"Three total?"
Silas's Observation Haki range could cover nearly all of Sabaody Archipelago, so wherever enemies appeared, he would know immediately.
Including the so-called Holy Knights Vice-Commander before him, the Celestial Dragons had sent three Holy Knights members total to deal with them.
He had to admit the Holy Knights' fruit abilities were visibly troublesome.
Though Silas could not see the specific situations, from their auras, Rocks and Ripley seemed locked in hard battles.
But only hard battles, nothing more.
"How arrogant!"
Silas could not help sighing. If more Holy Knights members had come, he would have considered retreating the moment they appeared.
"Unfortunately, though the Five Elders gave orders, we could only gather three members on short notice."
Seeming to read Silas's thoughts, Saint Figarland Garling shrugged with casual confidence.
"But for mere pirates, I alone am sufficient!"
Saint Figarland Garling smiled with supreme confidence. Though the Figarland family was not among the five highest power holders, they had long held the Holy Knights Supreme Commander position.
Between the Holy Knights Supreme Commander and Vice-Commander stood the Holy Knights Commander.
Though not Commander, in Garling's view, his strength matched his Commander brother's perfectly!
"Admiral Ortega, those two giants are yours. Do not tell me you cannot handle two giants."
"Yes, understood."
Ortega bowed slightly. Though he wanted to say Silas's strength definitely was not as simple as it seemed, the best method would be joining forces to drag Silas into melee combat.
This way, given the giants' massive size, they could perform better than fighting separately, even potentially eliminating the giants first before dealing with Silas.
However, since Celestial Dragon Saint Garling had given orders, this Marine Admiral would simply obey.
Dealing with two giants was easier than facing Silas anyway.
"Gyegyegyegyegye, Silas, is that guy challenging you to single combat?"
"Gabababababa, we will handle the other one. Though we do not know where his confidence comes from, you will not lose, right?"
After releasing Hakoku twice consecutively, both Dorry and Brogy had expended considerable stamina, but they could see that only by blocking one enemy and letting Silas defeat the other could they possibly win!
"Of course!"
Whatever Holy Knights represented, Silas was no longer that old geezer who had disbanded his crew to await death somewhere forgotten.
"Let us fight!"
Silas laughed heartily, his momentum rising like a towering mountain from flat ground. Since this Celestial Dragon wanted to face him alone, he would oblige!
Provided this opponent had the strength to back up his arrogance.
"Do you have what it takes?"
The ground beneath shattered with a thunderous boom as Silas shot forward like an arrow, instantly closing the distance with Saint Garling.
"Hakoku!"
Silas raised his blade, executing Elbaf's strongest technique!
No mercy, no hesitation.
The ultimate move requiring Dorry and Brogy's combined effort, Silas could execute single-handedly. Though lacking their range, the concentrated power meant far greater destructive force.
Facing Silas's devastating attack, Saint Garling's eyes sharpened with genuine focus.
Though confident he could handle Silas, he acknowledged the pirate as a powerful opponent worthy of his full effort!
"Apocalypse!"
Saint Garling was not a Devil Fruit user. Though as a Celestial Dragon he could easily obtain powerful fruits that the previous Silas might never find in a lifetime, his pride as a Figarland family second son made him disdain eating Devil Fruits.
Inherited family physical techniques and swordsmanship were his foundation as Knights Vice-Commander!
Boom!
Silas and Saint Garling's blade collision sent rolling thunder crawling skyward like countless serpents of lightning across the shattered island.
Conqueror's Haki!
As a Celestial Dragon, how could Saint Garling lack the king's power?
Their first clash was a collision of Conqueror's Haki, a direct clash of their spirits and will.
Then Saint Garling discovered something shocking.
His Conqueror's Haki could not suppress a mere pirate!?
"Impossible!?"
Saint Garling roared with humiliated rage, increasing force on his sword to overpower Silas.
But as his power increased, the opposing force grew equally strong.
"Haha, this is your spirit!?"
Silas laughed loudly, his eyes showing undisguised contempt.
