The Magma Fist suddenly swelled several times over, becoming a crimson mountain that crashed toward Ye Chen. The surrounding air turned scorching hot in an instant and let out a piercing shriek.
Ye Chen hurriedly flipped backward, then shot away. He barely dodged it. The moment he landed, the spot where he had stood became a sea of fire. Blood-red magma splashed everywhere, swallowing everything nearby like a giant furnace bent on melting the world.
Blackbeard glanced coldly at Ye Chen, his tiny, toadlike eyes darting about. His mind was racing. He had a score to settle with Ye Chen, but he was no fool. Their brief clash had shown him that Ye Chen was far from weak.
In fact, Ye Chen was much harder to deal with than he had expected. If he could not end the fight quickly, there was no point wasting more time here.
"Ye Chen!" Robin called out another warning. Jinbe came over as well. "Since Ace and Luffy have both been taken to Marine Headquarters, we should head there at once."
Ye Chen nodded and looked at Blackbeard. Blackbeard suppressed his anger for the moment and forced a smile.
"Looks like we both have things to do," Blackbeard said. "Why don't we stop here and fight another time, somewhere else? That would benefit us both, wouldn't it?"
Ye Chen spat on the ground in irritation. "Looks like that's our only choice!"
There was no helping it. Ye Chen and Blackbeard were both terrifyingly strong. If they fought in earnest, neither would be able to secure a quick victory. The stronger the opponents, the more drawn-out the battle.
Akainu and Aokiji, for example, had dueled on Punk Hazard for ten days and ten nights.
Their fight might not take that long, but only a few