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Chapter 139 - Chapter 140: The Battle of Mariejois!

Battle was imminent.

No words needed.

The old man in Holy Knights robes with platinum hair struck first.

"Slash!"

Seemingly slow, actually fast.

Saint Figarland Lucas drew and slashed. The moment he swung, space itself seemed to distort. A thousand-meter slash crossed the hundreds of meters between them.

Instantly appearing before Silas.

"Haha, excellent!"

Seeing Saint Lucas's slash, Silas's eyes lit up immediately.

When experts act, you know their skill.

This strike from Saint Lucas was peak technique Silas had never seen.

Saint Lucas's gracious invitation deserved a proper response.

How could Silas show cowardice?

"Endless Winter!"

Also a slash, carrying ultimate cold. Years of training had long integrated Silas's fruit ability into his swordsmanship.

Simultaneously, a bestial roar echoed across Mariejois.

"Roar!"

White wolf fur grew from Silas's face as his limbs became elongated and robust. Ice-formed cold currents swirled around him like ribbons.

Silas immediately displayed his full power form.

"The form after Zoan Devil Fruit awakening? Hmph, what an ugly appearance!"

"Haha, I think it is quite handsome!"

Silas remained unconcerned by Saint Lucas's words. Before the system appeared, his first half-life's reputation came entirely from this Devil Fruit.

Even if time reversed, he would eat it again without hesitation.

BANG!

Silas's and Saint Lucas's slashes collided, creating a distinct massive fissure at the collision center. On Silas's side stood ice pillars formed by condensed cold air. On Saint Lucas's side, destructive spiderweb cracks spread outward.

Glancing at slaves still evacuating, Silas did not hesitate.

Facing three top fighters, Silas advanced instead of retreating.

"Come!!"

"Hmph, arrogant!"

Saint Lucas had not expected Silas to attack seeing all three of them.

"Seems my foolish son gave you illusions."

Black-red lightning instantly erupted from Saint Lucas.

The terrifying aura made the surrounding slaves gasp in fear.

"Mere pirate..."

The distance between Silas and Saint Lucas vanished instantly.

Blade met sword.

No.

No collision at all.

Blade and sword collided in midair before actual contact.

Conqueror's Haki coating!

BOOM!

Air around Silas and Saint Lucas seemed torn to pieces, with black-red lightning like countless serpents covering all of Mariejois's sky.

Everyone's movements became sluggish.

Whether escaping slaves or pursuing Celestial Dragon guards, all seemed detached from reality, becoming still paintings.

"So terrifying!"

"Am I dying?"

"Sorry, I was wrong. I should not have escaped!"

Many slaves collapsed to their knees, sobbing helplessly. Most had been branded with Celestial Dragon hooves since childhood—fear of their divine oppressors seared into their very souls.

Even with liberation at hand, facing Celestial Dragon pursuit, they remained paralyzed by terror.

"I see. No wonder Saint Garling lost to you. You are indeed no ordinary pirate!"

Saint Lucas's gaze became composed.

"And actually protecting those lowly slaves while distracted. Truly a pirate."

"Haha, should I feel honored to be called such by noble Celestial Dragons?"

Though speaking so, Silas's presence kept climbing, eyes growing brighter, Conqueror's Haki clashing with Saint Lucas's pouring endlessly.

"But even while protecting slaves, your Conqueror's Haki seems inferior to mine!"

Silas laughed loudly. Originally Saint Lucas's attack would affect surrounding slaves. Even releasing Conqueror's Haki would knock out many weak slaves.

But Silas blocked all of Saint Lucas's offense, even wrapping his own Conqueror's Haki around Saint Lucas's, preventing it from affecting anyone.

Yet needing to do more, Saint Lucas still could not suppress Silas.

Just this one collision determined superiority.

Saint Lucas's expression gradually darkened.

He had actually fallen behind in Conqueror's Haki collision?

Then, a sharp wind attacked from the side. Saint Lucas wanted to stop it but considering Mariejois's situation, he forcibly held back.

"Stephens, eliminate him!"

"Yes, sir!"

This was a meticulous-looking old man in white suit, but compared to others his age, Stephens's physical condition was obviously superior.

Silas faced Stephens's powerful descending claw.

"Lion Spear!"

"Haha, excellent!"

Already knowing this would not be an easy one-on-one battle, Silas never expected Saint Lucas to duel him. If Saint Lucas truly had such pride, his Conqueror's Haki would not be merely this level.

One slash forcing back Saint Lucas, Silas turned to face Stephens.

"Sword Star!"

Silas pointed his fingers like a sword. Under Armament Haki coverage, he feared no direct collision, even against another Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit user.

Zoan Fruit, Mythical Type, Griffin Form!

"Silas, you are unchanged!"

"Haha, likewise!"

Silas's sword-finger met Stephens's claw strike. Terrifying airwaves exploded from their collision center. Armament Haki enhanced for destruction tore the ground like tofu, forcing slaves to flee away from them.

This time, Silas could not protect those slaves.

"Help!"

"I do not want to escape anymore!"

"My leg!"

Many slaves completely abandoned escape, while others fell into terror.

Until Silas's voice rang out.

"What are you doing? Freedom is before you. Do you want to give up?"

"If so, why did you remove your shackles?"

"Why try to escape?"

Silas had given them choices from the start, telling Rona they could only save slaves still pursuing freedom, unable to rescue those whose hearts had become enslaved.

Anyone willing to remove shackles at least desired freedom.

Celestial Dragon slaves were the lowest laborers, life and death at Celestial Dragon whims. Daily, countless slaves died for accidentally angering Celestial Dragons, or simply because Celestial Dragons found them unsightly passing by.

Under such circumstances, fleeing Mariejois was not just pursuing freedom but surviving!

"Silas, it's useless. These stupid lowly slaves dare not resist us."

"Celestial Dragons are gods. How can mere mortals resist gods?"

Stephens remained calm. This was not his first battle with Silas. Like Silas facing two generations of Marine Admirals, as current CP Organization Commander-in-Chief, he and Silas belonged to the same era. He had also fought Silas before.

Just that previous Silas lacked current strength for direct confrontation.

"Silas, how did you become this strong?!"

Stephens's voice was like muffled thunder as he transformed. Head becoming eagle-like, hands enlarged, wings sprouting behind. As the CP Organization's only Admiral-level fighter, his strength far exceeded Glinton's.

"Haha, if you want to know, defeat me!"

Silas laughed heartily, presence climbing endlessly without limit.

Whether previous battles with Kong, Ortega, or Saint Garling, none had pushed Silas to his limits. With Dorry and Brogy's assistance in one-on-one situations, no one could pressure him.

Silas had grown stronger.

Even he did not know how strong he had become.

So he needed battle, using combat to determine his strength, like a fierce tiger needing fights to establish food chain position.

And now it seemed clear.

"No good. Whether you or you, neither alone can defeat me!"

Silas's white hair danced wildly, facing Stephens and Saint Lucas, two top fighters, without avoiding anything.

"Come! Kill me, or be killed by me!"

To Stephens and Saint Lucas, this half-man, half-wolf figure was boundlessly arrogant.

"You think this is where?"

"This is the Holy Land of Mariejois!"

Stephens and Saint Lucas roared simultaneously, abandoning their strong fighter pride to attack Silas together.

"Haha, now it is interesting!"

Under Conqueror's Haki enhancement, Silas was like an awe-inspiring demon god, a terrifying presence shooting skyward.

Viewed from high above, all clouds around Mariejois formed a massive whirlpool. At its center stood demon god-like Silas.

As his physique continuously strengthened, Silas gradually developed new abilities. Not fruit-based, but physique-based, combining Zoan fruit and personal recovery abilities.

Silas's heart began accelerating, and his body temperature rose, but he maintained relative balance due to his unique freezing-effect fruit ability.

Devil Fruit awakening was itself an enhanced state.

Silas's current condition was further enhancement atop original enhancement.

Ordinary people could not bear such a burden, but under Silas's powerful recovery ability, his body completely handled the dual enhancement strain.

Then Silas moved.

In this moment, Silas was nothing like a seventy-year-old man.

But like a young person daring to fight, recklessly squandering bodily potential!

Whether Stephens or Saint Lucas saw only a pale figure wrapped in black-red lightning, dragging a sharp blade.

A hundred meters crossed in an instant.

Silas appeared before Stephens.

"As expected!"

Seeing Silas attack him first, Stephens felt no surprise. After all, Saint Lucas had immortality. He would definitely choose the easier opponent too.

But he was not some weakling for Silas to knead freely!

"Silas!!!"

"Stephens!!!"

Both roared simultaneously, raising their presence to the limit.

"Lion King Spear!"

"Dragon Slayer!"

BOOM!!

Silas's Conqueror's Haki met Stephens's Armament Haki. Silas could feel Stephens's Armament strength matched the strongest Admiral Ortega, plus Mythical Zoan physique enhancement. Direct confrontation pressure even exceeded Ortega's.

But Silas used maximum-intensity Conqueror's Haki!

Conqueror's Haki coating ultimately surpassed Armament Haki!

So Stephens only deadlocked with Silas momentarily before his Armament Haki was completely suppressed, an irresistible force transmitting from Silas's blade.

Sharp yet unstoppable!

Splurt!

Silas's blade broke through Stephens's fist, striking his chest through air. Blood droplets scattered from Stephens's chest as his body retreated uncontrollably, instantly flying over a thousand meters under Conqueror's Haki impact.

This power was too ridiculous!

Even consciousness grew hazy. After Silas's full eruption, his strength exceeded Stephens by at least half a tier. Brief entanglement was fine, but direct collision meant he could not last long!

Both Mythical Zoan users, yet he fell behind in Haki competition, even lacking advantages in strength and speed against Silas.

Silas's power was comprehensive.

Against weaker opponents, once gaining advantage, he could combo them to death.

Fortunately, he was not alone!

BOOM!!

Taking advantage of Silas's gap between old power exhausted and new power unborn, Saint Lucas boldly attacked.

Even Silas needed full effort to suppress Stephens.

This gave Saint Lucas an opportunity.

Silas might be half a tier stronger than Stephens, but Saint Lucas was definitely the same level as Silas.

Without immortality, he might not match Silas.

But relying on immortality, he dared fight Silas desperately. He feared no death, but did Silas?

"Hahaha, let us fight!"

Silas laughed wildly. Though supposedly unable to exert force, he twisted into an extremely strange position, forcibly mobilizing power to clash his blade with Saint Lucas's sword.

BOOM!

The ground beneath Silas and Saint Lucas shattered completely.

"Glinton!!"

Saint Lucas roared for the final top fighter to deliver Silas a killing blow.

Hearing Saint Lucas's words, Glinton shuddered.

He realized this was an opportunity. Though Silas had grown stronger than at Elbaf, he definitely lacked energy for another fighter near Admiral-level.

Now he was the final straw breaking the camel's back.

"I am coming!"

Glinton released a clear falcon cry.

"Die, Silas!!"

He would avenge that Elbaf battle. That defeat nearly cost him his current position.

But now was his chance for redemption!

However, Silas daring to face three top fighters simultaneously naturally had his support.

With all attention drawn to Silas, everyone forgot there was a fifth top fighter present.

Giant King Harald!

"Hakoku!!!"

A massive energy wave instantly tore across the entire battlefield.

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