"Doctor's Orders: Sweet Scent!"
The pink mist shot toward Zeff and Smoker. It had a warm, sweet scent, but it instantly made both of them turn pale. They were about to retreat—
CRACKLE!
A dazzling flash of lightning suddenly erupted, and a semi-circular dome of electricity instantly enveloped the two of them.
"Nice one, Gin!"
Seeing the familiar scene, Zeff turned and shouted.
"AWOOO—!"
Gin shot past on the flank, an unstoppable force.
The two Rear Admirals tried to stop him, but even together, they were struggling, barely able to hold him back.
If not for that, Gin wouldn't have been able to spare the attention to help his comrades.
Sizzle~
The lightning field continued to expand, not only blocking the pink mist but also repelling it.
The mist quickly spread with the sea breeze, and in a few moments, it had enveloped many of the surrounding Marines.
"Not good!"
A Marine Captain's face changed drastically. "It's Vice Admiral Broumaya's ability! Everyone, hold your breath and get back!" he roared.
Many were startled and reacted in time, but a significant number were caught off guard and inhaled the mist.
"Die! Die!"
"Who are you?! You die too!"
The Marines who had inhaled the pink smoke began to breathe heavily, their eyes turning red. They seemed to see everyone around them as a mortal enemy and began to swing their swords wildly.
The Marines' encirclement was instantly broken, and the scene descended into chaos.
"Now's our chance, Nami! Break through from here and get to the ship!"
"Understood, Uncle Zeff!"
The orange-haired figure shot toward The Curtain Call on the shore. A few Marine Captains tried to stop her, but they were held back by a sudden wave of fire.
"Hiss… so hot!"
"Dammit, where did that fire come from?! Is that giant wolf at it again?!"
It's me!
Nami, who had nearly broken through the encirclement, was on the verge of a breakdown.
What is wrong with these guys?!
Lightning is lightning, fire is fire! How could they say it was Gin…
Are they all blind?! Can't they see where the fire is coming from?!
…
Sizzle—CRACK!
At the same time, the lightning field finally dissipated.
Zeff's steel prosthesis slammed into the ground, the shockwave blowing away the remaining mist. He looked up at the female Vice Admiral. "Thanks for the opening. It's a good thing your 'doctor's orders' don't spare your own men."
For the first time, Broumaya's smile froze on her face.
She whipped her head around and looked behind her.
The Marines who had been caught in the illusion were still attacking each other, and the area of effect was constantly expanding.
Chaos was spreading through the ranks like a plague. The unaffected Marines were forced to defend themselves as they retreated. The encirclement on this side had completely collapsed.
"Hey, you useless trash! You've embarrassed me, you know that?!"
She shrieked hysterically. Her syringe suddenly transformed and extended, the opening at the tip widening.
"Get back to normal, you idiots! If you won't, then I'll just have to put you out of your misery—"
"Doctor's Orders: Grand Cleanup!"
Hundreds of fine poison needles shot out like a torrential rain, striking the out-of-control Marines. In an instant, they were all foaming at the mouth and collapsing to the ground.
And the Marines on the outskirts, though they had been saved, were all looking at her with terror.
"You crazy bitch!"
Smoker's face changed drastically, and he couldn't help but curse. "Hey! You bastard! How can you do that and still have the word 'Justice' on your back?!"
He, a traitor to the Marines, had done his best to use his smoke ability to incapacitate the low-ranking Marines who were trying to stop them, rarely resorting to lethal force.
And this woman…
A Vice Admiral from Marine Headquarters, so depraved that she had no regard for the lives of her own men!
That volley of poison needles had killed at least a hundred Marines… how could she do it?
A lunatic!
Another lunatic, just like Onigumo!
Thank goodness he had made his own choice back in Loguetown.
If he had continued to work alongside vermin like this, how could he even dare to speak of "Justice"?!
"What are you muttering about, Mr. Traitor Marine? Justice?"
Broumaya flickered and charged again. "I don't think that's something you have the right to talk about anymore. As long as it helps Mr. Sakazuki and eliminates you pirates, what's the sacrifice of a few grunts…"
BOOM—!!!
