Rumble—Rumble—!
Amidst thunderous roars, over a dozen streaks of black-red lightning burst forth, writhing wildly in the air. Their terrifying might was almost palpable, filling countless people with dread. Some even experienced illusions, as if the sky and earth had transformed into a strange, grayish-white space.
Thump, thump, thump...
Vast numbers of pirates and soldiers collapsed to the ground like mown grass, their eyes rolling back as they fainted.
"A clash of Conqueror's Haki?!"
Roberts, Lavishur, Vice Admiral Prodi, Regedor, and the others all turned their heads, expressions of shock on their faces.
"That Marine brat actually possesses the 'King's Disposition' too? How peculiar!" Roberts wore a full-face helmet, so his expression wasn't visible, but his eyes revealed an unbelievable astonishment.
"Hahaha~ Don't underestimate the Marines, you scum pirates!" Vice Admiral Prodi laughed heartily, his expression exultant.
"The King's Disposition, which even I don't possess... he actually has it. Truly, the student surpasses the master, Mankervis!" Lavishur's eyes lowered as he murmured softly, "A Mythical Zoan Mushussu Fruit plus Conqueror's Haki, it truly has some of the ancestor's grandeur. If you hadn't colluded with pirates to harm your own country, there's a good chance I would have supported your ascension!"
"How truly rare. Are all youngsters this strong nowadays?" Regedor scratched his head, looking somewhat troubled.
On this side, Cross and Mankervis were locked in a fierce battle. Two powerful Conqueror's Haki clashed, the overflowing energy currents wreaking havoc on their surroundings and creating an enormous commotion. Fortunately, the onlookers didn't just stand by; they quickly resumed their own fights.
Vice Admiral Prodi, to uphold his senior's demeanor and not lose face in front of the younger generation, fought Roberts as if his life depended on it. Haki-infused cannonballs were fired indiscriminately, like they were free, their continuous huge explosions as loud as thunder, leaving Roberts disheveled and quite a mess.
However, Roberts's strength was truly formidable. The slashes he unleashed with Gae Bulg were no less powerful than Vice Admiral Prodi's bombardments, meaning all Vice Admiral Prodi was doing was merely stalling for time.
On the other side, Lavishur looked at the dying Hebrass, who was entangled by the terrifying curse-poison. After taking a deep breath, he turned and engaged Regedor in a fierce battle.
However, Regedor still possessed some pride and didn't stoop to taking Hebrass hostage. Instead, he intentionally drew the battlefield further away to avoid affecting the defenseless Hebrass.
The battle of merely six individuals created a commotion comparable to a battlefield of tens of thousands. The furious shockwaves they generated made it impossible for weaker individuals nearby to participate, forcing them to engage others instead.
Viscount Solmen stood atop the ruins of a building, silently observing the battlefield from afar. After a long moment, he retracted his gaze.
"Deliver my command: Full army, initiate a total assault!"
"Yes, sir!"
A young knight in silver plate armor, his expression serious, pounded his left chest with his fist, then turned and departed.
Behind Viscount Solmen, on a street that hadn't suffered too much damage, a thousand Royal Guard soldiers, clad in black military uniforms and brown half-armor emblazoned with the Mushussu crest on their chests, stood in a long, silent formation.
As Viscount Solmen's order was given, these thousand reserve soldiers immediately sprang into action, charging into the battle ahead like a black flame.
"Kill them!"
"Crush them!"
"Musket volley!"
"Bring up the cannons, blow up that strongpoint!"
"..."
Viscount Solmen transformed into a giant Carnotaurus, spearheading the attack. He roared, batting away all enemies in his path. The Royal Guard soldiers behind him were also high in morale, charging bravely and fearlessly.
Having lost their strong commander, coupled with communication breakdowns, the Royal Army had fallen into a desperate situation of fighting individually. Soldiers could only fight in scattered groups under the leadership of a few officers.
Thus, facing the Royal Guard soldiers with their complete command structure, they were quickly routed, abandoning their helmets and armor, leaving countless corpses behind. Many of their hastily constructed positions were lost one after another.
It had to be said that Viscount Solmen possessed an excellent grasp of battle timing, and his constantly prepared soldiers were extremely elite. From the start, they pierced through the Royal Army's defenses like a sharp blade, tearing apart their positions from top to bottom.
Although the Royal Army had more men, they were helpless. After all, wars aren't won by sheer numbers alone, especially when both sides have similar equipment. Besides an astute commander, the elite quality of the soldiers holds the most crucial position.
At this point, the scales of victory were gradually tilting towards one side. Perhaps in a short while, the tens of thousands of Royal Army soldiers would completely collapse and be defeated.
Meanwhile, a long fiery dragon appeared on the mountain road outside Doma City, stretching for several kilometers, appearing incredibly magnificent in the night.
Sakazuki gazed at the massive city built around the tall sacred mountain, letting out a sigh. "Finally, we're here!"
That's right, the main Marine force, after a long trek, had finally traversed the complex mountainous terrain and arrived at their target, Doma City.
At the same time, Gion, who had been monitoring from the sky, also detected the arrival of the main Marine force. She immediately contacted Sakazuki via Den Den Mushi, informing him of the situation inside the city.
Due to the urgency of the situation, Sakazuki had no time to let the Marine officers and personnel rest. He led the vanguard into battle, completely pulling back the curtain on the full-scale engagement.
Despite their fatigue, the frustration of traveling all night made the Marines furious, and they immediately displayed their powerful combat prowess.
Iron Knight Lent, seeing the unfavorable situation, immediately abandoned his position and led the remnants of the reserve unit to retreat into the city. After regrouping with the main force, he commanded the surrounding pirates to engage the Marines in fierce urban warfare.
"Don't think you can escape!"
Vice Admiral Lacroix strode forward, chasing Lent relentlessly, swinging his weapon downwards. The massive blade, accompanied by whistling wind, struck the shattered street with a loud "boom," carving a large gash into the ground.
From the swirling dust, Lent shot out, his expression revealing a bright and fierce determination.
"Get lost!"
Vice Admiral Huss's face was grim. He roared, immediately using Geppo to leap into the air, blocking Lent's path. The broad-bladed greatsword in his hand spun like a windmill, kicking up chaotic gusts of wind, and clashed with the famous blade Kikkō (Auspicious) with a "clang."
Sparks flew in the air, and a visible shockwave spread out, kicking up dust from the ground like a fierce wind.
"Two Vice Admirals to deal with me? You think highly of me!"
Lent was forced back by the counter-shock, involuntarily falling back to the ground. His eyes flickered as he looked at the giant and the burly man before him, his voice devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
"Surrender obediently, Iron Knight Fabian Lent! Impel Down will be your home for the rest of your life!" Vice Admiral Lacroix's voice was like thunder, his aura overwhelming, as he stared intently at the great pirate before him.
"Hehe~ Don't joke around!" Lent was unmoved. He quickly stepped forward, gripping Kikkō with both hands, and brought it down in a cleaving strike towards Vice Admiral Huss.
"Iron Flow: Raging Rider!!!"
Rumble—!
A massive, azure slash burst forth, resembling a human figure, like a heavy cavalryman charging forward, tearing the very ground apart like tofu.
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