Blackbeard Appears

This wasn't over yet.

Whitebeard knew full well how rare this opportunity was.

Ignoring the injury to his left shoulder, he forcefully swung his left arm, his fist wreathed in a milky white glow.

"Air Tremor!"

If this punch landed, Akainu, in his severely wounded state, would surely die.

"Boom—!!!"

A blinding golden light flashed.

Kizaru used the Ama no Murakumo to forcibly block Whitebeard's fatal quake-infused punch.

The violent explosion of energy distorted the space around them.

At the same time, golden light gathered in Kizaru's left hand, forming a sharp blade of light that slashed toward Luffy's rubber arm.

Seeing this, Ace decisively released his grip.

The rubber's recoil sent him straight back to Luffy's side, preventing Luffy's arm from being severed.

Akainu had finally broken free from direct contact with the Sea Stone.

He temporarily sealed the horrific wound in his chest with his magma power, stopping the massive bleeding.

But his broken bones and damaged internal organs had caused his fighting strength to plummet.

Though he could still fight through sheer willpower and his formidable physique, it was basically impossible for him to confront Whitebeard head-on again.

And with Kizaru alone facing a Whitebeard whose fighting spirit soared to the heavens, the pressure was imaginable.

He might be able to stall with his speed, but stopping Whitebeard from leading Luffy and Ace out of the encirclement would be harder than climbing to the heavens.

The situation had undergone another shocking reversal.

Inside the high-altitude viewing platform.

"Ak... Akainu looks really miserable..." Chopper's huge eyes were filled with fright.

"Sea Stone..." Nami rested a finger against her chin. "They actually thought of using the Sea Stone shackles binding Ace to make direct contact with Akainu. That line of thinking... is simply unmatched."

Sanji lit a cigarette. "They