A deafening explosion suddenly ripped through the northern sky, and the entire island trembled.
Both sides were momentarily stunned and instinctively looked up.
In the distance, a torrential rain of crimson magma was falling, dyeing the clouds a dark red.
Such a terrifying commotion.
As expected of Mr. Sakazuki…
Broumaya's eyes instantly glazed over, an unnatural flush on her cheeks. Even the hand holding the syringe was trembling slightly.
"Hey, why don't you just lay down your weapons and surrender? If you do, I'll be a little gentler when I give you your shot," she said suddenly in a sickeningly sweet voice, tilting her head and giving Smoker a bizarre smile. "Can't you see? Mr. Sakazuki is angry. Your captain will be a charred corpse soon enough…"
————
"Six Powers Secret Art: Sunlight Yellow Overdrive!"
BOOM!
The moment the punch was thrown, a massive shockwave erupted from the ground. The nearly one-hundred-meter-long natural stone bridge in the distance completely collapsed.
And Akainu, who was right in front of him, his face rippled violently, like a wave.
Not good!
His pupils suddenly constricted.
This move… it seems to be the culmination of all this brat's physical arts, and he's using the internal destruction technique of Armament Haki! I shouldn't have—
The thought had barely formed when a terrifying force shot through his body!
CRACK!
A clear cracking sound came from Akainu's chest, and the clothes on his upper body were instantly shredded.
He was sent flying like a broken kite, crashing through several massive reefs before finally slamming into a cliff on the coast!
Rumble—
The entire cliff collapsed from the impact, and tons of rubble rained down, completely burying Akainu.
The sea was thrown into a frenzy by the shockwave, a giant wave dozens of meters high crashing down on the pile of rubble.
"Hah, hah…"
Shane held his punching form, hot white steam rising from his fists. He was breathing heavily, his eyes fixed on the ruins below.
Splash!
A massive hand covered in magma suddenly burst through the rubble!
Akainu slowly stood up. A trickle of blood was coming from the corner of his mouth, and his chest was slightly caved in. But other than that, he was completely unharmed, his aura as strong as ever.
"..."
He's bleeding?
He narrowed his eyes, unable to remember the last time he had seen his own blood.
It's been many years…
Akainu didn't wipe away the blood. He just looked up, his face impassive, and met Shane's gaze.
"What are you looking at?"
Shane grinned. "My attack isn't over yet!"
So this is a Marine Admiral?
The blow that had completely crushed Crocodile had only managed to make him bleed a little and suffer some unseen damage?
He's tough as hell!!!
The moment he finished speaking, Shane's figure vanished!
Shave!
This time, he was even faster. In the instant that an afterimage was left on Akainu's retina, his fist, coated in the Sunlight Yellow Overdrive, was already hurtling toward his temple!
"Useless. The same trick only works once,"
Akainu said in a low voice. His Observation Haki had already predicted the attack. His head instantly elementalized, letting the punch pass through.
At the same time, he brought his right knee up, his magma-coated knee shooting for Shane's abdomen!
"Iron Body!"
Shane didn't dodge. His abdominal muscles instantly tensed like iron, and he took the knee strike head-on. At the same time, his hands, fingers pointed, shot out like a torrential storm, striking at Akainu's chest!
"Finger Pistol: Wave Rain!"
Swish, swish, swish. Shane's Finger Pistol was a blur, but Akainu's body was like a willow in the wind, dodging almost all of them.
This was the mark of a master of Paper Art.
Having worked his way up from a rookie at the Headquarters' training camp, his Six Powers were also at a world-class level!
BOOM!
BOOM!!
BOOM!!!
Dull explosions echoed along the coast, a heart-pounding sound.
Before they knew it, they had exchanged dozens of blows.
The more they fought, the more fired up they seemed to get. In the end, they both abandoned dodging and began to trade blows, pure physical strength against pure physical strength.
The ripples from their magma and fists constantly clashed, creating visible shockwaves.
The entire coastline was collapsing under the force of their battle. Seawater poured into the newly formed craters, only to be instantly vaporized into steam by the intense heat of the magma.
