Up ahead, the Straw Hat Kid was displaying an unparalleled stance.
Hawkeye's eyes narrowed slightly, interest appearing on his face.
"Straw Hat Kid, you really are different."
"Hawkeye, do you remember us?!"
The black blade on his back left its sheath and casually sent two chattering okama swordsmen flying.
"Not at all."
Doflamingo laughed wantonly, as if he had seen something entertaining. "A super troublesome rookie? Interesting, interesting!"
"Stop right there~~, Straw Hat Kid~."
As the various sides reacted differently, the one blocking Luffy's path was Admiral Kizaru.
Kizaru pursed his lips. His tone was lazy, but his gaze remained fixed on Luffy. "The Celestial Dragons have been coming to complain to me about you every day. I didn't expect you to grow this much in just a few days."
"I can't let you keep going."
He raised his right leg, and dazzling light flickered.
Admiral Kizaru made his move!
"The undercover agent's making a move. We're good now."
In the distance, Su Lin was watching from the sidelines while browsing the system store.
According to his previous plans, even 100 points could exchange for internal cultivation manuals. The best martial arts that could be cultivated to the peak of the Innate Realm cost no more than 500 points.
But now was clearly not the time to exchange for those.
The Learn Upon Purchase series.
[Basic Introduction to Elements] Price: 190 Saint Manifestation Points. [Close Combat of Humanoid Creatures] Price: 100 Saint Manifestation Points. [Becoming a Phoenix from Scratch] Price: 170 Saint Manifestation Points.
These were somewhat useful. Combined with Logia elemental abilities and Phantasmal Species abilities, they could produce decent results, but in the long run, they were rather underwhelming.
Since he could not afford the cost-effective options for now, he might as well watch the battle. There was no need to rush down there and start fighting.
He was not a pirate of this world. In the end, aside from the Celestial Dragons and Five Elders behind the Marines being unpleasant, it was better for him not to interfere in the conflict between the Marines and the Pirates.
There were good people and evil people among the Pirates, and the same was true among the Marines.
As a passerby from another world, both sides had entirely different standards and values. His willingness to help Luffy and the others return to two years ago to make up for their regrets did not mean he had to enter the fray and take the Pirates' side.
Life was precious. He had no reason to rely on the power he had just obtained to casually take other people's lives.
In the end, Luffy still had to rely on himself. Besides, Su Lin's goal was to use this opportunity to skip the beginner phase and make a huge profit in this world!
He had gone all-in on two one-time beginner benefit items that would be immensely valuable later on.
Straw Hat Luffy leaped into the air, rising more than ten meters.
"How foolish~." Borsalino slowly raised his leg as well. "Now you can't escape."
Watching Luffy leap into the air and make himself a target, Kizaru thought that Vice Admiral Garp's grandson really was a hotheaded fool.
Capturing pirates was the Marines' duty, and it was only natural for him to attack Luffy.
But Kizaru understood that if he killed the Straw Hat Kid here, Garp might defect on the spot.
His adopted grandson was waiting on the execution platform. If his biological grandson also fell here, even Fleet Admiral Sengoku would not be able to protect him.
Perhaps then all three Admirals would have to stop an enraged Garp, leaving no one to restrain the watching Whitebeard.
Therefore, nothing could happen to the Straw Hat Kid.
The surrounding Marine soldiers were all fired up.
"The Admiral has made his move!"
"The Straw Hat Kid can't escape now!"
"Take him down!"
Still too young, boys~. Kizaru's thoughts churned. Of course, it's better that you don't know the truth behind this.
Whitebeard may know something, which is why he sent the Straw Hat Kid to take the lead. But I can't just ignore this.
Kizaru decided to first render the Straw Hat Kid unable to fight, then casually knock him into a safe area.
Don't say this old man hasn't shown you some consideration, Mr. Garp~.
Just as Kizaru was about to attack, the commanders on the Whitebeard Pirates' side all wanted to provide support.
Even Ivankov could not help feeling worried.
"It's fine. Let them see it." Jinbe crossed his arms over his chest, full of confidence. "Our captain's strength!"
"Huh?" Ivankov's enormous head let out a surprised sound. "Did you just say captain?!"
"Move aside, Kizaru!"
"I refuse."
This was different from the techniques he had used against Momonga and Smoker.
"Gum-Gum..."
A giant-like fist wrapped in flames and coated in Conqueror's Haki descended from above.
It accelerated like a meteor!
"Inferno Pistol!"
In the blink of an eye, amid everyone's stunned expressions,
it had already reached Kizaru.
"Oh my~." Kizaru pursed his lips, and his lazy gaze froze as he sensed something was wrong.
Boom—
Boom—
After the violent explosions came silence once more.
Kizaru was sent flying by that strike, smashing through the stone wall behind the execution platform. He still had not stopped, and rumbling continued to sound.
Beneath the rubble,
Kizaru pulled a black Den Den Mushi from his waistband with his left hand. Although he had transformed into light at the moment he was struck,
"How terrifying, Straw Hat Kid."
A trickle of blood ran down from his head.
"Mr. Sengoku, can you hear me~? Moshi moshi."
"Ah, looks like I picked up the wrong Den Den Mushi."
"Well, nothing I can do about that."
Kizaru stood up and dusted himself off.
He might as well walk back slowly.
He was completely different from when they had met at the Sabaody Archipelago.
Could someone really grow so quickly?!
The use of Haki, Conqueror's Haki Coating...
The laziness had vanished from Kizaru's face as he slowly emerged from the ruins, as though he were recalling Luffy from moments ago.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Sakazuki, how would they deal with this variable?
Once he got back, he would work seriously.
"Supernova, how terrifying~~."
"Kizaru was...?"
Not just the Marines—everyone stared wide-eyed in disbelief. They had already forgotten how many times they had done so today.
No, this shock was far more exaggerated than all the previous ones.
"Gurararara!"
Whitebeard's unrestrained laughter was the first to break the brief silence on the battlefield.
He was surprised, but at this moment, he was incomparably happy.
"That was an Admiral!" Koby, watching from outside the wall, was so shocked that tears and snot nearly streamed down his face. "Helmeppo, I'm not hallucinating, right?"
Koby spoke tremblingly behind the wall.
"Helmeppo?"
Koby turned his head and saw that his friend beside him had already fainted, lying on the ground with his face toward the sky.
"Admiral Kizaru!!!"
"Mr. Borsalino!"
"Admiral! Admiral! The Admiral was sent flying by the Straw Hat Kid!"
In contrast to Whitebeard, the Marines' earlier excitement was like being doused with cold water by the Straw Hat Kid's attack.
The Marines' previously soaring momentum had been halted!