Whitebeard's mockery made Redfield feel uncomfortable all over, but he didn't take it too much to heart.
Those insignificant reputations and the so-called praises of humans were utterly trivial compared to gaining freedom and being able to do what he wanted.
So he didn't want to waste any words.
The most urgent matter was to go straight in, do what he had to do and end this battle at Marineford.
Thinking this, a cold glint flashed in Redfield's eyes as his aura surged abruptly.
The bat-shaped umbrella in his hand gleamed with a metallic sheen under the sunlight—
Like a sharp blade.
The next moment, Redfield lightly tapped his foot on the city wall, propelling himself into the air.
Mid-flip, he swung the bat umbrella forward with a fierce slash.
A crimson sword aura tore through the sky, streaking straight towards Whitebeard.
"Then come!"
Whitebeard's voice carried a trace of anger as he watched the red sword aura approach.
His eyes flickered slightly before he gathered strength in his arm and swung forward violently.
A devastating force erupted instantly, colliding with the red sword aura in an explosive clash.
A massive shockwave surged outward, scattering eerie crimson energy in all directions.
Marines and pirates alike were sent flying by the impact.
"So strong! Who is this guy?! He can actually match Whitebeard!"
"How did the Marines suddenly get someone this powerful? And he even saved Admiral Akainu!"
"It's Redfield—a pirate infamous since the Rocks era!"
"He's on par with Whitebeard and Roger!"
"Huh?! Besides the known legends, there are still pirates this strong in the world?!"
"Rumors I heard said he was captured by the Marines and locked up in Impel Down. If he's here now, he must've made a deal with them!"
"Teaming up with the Marines—another disgrace to pirates!"
"..."
The pirates were stunned the moment Redfield appeared.
Thanks to him, Akainu had narrowly escaped death.
Moreover, the power he displayed while fighting Whitebeard was terrifying.
Only a few pirates who knew some history recognized him—a legendary pirate from the Rocks era, no weaker than Whitebeard.
And now, he had even allied with the Marines, becoming a traitor to pirates.
Though they despised such actions, they also knew the situation was dire.
They had to break through to Marineford's plaza as quickly as possible.
"Kill them! Wipe out the Marines in the bay first!"
A commander-level pirate roared and the battle cries of the pirates surged like tidal waves as they brandished their weapons and clashed fiercely with the Marines.
Amid the pirates' rallying cries, Redfield and Whitebeard fought with escalating intensity—yet neither could gain the upper hand.
"Hah—"
On the city wall, Akainu, severely wounded by Whitebeard's punch, exhaled sharply, struggling to suppress his injuries.
His eyes gleamed as he watched Whitebeard being held back by Redfield.
The next moment—With a slight flicker of his figure, he appeared directly in the plaza.
Now that his hands were free, he intended to deal with these black monsters first.
At the center of the plaza, only one of the ten remaining black monsters was left standing, thanks to the combined efforts of the giant vice admirals and the Pacifistas.
Beside it lay the other nine, their heads and internal organs completely devoured.
There was no doubt—they had all been consumed by this single remaining creature.
"What a disgustingly vile creature!"
Akainu's expression was grim, his entire body aching from his injuries.
Whitebeard's full-force punch had dealt devastating damage, especially since Akainu had taken it head-on without any defense.
The monster before him now stood taller than two giant vice admirals combined, its black skin covered in fine scales.
It was impossible to tell what kind of animal it had been in life—its body was completely distorted, its muscles grotesquely sculpted as if carved by hand.
The Pacifistas' laser cannons still inflicted damage, but it was far less effective than before.
Meanwhile, the vice admirals' attacks could barely break through its defenses, leaving only superficial wounds.
Worse, the monster felt no pain and continued rampaging unchecked.
"All of you—join the main battlefront! And that includes the Marine soldiers!"
"If anyone dares to flee, I'll be the first to eliminate them!"
Akainu barked orders at the giant vice admirals beside him, as well as the soldiers still lingering near Marineford's fortress who's hesitant to enter the fray.
In his eyes, wasting so much combat power on a single monster was an inexcusable misallocation of resources.
Earlier, he had been too preoccupied with Whitebeard to act—but now, he would resolve this nuisance as swiftly as possible.
At his command, the giant vice admirals stomped toward the main battlefield, their steps shaking the ground.
The soldiers, too, gazed at the fierce battle below, their eyes burning with fighting spirit.
Down there were their brothers, their comrades—all fighting desperately.
How could they cower behind the lines?
Moments later.
Not long after the giant vice admirals descended, tens of thousands of Marine soldiers surged forward with overwhelming battle intent, charging towards the pirates.
The Pacifistas joined the assault, launching attacks against the pirate forces.
In an instant, the battle within the bay erupted into a frenzy as the Marines and Pacifistas clashed with the swarming pirates, the conflict escalating to its most intense phase.
And at that very moment, the black monster in the plaza sensed the shift around it—and entered a frenzied state.
In an instant.
Its eyes flashed crimson, glowing with an eerie, malevolent light.
Its massive, tower-like body suddenly lunged at Akainu with terrifying force, like a small mountain crashing toward him.
"Great Eruption!"
Akainu's right arm transformed into molten magma, the scorching heat warping the air around it.
His arm swelled violently, growing more than ten times its original size in an instant.
Magma surged, black smoke billowing.
Then, with a furious roar, he drove his fist straight into the black monster.
BOOM!!
The monster's body was sent flying by the impact, hurled dozens of meters backward.
After unleashing this attack, a trickle of blood escaped from Akainu's lips—not from the black monster, but from the grievous wounds Whitebeard had inflicted upon him.
The moment he struck, a surge of pain wracked his body, causing him to shudder involuntarily.
------------------------------
Read 40 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator