"Watch out!" Onigumo was at the very front. He shouted a warning, then immediately used Six Powers—Iron Body to protect himself, completely disregarding the fact that his attack had been forcibly interrupted.
Hearing Onigumo's warning, the others also unleashed their own defensive techniques, trying to block Ronglin's attack.
"Boom!" Everyone only felt a fierce blast of air hit them head-on. Not only did the attacks they had gathered earlier collapse at the first touch, but the Tempest Kick vortex directly smashed through their defenses and sent all five Vice Admirals flying at once.
"Urgh!" Onigumo felt a chilling stab of pain in his chest. Looking down, he saw a huge gash torn open across it. The Tempest Kick had inflicted tremendous damage, and blood was gushing from the wound.
The other Vice Admirals who had been blown away were also severely injured to varying degrees by that attack. They spat blood as they flew backward. Their Iron Body was simply incapable of withstanding Ronglin.
"He really is as powerful as the legends say." Tsuru stood at the bow, watching five elite Vice Admirals from Marine Headquarters fall in a single exchange, yet she remained utterly calm. "But he actually held back?"
"After all, I want you to retreat in the face of difficulty." Ronglin smiled casually. "Who knows? Maybe one of you might want to join the Star Alliance. I have to show some mercy and leave a good impression!"
Though he was speaking with Tsuru, Ronglin's Observation Haki remained fully spread out, covering this entire stretch of sea and keeping track of everything he could sense.
The reason he was going easy on the Marine Vice Admirals was not out of compassion. He merely wanted to stall the Marines long enough for Capone's Fourth Fleet to withdraw.
"Playing such