Thump!
Thump-thump!
The peculiar drumbeats, coming from an unknown source, echoed through the sky above Marine Headquarters.
The drumming was rhythmic, initially like a spring breeze brushing the face, like a babbling brook flowing through everyone's hearts.
Then it became like rain pattering on plantain leaves, causing everyone's hearts to beat faster and faster!
Finally, it resembled ten thousand galloping horses, rolling thunder, like massive bells shaking the heavens!
"What is this?"
Akainu was about to bend down to check Fujitora's injuries.
But this sudden drumming made his body tremble.
He felt his heart following the strange drumbeats, its rhythm accelerating, accelerating, accelerating!
Mysteriously, a vast vitality appeared out of nowhere within his limbs, bones, and internal organs.
The bones broken by Caesar earlier, the crushed muscles and skin, were restored to their original state in the blink of an eye.
Not only that, but even his depleted Haki was rapidly recovering!
Akainu's face filled with astonishment as he looked up toward the sky.
It wasn't just him.
Within less than ten seconds of the strange drumbeats resounding through the world, the remaining Marine officers all saw their injuries healing at an incredible speed!
The gaping hole in Fujitora's chest, pierced through by Shiki, was completely restored to perfect condition in less than a breath.His eyes snapped open, somewhat dazed as he rose from the crater.
On the plaza of G-1 base island, the Marine soldiers who had been knocked unconscious by Caesar and the others' Conqueror's Haki impact...
After the drumbeats rolled past, they actually regained consciousness one by one, their injuries completely healed, each brimming with energy!
In contrast, the Beast God Pirates!
Thousands of pirates turned pale, cold sweat pouring down their foreheads.
They felt their hearts pounding like war drums, enduring unimaginable pressure.
"Pfft!"
Suddenly!
A pirate clutched his chest, a pained expression on his face, and collapsed to the ground.
His heart couldn't withstand the pressure, his blood vessels had ruptured, and he lost his life!
Among these thousands of pirates, those with even slightly weaker physiques had their heart meridians directly shattered by the sound, dying instantly!
"What's going on?"
Kaido frowned, his gaze sweeping across the sky.
He abruptly leaped up, transforming into the Azure Dragon, his hundred-meter body wreathed in flame clouds as he charged toward the direction of the drumbeats.
Abruptly!
Boom!
A thunderous drumblast erupted.
The Azure Dragon that had just taken to the sky was struck by an invisible impact, its massive body crashing down violently!
Caesar's face darkened as he took a sharp breath!
His chest swelled, the air in front of him swirling into a tornado-like vortex, surging into his mouth.
This single breath was like an enormous beast breathing.
"Put in earplugs!"
Katakuri waved his hand, scattering countless Mochi balls to every pirate behind him.
In front of Caesar, Akainu and the others' pupils contracted violently, feeling as if the area around them was about to be sucked into a vacuum by Caesar's inhalation!
"ROAR!!"
Caesar threw his head back and let out a long roar, sound waves rolling and shaking the heavens.
The sky above instantly echoed with continuous rumbling.
The descending drumbeats were scattered by this roar!
Directly in front of Caesar, Aokiji, Kizaru, and the others quickly raised their hands to block the shockwave comparable to an air cannon.
The vast plaza was instantly swept by a violent gust.
Amid the flying sand and stones, the Marine soldiers who had just been awakened by the drumbeats clutched their ears in pain and collapsed.
Blood flowed from their ears.
Many who were closer even had their heads ringing, bleeding from all seven orifices as they fell dead!
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two sharp, swift sounds rang out as two figures instantly appeared before Caesar!
Luffy straightened his right hand on his hat, slowly standing upright, and flashed a bright smile at Caesar.
"We meet again, Caesar!"
Beside him stood the one-armed Zoro!
A sharp glint flashed in Caesar's eyes as he scrutinized Luffy, then glanced at Zoro beside him.
In his perception, Luffy's aura now blazed like the midday sun, majestic and vast.
His presence was even more formidable than Akainu's!
As for the one-armed Zoro, while he appeared normal on the surface...
A closer perception revealed ethereal, mist-like phantom figures swirling around the man's body!
Monkey D. Luffy, the strongest supernova of the new era, the child of destiny awaited by Roger and Imu.
He was Joy Boy, the mysterious Sun God Nika!
"Not bad, Straw Hat Kid. I never expected you to grow to such heights. Was that strange sound your doing just now?"
A look of keen interest appeared on Caesar's face.
"Exactly, this is the power of the Liberation Drum!"
Luffy's face radiated with confidence.
At this moment, he had rediscovered his self-assurance.
Luffy believed that with his current strength, he could openly and honorably defeat Caesar!
Behind Luffy, Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji wore extremely complex expressions.
Aokiji recalled how two years ago, this reckless straw-hatted youth had descended from the sky just like now, facing the three of them alone.
Contrary to two years ago, this youth had now grown to a level that could rival, and might even have surpassed them!
Several days earlier, Luffy had already contacted Akainu, stating he would come to join the battle.
However, Luffy hadn't expected the Marines to be defeated so quickly.
"Fortunately, I made it at the critical moment!"
Luffy turned and saw the complicated expressions on the faces of the Marine officers.
The Marines had never imagined they would one day be saved by a pirate.
In the crowd, Vice Admiral Tsuru looked at Luffy, a kindly smile curling at the corners of her mouth.
"Garp, he's your grandson. Ah, if only he had joined the Marines back then, he might have become the most brilliant Marine soldier of this era!"
Luffy nodded to them without saying anything, then turned again to face Caesar!
He took a deep breath, looked directly into Caesar's eyes, and shouted:
"Caesar! Let's have a one-on-one fight!"
"A one-on-one?" An unprecedented excitement surged in Caesar's heart.
"A duel with the Child of Destiny that everyone has been waiting for eight hundred years? Borororo, how exciting!" Caesar's mouth slowly stretched into a grin, his eyes pouring forth with violent killing intent.
"Then, come! Let me see how much you've improved!"
BOOM!
From Caesar's mountain-like physique, a twisted energy orb erupted violently, the ultimate Conqueror's Haki instantly pouring out, crashing toward Luffy and the others like a tidal wave.
Luffy also grinned widely, his black hair rapidly transforming into burning pale flames, an equally powerful Conqueror's Haki distorting the void, clashing head-on with Caesar's aura!
Crack! Crack!
The void shattered, a raging hurricane swirling up!
Caesar suddenly waved his hand, scattering countless glistening blood droplets toward all members of the Beast God Pirates!
"Not good! Stop them!"
Akainu's face changed dramatically, his arm instantly turning into crimson magma as he blasted toward the space beside Caesar!
But it was already too late!
Behind Caesar, the pirates who had been listless and exhausted were instantly restored to full health under the effect of Caesar's essence blood.
A sky-splitting slash cut through the massive magma fist, sweeping toward Akainu's face!
"Akainu! I'll take you on!"