"Not good, Sakazuki is angry."
Strawberry and the others around them all moved away from the battle zone, afraid of getting caught in the crossfire.
"That guy named Vergo is bound to lose. If he isn't careful, he might die." Someone wiped away a cold sweat, swallowed, and looked at the imposing Sakazuki. After all, magma was no joke.
Unbeknownst to everyone, the situation here had already alerted Sengoku and the others. Sakazuki was being groomed as a future admiral, so every move he made was being watched.
Normally, it would have been fine, but the Magma-Magma Fruit's destructive power was terrifying. A moment of carelessness could damage the buildings, so Marines had already gone to notify the higher-ups.
"Kid, lower your head and admit defeat. Otherwise, don't blame me for showing no mercy."
Magma dripped from his hands, streams of black smoke rising from them. Sakazuki looked arrogantly at Vergo, overbearing and domineering.
Without saying a word, Vergo answered Sakazuki with his actions. Armament Haki spread over both his hands as he took the initiative to attack.
"You're courting death."
Vergo not only refused to surrender, but even launched the first attack. He was clearly not taking Sakazuki seriously.
Sakazuki attacked as well, his right fist turning into magma as it flooded toward Vergo.
Sizzling sounds rang out as smoke rose from every place touched by the magma.
Vergo did not take the attack head-on. He used Soru to move away, then kicked out two Rankyaku in midair.
Without even looking, Sakazuki did not bother defending himself. The Rankyaku blasted straight through him, and the next moment, he reformed and attacked Vergo.
Vergo's Haki was still too weak. He could only condense it around his body and could not coat the energy attacks he unleashed. Otherwise, Sakazuki might have suffered a hidden loss.
If those Rankyaku had been kicked out by Zephyr instead, Sakazuki would have been severely injured and near death by now if he had not transformed into magma beforehand.
Great Eruption.
Magma churned as Sakazuki's right fist transformed into a gigantic magma fist. Like an erupting volcano, it swept toward Vergo with a piercing roar.
The scorching heat carried astonishing destructive power. Vergo gritted his teeth, coated himself in Armament Haki, and threw a punch straight at it.
"Pfft!"
Blood sprayed from Vergo's mouth. His face turned pale as he crashed like a cannonball into a cluster of buildings, causing them to collapse.
Step by step, magma occasionally dripping from him, Sakazuki clenched his fists and walked toward the ruins.
Whoosh!
A continuous barrage of wood splinters suddenly shot out from the ruins, whistling through the air as they stabbed toward Sakazuki.
They were completely ineffective. Sakazuki ignored them as they either passed straight through his body or were swallowed by magma.
Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Vergo walked out of the ruins. He stared fixedly at Sakazuki without the slightest trace of fear.
Whoosh!
Vergo vanished and reappeared before Sakazuki. Gritting his teeth, he coated Shigan in Armament Haki and viciously struck at Sakazuki.
Dark Hound.
With an angry roar, Sakazuki's right fist transformed into a vicious hound that seemed to have crawled out of hell, slamming into Vergo with tremendous force.
Crack!
Vergo let out a muffled groan, his face deathly pale. His entire arm bent at an unnatural angle as he flew through the air in an arc and skidded heavily across the ground, leaving behind a long crack.
The destructive force and impact of magma were simply beyond what Vergo could withstand right now. Forcing a clash would only injure him.
"Vergo!"
Not far away, Smoker's face darkened with fury as he directly joined the battle and attacked Sakazuki.
"Hmph, a Logia user mixing with people like these? No wonder you're so weak."
Watching Smoker's enormous smoke fist come at him, Sakazuki snorted. Other than Logia users, he looked down on every other kind of ability user.
Great Eruption.
The magma fist, as large as a house and carrying unstoppable force, collided heavily with Smoker's White Fist.
Along the way, the magma split apart into countless fireballs, setting the surrounding buildings ablaze.
Covered in sweat, Smoker maintained his White Fist, his feet dug firmly into the ground. Even so, he was continuously forced backward.