"To be able to fight me to this point, for a brat in his teens, you can be proud,"
Akainu said in a low voice as their figures flashed past each other. "But, this is where it ends."
He was now in tatters, his exposed body covered in bruises.
The Marine cap he had worn for many years was gone, blown off at some point.
He looked a little worse for wear.
But compared to Shane, it was nothing.
The black-haired young man was now covered in horrific burns, some parts of his body so scorched that the flesh was peeling back, revealing the charred muscle beneath.
But the most serious injuries were on his sides, where the bone was exposed.
The wounds, which had been pierced by magma, were healing slowly, but fresh blood would seep out with every movement.
In addition, his left arm was hanging limply at his side.
He had clearly failed to completely deflect a powerful blow, resulting in a fracture that would be difficult to heal quickly.
If not for his incredible physical toughness and his amazing regenerative ability, he would have been defeated long ago in this high-intensity, close-quarters battle.
"Cough, cough…"
Shane was breathing heavily, his aura rapidly weakening.
BOOM! He clashed with Akainu again. The latter was only pushed back a few steps by the force, but he was sent crashing into the ground.
Crack, crack.
A spiderweb of cracks spread across the ground. Akainu landed on the edge of the deep crater, his face impassive as he watched the figure stumble to its feet from the dust and smoke.
"Still talking big, old man?"
Shane's face was pale. He spat out a mouthful of blood and grinned, a grin that stretched from ear to ear. "It's been over half an hour. That's what you said half an hour ago, and what have you got to show for it? You still haven't been able to take me down!!!"
"..."
Akainu's gaze darkened slightly, but he couldn't refute his words.
Although his opponent had only managed to land a few damaging blows, and he had been on the offensive the entire time, it was as the brat had said. It had been over half an hour, and he still hadn't been able to put him down.
For a Marine Admiral, this was undoubtedly a disgrace.
"There are very few people in the world who can hold me off for this long with such a reckless, life-or-death fighting style. To be precise, below the level of the Four Emperors, there is only Marco, and now, I suppose I can add you to that list."
Akainu said in a low voice, "You have impressed me, brat…"
"But in the end, a fighting style like yours requires stamina, doesn't it?"
"And now, your aura is so weak, your stamina must be at its limit. So I wasn't wrong. It is time for this to end. And your comrades too. Do you really think that in your current state, you can continue to hold me off until they esca—"
In that instant.
POP!
A column of orange flame suddenly shot up from the sea in the distance, exploding in the sky like a firework.
"Oh?"
Seeing this, Shane's eyes lit up, and he suddenly grinned. "So they actually did it?"
What?
A cold light flashed in Akainu's eyes, and he used Moonwalk to ascend.
Looking off into the distance, he saw the Curtain Call Pirates' ship already leaving the port and heading for the open sea.
His face turned completely grim.
Dalmatian, Broumaya, two Vice Admirals from Headquarters, plus several Captains and over two thousand elite Marines…
And they still couldn't keep them at the port?
What are those useless fools doing?!
VWOOM—!
Akainu's lower body suddenly elementalized, and magma shot out from behind him like a rocket. He was about to fly directly to the southern port.
But he had barely flown a few meters when a figure flashed into his peripheral vision. It was above him, and it was coming down with a vicious axe kick.
"GET—"
Shane sneered, slamming his heel down on Akainu's shoulder!
"—DOWN!!!"
BOOM—!!!
Akainu's pupils constricted, but his body couldn't react in time. He was sent plummeting from hundreds of meters in the air like a meteorite, crashing into the rocky beach below!
The terrifying force of the impact shook the entire coast. Debris flew everywhere, and a cloud of dust shot into the sky. The sea was thrown into a frenzy, a giant wave dozens of meters high crashing down!
"Cough…"
Akainu pushed himself up from the deep crater, coughing several times. Magma dripped from his body. He looked up at the sky in disbelief.
Such speed, such power… that's the kind of strength he had at the beginning of the fight! How can that be?!
"What are you thinking about, old man? I'm your opponent!"
The black-haired young man's laughter reached his ears. He seemed to be chewing on something. "We've come this far. How could I possibly let you go and interfere with my comrades now?!"
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