As the four CP0 Chiefs fought Rocks fiercely, the slick-haired admiral and the Diamond Fruit admiral also arrived at the bottom of the crater blasted out by Rocks's punch.
By the faint daylight, they could vaguely make out a charred body lying silently in the center, smoke rising from it as waves of heat continued to radiate from the surrounding ground.
This was because when using the final move of Life Return, if the body encountered an attack it could not withstand, it would instinctively burn all its remaining life in an instant to enhance its physical strength and resist the attack. But after the attack passed, the extreme heat produced by that sudden, violent burning of life would also instantly scorch the body into charcoal.
Former Marine Admiral Kildas had met such an end. Thus, the first admiral-level combatant had fallen.
Thud! The slick-haired man dropped to his knees on the scorched ground. His naturally comical face had long since twisted out of shape, tears churning in his eyes as he murmured, "Kildas...!"
The Diamond Admiral watched in silence, saying nothing. Yet beneath his cold gaze lay a trace of indescribable grief.
He then walked over to the slick-haired man, patted his shoulder, and said heavily, "Let's go, Kaid. Rocks is still up there. If he reaches the palace, then Kildas's sacrifice will have been in vain!"
Kaid slowly rose to his feet. The grief gradually faded from his face, and all that remained beneath the tears was resolve. He said solemnly, "I understand, Salas! I won't let Rocks succeed!"
The two gave their fallen comrade one final look before shooting out of the crater with sharp gazes, rushing toward the battlefield between CP0 and Rocks.
Meanwhile, the battle between Golden Lion's group and the original members of