Carlos found a relatively low-lying spot with a clear view. Though there were some obstructions, those buildings could not block the Byakugan's sight. The officers and soldiers at Marine Headquarters had all focused their attention on Golden Lion; how could they possibly notice him hidden in the darkness...
After Carlos found his position, the battle erupted. Their stances were completely opposed, leaving nothing to discuss—and no need to discuss it. Golden Lion had brazenly invaded Marine Headquarters and killed so many Marine officers and soldiers. How could Sengoku and Garp possibly let him go?
Carlos focused his gaze on Golden Lion, Garp, and Sengoku from afar. As for everyone else, most of them were merely spectators. Only Vice Admirals from Marine Headquarters were even remotely qualified to interfere, and one careless move could get them killed!
Golden Lion made the first move in this battle!
Golden Lion leaped down from the Marine Corpse Mountain built by the Marines, twisting his body as the two Meito in his hands slashed toward Garp and Sengoku. Facing two opponents alone, he showed no fear. Even though he had anticipated his own fate, his bearing was astonishing!
Although this Golden Lion was the same man as the one Luffy encountered, he could also be said to be a different person. The Golden Lion Luffy met had lost all his spirit and magnanimity. Due to his age, the blow of his defeat in the Battle of Edd War, the loss of his legs, and other reasons, he had become someone dependent on external things and barely clinging to life. His strength had declined far too much, and he had actually lost to Luffy. For a great hero, it was truly tragic and lamentable!
Garp and Sengoku removed the Cloaks of Justice from their backs. Dressed in black suits, they moved at once, swinging their fists. Their fists were wrapped in high-level colorless Armament Haki and contained the power of the Buddha-Buddha Fruit. Ignoring the sharpness of the Meito, they collided head-on with the blades!
Boom! Boom!
Two explosions louder than the thunder in the sky rang out. A savage, razor-sharp shockwave erupted from the center of the clash, shattering the hard floors and steps around them inch by inch. The three figures were swallowed by thick smoke.
The next moment, the three figures burst from the smoke. They launched into an incomparably fierce close-quarters battle. The sword light from the Meito pulverized the falling rain, keeping even water from penetrating. Terrifying Sword Qi slashed in all directions from time to time, smashing lofty buildings apart and leaving savage sword marks across the ground!
Every part of Garp's body became a terrifyingly sharp weapon, especially his pair of Iron Fists. With every punch he threw, the air had no time to disperse before his overwhelming fist force compressed it and blasted it toward Golden Lion. Fist shadows filled the air, and the destruction they caused around them was no less than Golden Lion's!
Sengoku's destructive power was slightly weaker, but in a flash of golden light, he transformed into a Golden Great Buddha—majestic and upright. Yet every strike contained the Wrath of the Ming King. The destructive force of his fists and palm strikes had already surpassed Golden Lion and Garp's. Terrifying shockwaves spread outward, shattering the earth inch by inch and directly collapsing buildings in their path!
The commotion caused by the three of them was simply too great. Without the strength of a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral, no one could even approach. Rashly intervening was extremely dangerous, so the Vice Admirals had no intention of doing so. They had confidence in Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Garp's strength. Two against one—Golden Lion was absolutely no match for them.
Hidden in the darkness, Carlos's Pupil Power drained even faster than when he fought personally. The three were moving too fast. Without increasing his Pupil Power output, he could not see clearly at all.
Carlos activated the Byakugan and Sharingan, observing and analyzing the movements of all three. This included their Body Techniques, swordsmanship movements, methods of energy use, and even more subtle things—such as the coordination between every muscle in their bodies, the coordination between their bones, and the flow of Haki through their bodies...
In short, to Carlos, a battle of this level was a treasure trove. He observed, copied, and analyzed everything frantically.
He did not need to understand all of it. Even grasping only a portion would bring enormous benefits to his growth. The improvement would be no less than secluded bitter cultivation—perhaps even greater!
Clap, clap, clap...
The sound of air being stepped on rang out. Garp and Sengoku used Geppo, already fighting Golden Lion in midair. Their figures were especially conspicuous in the air, particularly the Golden Great Buddha. Every collision shattered and even vaporized the rain falling from the sky!
Lion's Vengeance Ground Roll!
Roar!
A lion's roar that echoed through all of Marineford rang out, making many people's hearts tremble and even causing their legs to go weak.
Above Golden Lion's head, an enormous male lion formed entirely from rainwater condensed into existence. Its appearance was lifelike, and even the mane around its neck danced in the wind. Its lion eyes were incomparably majestic, looking down upon the world with utter disdain. It seemed as real as the king of the grasslands!
"Go!"
Golden Lion pointed with the Meito in his hand and shouted.
The enormous mountain-sized lion, formed entirely from rainwater, pounced ferociously toward Garp and Sengoku.
Neither Garp nor Sengoku dared to relax before this attack. As the ones facing it, they knew better than anyone how powerful it was. If they did not take it seriously, they would suffer severe injuries. If it fell, one-third of Marineford would be destroyed!
Bone Fist Iron Star!
Great Buddha Impact!
Their years of tacit understanding allowed them to unleash powerful attacks at the same time.
Garp stomped on the air, blasting it apart. The roar made every spectator, Carlos included, cover their ears. The air beneath his foot was violently forced aside, forming a vacuum zone. He threw a punch that appeared ordinary, but in truth, it instantly compressed a vast swath of air into an enormous fist imprint that blasted toward the lion's face!
The golden radiance around Sengoku's body flared brilliantly, reaching its peak in an instant. Like a small sun, it illuminated the night. The blinding light forced everyone to close their eyes. Those who were slightly weaker had bloodshot, stinging eyes.
If they had been ordinary people, their eyes would likely have been ruined already.
His stamina consumption suddenly intensified as the Devil Fruit's power gathered in his golden, cast-like right palm. With one palm strike, a white-and-cyan mass of energy appeared beneath his hand. In the next instant, it exploded violently, releasing endless white-and-cyan light!
The three attacks collided in midair. Rain, wind, clouds, sound—everything seemed to vanish. Time appeared to stop at that moment...
The next instant, an incomparably terrifying boom erupted, like thunder exploding beside their ears. Most of Marineford suffered temporary deafness.
Then, an immensely violent shockwave spread through the air. Countless raindrops were shaken into mist, and the rain above all of Marineford halted for a breath before falling again.
That was not all. The ground shook violently and erratically, swaying up and down, left and right. The boundless sea raised terrifying waves in every direction. Even though they fought in the air, the collision of the three still caused considerable damage to Marineford!
"Good heavens, is this what a clash between top-tier powerhouses looks like?"
"This is way too exaggerated. They have only been fighting for such a short time, yet they have already wrecked Marineford like this. If they do not restrain themselves, all of Marineford might be destroyed—or even sunk..."
"Golden Lion, Sengoku, and Garp at this time were truly strong. Strong as hell!"
"Top-tier powerhouses are all monsters like this. No wonder so many people fall into despair..."
"My current strength has only brushed the surface of this kind of top-tier powerhouse. I still need to keep working hard."
"Big shot, big shot—how can it be enough to merely be a big shot on Iron Island?"
"I want to become a world-class big shot. With one stomp of my foot, the whole world will tremble three times!" Carlos muttered to himself in excitement and shock. Nothing, no matter how grandly produced, could compare to witnessing such a sight firsthand.
Amid the wind, rain, and mist in the sky, the battle continued...
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