"Cannonball Fist!"
A crimson fist flashed toward him with a shriek that tore through the air.
Rear Admiral Amini's fist burned like molten iron. A terrifying wave of heat exploded outward, shattering the ship's rail in an instant.
Rossi flipped into the air and thrust Sandai Kitetsu down at the back of his opponent's neck.
Clang!
Sparks flew, but the steel body remained entirely unscathed.
"I see."
Rossi landed on the other side of the warship's deck and swung his long blade casually. Several approaching soldiers fell in sprays of blood.
"So this ship was a cage all along. No wonder getting aboard was so easy."
He surveyed the surrounding waters. Although the Vinsmoke Family's snail warships had joined the battle from both flanks, Parada's warships had not fallen into disarray after their command was cut off.
The command center had never been aboard this ship, the Holy Shield,
beneath his feet.
"Only noticing now? Too late!"
The buzz-cut general approached with metallic footfalls, his muscles gleaming cold and hard in the sunlight.
"Once I keep you occupied and let El Drago attack freely, your fleet will truly be doomed-"
"That's my line."
Killing intent coiled around him like chains.
Rossi knitted his brows. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted dark shapes swimming beneath the water around the ship-armed Fish-Men had sealed off his retreat.
He was trapped.
The battlefield resembled the interlocking teeth of some enormous beast. On the deck of a warship belonging to Parada's side, the burly, dark-skinned man with flame-red hair, built more like a wild beast, opened his mouth again.
A dazzling blue-white beam erupted from his throat, tearing through the air with a continuous, low hum.
Wherever the beam passed, it easily punched through wooden hulls, leaving circular holes