The crimson rays of the rising sun pierced through the broken clouds, casting an ominous golden-red hue over the desolate land of the Red Line Pass.
The air froze, with only the deep hum and subtle arcs of electricity from the clash of Conqueror's Haki silently tearing through space.
Roy's declaration of war, along with the arrival of the Golden Lion and his two companions, completely ignited Sengoku's anger and determination.
If the Navy cannot capture the core fighting force of the Roy Pirates here today,
If it were to cause even severe damage, the World Government would lose all face, and the order of the oceans would be under unprecedented attack!
"Extremely arrogant!"
Sengoku's hair and beard stood on end, and the illusory image of the Buddha Form behind him suddenly solidified, radiating golden light. Beneath the appearance of supreme majesty and compassion lay the Lightning wrath to subdue demons!
"Since you're determined to die, then the Navy—will grant your wish!"
" The Buddha Shockwave!"
Without further ado, the Warring Sengoku launched a swift and decisive attack!
The enormous golden phantom of the Buddha's palm followed the movement of his main body, crashing down towards the area where Roy and his companions were!
Before the palm strike even arrived, the terrifying pressure had already caused the ground to crack and collapse inch by inch!
This was a furious strike from Fleet Admiral Sengoku, far more powerful than that of an ordinary Admiral, enough to destroy a small island in one blow!
"Let's begin!"
Faced with this overwhelming offensive, Roy's eyes flashed with a sharp light, but he did not take the attack head-on.
With a light tap of his feet, his figure drifted sideways like a ghost, so fast that it left a faint afterimage in his place.
At the same time, the three are mentally connected:
"According to plan, each unit shall engage the enemy!"
Bullet! Zephyr is yours!
" Hawk Eyes! Engage Kizaru!"
Tesoro! Aokiji is yours!
" The Sengoku —I'll take charge!"
The instructions were concise and clear. Just before the Sengoku's palm strike landed, the four of them suddenly scattered as if they had rehearsed it a thousand times!
"Hahaha! Old man Zephyr! After all these years, let me see if your Black Arm is still hard enough!"
Bullet laughed maniacally, his White Tiger: Human-Beast Form fully unfolding, his size exploding, his white beast markings and muscles bulging to their limit.
Facing the edge of the Buddha Palm: Shockwave, it shot straight at Zephyr like a cannonball!
On his fists, Armament Haki was as black as ink!
Zephyr's eyes burned with both rage and fighting spirit. Facing this old enemy who had caused him countless troubles, he showed no weakness and roared...
"Arrogant brat! I'll break your bones today!"
His jet-black arms were bulging with muscles, his Tekkai and Armament Haki fused to their peak, and he threw a punch straight at Bullet!
Before their fists even touched, the air between them was compressed, creating a muffled sonic boom!
On the other side,
Kizaru's body transformed into golden light, attempting to bypass the main battlefield and directly target Roy, who appeared to be in command, or intercept any possible escape routes.
But a cold, piercing gaze instantly locked onto him.
"Your opponent is me."
Dracule Mihawk had somehow appeared in Kizaru's path, his Black Blade Yoru not drawn, but held in his arms.
But his very existence is like a peerless sword drawn from its sheath, its sharp intent slicing through space.
The golden light that Kizaru had transformed into an elemental form experienced a slight stagnation.
"Oh dear, this is troublesome, Great Swordsman Dracule Mihawk."
Kizaru pursed his lips, his body reformed, and he put his hands in his pockets, but golden light was already flashing at his fingertips.
"Then I'll play with you~"
"Play?"
Hawk Eyes's gaze was indifferent as he slowly gripped the hilt of the Black Blade Yoru with his right hand.
You'll regret it.
The words had barely left his lips when the strike was unleashed!
A condensed, extremely thin, yet Inazuma -fast pale green line instantly severed the space between the two, piercing straight towards Kizaru's brow!
Kizaru's expression changed slightly, and his body instantly dispersed into elemental form, narrowly avoiding the thin line slash that had just passed where he had been standing.
It silently sliced a giant rock tens of meters high behind it in two, leaving a smooth, mirror-like cut!
The third battle group,
Tesoro's body surged with golden lightning, transforming into a humanoid Inazuma.
They proactively approached Aokiji, who was releasing chilling energy and attempting to freeze the battlefield on a large scale to restrict everyone's movement.
" Admiral Aokiji! Can your ice freeze my lightning?!"
Tesoro laughed loudly, and with a wave of his right hand, a golden Lightning as thick as a bucket shot towards Aokiji like a thunder dragon!
Wherever the lightning struck, the ice layer that Aokiji had laid out beforehand instantly vaporized, emitting a hissing sound, and white mist rose up.
Aokiji's eyes narrowed; he hadn't expected Tesoro's lightning to be so powerful and hot.