"If this is your level, do not come out embarrassing yourself!"
Boom!
Finally Silas's power overwhelmed Saint Garling completely. The blade collision's result was Silas's momentum carrying Saint Garling backward, hurling him hundreds of meters through the air.
Landing one decisive hit, Silas did not pause, charging directly toward the stunned Saint Garling.
"Not good!"
Seeing Saint Garling at a clear disadvantage, Ortega's expression changed dramatically. About to rescue him, two massive figures blocked his path.
"Gyegyegyegye, we are your opponents!"
"Gabababababa, staking Elbaf's honor, we absolutely will not let you pass!"
Though claiming to want matches with Silas, both Dorry and Brogy were actually deeply grateful to him.
While they had dueled over trivial matters on a small island, Marines had invaded their beloved country.
Without Silas, their nation would face slavery under the World Government, if not complete destruction.
Seeing giant slaves rescued by the White Wolf Pirates earlier, Dorry and Brogy felt gratitude alongside suppressed rage.
Their Elbaf giants were a warrior race.
Elbaf giants were never slaves!
"Really troublesome."
Ortega sighed with resignation. Though he could forcibly break through the giants to help Saint Garling, after years at Holy Land Mariejois, Ortega knew Celestial Dragon temperaments well.
Helping now would not earn Saint Garling's gratitude. He might even blame Ortega for meddling!
So since these giants blocked him, he would eliminate them first before assessing the situation.
Meanwhile, Silas and Saint Garling's distance closed again.
From their previous exchange, Silas roughly gauged Saint Garling's strength.
Ordinary Admiral level.
As a swordsman, comparable to Rona.
When had he first defeated Rona?
Two years ago at Elbaf, when Silas had just acquired Conqueror's Haki.
Now two years had passed.
Silas had experienced major battles at Sphinx and Elbaf.
His strength was incomparable to before.
If fighting two-on-one against Admiral-level fighters like Ortega, who was slightly stronger, Silas might still struggle.
Against those barely crossing the threshold, Silas felt ready to try something new.
Clang!
Still, as a top-tier fighter who had crossed that threshold, despite the initial retreat, Saint Garling reacted.
Raising his sword defensively.
But Silas's following words made his expression turn ugly.
"That is it?"
Silas single-handedly pressed down Saint Garling, looking at him with pure disdain.
"I thought you would be stronger. You are not even as good as those Marine Admirals."
Though possessing top talent and unlimited resources, in Silas's view, if truly fighting to the death, even with strength matching Kong and Rona, Saint Garling could not defeat them.
After all, Kong and Rona, like him, had grown through countless battles.
This combat experience pampered Celestial Dragons would never understand!
But that assumed one crucial premise.
That Saint Garling relied entirely on his own power.
Actually, from Rona, Silas had learned every Holy Knight member possessed immortal bodies.
Relying on such immortality, these Holy Knights members' actual combat power exceeded their apparent strength.
Like now.
"White Wolf Silas, do not be too arrogant!"
Saint Garling roared, completely abandoning defense. As Silas's blade pressed down, shattering half his body, his intact half grabbed his sword, slashing toward Silas.
Silas shattered Saint Garling's body.
But Saint Garling's sword also left a deep wound on Silas.
Simultaneously forcing Silas back several steps.
After retreating, Silas watched Saint Garling's shattered body visibly regenerate.
"Haha, see that?"
Saint Garling looked at Silas with mocking laughter. "I am a god with an immortal body. How could mortals like you hurt me?"
"But you?"
"Can wounds I inflict heal?"
In just a few breaths, Saint Garling's half-body, nearly destroyed by Silas, had completely recovered.
While Silas's sword-wounded forearm still dripped blood steadily.
Hearing Saint Garling's words, Silas raised an eyebrow.
"I think I heard such words earlier."
Distant Ortega, still fighting giants but actually monitoring this battlefield, darkened.
Were those not his previous words?
He had thought his Armament Haki could counter Silas's Zoan healing as a fruit user, never expecting Silas to use similar methods.
