In terms of Devil Fruit abilities and raw power, Dragon was still slightly stronger than Aramaki. However, his body was now made from the power of Nika. For an ordinary person, such a body would be akin to becoming superhuman, but for someone of Dragon's level, it actually became a burden.
Although the body had some regenerative capabilities, they were limited. If it suffered a devastating injury, the form would collapse.
To make things worse, Aramaki's constant taunts always struck a nerve. Every word hit Dragon right where it hurt, making him lose focus several times—enough for Aramaki to land a devastating blow and shatter his body.
Now, Dragon's body had dissipated down to his chest. He had given up struggling, staring blankly at the dark sky as he muttered:
"What have I done with my life…?"
Boom!
Aramaki followed up immediately, smashing Dragon's remaining form into scattered fragments of light with a single punch.
"Not quite man, not quite ghost—stop clinging to life already!"
...
On another battlefield, a golden beam of light darted rapidly through the air. Teach stood on a white flame cloud, his pupils following the golden streak, his face dark with frustration.
He had used the powers of the Fruit to bulk up his body to a muscular state. But on his bare upper torso, several golden spots shimmered, surrounded by the white aura symbolizing Nika's power.
Right now, Teach's strength was in an awkward place. To compare it, he was roughly in the upper tier of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
In his past life, he had just barely reached the threshold of an Emperor by combining his twin Devil Fruits and his bizarrely resilient body. But now that he'd been resurrected, he had neither the Tremor-Tremor Fruit nor that unusually tough physique. His power had plummeted.
Against someone like Borsalino—who was not only strong but also ridiculously mobile—Teach could only endure.
"Yo, what are you staring at?"
Borsalino's lazy voice came from behind Teach. He held his chin with one hand and delivered a light-speed kick straight into Teach's massive face.
His kicks carried explosive impact. A thunderous boom followed, sending Teach flying like a cannonball, his face cloaked in thick black smoke.
Hands in his pockets, Borsalino photonized again, instantly catching up to Teach mid-air.
Suddenly, Teach, who seemed unable to fight back, sprang into action. A wide mouth emerged from the smoke, attempting to swallow Borsalino whole.
Unfazed, Borsalino said with his usual indifference:
"Kowai ne…"
Even as he spoke, his body burst into photons and vanished. Teach snapped his mouth shut, only to gulp down air. Not even a single hair of Borsalino's had been caught. Furious, he cursed:
"Damn!!"
"Hm?"
Thud!!
The Ame-no-Murakumo Sword pierced through Teach's chest. His eyes bulged, and just before the blade could cleave him in two, he twisted his body and drove his elbow back into a scattering of golden sparks.
Teach pulled the blade from his chest and gave up on chasing Borsalino. Instead, he crouched slightly—then leaped into the sky, shouting:
"Lord Joy Boy, save me!!!"
Borsalino had just reformed his body when he heard the shout and froze on the spot.
Even Joy Boy, who was confronting Carl in midair, paused in disbelief, watching Teach's big face hurtle toward him.
Teach had no shame. In terms of thick skin, no one present could even come close. His strategy was all about being shamelessly flexible.
However, he never made it to Joy Boy.
Because the Yata no Kagami light orbs were faster than him.
A barrage of dazzling beams surged up from below, all slamming into Teach midair.
With explosions echoing endlessly, Teach's body fell from the smoke-filled sky like a kite with its string cut.
His body was a wreck, covered in gleaming burns. He was on the verge of collapse.
Joy Boy had wanted to save Teach—and also Dragon and Garp before him—but with Carl in front of him, he knew that any move would provoke an attack. Whether he could save them or not wasn't the point. The risk of being seriously wounded himself was too high.
Carl stood with arms folded, calmly watching Joy Boy.
"Joy Boy, have you fallen so far you now rely on the dead to fight for you? Where's that charisma you used to boast about?"
Joy Boy chuckled.
"You trying to piss me off? Not gonna fall for it again. Dragon already taught me that lesson."
Carl shrugged nonchalantly, then looked at the D clan members surrounding Joy Boy.
"Aren't you going to send your puppets into battle? Are they just your bodyguards now? Afraid to die, are we?"
Joy Boy sighed. These members of the D clan were his trump card for Mary Geoise. He had hoped that with the likes of Rocks, they could counter the four Admirals. But aside from Roger and Rocks, the other three—Teach, Dragon, and Garp—were seriously underperforming.
Teach was weak, Dragon had been broken by psychological warfare, and Garp—who resisted Joy Boy's control—couldn't fight at full power. He was the first one to fall.
Now, with Borsalino, Aokiji, and Aramaki free to move and preparing to support Akainu, Joy Boy knew he couldn't wait any longer.
He immediately ordered the thirteen D clan members to join the fight.
...
Atop Mary Geoise, Nusjuro watched this unfold and turned to Saturn and the others.
"We should also—"
But before he could finish, Garling's commanding voice rang out:
"God's Knights, move out with me!"
"Yes, sir!"
As Garling spoke, several figures clad in golden armor emerged from the crowd, gathering behind him.
Clang!
Garling drew his blade, stomped the ground, and shot forward with explosive speed. The earth cracked beneath him as the God's Knights followed close behind.
Nusjuro and the others exchanged glances. Now that the God's Knights had been deployed, they wondered if they should leave Mary Geoise.
Just then, a haunting voice echoed in their minds—it was Imu.
"What are you four waiting for?"
At the sound of Imu's voice, the four stiffened, hesitated no longer, and turned to charge...
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