The Marines Make Their Move

It was foreseeable, then, that this would be a grueling battle for both of them.

Sure enough, the battle set its tone from the very beginning.

Beli made the first move. Rather than using his agility to circle around, he chose a direct clash. Like a ferocious beast unleashed from its cage, he lunged at Brogy's neck with an axe in his right hand, intending to kill Brogy in a single blow.

The axe, already coated in Armament Haki, sliced through the air so swiftly that its friction produced a piercing whine.

Having fought Dorry on Little Garden for ninety years, Brogy possessed immensely rich combat experience. He raised his shield in his left hand to block, leaning slightly forward, while the axe in his right hand came whistling down like Mount Tai bearing down from above.

He intended to use his own strength to knock Beli back, then catch him off guard and kill him as he retreated.

"Clang! Clang!" The sound of metal colliding rang out.

Their axes crashed together.

"Hm?" Seeing that his plan had failed, Brogy felt a faint twinge of regret. He had underestimated Beli's strength—and his resolve.

As Gaban's true disciple, Beli shared Gaban's fighting style exactly: direct, head-on clashes without ever retreating.

The Sun-Shattering Axe Technique he inherited from Gaban was likewise broad, forceful, and incomparably fierce!

And there was even less need to mention the Giants' fighting style!

The two traded blow after blow. Their strength was extremely close, and like dry tinder meeting blazing fire, the battle immediately entered its most intense phase.

"Looks like Beli has grown much stronger!" Ryan remarked as he watched Beli fight bloodily.

Beli had always worked hard, and his talent was genuinely exceptional. Though he lacked a system's support like Ryan, his strength had continued