Thinking this, Ortega's expression suddenly changed.
Armament Haki attachment was an ability he had developed while bored at Mariejois. When the seas lacked powerful pirates, who was his target for this ability?
Celestial Dragons!
Because Celestial Dragons' strongest force, Holy Knights members, possessed not only powerful strength but also immortal bodies.
After losing a match against the Holy Knights Commander, Ortega had pondered deeply.
Why could Haki counter fruit abilities but not Holy Knights' immortality?
Immortality was nonsense to Ortega.
He did not believe in true immortality.
It must be some fruit ability!
Since it was a fruit ability, Haki could counter it.
Failure meant not finding the right method!
So after long effort, Ortega developed further Armament Haki application.
Armament attachment!
Assuming Holy Knights' immortality came from fruit abilities, there must be a recovery source.
If he could inject Haki into Holy Knights members while attacking, disrupting this recovery, would immortality become ineffective?
But after developing this ability, Ortega never tested it.
Immortality was the Holy Knights' foundation.
If he claimed to develop abilities targeting Holy Knights, could he still serve in the Marines?
Now it seemed this ability was simply an advanced Armament Haki application.
If he could do it, so could Silas!
If Silas's next attacks affected Saint Garling, it proved his original theory correct.
Wait.
That was a Celestial Dragon.
How could he have such treasonous thoughts?
"Hey hey hey, getting distracted while fighting us?"
"Are you looking down on us?"
Seeing Ortega's wandering attention mid-battle, Dorry and Brogy shouted displeasure. They acknowledged Ortega's superior strength, but being distracted facing them both was too disrespectful!
"Haha, sorry, I just feel our battle's outcome does not matter much."
Ortega admitted slacking off.
Even going all-out, defeating Dorry and Brogy would not happen quickly.
While the gap between Saint Garling and Silas exceeded the gap between Dorry, Brogy, and himself.
Meaning Silas and Saint Garling's victor would emerge faster.
If only Silas could break Saint Garling's ability!
"Five seconds!"
"Seven seconds!"
"Six seconds!"
Again shattering Saint Garling's body while taking another wound, Silas remained unconcerned.
"Haha, useless, White Wolf Silas! I have an immortal body!"
Despite clearly superior strength yet helplessness against his immortality, Saint Garling laughed arrogantly.
"Surrender! If you surrender now, maybe I will spare you!"
Bang!
Another slash. Seeing Silas ignore everything, again destroying his body, Saint Garling raged.
"I will kill you! Since you want death, I will oblige!"
"Ten seconds!"
When Silas spoke this number, Saint Garling finally sensed something wrong.
His immortal body's recovery speed was it slowing?
Silas bore many wounds.
Facing Admiral-level fighters abandoning all defense for full assault, even with Silas maintaining initiative, injuries were inevitable.
But thanks to Saint Garling, Silas had learned something valuable.
"I understand now."
Saint Garling had not noticed Silas's recent attacks essentially dismembered his entire body.
These purposeful attacks caused Silas many unnecessary wounds.
But it was all worthwhile.
Suddenly, a voice rang in Saint Garling's mind.
"What are you doing?"
"The Holy Land faces rebellion. One Marine Admiral has betrayed us."
"Quickly eliminate your opponent!"
Hearing the mental voice, Saint Garling's heart jumped.
Lord Imu!?
Never expected such a brief absence from the Holy Land to cause upheaval. But even ordering immediate elimination of Silas...
Slash!
A Haki-infused blade severed his arm.
Though he wanted to eliminate Silas, as a Zoan fruit user, even with the immortal body advantage, eliminating Silas quickly was not achievable!
Facing Silas's attack, Saint Garling tried counterattacking but immediately sensed wrongness.
Huh?
Where was his hand?
Saint Garling stared at his empty arm.
This time, the hand Silas severed did not regenerate like before.
"Seems your immortal body..."
Across from him, Silas's face showed a cruel smile.
"Is not so useful after all!"