Chapter 102: Sabaody Archipelago: Battle with Akainu, Part 3
Blue lightning surged toward Akainu, intermingling with the crimson flashes from the red magic spear, knocking off more sticky magma from his body.
However, Eric and Scáthach's attacks clearly missed. Though Observation Haki wasn't Akainu's specialty, it still couldn't be underestimated.
"Your attacks aren't even worth mentioning!" Akainu's lower body turned into magma, continuously expanding and propelling his body toward Scáthach.
From Scáthach's shadow reflected on the ground, a dark humanoid figure identical in build suddenly emerged. Though its facial expression looked sinister, it was unmistakably a puppet born from shadow.
After ten or so days of battle, Scáthach had finally become proficient in using the powers of the Shadow-Shadow Fruit in combat.
"Moonlight Moria's ability has fallen into your hands too? But what use is a measly Shadow-Shadow Fruit!" Akainu paid it no mind and launched an attack directly at Scáthach's shadow.
Combining magma and physical technique, Akainu easily tore the Shadow Clone apart. The scattered shadow fragments transformed into bats that circled Akainu's head, harassing him.
"Damn pests, like flies!" Akainu swatted at the bats with his enlarged magma hand, sending them flying.
The bats that fell to the ground turned back into shadows and slowly reformed into the Shadow Clone once again.
At that moment, the black blade Shusui, wrapped in lightning and Haki, slashed down at Akainu alongside Esdeath's rapier, instantly cutting him into three parts.
"Tch, missed again!" The sensation on the blade made it obvious they hadn't struck Akainu's true body—he had once again evaded the attack using his elemental form.
"Heh, and you dare to challenge the justice of the Navy with that level of skill?" Akainu turned to taunt them. It was worth noting that his taunting skills had once enraged Ace into turning back after fleeing, with every word hitting a nerve—proof of his formidable verbal abilities.
…
Aboard the Fearless Eternity, Akame held a visual Den Den Mushi, live-streaming the battle between Akainu and the trio.
The whole world could now witness the terrifying strength of a Navy Admiral. Especially that first attack—Great Eruption—whose volcanic blast, though with a reduced range, still looked to the public like a volcanic eruption, a full-blown apocalypse.
…
"This is another huge scoop!" Morgans, president of the World Economic News, was delighted watching the battle. A Navy Admiral versus a rising pirate crew—three back-to-back headlines made him ecstatic as a journalist.
"However, Admiral Akainu isn't even fighting seriously yet. If Eric and Esdeath are only this strong, they'll die."
Morgans had attended Big Mom's tea party and once witnessed Charlotte Linlin 's power firsthand. Compared to Big Mom, one of the current Yonko, it was hard to say whether Akainu was stronger or weaker. In terms of individual strength, they were likely evenly matched—no clear winner between them.
But so far, Akainu hadn't displayed power on the same terrifying level as Big Mom. He was merely using the basic abilities of his Magma Fruit.
"Hey, hey, hey! Are rookies these days all this wild? They're actually fighting an Admiral head-on. What a bunch of reckless brats." Doflamingo was seething with hatred toward Eric for killing a Celestial Dragon and slaughtering nobles and kings from allied nations in his human trafficking shop.
He had just been questioned by high-ranking Navy officials about whether that shop belonged to him. Of course, Doflamingo firmly denied it. Being hated by the Celestial Dragons would derail his future plans. For now, all he could do was jot down the names and faces of Eric 's crew in his little revenge notebook.
Since the live broadcast hadn't ended, Doflamingo decided to keep watching carefully to learn about his future targets. To his surprise, Eric 's pirate crew actually dared to clash directly with an Admiral.
"If you die at Akainu's hands, who am I supposed to take my anger out on, huh?!" Doflamingo's veins bulged. Clearly, he didn't believe they could win.
Having been chased by Vice Admiral Tsuru for years, Doflamingo knew her strength well. He was constantly on the run, and only after robbing several nations of their Celestial Tribute to the Celestial Dragons did he earn the title of Warlord, finally forcing Tsuru to abandon her pursuit.