Across from him, Sakazuki advanced step by step, completely suppressing Smoker.
"Get lost!"
With an angry roar, the magma fist exploded. Smoker spat blood and was sent flying, kicking up shattered stones and dirt.
Looking at the two men lying on the ground, Sakazuki said disdainfully, "With strength like yours, you dare come looking for trouble? You overestimate yourselves."
Vergo lay on the ground with his arm bent and his body covered in magma burns. He tried several times to stand, but failed every time.
Cough, cough. Smoker kept coughing up blood as well. He had also lost the ability to fight.
"Do you submit?" Sakazuki looked down at them with utter arrogance, like a superior being.
Vergo's face was cold, but his eyes were filled with mockery.
"Pah!" Smoker went even further and spat at him, giving a disdainful laugh. His attitude said everything.
Sakazuki's face immediately darkened, and black smoke began to rise from his body.
In the shadows, three pairs of eyes had been watching from beginning to end. Seeing that Sakazuki was about to attack again, one of them prepared to stop him.
"Sengoku, wait a moment. That guy has arrived."
"Zephyr, the one you think so highly of?" A mature woman's voice rang out, carrying a hint of teasing.
That was right. The three of them were Zephyr, Sengoku, and Tsuru.
"With us here, nothing will happen. Let's watch for now." Zephyr did not explain further, merely saying that much.
"Then let's watch!" Sengoku, who had been about to intervene, suddenly became somewhat interested.
Back at the scene, seeing that Vergo and Smoker still refused to submit, Sakazuki did not hesitate and threw another punch. A weakened magma fist smashed directly toward the two of them.
Sakazuki knew where to draw the line. This attack would only leave them bedridden for a month or two and would not endanger their lives. If he killed them, he would definitely be in trouble.
Whoosh!
At that critical moment, a figure appeared before the magma fist and threw a punch. The magma shattered, scattering in every direction like petals from a goddess.
The entire scene fell slightly silent as everyone looked at Ye Chen, who had suddenly appeared.
"Are you two alright?"
Turning around, Ye Chen extended his hand. Seeing Vergo and Smoker's miserable condition, he could not help frowning.
"If you'd come a little later, I wouldn't be. But now, I'm fine!"
Smoker reached out and stood up with Ye Chen's help.
Vergo was not as talkative as Smoker. He merely nodded at Ye Chen.
"Let's go."
Supporting the two of them, Ye Chen ignored Sakazuki and intended to take them to the infirmary. Vergo's injuries were rather serious, especially his arm.
Ye Chen did not want trouble, but that did not mean others felt the same. Sometimes, even if you did not seek trouble, trouble came looking for you.
A figure directly blocked Ye Chen's path. Looking down at him with disdain, Sakazuki said, "Are you just as uncultured? Don't you know to greet your senior brother when you see him?"
Ye Chen raised his head, expressionless and without the slightest emotion in his eyes. Without even saying a word, he walked to the side.
"I'm talking to you, bastard. Are you deaf?" For some reason, Ye Chen's indifference made Sakazuki even more furious. The other man showed neither anger nor disdain, as though Sakazuki did not exist at all.
That was even more infuriating than disdain. Sakazuki was an especially proud and arrogant man, so one could imagine how he felt now.
Yet despite Sakazuki's provocation, Ye Chen still did not respond. This time, he did not even look at him as he supported Vergo and Smoker in another direction.
Once, twice, and finally, the third time, Ye Chen raised his head. But he was not looking at Sakazuki. He was looking at the arriving Hina.
"Hina, take these two to the infirmary."
Panting heavily, Hina's chest rose and fell dramatically, an extremely alluring sight.
"Alright." Hina hurried forward and supported Smoker.
"These injuries won't kill us. Help us get revenge." Smoker shot Sakazuki a vicious look before leaving unwillingly with Hina.
Vergo did not say anything in the end. He merely stood in the safe zone, watching the center of the scene. He had already set his arm back in place.
Hmph, clever me already knows what you're thinking. But I'm telling you, that's impossible!
Before you continue