At this moment, Sengoku was striking Yamato with Yamato, the impact energy surging within his palm.
Yamato gritted her teeth, preparing to take the blow head-on, when a tall figure suddenly appeared in front of her.
The naginata was held horizontally, firmly blocking the Buddha's Palm strike from the Sengoku.
The shockwave from the collision of the two forces exploded, overturning a large section of the surrounding ice.
As the shockwave dissipated, Sengoku's pupils contracted sharply as he looked at the Whitebeard blocking Yamato's path.
The Whitebeard grinned, a signature smile playing on his lips.
" The Sengoku —it's been decades since we last fought, hasn't it?"
Yamato was stunned for a moment, then his face instantly turned red.
Hey! Old man with the Whitebeard!
He is my rival!
What right do you have to steal my fight?!
Her spiked club was still flashing with an icy blue light, and she was poised to launch another attack on Sengoku.
Just when you're getting really into the heat of battle, someone suddenly interrupts and breaks the fight. That feeling is even worse than being stabbed in the back.
Whitebeard glanced at Yamato, then pointed towards the direction where Roy and Saint Saturn combat in mid-air.
"Little girl, look over there—that kid Roy is being besieged by the Five Elders and the Holy Knights."
Are you sure you want to waste your time on me?
Yamato opened her mouth, looking in the direction the Whitebeard was pointing. Roy was indeed engaged in a Saint Saturn.
Several other members of the Holy Knights were also watching them intently from the sidelines.
She gritted her teeth, her face filled with resentment, and gripped the spiked club in her hand with a cracking sound.
"Hmph! The boss won't fail!"
He can handle it himself!
Although Yamato said that, he had already started to back away.
Savi came up from the side and tugged at Yamato's sleeve.
"Hey, Yamato, the boss might really need some backup."
"Sengoku to Whitebeard, shall we go help our boss?"
"Shut up! I know!"
Yamato glared at Savi, then gave Whitebeard a cold snort.
"Old man, you can have this opponent for now."
"I'll settle the score with you after the war is over!"
Having said that, she didn't waste any more words and called out to Savi, Charon, Enel, and Pea.
They rushed towards the direction where Roy and Saint Saturn were.
Whitebeard watched Yamato's departing figure and chuckled a few times.
Then he turned around and faced Sengoku.
Sengoku, who had been on Sengoku ever since Whitebeard appeared, frowned deeply as he sensed Whitebeard's current state.
Whitebeard's previously shocking injuries had mostly healed.
The charred wound on his chest, inflicted by Akainu, had completely healed; only the scorch marks remaining on his clothes proved that the wound had once existed.
What alarmed Sengoku even more was that Whitebeard's breathing was much more stable than before.
Nourished by the life energy of the Pea, Whitebeard's condition has now recovered to at least 80% of his peak.
The Warring Sengoku began slowly, his voice low and solemn.
" Whitebeard, are you really planning to die here?"
"Gulala-- Sengoku, we've been rivals for decades, haven't we?"
Whitebeard did not directly answer Sengoku's question, but instead fell into a state of almost wistful reminiscence.
"Back when Captain Rocks was still around, your navy was our biggest enemy."
Later, I became the captain, and you became the Fleet Admiral. We fought for decades.
He paused, a complex light flashing in his eyes:
How about we settle this today?
Sengoku fell silent, looking into the Whitebeard's eyes, eyes that held no fear.
There is only a kind of composure after letting go of all burdens, a kind of peace knowing that the final outcome is approaching.
Sengoku was all too familiar with this feeling— Roger had the same look in his eyes when he walked onto the Execution Platform.
Sengoku took a deep breath, clasped his hands together, and the golden light in the Buddha Form suddenly surged.
The golden Buddha statue was even more solid than before, and shockwaves were rapidly gathering between his palms.
The surrounding space began to distort and deform due to this force.
"Good."
Sengoku only uttered one word, but his voice suppressed a complex emotion that even he himself was unaware of.
They are rivals, sworn enemies, and long-time adversaries who have been entangled for decades.
But at this moment, he was willing to give this man a dignified ending.
Two old rivals, after decades, are facing off once again.
The naginata and the Buddha's palm collided violently, the shockwave and vibrations exploding in mid-air, causing the entire Marineford to tremble violently under the impact.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield, Roy's battle with Saint Saturn continued.
Roy blocked Saint Saturn's scepter with his sword, the force from the blade making his hand go numb.
This old guy has lived for eight hundred years, and the amount of Haki he has accumulated is terrifying. Every time he clashes with someone, it's like he's smashing into a mountain.
Saint Saturn was also suffering.
Two of his six spider legs had been severed by Roy, and although they were regrowing, the process was so slow it frustrated him.
More importantly, Roy's Observation Haki always allows him to accurately predict the trajectory of his attacks.
Before the scepter even falls, the blade is already waiting in the path of the attack.
" The Five Elders."
Roy spoke after yet another clash of swords and canes, his tone carrying a hint of knowing indifference.
"Your strength is indeed formidable, and with the addition of the Black Turn Domination ability, you are indeed very difficult to kill."
Saint Saturn's pupils contracted slightly.
The meaning behind Roy's words couldn't be clearer--
He admitted that Saint Saturn was difficult to kill, but his composure revealed that he had thoroughly understood his opponent's strengths and weaknesses.
"But they're just difficult to kill."
Roy continued, drawing an arc in the air with the Shusui in his hand.
"Your strength is only at the level of Admiral. With the help of Black Turn Domination, you can withstand a few more hits, but it's impossible for you to defeat me."
Saint Saturn's scepter slammed down again, this time with almost all his might, and the surrounding space resounded with a piercing explosion.
Roy dodged to the side, the scepter grazing his clothes as it struck the ice, creating a crater several meters in diameter.
Just as Roy was about to counterattack, a sharp slash came from the side.
Shamrock's face still bore the bloodstains left by Roy's knife, but the longsword in his hand exuded an even stronger chill.
Roy raised his sword to parry, and a thin layer of ice condensed on the blade of the Shusui Blade.
Immediately afterwards, two more members of the Holy Knights launched a surprise attack from both the left and right flanks simultaneously.
Roy slashed away from the three attackers, retreating dozens of meters and hovering in mid-air.
His gaze swept over his opponent—
Saint Saturn, Shamrock, Gunko, and several other members of the Holy Knights who were still capable of fighting.
The group surrounded him, their coordination excellent, their offense and defense well-organized.
Roy defended himself while silently calculating in his mind.
Saint Saturn's strength is roughly at the level of Admiral, and with the help of Black Turn Domination, he is indeed very difficult to kill.
The individual strength of the members of the Holy Knights is slightly weaker than that of the Admiral, but their coordinated efforts are quite formidable.
Shamrock, the captain, also possesses strength approaching that of Admiral.
He is more than capable of protecting himself on his own.
However, it would be quite difficult to kill Saint Saturn or severely injure the Holy Knights when surrounded by eight people.
Unless someone comes to my aid right now.