Intriguing

Sal could hear the killing intent in Kizaru's words. He had to give the World Government an explanation—that was only natural. After all, two Celestial Dragons had died. No matter how lax Kizaru usually was, he would never be careless about this.

Moreover, among the remaining members of the Pirate King's crew, very few could defeat Kizaru, let alone keep a Glint-Glint Fruit user bent on escaping from getting away.

"I won't surrender without a fight, Admiral Kizaru."

Just as the two were about to clash, a familiar voice came from nearby, making them both turn to look. Two Pacifistas were chasing a group of pirates—the Straw Hat Pirates, whom they had parted ways with not long ago.

Not far away, a man wearing a red bellyband was beating up Monkey D. Luffy. He was Sentomaru, captain of the Science Unit.

The Navy Headquarters Science Unit was directly under Kizaru's command, with Sentomaru acting as its leader. Its responsibility was to liaise with Vegapunk, the World Government's top scientist, and test the latest weapons.

Seeing this, Sal confirmed his suspicions. So something had indeed gone wrong. It was obvious to the naked eye that the Straw Hat Pirates were at the end of their rope. Of their three main fighters, two were seriously wounded, and only Sanji could barely still fight, not to mention the others.

Kizaru's voice suddenly came from behind him.

"You still dared to let your guard down while fighting me?"

The Light-Speed Kick appeared again, but this time Sal had sensed it beforehand with Observation Haki and dodged in time. A beam of light streaked past his face and exploded violently inside a building.

Sal felt a burning pain on his cheek. He immediately turned and slashed, cutting Kizaru cleanly in half at the waist.

Yet the severed Kizaru turned into light and reappeared some distance away, completely unharmed.

This made Sal understand clearly that the other man's Observation Haki had reached the highest level. He could transform into an element before Sal's attack reached his true body.

There was no need to keep fighting. Just as Sal was about to use a Travel Bubble, Franky's shout rang out from afar.

"Robin..."

Nico Robin had been pierced through the waist by a beam of light and lay weakly on the ground. Sal's brows furrowed slightly. If this continued, perhaps only Monkey D. Luffy would escape unharmed. The others were likely doomed.

As he spread out his Observation Haki, he could not even find Rayleigh's presence. Had something gone wrong on his end as well?

As Sal hesitated, Kizaru casually fired another beam of light. Only after Sal blocked it did he speak seriously.

"You can't worry about them right now. If you don't get serious, you'll die."

A powerful killing intent rushed at him. It made Sal decide to do all he could and leave the rest to fate. If he gave them a hand and the outcome remained the same, then there was nothing he could do.

Just as Kizaru was about to attack, a Conqueror's Haki as vast as the mountains and rivers burst from Sal's body and shot into the sky. Countless dark crimson bolts of lightning raged through the air, as if even the atmosphere had twisted.

The land formed from mangrove roots shook as scattered stones were affected by the Haki, slowly rising into the air. Supreme Conqueror's Haki—the power that could make even the sky lose its color.

Facing the incoming Conqueror's Haki, Kizaru froze for a moment. He had never expected his opponent to possess Supreme Conqueror's Haki. Haki at this level was enough to make even him feel slightly uncomfortable.

The battle in the distance also paused. Sentomaru looked over in astonishment. There was another owner of Conqueror's Haki beside Old Man Kizaru? Though they were far apart, he could already feel a trace of chill on his skin.

The two Pacifistas swept their eyes toward the distance and issued low voices.

"Highest-priority target identified: Augustus D. Sal. Commencing elimination."

"So it's that madman..."

The Pacifistas' movements frightened Sentomaru into stopping them at once. An enemy with such terrifying Conqueror's Haki was not someone the Pacifistas could interfere with. Only Old Man Kizaru could handle him; after all, he was a Navy Admiral.

Sentomaru had absolute confidence in Kizaru. Even if one of the Four Emperors arrived, Old Man would not lose.

Kizaru's expression turned solemn as he said,

"Such terrifying Conqueror's Haki... even the overlords of the sea are no more than this. You really are a monster."

"Stop pretending. This much won't make you wary."

Kizaru did not deny it. His gaze merely turned extremely serious as he lunged at his enemy. A sword of light formed in his palm. He was going to get a little more serious.

At the speed of light, Sal could only rely on his Observation Haki to catch a blurred shadow.

"Kusanagi."

"Conqueror's Coating, Mountain Crusher."

Faced with the incoming sword of light, Sal swung his long blade as well. But this time, it was not coated in pitch-black Armament Haki, but dark crimson Conqueror's Coating, flashing with lightning.

The sudden Conqueror's Coating made Kizaru's pupils contract. The two weapons had already collided.

"Boom..."

The weapons clashed violently, and a shockwave spread through the surroundings. Kizaru, who was used to holding back, was caught off guard and sent flying by the slash. He flew hundreds of meters before steadying himself. He remained completely uninjured, and even his clothes were not wrinkled.

Sal, meanwhile, took several steps back, suppressing the discomfort in his arm before leaping toward the only two remaining Pacifistas.

"Conqueror's Coating."

One slash swept through them, cutting both Pacifistas in half at the waist. Their ruined bodies exploded. Accompanied by the blast's pressure wave, a section of the root-covered ground collapsed. Kizaru appeared in front of Sal again and said leisurely,

"How frightening. You actually possess Conqueror's Coating."

Sal had nothing to say to that. The muscles in his sword arm were already trembling. Two Conqueror's Coating strikes were the limit of what his body could bear. Even if he switched hands, he could only manage one more slash.

In truth, Kizaru could have stopped him midway just now, but he had not. That was rather intriguing.

Without turning back, Sal issued a warning to the Straw Hat Pirates.

"Everyone, take your companions and run. I'm not confident I can hold Kizaru off for long."

"Mr. Sal!" ×5

Only then did the Straw Hat Pirates seem to snap back to their senses. Those who could still move carried their companions on their backs and prepared to flee again. They understood that this was a matter of life and death.

At this moment, even with Sal's help, mysterious as he was, they remained in an extremely dangerous situation.

In a flash of light, Kizaru appeared beside Zoro and pinned him down with one foot. He then raised his leg, which shone brilliantly, and said leisurely,

"It seems you think highly of the Straw Hat Pirates. I can't let you have your way."

"Zoro..."

Chopper and Nami cried out in alarm.

Sal did not even want to make fun of it. That foot he kept raising without bringing down—could he just stomp already? Holding it up for so long made Sal feel tired for him. Jokes aside, Sal prepared to stop him once more, since he could not guess what Kizaru was thinking.

Sal's expression suddenly shifted, because his Observation Haki detected a powerful reinforcement approaching.

A white-haired figure sped over, arriving beside Kizaru like a gust of wind. He kicked out and blocked the Light-Speed Kick just as it was about to come down. The intercepted beam veered away from its intended target and destroyed a mangrove tree.

The two met each other's eyes. Kizaru spoke with slight surprise.

"A truly remarkable figure has arrived—Dark King Silvers Rayleigh."

Rayleigh merely smiled.

"I'm just an ordinary old man. These young people's journey has only just begun. It can't end here."

"That won't do, Dark King Rayleigh."

Kizaru's lazy expression faded considerably. After all, his opponent had changed to a legendary figure—the Pirate King's right-hand man.