Swoosh...
"Very good, this attack is starting to look interesting... Let me feel with my own body whether this move can completely defeat me!!"
The black dot in the sky grew larger and larger. The fist, which was moving at an incredibly fast speed, seemed extremely slow in front of experts like Chaton. Chaton could have easily dodged it, but in order to let Luffy more directly feel the difference between the two, he chose to take the attack with his body.
boom...
Click click...
Chaton spread his arms, exposing his body completely to Luffy. In the blink of an eye, his fist struck Luffy directly. A loud thud resounded, and a violent shockwave emanated from beneath the fist, slamming Chaton into the rocky ground below. Grooves, like Roaming Snake, snaked and spread, enveloping the surrounding combatants, causing their standing points to collapse.
Swoosh...
Thump!!
After unleashing that attack, Luffy's body could no longer hold on. A large amount of air that he had inhaled and exhaled overflowed from his mouth. The side effects of using Gear Third and Gear Second simultaneously became apparent, and he fell to the ground, looking like a dwarf, unable to move.
Click click...
Bang... whoosh... thud!!
Meanwhile, Luo Chen, who had been knocked into the Fortified Wall by Red's attack, had regained some strength. With a slight effort, he broke free and fell to the ground.
The dust and mist that had been kicked up enveloped and obscured him. Several pirates and marines who were fighting in the area turned around, gripped their weapons, and looked warily in that direction.
clatter...
"Who is it...?"
Just as the dust and mist inside gradually dissipated, and the figure stepped out to approach them, the group swallowed hard and mustered their courage to question him.
clatter...
"Phew... That last hit really hurt, Red. I'm no match for you right now, but let's settle things next time we meet... As for now..."
Luo Chen's body was covered with numerous wounds, from which traces of blood flowed.
His gaze fell upon Whitebeard, who still stood tall in front of the Navy, bolstering the courage of the pirates.
"Heh, in this state, I probably wouldn't even need him to lift a finger; his captains would easily defeat me. I need to find a quiet place to recuperate and fully recover my strength first..."
After comparing the gap between himself and his opponent, Luo Chen smiled wryly, then shook his head and turned around to look for a good place where he could recover his strength.
"Hey, you're Luo Chen, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, right? You actually tried to hit my dad just now, and what about Captain Vista? I'll kill you..."
Several pirates nearby recognized him. Remembering that Luo Chen had just tried to offend their most respected Pops and defeated Vista, leaving him in a state of uncertainty, they were instantly enraged and charged at him.
"Hmm?! Pirates under Whitebeard's command? If it were a division commander coming after me, that would be troublesome, but it's just you... who also want to attack me..."
Clang...
As he spoke, Luo Chen raised the Rain Burial he was holding and gently swung it forward. The silver-white Flying Slash swept horizontally towards them, instantly killing several pirates amidst their screams.
Swoosh...
Luo Chen glanced at the navy men around him, ignoring them, and with a powerful flap of his dark red wings, he soared into the sky and flew towards a deserted corner.
"Wow... that's amazing!!"
After Luo Chen left, the few marines who had no opponents exchanged a faint glance and then exclaimed in surprise.
They were elites recruited from all over the world by the headquarters, with an average combat strength of over 100. In any world, they would be Admiral, and no force could underestimate them. However, on this highest stage, where the best elites from the New World gathered, their strength seemed very ordinary, and they were not even strong enough to be vanguards.
Seeing Luo Chen easily defeat their opponent, with whom they had been locked in a long-term struggle, they couldn't help but be surprised.
"Huff... huff... huff... Damn it, I can't move... that guy..."
Luffy's body had returned to normal, but he still didn't have the strength to stand up. He strained his eyes to look into the large hole he had blasted, hoping to see if Chaton could stand up again.
Swoosh...
clatter...
Just as Luffy expected, how could Admiral Candidate Chaton be defeated so easily? With a whoosh, a figure darted out from inside and appeared beside him.
"That attack of yours was indeed very strong; it almost tore through my defenses. If it had been a few more times, I might have really been defeated. But it seems you don't even have the strength to twist your fingers anymore, Straw Hat Luffy..."
Chaton stood beside them, glanced at him, and then spoke to him.
Thump...
"Then... it's my turn to make a move... Rankyaku... Amane Dachi!!"
Swoosh...
After finishing his speech, Chaton stepped off the ground and into the air, somersaulting backward. He then unleashed a circular slash that struck Lu Fei, who was lying Luffy on the ground.
Clang!!
The sound, like metal being cut, grew closer and closer, and the slash magnified rapidly before his eyes. Luffy felt an incredibly terrifying aura.
"Damn it, move!"
Luffy roared, finally managing to force his body to tilt to one side.
boom...
Flying Slash stood where he had just dodged, and a huge chasm was instantly created.
"No..."
The ground was cleaved in two by that attack, and Luffy, unable to control his body, slowly slid into the crack.
"Hmm, that won't do. You're our most important prisoner; we can't just let you get lost like this..."
Swoosh...
As they were talking, Chaton arrived beside Luffy and stepped on him to stop him from sliding.
"Alright, it's time to come with us, Straw Hat Luffy..."
Chaton reached out and grabbed Luffy's collar.
Swoosh...
"Um!?"
Bang...
Suddenly, a figure flashed by, and Chaton felt a strong sense of danger, withdrawing his hand to defend.
He was then powerfully knocked away by Marco's foot, which had returned to human form, as he arrived to rescue Luffy.
boom...
Chaton's body seemed to have been Charge by a car at high speed, and he was instantly sent flying backwards and crashed into the building opposite.
clatter...
"Hey, are you alright, Ace's brother..."
You guys come quickly and treat Straw Hat...
After asking the question casually, Marco turned to the accompanying medical staff and gave them instructions.
"Yes!!"
Several crew members came over with first aid kits to check Luffy's injuries.
And then this other person arrived.
Straw Hat Boy ~
"Are you alright...?"
Ivankov arrived after escaping the bear, which had been completely turned into a weapon.
"Hmm... Marco, the first division commander under Whitebeard, and Okama King Ivankov, are both very troublesome figures, but isn't it a bit arrogant to just ignore our Navy like this..."
After eliminating all the pirates who were blocking their way, Momousagi stood with the Marines and surrounded Luffy and his crew before stepping out to speak.
Bang!!
Swoosh...
Chaton smashed through the rubble that buried him and rushed to the group, standing next to Momousagi.
" Marco, even your Whitebeard Pirates are getting involved in this mess to protect Straw Hat Luffy?"
Not wanting to be underestimated by Marco Chaton, who were touted as Whitebeard's right-hand men, they simply asked him repeatedly to confirm, trying to make him back down.
"Hahaha, I'm sorry, Navy, this kid is someone our Whitebeard Pirates need to protect, there's no way I can step aside..."
Even without Whitebeard's orders, Marco and the others would have protected Luffy out of respect for Ace. Now that Whitebeard has given them his own orders, they are ready to confront Chaton without hesitation.