Black Dark Moon

However, the two had clearly underestimated the strength of that Sword Aura!

The moment they struck out and clashed head-on with the Sword Aura, their bodies were sent flying uncontrollably.

Neither Momousagi nor Chaton could withstand this Sword Aura at all. They were utterly powerless before it.

Their bodies plummeted out of control, crashing into the ground like cannonballs with a boom and leaving behind two deep craters.

However, neither of them was ordinary, so they naturally would not be taken down so easily.

But they were definitely not unscathed either. "Who was that?!"

"It's him!"

The two immediately leaped out of the craters. After briefly sweeping their eyes around, they quickly locked onto their target. When they saw clearly, their pupils contracted.

It was not just the two of them. This sudden turn of events shocked every Marine present.

Someone who could send two Marine Admiral candidates flying with a single strike—what kind of person was that? They soon saw who it was and cried out in alarm, "Why is he here?!"

"Didn't he just leave Mary Geoise?"

"This is bad!"

"Level-one alert! Level-one alert!"

At the same time, the entire Marine force erupted into commotion.

"I never expected that man to appear at a time like this. This is going to be real trouble now!"

Tsuru, Garp, and Sengoku had also seen the newcomer. Tsuru muttered under her breath, her face utterly grave.

With this person's appearance, she could already almost foresee what was about to happen here.

"He really arrived at the right time."

Sengoku sighed while eating the chips in his hand, looking like a mere spectator enjoying the show.

"..."

Garp still said nothing, but his expression grew increasingly grim.

"Straw Hat Pirates Vice-Captain Moonlight!"

At that moment, the battle on Akainu's side came to an abrupt halt with the sudden appearance of that Sword Aura.

After the three pulled apart, Akainu looked up at the man before him. Who else could it be but Moonlight? After leaving Mary Geoise, he had headed straight for Marine Headquarters. With the Thousand Sunny's speed, he had arrived swiftly, like a ship riding the wind and cleaving through the waves.

He had quickly reached this place and witnessed this scene.

If Momousagi and Chaton had not interfered, he would not have bothered with them. But since they had acted, he naturally could not allow them to disrupt Luffy and the others' battle.

"Moonlight!"

"You came back so quickly?"

"Did you fail?"

At the same time, Luffy and the other two saw Moonlight as well, each with a different expression.

Luffy was delighted, while Ace was shocked. They had not been apart for long, yet Moonlight had returned so quickly? It was not just the Marines who were surprised—they were too.

Hancock, meanwhile, instinctively assumed that Moonlight must have failed! Otherwise, there was no way this could have happened! Hearing this, Moonlight helplessly shrugged. None of the three seemed to think highly of him, but it did not matter. He had already obtained news of Sabo, and their objective was complete. There was no need to stay here and fight the Marines to the death.

"Let's go."

Moonlight gave the Marines a calm glance, preparing to leave.

"But Sabo's news!"

Luffy immediately said.

"I got it already."

Moonlight nodded and looked at the three of them.

"You got it?"

Ace and Hancock trembled at those words, staring at Moonlight with utter shock and disbelief.

Of course they knew what Moonlight's words meant.

Moonlight had actually succeeded in infiltrating the Holy Land Mariejois alone! Otherwise, he could not possibly have obtained news of Sabo! Luffy, meanwhile, was simply delighted. He did not really grasp the significance of it, but since Moonlight had succeeded, they could leave.

Thinking of this, he immediately looked at the Marines and waved. "Hey, we're leaving!"

He looked as though he were simply heading out from his own home.

"..."

Moonlight and Ace exchanged looks. Had Luffy mistaken Marine Headquarters for his own house? He could come whenever he wanted and leave whenever he wanted? And he was even saying goodbye!

"Luffy is so polite!"

Meanwhile, Hancock's eyes sparkled, filled entirely with Luffy's figure.

Only she thought everything Luffy did was right.

"What does that mean? Straw Hat Kid is saying goodbye to us before leaving?"

"What does he think this place is?"

"We're Marines! He's a pirate!"

"You little bastard, there's a limit to looking down on people!"

Every Marine saw Luffy wave goodbye, and they all froze.

Luffy was saying goodbye to them? But they immediately came to their senses and flew into a rage! It was bad enough that a mere pirate had barged into Marine Headquarters, but now he wanted to leave so casually. And not only was he leaving, he was saying goodbye as well. He had no regard for the Marines at all!

All the Marines were about to charge forward at once! However, Akainu moved before them. He coldly stared at Moonlight, his expression indifferent. "I don't know why you're here, but since you came, don't even think about leaving!"

He had already received word of what Moonlight had done in Mary Geoise, as well as reports that Fujitora, Ryokugyu, and Kizaru had failed their mission. But he did not take it too seriously.

Over there, they had to take the Celestial Dragons into consideration, so failure was understandable. But this was Marine Headquarters.

There were not so many concerns here!

For Moonlight and the others to think they could leave so easily, they were dreaming! "Hey, hey, hey, you're Moonlight, Vice-Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates? Bastard, that strike of yours hurt my Lady Momousagi. Unforgivable!"

At the same time, Chaton sprang up and immediately came before Moonlight, his face full of rage.

Moonlight's earlier strike had sent both of them flying.

He did not care about himself, but Momousagi had been injured. That was something he could not accept, and he instantly flew into a fury.

"Stop spouting nonsense. I'm not yours. So you're Moonlight, Vice-Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates? I heard you're the only Great Swordsman who can stand shoulder to shoulder with Hawkeye. I've wanted to meet you for a long time!"

However, Momousagi quickly leaped up as well, coldly refuting Chaton's presumptuous words. Her gaze fell on Moonlight, filled with fighting spirit.

As a swordswoman herself, she was naturally interested in someone of a higher level.

Especially the Black Blade in Moonlight's hand, which interested her even more.

Not just them—even the entire Marine force was glaring over fiercely.

Clearly, there was no way they would allow them to leave Marine Headquarters so easily.

"Luffy, Ace, Hancock, you three go first."

Moonlight narrowed his eyes and spoke to the three.

"Let's go!"

The three did not hesitate at all and immediately nodded.

Since Moonlight had emerged safely from the Holy Land Mariejois, dealing with this place naturally would not be a problem.

Even Luffy had considered that, so the moment Moonlight spoke, the three did not hesitate and immediately boarded the Thousand Sunny.

"You think you can leave? You're underestimating us too much!"

"Dark Slash!"

Momousagi struck first.

The female Marine Admiral candidate immediately drew her blade.

Armament Haki wrapped around it, and a pitch-black slash crossed a distance of several hundred paces, cleaving fiercely toward Moonlight.

It reached him in an instant.

"What powerful Sword Aura!"

Moonlight's pupils contracted as he drew his blade and slashed!

"Clang!"

Momousagi's slash was sent flying, but Moonlight frowned slightly.

Momousagi's Sword Aura contained an extremely strange power, like darkness itself—a power capable of devouring.

Though he had easily blocked the strike, a trace of the Haki coating the Black Blade Kusanagi had been absorbed!

"There's something strange about that sword!"

His gaze immediately locked onto the blade in Momousagi's hand.

The blade was slightly curved and entirely black, marked with dark Moon patterns! It was not a Black Blade, yet it had the potential to become one.

Clearly, this sword was far from ordinary!

"The sword in my hand is called Black Dark Moon, one of the Supreme Grade Swords. It isn't a Black Blade; its blade is merely black. It contains the power of darkness, and darkness can devour everything—including Haki, and even the Black Blade in your hand!"

Noticing Moonlight's gaze, Momousagi shrugged and explained without concern.