When the blue signal flare, representing the Marines, exploded in the sky, Kong immediately led five thousand of his remaining ten thousand Marines toward the battlefield.
But when he saw the scene before him, he was speechless.
What kind of technique is this?
He'd heard that one of the Supernovas, Gecko Moria, had the ability to control corpses, but it was nothing compared to the sight before his eyes.
Kong shook his head firmly, clearing his mind of all extra thoughts. He waved his hand and shouted the order to attack.
"Fist of Iron: Meteor!"
Garp roared, dropping from the sky and slamming his fist into the ice titan's back, embedding the massive body into the ground.
"Cough!" Garp coughed heavily, shaking his fist. He was standing on the titan's back and couldn't help but gasp for air. "This guy's skin is really tough."
Suddenly, Garp felt the giant body under his feet begin to move. He was shocked. "This guy... he can still get up from that?"
Even though the blow wasn't a vital one, the effect was clear. The sunken wound that took up almost his entire back was evidence enough.
Under these circumstances, how could anyone get back up? Garp admitted he couldn't.
"Strike the weak point, Garp!"
Kong broke through the horde of undead and, before the titan could fully get up, slammed his Armament Haki-hardened fist into the giant's upper back, aiming for the heart.
The punch not only knocked the titan back down but also caused a major tremor on the island.
"Ah... you're here..." Garp shook his fist, glancing down at the titan. "I don't think he'll get up this time."
"We only took care of one enemy. What are you so happy about?"
Kong's expression was grim. His hands were actually aching from the powerful blow. What terrifying defense. He managed to shatter its heart with a single blow, but it had taken a huge toll on him.
"This is an unexpectedly terrifying ability. Our forces have suffered heavy losses." Kong said seriously. "Alucard, where is he?"
"He's deep inside the army. He might be commanding them, or he might think that in this situation, he doesn't need to lift a finger," Garp muttered from behind him.
Kong narrowed his eyes and observed for a moment. He saw Alucard in the center of the River of Death, his entire body a mix of crimson and black shadows. At this moment, only one of his eyes looked normal, while the rest of his body was a shadowy, bloody mess, looking extremely eerie.
"There he is... If we take him out, this army of zombies will stop, right?" Kong speculated.
"That's just a guess. Like I said, he could be giving orders or just resting," Garp grumbled from behind him.
"We should figure out his ability before we make a move."
At that moment, Kong remembered what Tsuru had told him before he set out.
No matter how much he regretted it now, it was too late.
"It's my fault." Kong said, and then charged forward alone, leaping over the endless River of Death army and heading straight for the "Count" in the center of the castle.
Alucard instantly reverted from his phantom form to his human form, holding a greatsword. He clashed with Kong's fist.
The immense power of their collision created a ferocious gust of wind, causing the coats on their backs to flap wildly.
"Oh, has the Fleet Admiral come out to play himself now?" Alucard said with a sinister laugh.
"In the name of absolute justice, I will arrest you, Alucard!" Kong's face was serious. He suddenly turned, whipping his leg out for a roundhouse kick.
Clang!!!
The sword and the leg collided. Alucard was forced back several meters. When Kong tried to press his advantage, countless bullets suddenly came at him. In the blink of an eye, Alucard had already changed his weapon!
"Shigan!"
Kong used Rokushiki's Shigan to block. As their attacks collided, Alucard's Jackal fired another shot. It instantly broke through Kong's Shigan, hitting his temple and leaving a bloody mark.
Taking the opportunity, Alucard jumped back dozens of meters. As Kong tried to pursue, the River of Death army blocked the path between them.
"This, this is..."
At that moment, Kong got a clear look at these "zombies." There were former prisoners in striped uniforms, all kinds of soldiers, pirates with different pirate flags on their bodies, and... Marines!
"So, these are all the people you've absorbed, aren't they?" Kong glared angrily. "I heard that the Bat-Bat Fruit, Model: Vampire has the ability to absorb people's life and use it for your own. You must have a similar ability, right?"
"Hehehe, are you asking for information from your enemy? Shouldn't you have figured this out before you fought me?" Alucard laughed sinisterly, standing in the center of his "castle."
Kong gritted his teeth. Yes, this was his mistake. He should have listened to Tsuru and figured out the full extent of the situation before making a move.
But in these past few years, the World Government had wanted Alucard's head too badly and had been pressuring him too much. This moment of madness had led Kong to make the wrong decision.
Just then, a figure walked up to Kong's left side. It was Garp.
Garp took off his Marine coat, which was on his back, and loosened his tie. "Well, if we're going to talk about our mistakes, we can do it later. For now, let's focus on this kid in front of us."
Kong's eyes shifted to the left, glancing at Garp. "You've made quite a few mistakes too, Garp. I'll settle accounts with you later."
"Heh," Alucard laughed faintly. He waved his hand, and the River of Death army surged forward.
Garp and Kong, two men at the pinnacle of the Marines, charged into battle together.
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