Roy stepped slightly to the side, making way for the three Celestial Dragons captured behind him.
The setting sun cast its last rays upon the three terrified faces, making their expressions exceptionally clear.
"Otherwise, I'm afraid you won't be able to explain it to the Five Elders."
A faint smile played on Roy's lips.
That smile was extremely irritating to Akainu.
"Damn pirates..."
Akainu's voice was forced out from between his teeth, low like a beast's roar.
Magma erupted from his entire body!
His right arm became completely elementalized, transforming into a giant Magma Fist.
Dark red magma surged on the surface of the fist, and the terrifying heat distorted the surrounding air.
The ground beneath their feet instantly melted, turning into a pool of boiling lava.
" Sakazuki! Stop!"
"Garp shouted sternly."
But it was too late.
" Great Eruption!!!"
Akainu roared, his right fist, crackling with magma capable of destroying everything, slammed into Roy in mid-air!
That punch was delivered without any reservation.
The Magma Fist expanded rapidly the moment it was thrown, growing from the size of a person to a size of over ten meters.
Like a giant lava projectile erupting from a volcano, it hurtled towards Roy!
Wherever it passed, the air was ignited by the high temperature, producing a piercing explosion.
The heatwave swept over the ruins below, instantly igniting the wood and melting the metal.
If that punch landed, not only Roy, but everyone behind him would be swallowed by the lava!
A red light flashed in Roy's eyes, and the Telekinesis: Barrier he intended to release did not materialize.
because--
"Clang--!!!"
A deafening clang of metal clashing rang out above the ruins!
The Magma Fist stopped.
It stopped on the blade.
The knife had a long, slender blade with flowing lines, and it gleamed with a cold light in the afterglow of the setting sun.
The blade was wreathed in jet-black Armament Haki, completely isolating it from the intense heat of the magma.
Shanks, wielding his sword in one hand, stood in front of Roy. The Famous Sword " Gryphon " was held horizontally in front of him, steadily blocking Akainu's Great Eruption.
The lava exploded on the blade, scattering countless sparks, but not a single drop could pass over the blade.
Shanks looked up, his eyes calm and focused in the shadow of his Straw Hat.
"Hey, hey, hey, Akainu."
His voice wasn't loud, but it was very clear.
"Now is not a good time to act."
Akainu's pupils contracted for a moment.
Red-Haired Shanks.
This man, who refused the invitation of the Shichibukai and dared to venture into the New World with a group of companions, was able to block his Great Eruption with one hand.
" Shanks..."
Akainu's voice was deep and dangerous.
"You're going to go against the Navy too?"
"To oppose?"
Shanks grinned, a smile exactly like that of his captain Roger.
"I'm just protecting my friends. As for whether it's right or wrong—"
With a flick of his wrist, Gryphon twisted the Magma Fist, dissipating the remaining power of the Great Eruption.
"I'm a pirate, you know."
Lava splashed everywhere, burning black holes in the ground.
Shanks sheathed his sword and returned to Roy's side.
His movements were effortless, as if he had simply swatted away a fly.
But this slash was like a bucket of cold water poured over the heads of everyone present who were itching to make a move.
" Blood Axe " Bullet's pupils contracted sharply.
He had only noticed Roy and hadn't paid much attention to the Red Hair man in the straw Straw Hat.
But now, he witnessed Shanks single-handedly block Akainu's Great Eruption —a full-force attack from Marine Admiral!
" Red-Haired Shanks..."
Bullet gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with shock.
He originally thought that Red Hair was just a newcomer who had refused the invitation to Shichibukai, and that his bounty and strength should be similar to his own.
But now it seems that I was completely wrong.
This man's strength far surpasses his.
A Sea Snake glint flashed in Mona's serpentine eyes.
She had heard of Red-Haired Shanks long ago.
A member of the crew of Pirate King Roger, and a man who inherited Roger's Straw Hat and will.
How could someone like that be an ordinary person?
