After a while, the tilting slowly subsided. Werther lifted his foot slightly and pulled Intent Blood free of the ice. Lightning flashed around his hand.
Snap. Intent Blood flew straight back into Werther's hand. Once again, he held one blade in each hand.
Werther had come through unscathed, but that did not mean everyone else had. Perhaps Whitebeard had not been targeting him at all. Perhaps he had meant to wreck the Marines' formation.
Across Marineford, buildings had collapsed. Cracks ran through every structure except Marine Headquarters.
Werther, Intent Blood in hand, wasted no more words on Whitebeard. He charged at him as fast as he could.
"Flash."
Werther appeared before Whitebeard in an instant and slashed at his chest with Intent Blood. It was not that Werther had chosen to ignore his other vital points; Whitebeard was simply too tall.
And against an opponent this powerful, Werther did not dare leap into the air.
Boom.
Whitebeard was enormous, and though he did not move particularly fast, his Naginata caught Werther's slash. He then swung it forward with all his might, a mass of white light gathering around the blade.
A tremendous force surged through Intent Blood into Werther's hands, vibrating without pause. Werther could only let it drive him backward. After flying some distance, he regained his footing.
His hands felt numb from the shock, but not enough to hamper him. Werther flexed his arms and charged again.
This time, he went for Whitebeard's flank.
As Werther reached Whitebeard's side and rear, he knew an ordinary slash would not hurt him. So he would use one that was anything but ordinary.
"Electromagnetic Saw."
Intent Blood grew indistinct in Werther's hand, the Lightning coating its surface vibrating violently.
Sensing the attack, Whitebeard swung his Naginata to block it once more.