"You're right! We won't just leave the Marines-we'll take our comrades with us!"
"Yes! We can't let those unscrupulous Marines keep deceiving them!"
"Let them see the Marines' true colors! That isn't the justice we're after at all!"
Hundreds of Marines seethed with righteous indignation, their denunciations growing louder and louder.
Seeing this, Ye Yang gave a faint, discreet smile. "Since you've all made up your minds, leave this place. If 'Admiral Akainu' attacks you again, I might not be able to protect everyone!"
He placed particular emphasis on the words "Admiral Akainu."
"Thank you, our savior! We'll be leaving, then!"
Hearing this, the Marines each glared at the grim-faced Akainu, thanked Ye Yang again, then turned and headed together toward the three warships, preparing to leave.
At the sight, Akainu's expression darkened.
If he really let these Marines spread the news, it would deal a tremendous blow to the Marines' reputation.
By now, he had also figured out Ye Yang's objective.
He clearly wanted to use Akainu's own actions to shake the Marines' foundations!
Akainu wanted to kill those Marines now, but he could not make a move. With Ye Yang there, any attack he made would be futile.
He could only watch helplessly as the three warships set sail and left the Sabaody Archipelago.
Seeing this from midair, Kizaru's expression also turned extremely ugly, and he could not help cursing under his breath.
"That Sakazuki is far too impulsive. He never considers the consequences. Not a single mission with him ever goes well!"
If word of this really got out, the consequences would be more than even the two of them, Admirals though they were, could bear.
Looking at the three warships that had not yet sailed far, Kizaru radiated golden light, immediately preparing to turn into light and catch up to silence them.
Before he could finish transforming, however, a pitch-black right foot suddenly swept toward him, shattering his light form with a kick and sending him flying hundreds of meters backward.
Steadying himself, Kizaru looked up and saw Ulquiorra's impassive face opposite him. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his left hand, his heart heavy. "What a troublesome monster. It looks like I'll have to give up on intercepting those soldiers."
Just as his thoughts grew somber, Ulquiorra suddenly spoke from across from him.
"I've grown bored."
"What do you mean?" Kizaru frowned, a sense of foreboding rising within him.
"To think a Marine Admiral would have only this much strength. I've grown bored. Now, I'll use my full power."
Holding the Moonlight Sword, Ulquiorra looked at Kizaru and said indifferently, "Don't waver. Take your stance, keep your nerves taut, and don't let your guard down for even a moment."
Whoosh!
The moment he finished speaking, Ulquiorra suddenly vanished.
"What?!" Kizaru was shocked. Even with his Observation Haki fully activated, he had failed to catch the slightest warning of his opponent's movement.
He was even faster than before!
Before he could defend himself, he felt an icy palm seize the right side of his head.
Then the scenery shifted as that hand gripped him firmly and sent him plummeting toward the ground!
Rumble! Rumble!
The two hit the ground. Gripping the right side of Kizaru's head tightly with his right hand, Ulquiorra dragged him hundreds of meters like a mop, smashing every peak and boulder in their path.
Only after crashing into a Red Earth Giant Tree and knocking it down did they finally come to a stop!
"Cough, cough, cough... Is this his true strength?" Amid the billowing dust, Kizaru coughed up several mouthfuls of blood. His Marine Admiral uniform was in tatters, and countless wounds of all sizes covered his body, leaving him in a wretched state.
Before Kizaru could stand, a dark green light suddenly lit up above him, bathing his entire body in a ghastly pallor.
"Cero Oscuras."
Rumble!
Looking at Akainu's extremely ugly expression, Ye Yang curled his lips into a smile.
He had saved those Marines for more than just ruining the Marines' reputation.
Although that was one of his goals, his primary objective was to reap Negative Points from the Marines!
Once those hundreds of Marines spread word of what had happened here, it would surely have a major impact, damaging the Marines' image of justice.
When those self-proclaimed champions of justice among the Marine leadership learned the full course of events, they might blame Akainu, but even more of their hidden resentment would be directed at Ye Yang.
How many Negative Points could a few hundred Marines contribute? Each person would provide two or three at most.
And what about the Marine leadership? Akainu alone, with his Admiral-level strength, provided several thousand at a time, to say nothing of veterans like Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
Between several hundred to a thousand Negative Points and several thousand to tens of thousands, which was more valuable? Surely anyone who was not a fool would choose the latter.
"All right, everything that needed doing is done." Controlling Susanoo, Ye Yang swung down the four enormous blue blades in its hands, pointing them straight at Akainu as he sneered. "It's time to end this battle."
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