Thunder rumbled in the sky.
Below, Doma City had long transformed into a bloody battlefield, everyone fighting desperately.
Slashing with swords, stabbing with blades, hacking with axes, smashing with hammers, shooting with guns, shelling with cannons... everyone used their own methods, only to kill the enemy in front of them and to stay alive themselves.
"Die, you detestable pirate!" A Marine soldier roared fiercely, his blade felling a pirate. Another slash followed, the sharp edge sinking deep into the pirate's bones, killing them completely.
However, the next moment, just as the Marine soldier revealed a triumphant, savage grin, preparing to forcefully pull out the long blade embedded in the pirate's skull, he heard a "bang" from a gunshot.
The sharp pain in his back instantly robbed him of all strength, and he softly collapsed to the ground, his vision turning black.
"You're the one who should die, you damn Marine!" Not far away, a pirate lowered his flintlock, cursing viciously. But soon after, this pirate was also shot dead by other Marines, becoming one of many corpses. Such scenes were commonplace on this brutal battlefield, utterly unsurprising.
Meanwhile, Impaler Snake Moratos led a group of his subordinates in battle, barely escaping death several times himself. After all, he had been severely wounded by Cross just yesterday morning. If not for his strong physique and the boost from his Zoan ability, he wouldn't have been able to get out of bed, and his strength could be said to be non-existent.
"Moratos, prepare to die!" Rear Admiral Gobert roared, swiftly running forward alongside Rear Admiral Sicily, attacking the enemy from left and right.
Moratos's face was pale, his bloodless lips trembling slightly as he muttered to himself, "Damn it, is today my end?"
He held a refined iron spear, his body covered in wounds. The white bandages tied around him were stained crimson with blood—some from others, some his own. He was so weakened that he couldn't even utilize his Two-Horned Serpent Fruit ability.
In a flash, Rear Admiral Gobert and Rear Admiral Sicily had flanked him from both sides, each wielding their katanas, slashing down together towards Moratos's head.
Clang, clang, clang, clang...
Long blades clashed with the iron spear, not only producing deafening metallic sounds but also showering dazzling sparks. Moratos's limbs were weak; he could only barely fend off the relentless onslaught of the two Headquarters Rear Admirals.
Spotting an opening, Rear Admiral Sicily knocked Moratos's iron spear away with a swing of his blade. Rear Admiral Gobert's eyes lit up. Without a second thought, he swung his blade at Moratos's neck.
"ARGH! ARGH! ARGH—!"
However, a pirate, like a madman, charged forward, roaring wildly. He leapt and crashed into Rear Admiral Gobert, knocking him to the ground.
The sudden turn of events caused Rear Admiral Sicily to glance over, momentarily stunned, but Moratos reacted instantly. He immediately put all his strength into a ferocious punch to Rear Admiral Sicily's face.
With a muffled "thump," Rear Admiral Sicily, unable to defend, was instantly sent sprawling, spitting blood, his face distorted.
At this moment, Rear Admiral Gobert quickly scrambled to his feet, stabbing his blade into the abdomen of the nearby pirate. He twisted the blade, and hot blood immediately gushed out, a thick stench of blood mixed with offal quickly spreading through the air.
Moratos glanced at Rear Admiral Gobert, then casually picked up a two-pronged fork from the ground, striking at the still-recovering Sicily.
Clang—!
Rear Admiral Sicily's expression shifted slightly. He quickly shook his head to clear it, blocking the two-pronged fork with his katana.
"Die!"
Splurch—!
Suddenly, a katana whizzed through the air, directly piercing Moratos's chest. Moratos's expression was one of disbelief. A gurgling sound escaped his throat as he stiffly looked up, only to see Rear Admiral Gobert retracting his hand.
"What excellent sword throwing!"
Rear Admiral Sicily's face broke into a smile. He forcefully pushed Moratos away, immediately stood up from the ground, then without hesitation, brought his blade down on Moratos's neck.
The blade sliced through flesh, effortlessly severing skin, muscle, and bone. Moratos's head, as large as a bucket, tumbled to the ground, his eyes wide open, still bearing an expression of disbelief.
"Phew—"
Rear Admiral Gobert let out a soft breath, a smile involuntarily gracing his face as he slowly said, "Another executive down! Impaler Snake Moratos, bounty 137,000,000 Berries!"
On the other side, while the Marines were locked in bitter combat, Sakazuki was launching his fiercest assault on Roberts.
The Marines, despite their advantage, were still suffering such a tough fight, a testament to Roberts's Pump-Pump Fruit ability. Therefore, if Sakazuki could kill Roberts, this unnecessary struggle could end.
However, Roberts was skilled at using his Pump-Pump Fruit, directly summoning many of his subordinates.
"Fire! Fire!"
"Don't be afraid! The brave are fearless!"
"That's right! The brave fear nothing!"
"Brothers, let's charge together!"
"..."
Large numbers of pirates came from all directions, fearless under the Pump-Pump Fruit's "Encouragement Aura," madly assaulting Sakazuki.
Various lead bullets and arrows flew chaotically through the air, riddling Sakazuki's body with holes. Unfortunately, as a Logia-type Magma-Magma Fruit user, Sakazuki was naturally immune to these ordinary physical attacks. With a casual wave of his hand, he unleashed large amounts of magma, causing many pirates to shriek in pain from the burns.
"Trying to stall for time with these rabble? You're dreaming too big!"
Sakazuki charged forward like a fierce tiger descending a mountain, killing the pirates obstructing his path without a change in expression. He then raised his magma-transformed giant fist high and smashed it towards Roberts.
"...Damn it, this monster..."
Roberts's face was grim. He quickly raised Gae Bulg to block, letting the sturdy spear shaft withstand Sakazuki's magma fist. However, the ground beneath their feet couldn't withstand the immense power. With a "boom," it instantly shattered, forming a spiderweb of cracks nearly ten meters in diameter, and powerful air currents kicked up dust from the ground, spreading outwards with a roaring sound.
"Commander's Strike!!!"
"Great Eruption!!!"
"Death-thorn Pierce!!!"
"Hound Blaze!!!"
"..."
As their battle grew fiercer, most of this street was covered in scorching magma. Many pirates were also engulfed in the lava, gradually burning to ash.
Pirates charged one after another, dying in waves, yet Sakazuki, the "perpetrator," remained expressionless, completely unconcerned with how many pirate lives stained his hands. The only thing that annoyed him was how bothersome these pirates were, preventing him from quickly defeating or killing Roberts.
However, as the battle continued, several surrounding streets were transformed into terrifying lava lakes by Sakazuki's ability, preventing other pirates from entering.
Roberts could have left, but only if Sakazuki didn't obstruct him. Yet, Sakazuki had gone so far as to create this molten hell within the city using his ability; there was no way he'd let Roberts escape.
Conversely, without the help of his subordinates, Roberts was no match for Sakazuki. His defeat was only a matter of time.
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