Du Yang sneered. Rather than offer a lengthy response, he drew a Western-style sword he had taken from someone.
In an instant, Conqueror's Haki wrapped around the blade like black lightning. With blinding speed, he swung it at Akainu.
Faced with Sakazuki's threat, he chose to let his fists do the talking.
Besides, he could never leave his parents' deaths unavenged.
Akainu stared in disbelief as the blade, wrapped in dark red arcs of Conqueror's Haki, came slashing toward him.
This Haki was so powerful, this will so fierce—it was beyond anything an ordinary person could possess.
"Arrogant!"
Akainu had superb combat instincts, too. He didn't hesitate for a moment. Faced with an unavoidable slash, he pushed the power of the Magma-Magma Fruit to the very limit of his control.
"Great Eruption!"
His magma-coated right fist burst out like an erupting volcano. The dark red light became blindingly bright as he savagely hurled it at the black blade slash tearing through the sky.
The next instant.
The black slash and the giant dark red fist of magma collided in midair with a thunderous crash. Centered on the point of impact, a terrifying shock wave of black lightning and blazing magma swept out in every direction.
Rumble!!!
Where the shock wave passed, the solid granite ground was peeled up in layers like brittle crackers.
Some nearby Marines and pirates were swept away before they could even scream.
The Execution Platform shook violently. Sengoku's face turned grim. "So it really is as I thought. With Conqueror's Haki this powerful, things have become much more troublesome."
"Why would someone like him get involved?"
Whitebeard watched the two fighters at the center of the clash, the corners of his mouth lifting in a smile. "Gurararara! Marines, you can't just do whatever you want to everyone!"
Doflamingo appeared beside Hawkeye, clearly enjoying the spectacle. He teased, "Fuffuffuffu! Did you see that, Mihawk? Your place as the World's Strongest swordsman may be in danger."
Dracule Mihawk held Black Blade Yoru, his eyes fixed intently on the black slash as if he were utterly absorbed. "His swordsmanship aside, to channel such powerful Conqueror's Haki into a blade and wield Advanced Conqueror's Haki... He's truly a rare swordsman. Coming to Marine Headquarters was worth it after all."
By now, Du Yang and Akainu had become the focus of the entire Summit War.
Many Marines found it hard to believe that even with a Marine Admiral fighting at full strength, he still seemed to be at a disadvantage.
Under countless stunned gazes, at the center of the clash, the peerlessly fierce black slash cleaved right through Akainu's giant fist of magma.
Black lightning coiled around the blade as it split the dark red magma apart.
"Ugh!"
Akainu let out a groan.
The force left over from the slash that had split his attack sent him skidding back more than ten meters. A deep gash had been cut through his magma-coated right fist.
Although roiling magma was already rapidly repairing his fist, the damage from Advanced Conqueror's Haki was real—and devastatingly effective.
The shock wave from the powerful black slash also swept away a large number of Marines behind Akainu, just like Mihawk's green slash had.
Sakazuki couldn't believe it. In their first direct clash, he'd been completely overpowered.
On the Marine side, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Garp, Aokiji, Kizaru, and the other fighters on the level of the Four Emperors and Marine Admirals all changed expression.
They had expected the man who'd stopped Akainu to possess very powerful Conqueror's Haki. But what could one person really do? They hadn't expected his Haki to be so extraordinary. His sheer presence alone seemed to shroud all of Marine Headquarters.
They had thought their opponent knew Advanced Conqueror's Haki, but assumed it was only on the level of Dark King Rayleigh's. A fighter on the level of a Four Emperor or Marine Admiral could hold him off for a while if they took him seriously. They hadn't expected Akainu to be showing signs of defeat. If one wasn't enough, it would probably take two or more.
They had expected his appearance to shift the balance somewhat, but Whitebeard's side was still bound to be defeated overall. Yet that fierce slash had shattered their expectations and left them stunned.
This man who'd appeared out of nowhere was an opponent the Marines absolutely couldn't ignore. He might even be able to turn the tide of the war.
But the one who found this hardest to accept was Akainu.
He raised his hand and stared at the gash in his palm, which was slowly struggling to close. Then he looked up at the figure standing before him, blade in hand and Haki swirling around him. Rage burned fiercely in his heart.
"You actually managed to wound me." Akainu's voice was chillingly low. "Everyone here is either a Marine or a pirate. You're no Marine, so you must be a pirate."
"A pirate as dangerous as you must not be allowed to live."
Seeing that his opponent had become intent on killing him, Du Yang aimed his Western-style sword at Akainu and said, "That's right. I'm not just a pirate. I'm the pirate who's going to kill you."
At that moment, the focus of the entire Summit War shifted to Du Yang and Akainu.
With the pressure on him eased, Whitebeard shouted to everyone, "You brats see that? Even a Marine Admiral's been overpowered!"
"Everyone, listen up! Our target is the Execution Platform! Save Ace at all costs, and show these Marines what we're made of!"
"Yeahhh!!!"
The morale of the Whitebeard Pirates soared to its peak.
Marco, Vista the Flower Sword, Diamond Jozu... Every division commander, along with the captains and crew members of their subordinate pirate crews, launched a fierce charge at the Marine forces.
Luffy gave Du Yang a grateful look, then shouted, "Thanks, bro! After we save Ace, I'll treat you to some barbecue!"
Then he charged toward the Execution Platform.
On the platform, Fleet Admiral Sengoku's face had darkened until it seemed ready to drip water.
He stared at Du Yang, who was facing off against Akainu below, then looked at the Whitebeard Pirates launching a frenzied charge. Without another thought, he shouted, "Borsalino, Kuzan, Garp! We can't hold back any longer. That man who appeared out of nowhere is a huge unknown that could change the course of the war. If this keeps up, they might really save Ace!"
"All Marines, suppress them with everything you've got! Don't let them get anywhere near the Execution Platform!"
Sengoku understood that Du Yang's appearance really could change the entire situation.
Kizaru was no longer acting lazy. He pursed his lips.
As a fighter on the level of a Four Emperor or Marine Admiral, no one understood better than him just how troublesome Du Yang's burst of Conqueror's Haki was.
The same went for Aokiji. Du Yang's slash had left him deeply shaken.
But he didn't think it was that big a problem.
No matter how strong Du Yang was, how strong could he really be? It wasn't as if he could surpass the Pirate King, was it?
Even Rocks, the Pirate King of the previous generation, had fallen at God Valley.
If one Admiral-level fighter couldn't beat him, they could just add another.
If that still wasn't enough, they could add another.
Surely five fighters on the level of Admirals could beat one man.
The great battle erupted in full.
The Summit War had finally entered its bloodiest phase: an all-out melee.
The pirates continued to charge, their attacks relentless, wave after wave.
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