Black Smoke Billowing, Flames Soaring Skyward!

The northernmost region of the snow-capped mountain range.

Dark clouds loomed overhead, heavy snow fell, and not only was the temperature unusually cold, but Tornado winds made the entire environment even more extreme.

But it was under these dire circumstances that...

It was under the command of the 2nd Regimental Headquarters of the 5th Division the 1st Main Battle Legion.

Five hundred main combat soldiers of the Third Main Battle Battalion, along with three thousand auxiliary troops from the Demon Slayer world, were led by Brigadier General Hartman.

They launched a fierce attack on a Nine-Tails white fox that was sixty or seventy meters tall, attempting to slow its approach to the Star Gate Base.

They didn't know why this big fox wanted to attack them, but since it seemed hostile, they decided to fight first and ask questions later.

All I saw was...

The elite soldiers of the 3rd Main Battle Battalion were like agile black swallows.

They darted around the Nine-Tails white fox, constantly launching attacks with various sword techniques, Physical Arts, or Devil Fruit abilities.

Among them are the Rokushiki of Rankyaku, Shigan, and the Fifth Form of Flame Breathing. Flame Tiger and the Fourth Form of Wind Breathing. Rising Dust Storm.

There are also Shockwave from the Hasshoken Fist, or powerful leg winds from the Red-Leg Kicking Technique.

There's also the electric current from the Mink Tribe warriors, and the 'Fear Energy Bullet' from the 'Nue' form of the Kabaneri warriors.

Besides.

Soldiers from the auxiliary corps in the distance were also using their assault rifles and rocket launchers.

They fired wildly at the rampaging fox, causing bursts of fire to erupt from its body from time to time.

However.

These powerful attacks were not intercepted by the fox's rapidly swinging tail.

It was easily withstood by that layer of crystal-clear, snow-white fur.

And every moment during this process, a large number of main combat soldiers and auxiliary soldiers died on the spot under its counterattack.

They were either slapped to death by the giant fox tail or swept away by the surging cold air.

In an instant, they turned into ice sculptures, then crashed to the ground and shattered into pieces.

"Get out of my Snow Region, get out of this world, you ants from Otherworld!"

Sudden.

The enormous Nine-Tails white fox roared, and the sound waves spread out in concentric circles in the cold wind.

Then, it slammed its claw into the ground, causing the frozen soil and snow in front of it to crack and scatter, with large swaths of snow flying into the air like a curtain.

Then, under the influence of some extraordinary force, it formed a surging wave of snow.

It ruthlessly swallowed up dozens of main combat soldiers around it who did not have time to dodge.

Meanwhile, the soldiers of the Auxiliary Corps further away were affected by the visible sonic waves.

They bled from all seven orifices, were shaken to death, and were finally buried by the heavy snow that swept across them.

"What a beast! It can actually talk?"

Brigadier General Hartmann, his face ashen, used Moonwalk to fly to a height almost level with the fox, barely dodging the attack of the wave of snow.

The battle between the two sides had only lasted about five minutes.

But nearly half of his men had already been killed or wounded, and they had done absolutely nothing to stop the enemy's advance.

That's right, the big fox was running across the snow-capped mountains while casually dealing with their attacks.

It's like casually swatting a fly!

"What do we do now? Should we go up?"

Brigadier General Hartmann's bloodshot eyes glared angrily, yet he was caught in a dilemma.

Because he had already realized that this Nine-Tails white fox was not like the Sea King of the Sea Star, which had a huge size but could be easily killed with a single strike.

Rather, he is a true monster with extremely strong and extraordinary combat power, perhaps even a Vice Admiral would not be a match for him.

If he continues to charge forward against such an opponent...

That would likely result in immediate death without causing any harm or impact to the enemy.

The disparity in strength between the two sides is so vast, is it necessary for me to die a meaningless death?

What will happen to his accumulated military merits?

What will happen to his wife and children at home who are waiting for him to come back?

