Indeed, it was too fast.
Not only Akainu, but even Aokiji on this side, after snapping out of the shock, couldn't help but twitch the corner of his eye.
In the past two days, he had been specially guarding the nearby waters, ready to rush over at the slightest trouble for Zephyr.
And what about his own captain?
Even though he was supposed to be training in seclusion in Wano Country, deep in the New World, he ended up arriving almost at the same time as Aokiji?
Of course, that's not the scariest part.
The most terrifying thing, naturally, was...
Aokiji's gaze turned to the miserably headless corpse on the ground, his Adam's apple moved slightly.
One kick.
With just one kick, he instantly killed a Grand Admiral from Navy Headquarters?
"Ah, Captain..."
Aokiji swallowed hard, "You, have you... broken through again?"
"Hmm, this time during my training, I had a little gain."
Shano replied indifferently, as he turned his gaze to the critically injured Zephyr, and the unconscious Aine, Binzi, and others, speaking with a deep voice:
"Mansherry, wake up, it's time for you to act."
"Don't worry, I've always been awake, Lord Shano!"
A clear voice rang from above Shano's head.
Eh?
Aokiji was somewhat surprised to see a little girl from the Dwarves Race, dressed in a pink dress, popping out from Shano's hair.
It was none other than the Heal-Heal Fruit ability user, Princess Mansherry from Dressrosa under Shano's domain.
While passing over Dressrosa, the little one was accompanying Rebecca, heading to Belle-Mere's place for a meal.
Considering that the Neo Navy Headquarters might already have many casualties, Shano simply snatched her up and brought her along.
"Really, Lord Shano, you fly too fast, I was afraid of falling all the way and cried so many tears!"
Mansherry casually complained.
But those tears suited her well, as she carefully collected them in her hands.
Now, they could be put to good use.
Mansherry lightly jumped off Shano's shoulder, jogging to Zephyr's side, and deftly applied the Tears of Healing to Zephyr's wound.
The effect was instant.
The moment the crystalline tear touched the wound, Zephyr's terrifying burn started to heal with visible speed.
His pale face gradually began to regain color.
"Cough, cough... This, this is?"
Zephyr felt the surge of life force within him, his eyes widening in disbelief.
Mansherry did not explain further, quickly running to the unconscious Aine and Binzi, repeating the same process.
Soon, both of them opened their eyes, their breathing steadying.
They were initially confused, but upon noticing Aokiji and Shano ahead, they suddenly opened their eyes wide with surprise, only to be punched by Mansherry, crying out in pain.
"Alright! Time is tight, don't stand there dumbfounded, hurry up, there are many more people outside who need healing. You two know the terrain, take me to rescue them!"
Mansherry urged and added:
"These tears I have might not be enough later, so follow this example and punch me too, hurt me, then I'll have more tears!"
"Eh? Punch you?"
"Come on, stop talking and take me over there!"
They were led away in a daze, following Mansherry to other areas of the battlefield to treat injured members of the Neo Navy.
Watching their departing figures, Aokiji clicked his tongue.
What an interesting little girl.
It was his first time seeing Mansherry, realizing that besides Chopper and Law, there was such a capable little doctor within the Endgame as well.
"Cough, cough."
Zephyr finally managed to stand up, having heard all of Aokiji's words during his confrontation with Akainu, he now smiled with relief, patting Aokiji's shoulder without saying much, then turned to Shano, bowing deeply:
"Lord Shano, thank you for your Endgame's assistance, otherwise the Neo Navy would have faced complete annihilation; this kindness, I'll never forget."
"Just part of the duty, though we haven't formally met, we're allies with similar goals, helping each other is the right thing to do."
Shano chuckled and waved his hand, "Speaking of, Zephyr old man, you originally intended to help pave the way for the Endgame. That's why Navy Headquarters marked you?"
Pave the way?
Zephyr smiled bitterly, remembering his bold statement to destroy Marinfanto, but ultimately, progress was too slow.
In the end, he was ambushed by Navy Headquarters first.
The Explosive Rock he painstakingly gathered got stolen, almost making him a tool for the opponent to destroy the Endgame, to destroy the world's future hope.
Fortunately, Shano arrived fast enough.
Really a blessing, a blessing indeed.
Zephyr glanced at Akainu in the distance, took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and spoke to Shano:
"So I'll leave this place to you, I need to catch up with those two kids, they're not capable of cleaning up the aftermath here."
After all, this Navy's surprise attack utilized elite forces; besides Akainu and Ryokugyu, there were several elite Vice Admirals from Headquarters on the warship.
Otherwise, with the numerical superiority, the Neo Navy could not have been defeated so quickly.
"No need to worry about these things, just stay here."
Shano lightly pressed Zephyr's shoulder, smiling, "Mansherry is enough for the wounded, as for those other navy members..."
He looked past Akainu, gazing at the faintly visible naval figures in the distance, his eyes suddenly turned cold.