Not to mention, the current three Navy Admirals all possessed rare Logia-type Devil Fruits. Aside from Kizaru being slightly weaker in physical combat, all three were impeccable in Haki, physical prowess, and fruit abilities. Even as recruits, they were called monsters.
If Eric and Esdeath died at Akainu's hands, Doflamingo would have no one left to vent his rage on.
…
Esdeath's Ice-Ice Fruit powers were completely ineffective against Akainu's magma. The generated ice melted within seconds.
The battle between Eric 's group and Akainu lasted about ten minutes when a voice came through Eric 's communicator—it was Chiron.
"Captain, I spotted ten Navy warships approaching from the south. These ships are massive—much larger than the ones we've seen before. What should we do?"
"Ten warships? A Buster Call?!" As soon as Eric heard "ten warships," he immediately thought of a Buster Call.
[Ding… You have a new mail]
[Temporary Mission: Stop the ten warships of the Buster Call. Protect the Sabaody Archipelago alongside your companions. Reward: Based on outcome, 1–5 Achievement Points, 1–10 Bond Points]
Eric was very familiar with the Buster Call, which had destroyed Robin's homeland, Ohara, and was used during the Enies Lobby incident. In front of the Buster Call's giant warships, the Going Merry looked like a mere toy.
But he had always wondered: just how strong is a Buster Call really? It's just ten ships firing cannons. In the anime, how many strong characters have ever died from cannon fire? Isn't it usually just grunts and extras?
Still, a large number of shells can indeed destroy an island. The Ohara incident proved that.
At present, the Sabaody Archipelago was still populated by many civilians. If they were to die because of a Buster Call, it would be because of him. With far more responsibility than most, Eric couldn't allow such a tragedy.
"Fire everything we've got! Block those ten warships—don't let them near the Sabaody Archipelago."
The purpose of the ten massive warships initiating a Buster Call was clear: to erase the Sabaody Archipelago from the map.
"Captain, if we go too far out, I might not be able to provide covering fire for you."
"That's fine. Preventing the destruction of the Sabaody Archipelago is the priority! Let them taste the power of our 406-caliber big guns!"
"Understood!"
Eric took the opportunity to say to Esdeath, "Esdeath, release all your Ice Knights. Our ship needs to move away."
Because he had warned her in advance to store energy, Esdeath had spent the past ten days—during her sparring with Rayleigh—using leftover stamina each day to create a group of Ice Knights, which had been stored in the ship's freezer chamber to preserve their energy.
Now that the Fearless Eternity was going to move away from Esdeath, the Ice Knights had to be released ahead of time.
Hearing this, Esdeath showed a sadistic smile. 'Finally, I can fight at full power!'
But, of course, someone always had to disobey. Akame and Kurumi, bringing along the still-spirit-form Perona, left the ship and joined the battlefield.
"Why are you here? It's too dangerous!" After fighting Akainu, Eric realized just how far he was from his level. Without enhanced Observation Haki and teleportation from the Thunderclap Fruit, he would've been dead already.
"Ara, I wouldn't abandon my other half and run away on my own."
"Yes, we face powerful enemies together." Akame nodded in agreement.
"You're not running. I need you to stay aboard the Fearless Eternity and stop those ten warships."
"Hmph, are you joking? Akame and I are no help in a naval battle from that distance. Better to assist in the fight against Akainu."
"Akainu's attacks are far too powerful. I'm afraid something will happen to you."
"Exactly, Sister Kurumi, just listen to the Captain and go back to the ship~"
Even though Perona was in spirit form and couldn't cry, Eric could still see the sparkle of tears in her expression. The realism of her emotive face was truly something else.
"There, there~ you're a spirit. You won't be harmed. Just use your Negative Ghosts and Ghost Bombs properly," Kurumi comforted her with a pretend head-pat.
"Sigh, alright… but you all must prioritize your own safety!" Eric had no choice but to accept it. He turned back to see Esdeath and Scáthach still fluidly dodging and attacking Akainu, unaffected by his temporary absence from the fight.
"Well then," Kurumi crossed her arms and raised her twin guns, "Let's begin our war (DATE)!"
(END CHAPTER)
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