But if we don't go up, wouldn't that be considered cowardice?

"Damn it, what am I thinking? The soldiers below are still fighting hard. As the battalion commander and Commodore, how can I be afraid of death?"

Brigadier General Hartmann bit his tongue hard, ignoring the splattering blood, and used the intense pain to rouse his somewhat stiff body.

[Boom!]

The next second.

He gripped the Nichirin Blade in his hand, which had transformed into a 'Crimson Blade' and was radiating intense heat.

With a thunderous roar, he transformed into a golden lightning bolt that broke the sound barrier, rushing towards the Nine-Tails white fox that was still running in the snow.

"Thunder Breathing, First Form, Thunderclap and Flash!"

Actually, for someone of Brigadier General Hartmann's caliber...

The power and effects generated by Breathing Technique no longer play a dominant role, but rather become auxiliary.

Simply put

Some people find it difficult to unleash their full potential without using Breathing Technique.

Some people are strong even without using Breathing Technique, and even if they do use Breathing Technique, it's only a secondary boost to their power.

Brigadier General Hartmann was drawn to the speed boost provided by the 'Breathing of Thunder' technique, as well as the sound and visual effects of lightning.

"The Commodore General has made a move!"

The soldiers in the Auxiliary Corps, who were farther away, had the clearest view.

Visually, it looked like a golden bolt of lightning descending from the dark clouds, striking the snow-white tail that the Nine-Tails white fox had swung across in the blink of an eye.

But the next moment, all the expectant gazes turned to terror and despair.

They saw Brigadier General Hartmann's Nichirin Blade break, and he was flying backward, spitting blood, like a cannonball crashing into a distant snow-covered hill.

"Brigadier General Hartmann!"

"Battalion commander!!"

The remaining surviving soldiers around him shouted urgently, their eyes bloodshot with Earth Split.

Some people who were nearby rushed over, only to find that the person had been dug out of the snowdrift.

Brigadier General Hartmann was on his deathbed, his eyes glazed over.

"Thank goodness, the person isn't dead."

A Major wearing a black Coat of Justice revealed a hint of delight.

He then hurriedly pulled three white pills with a purple butterfly emblem from his coat pocket.

Without a second thought, he crushed the outer packaging and shoved the pill inside into Brigadier General Hartmann's mouth.

Brigadier General Hartmann swallowed three 'Purple Butterfly Emergency Pills' with cold water that had been melted from ice and snow.

Suddenly, a faint purple haze appeared on his skin.

However, the other person had not regained consciousness, and it was clear that their life or death was still unknown.

[Rumble rumble------]

Just then, a large patch of Huoguang suddenly shone behind them.

Immediately afterward, a violent, loud bang filled their ears. When they instinctively turned around, they were all filled with surprise and delight.

"Magma!"

"Admiral Akainu!"

"Admiral Sakazuki is here!"

Yes, that's right. The Nine-Tails white fox, its body emanating wisps of cold air, was colliding with a scorching and enormous mass of lava.

In Setsuna.

Thick Black Mist shot straight into the dark clouds, and the Shockwave swept away the cold wind and snow within a radius of hundreds of meters.

The snow on the ground melted rapidly in large swaths under the Huoguang.

And most importantly...

The Nine-Tails white fox finally stopped and narrowed its cold, azure eyes, as sharp as ice.

He looked directly at the small, fiery red, yet imposing and domineering figure blocking his way not far in front of him.

In its eyes, the powerful aura released by this figure almost formed a huge volcano phantom in the void.

This is one of the reasons why it had to stop.

Who are you?

Sakazuki, whose legs had turned into lava and whose arms were also flowing with molten lava, hovered in mid-air with the force of the eruption, surrounded by Black Mist and Huoguang soaring into the sky.

He was filled with a chilling killing intent, and stared coldly at him with an expressionless face.

"World Government, Army Headquarters Admiral Akainu!"