" Iron Arms " Gura watched this scene in silence, the gray metallic sheen covering his hands completely fading.
He now fully understood—the group of monsters he had just wanted to challenge were actually quite strange.
The Roy Pirates. The Red Hair Pirates.
Any random cadre would be better than him.
"Open fire, open the fight!!!"
"Let's fight!"
Yamato was the first to lose his temper.
She shoved the Celestial Dragons woman she was carrying into Tesoro's arms, grabbed her spiked club, and charged out.
" Thunder Bagua!"
The spiked club, accompanied by a whooshing sound, slammed down towards Akainu's head!
Savi followed closely behind, instantly activating his Giant Ape form. His ten-meter-tall body resembled a small mountain, and his right fist, imbued with the power of his entire body, slammed towards Akainu's side.
Jesus Burgess flanked from another direction, unleashing the full power of his Strong-Strong Fruit and punching Akainu in the back.
The three of them joined forces and attacked Akainu simultaneously!
Akainu sneered, neither dodging nor avoiding.
His right arm unleashed a massive magma fist, absorbing all three attacks simultaneously!
boom--!!!
The spiked club, the Giant Ape fist, and the Strong-Strong Fist collided with the giant magma fist, exploding into a blinding burst of fire.
Yamato was jolted back three steps, his spiked club covered in lava and glowing red-hot.
She shook her numb arm, her eyes filled with excitement.
"So strong! Again!"
Savi's Giant Ape fist was scorched by the lava, and the surface of his skin was charred black, but the regenerative power of the Giant Ape bloodline allowed the wound to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye.
He let out a low growl and charged forward again.
Jesus Burgess suffered the worst; his full-force attack from the Strong-Strong Fruit was rebounded by the magma, causing his entire right arm to tremble and blood to seep from his hand.
But he grinned, shook the blood off his hands, and charged forward again.
The three took turns fighting Akainu.
Akainu fought three opponents single-handedly and held his own in no way.
His Magma-Magma Fruit an extremely wide attack range, and each punch is accompanied by devastating high temperatures, forcing the three of them to stay away.
But Yamato and his two companions were no pushovers either.
They worked together seamlessly, never directly confronting Akainu's deadly attacks, but instead constantly harassing him from the sides and rear, wearing down Akainu stamina and concentration.
Pea flung his hands, scattering seeds across the battlefield. With a clap of his hands, countless vines surged from the cracks in the ground, binding Akainu's feet.
"Gotcha!"
But the next second, the lava burned the vines to ashes.
Akainu glanced down at the ashes and said coldly, "A mere trick."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a sword light pierced through from the blind spot.
Kazami.
His sword was so fast it was almost invisible to the naked eye, and it pierced straight for Akainu's nape.
Akainu, anticipating the Observation Haki, slightly shifted his body, and the tip of his sword grazed Akainu's neck, leaving a shallow bloodstain.
He threw a backhand punch, a giant magma fist hurtling towards Kazami.
Kazami quickly retreated, but the aftershocks of the lava still grazed his shoulder, burning through his clothes and leaving a burn on his skin.
He glanced at the wound expressionlessly, then gripped the sword hilt tightly once more.
Enel floated in mid-air, swung his golden staff, and lightning descended from the sky.
" Raigo · Mamaragan!"
Countless bolts of lightning struck Akainu, but Akainu didn't even bother to dodge.
Lightning bolts passed through his elemental body, striking the ground and blasting out charred craters.
" Logia, immune to lightning."
Akainu sneered.
"You don't even understand this?"
Enel's face darkened, but he didn't stop.
Bolts of Lightning, imbued with Armament Haki, hurtled towards Akainu.
At the same time, Van Augur's sniper rifle rang out in the distance.
The bullet struck Akainu precisely in the eye, forcing him to turn his head to dodge.
Taking advantage of this opening, Savi delivered Haki punch to Akainu's ribs.
Akainu groaned and involuntarily staggered backward.
A trickle of blood escaped from the corner of his mouth.