He dared not be negligent, and clasped his hands together. "Ice Wall!" A thick ice wall instantly rose from the ground, blocking the Lightning.
Boom!
The ice wall shattered, and most of the Lightning was neutralized, but the scattered aftershocks of lightning still left the ice surface around Aokiji covered with charred marks.
" The Logia Rumble-Rumble Fruit... has it been developed to this extent?"
Aokiji exhaled a cold breath, his eyes turning serious.
"Then let's see if your lightning is faster, or my ice-cold!"
" Two Thorn Spears!"
With a wave of his hands, Aokiji instantly conjured dozens of sharp ice spears, carrying a chilling aura, which shot towards Tesoro from all directions!
At the center of the battlefield, Roy, after dodging the first palm strike of the Sengoku, did not pause for a moment.
The ground beneath his feet shattered inch by inch, like a black Inazuma, rushing straight towards the main body of the Sengoku, against the aftershocks of the Buddha Palm: Shockwave!
"Abandoning defense and engaging in close combat? You're utterly ignorant!"
Sengoku snorted coldly, raising his other palm, which was filled with an even more terrifying golden energy wave, about to strike Roy.
However, Roy's speed was beyond imagination!
In the instant before the Buddha's palm struck, he had already darted into within ten meters of Sengoku like a ghost!
For experts of their level, this distance is already within the realm of close combat!
" Telekinesis - Heavy Pressure!"
Roy's eyes flickered slightly, and an invisible Telekinesis Field instantly enveloped Sengoku's entire body.
Sengoku felt his body suddenly sink, and his movements inevitably became slightly sluggish.
It was this slight delay—
Black Blade Shusui, drawn!
Without any fancy moves, Roy gripped the knife with both hands.
He poured all the pure swordsmanship he had honed over this period, his surging physical strength, and his refined Armament Haki into this simple and unadorned downward slash!
"Cut!"
The blade sliced through the air with a piercing shriek; the black blade light was not enormous.
Yet it was so concentrated that it seemed capable of swallowing even light, and with an indomitable will to cut through everything, it cleaved down upon the Sengoku!
"What?!"
Sengoku's pupils contracted sharply. The speed, power, and resolute sword intent contained in this strike far exceeded his expectations!
In his haste, he could only raise his half-raised Buddha palm to block above his head, while simultaneously unleashing his Conqueror's Haki and Armament Haki to their fullest extent!
clang--!!!!!!!!!
The deafening clang of metal clashing was more terrifying than any previous collision!
The sound transformed into tangible sound waves, exploding out in a ring!
Centered on the two people, the ground within a radius of 100 meters collapsed several meters deep as if struck by an invisible giant hammer!
Spiderweb-like cracks spread wildly for hundreds of meters!
A violent shockwave, mixed with golden Buddhist light and black fragments of Haki, swept outwards like a tsunami!
Some naval officers who were relatively close by were thrown off their feet and coughed up blood by the shockwave, even though they were defending themselves with all their might!
At the eye of the storm, Sengoku remained in a blocking stance, the ground beneath his feet deeply sunken.
But on his enormous Buddha palm, there was a clear, deep knife mark that went deep into the bone!
Golden energy mingled with blood seeped from the knife wound!
Roy, using the recoil from the blow, gracefully flipped backward and landed, standing with his sword in hand, calmly looking at Sengoku.
With a single strike, he severed Fleet Admiral Sengoku Buddha Palm!
The entire venue fell into a deathly silence!
Whether it's Zephyr, who's exchanging fire with Bullet and causing the ground to explode repeatedly,
Whether it's Kizaru engaged in an extreme chase of light and sword with Hawk Eyes, or Aokiji locked in a battle of ice and lightning against Tesoro,
Even the Golden Lion, Red Count, Kaido who were on the perimeter, and all the Marines and CP0 members who witnessed this scene were deeply shocked!
This Roy... when did his strength reach this level?!
"Snort!"
Sengoku snorted, and the wound on the Buddha's palm healed rapidly under the surge of Haki, but his face was terribly gloomy.
He stared intently at Roy, and said, word by word,
"Good... very good! Roy, you really can't be allowed to live!"
Roy twirled his sword, flicked away non-existent dust from the blade, and a slight smile played on his lips.
" Fleet Admiral Sengoku, your warm-up is over. Now, please get serious."
As you wish!
Sengoku a roar, the illusory image of the Buddha Form behind him shone brightly; the real battle had only just begun!
Four against four, four battle groups, erupted completely at this pass of the Red Line!
With its Haki and dazzling Devil Fruit abilities, every collision caused the earth to tremble, quickly turning this area into a true apocalyptic battlefield.
Meanwhile, the oppressive aura emanating from the three Golden Lion hung like the Sword of Damocles over the heads of all who dared to interfere.
This ensures the "fairness" of this ultimate showdown.
The tides of time, in this breathtaking collision, crashed towards a new shore!