Fujitora said nothing more, raised his Cane Sword, and purple gravity ripples spread and contracted on the blade.
Gravity Blade - Fierce Tiger!
A ferocious tiger-like slash carrying terrifying gravity flew from the blade, distorting and deforming the space in its path, and instantly crushing the rubble on the ground into powder after being sucked in.
Hawk Eyes swung his sword as well.
The pale green slash wave, carrying Conqueror's Haki, clashed violently with the Gravity Blade in mid-air. The two forces remained locked in a stalemate for about three seconds before exploding simultaneously.
The shockwave blew away all the rubble within a radius of several hundred meters.
Some naval soldiers who couldn't dodge in time were thrown backwards by the shockwave, crashing to the ground and spitting blood.
Fujitora frowned slightly.
He could sense the sword intent contained in Hawk Eyes's slash—pure sword intent, without any Devil Fruit power, yet it could withstand his gravity compression strike.
Is this the power of the World's Greatest Swordsman?
Hawk Eyes didn't give Fujitora much time to reflect. He took the initiative and attacked. His Black Blade Yoru, drew visible arcs in the air, each strike precisely aimed at Fujitora's vital points.
Fujitora's gravity field erected a defensive wall in front of him, but Hawk Eyes's slash was too sharp—sharp enough to cut through gravity itself.
The two fought from the ground to mid-air, and then back down to the ground.
The clash between swordsmanship and gravity created massive craters on the battlefield, and no one dared approach the area where they were fighting.
In the north-central part of the battlefield, Ryokugyu is locked in combat with Crocodile.
Ryokugyu's Woods-Woods Fruit transformed his body into a moving forest—countless thick roots extended from his body, spreading wildly across the ground, cracking even reinforced concrete wherever they went.
He tried to entangle Crocodile with the roots, but each time the roots touched Crocodile's body,
A drying force will draw away all the moisture, turning it into dry, crumbly debris.
" The Sand-Sand Fruit —your power is a perfect counter to mine," Ryokugyu said through gritted teeth.
"That's natural."
Crocodile, a cigar dangling from his lips, the Golden Hook on his right hand gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
"The desert is the natural enemy of all plants."
Your Woods-Woods Fruit is nothing more than a pile of dry tinder waiting to be burned before me.
He raised his hand and waved it, and a sandstorm shot into the sky, burying all the tree roots that the Ryokugyu had just grown.
Dry sand particles seeped into the crevices of the tree roots, drawing moisture away at a visible rate.
In just a few seconds, the tree roots changed from thick, dark brown to withered gray, and then crumbled and fell to the ground.
Ryokugyu's expression grew increasingly grim.
He knew Crocodile was right.
The power of the Woods-Woods Fruit is indeed at a disadvantage compared to the Sand-Sand Fruit. But that doesn't mean he'll admit defeat.
With a low growl, Ryokugyu abandoned the contest of Devil Fruit abilities and transformed into a green afterimage as he charged towards Crocodile.
Crocodile's Golden Hook and Ryokugyu's wooden fist collided with a dull thud.
The two have completely different fighting styles— Crocodile is a typical attrition fighter, constantly weakening his opponent with sandstorms and desiccation abilities;
Ryokugyu is an explosive type; every attack is imbued with the life energy of the Woods-Woods Fruit, and countless sharp branches instantly sprout from the spot where it is hit.
Overall, Crocodile clearly has the upper hand.
Above the battlefield, Kyros controlled the floating Sky Island, overlooking the entire battlefield, occasionally using his Float-Float Fruit ability to drop debris and cause damage to the Marine Base.
Simultaneously monitor the movements of the entire battlefield, be ready to support any unexpected direction, or be prepared to evacuate.
Meanwhile, at the base plaza, Bullet and Garp were locked in a fierce battle, both sustaining injuries but neither willing to back down.
The sword duel between Hawk Eyes and Fujitora grew increasingly intense, and the area around them had completely turned into a death zone.
Crocodile is slowly suppressing Ryokugyu, and the dust storm is expanding.
Tesoro and Kizaru's entangled figures had long since disappeared.
"That's about it."
Kyros on the flying Sky Island sent a signal.
The power of the Float-Float Fruit is activated.
The Hachinosu fleet, currently engaged in combat with the navy in the waters below, issued a retreat warning to all its ships simultaneously.
The soldiers of Hachinosu Hachinosu broke free from their opponents and boarded the ships, which, under Kyros's control, slowly drifted into the sky.
The marines below could only watch helplessly as the pirates calmly departed.
Because such incidents occurred frequently during this period, the naval soldiers had become accustomed to them.
Bullet and the others also used their own methods to evacuate, leaving behind only Marine Base engulfed in flames and billowing smoke.
Meanwhile, Akainu, who had just arrived from G-2 base, stood at the edge of the ruins of the command tower, watching the fleet from Hachinosu retreat further and further away, his clenched fists trembling slightly.
"Here we go again.
Hit and run, then come back.
They're using this place as a training ground!
In the temporary command post at G-1 Base, Akainu slammed his fist on the table, leaving a deep dent in the steel conference table.
Kizaru leaned against the corner of the wall, his old injury on his side not yet fully healed, with a section of bandage sticking out from under his shirt.
That face, which always wore a lazy expression, now showed no trace of feigned ease.
This is the seventh time this month.
They never finish the battle; they just blow up a few gun emplacements and destroy a few sections of fortifications before running away.
Their goal wasn't to capture G-1 at all, but to wear us down.
Ryokugyu sat in a chair, his body wrapped in several bandages.
Crocodile had just left a deep, dry scar on his chest; the skin there was still cracked and dry like withered tree bark, and even the slightest movement made him wince in pain.
"How about we take the initiative and attack the main island of Hachinosu directly?" Ryokugyu said through gritted teeth.
"Idiot!"
Akainu scolded,
"You can't even imagine how well Hachinosu is defended."
Roy, Kaido, the remnants of Whitebeard's army, Hawk Eyes, and Bullet —all these monsters are stationed around Hachinosu.
Even if we committed all our naval forces, we might not be able to take it, let alone the fact that we're already struggling to defend G-1.
Fujitora sat in the corner with his eyes closed, his blindfold resting across his knees.
"But if we continue to defend passively like this, we will eventually be worn down."
Many new recruits have begun to feel fear, and morale is declining at a visible rate.
Kizaru rarely opens his perpetually squinting eyes:
" Akainu, what happened to the reinforcements the World Government promised? If CP could help contain Hachinosu, our pressure would be much less."
Akainu remained silent for a long time, then slowly nodded:
"I'll send a telegram to the Five Elders right away. Tell them to send the CP agency here as soon as possible. Also—"
His gaze swept over the three Admiral present, a rare hint of weariness flashing in his eyes.
We need a victory.
Even a small victory must show the soldiers that the navy is not a sitting duck.