Jerry had anticipated that World Government intelligence personnel would remain stationed on Baterilla Island. He hadn't stopped Ace from returning here, but he'd been mentally prepared for the possibility of being surrounded and pursued.
Jerry understood that once the World Government learned of the connection between Ace and Roger, it would create a bloodbath and most likely trigger a fierce manhunt for Fire Fist. But after arriving, he realized he seemed to have overestimated the capabilities of the World Government's intelligence network.
Whether due to internal factors or other unknown reasons, it appeared that only a few people around Fleet Admiral Sengoku suspected Ace's true bloodline. This meant that Baterilla Island, once a major focus of attention, was now only monitored by ordinary intelligence operatives.
Although their numbers were larger than those stationed on other islands, they didn't possess top-tier combat forces.
The two CP0 agents who had landed immediately after the Marines didn't seem to be permanently stationed here either—they felt more like recent arrivals sent specifically to track the Black Star Pirates.
What truly surprised Jerry was Admiral Aokiji's presence.
Based on what Aokiji had said upon first arriving, Jerry could be certain this was Sengoku's arrangement, not a World Government decision. This suggested the Fleet Admiral had begun harboring suspicions and sent Aokiji to confirm something—with Ace as the most likely target.
Therefore, after hearing Aokiji's earlier remarks, Jerry suddenly realized he'd severely underestimated his own current importance to Marine intelligence.
In fact, Aokiji remained confused about Sengoku's true intentions. He'd only been ordered to come to this island to intercept Jerry and his crew. The mission he'd received was to secretly travel here and hunt down the Black Star Pirates.
After learning of Sengoku's arrangements, the World Government had requested CP0 participation. Their primary objective was capturing Jerry and his friends as an example to other pirates.
However, it wasn't just Jerry who had underestimated himself—the World Government and Marines had underestimated him as well. They hadn't expected that even away from the ocean and fighting on land, Jerry would prove more slippery than a fish, not only breaking Aokiji's control attempts but actually competing with an Admiral for extended periods.
After learning he was the enemy's primary target, Jerry felt strangely calm.
Since Aokiji was already here, it proved the enemy shouldn't have any additional top-level combat power appearing. With Marco's arrival ensuring his friends' escape, Jerry no longer needed to hold anything back.
With this realization, Jerry suddenly burst into wild laughter. "Ha! Come and try the technique I've been perfecting for years!"
Jerry appeared in a flash, taking the initiative to close the distance between himself and Aokiji in the blink of an eye.
"What?" Aokiji's normally lifeless eyes widened in surprise. Jerry approaching voluntarily was completely contrary to his previous evasive behavior.
"Take this! And this! And this!"
Jerry unleashed a barrage of attacks—punching with his left fist, striking with his fishing rod, each movement crackling with black lightning as his Conqueror's Haki exploded outward, complementing his wild grin.
The erupting Haki didn't just coat his attacks—the overwhelming aftermath turned their surroundings into chaos.
With no more concerns holding him back, Jerry completely unleashed himself, experiencing the long-missed pleasure of attacking with everything he had.
Feeling the opponent's fierce momentum like a hurricane sweeping across the world, with sharp winds cutting against his face, Aokiji's expression grew serious.
Without hesitation, he combined his freezing abilities with Armament Haki in his fists and met the enemy head-on without fear.
Jerry's horizontally-swung fishing rod collided directly with Aokiji's right hook, creating the sharp ring of metal striking metal.
When the attack failed to penetrate, Jerry used the rebound force to twist his waist, raising his left leg to kick toward Aokiji's ribs with the power of wind and thunder.
But Aokiji quickly countered with his left fist, using tremendous force to neutralize Jerry's strike, causing both fighters to step back simultaneously.
Without waiting for his body to stabilize, Jerry used the momentum of his landing to pivot sideways, drawing back his fist to gather power water that gather like a vortex before stomping his right foot and shooting forward like lightning once again.
"Maelstrom Abyss Breaker!"
A gleam flashed in Aokiji's eyes as the temperature around him seemed to plummet dozens of degrees. Maintaining his combination of ice powers and Haki, he swiftly launched a devastating punch accompanied by endless frigid winds.
"Ice Block: Violent Pheasant Beak!"
A deafening roar accompanied by circular shockwaves swept in all directions. The collision was so powerful it not only created a deep crater where they fought, but actually changed the color of the clouds overhead, as if the entire world had been shaken by their clash.
In a sheltered cove some distance away, the pirates who had broken through the siege finally returned to their ship.
Lying on deck while receiving treatment from Marco, Deuce gazed worriedly toward the distant location where howling winds and rolling clouds marked the ongoing battle.
"That's where Jerry and Aokiji are fighting, right? I hope he's okay," he said softly.
"Trust Jerry—he won't be defeated easily," Ace replied with conviction. As Jerry's most frequent sparring partner, he understood better than anyone how rapidly Jerry's strength had been growing, making him the most confident in his friend's abilities.
"That's right. That guy was able to overpower me even after I'd gained so much strength from the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. How could he lose here?" Cavendish declared, though his clenched fists inadvertently revealed his inner tension and anxiety.
He also knew he couldn't easily intervene in a battle of that caliber with his current abilities.
"Everyone, relax! Boss Jerry already told me that once we get back to the ship, we set sail immediately. He'll definitely catch up with us. Oh, haha!"
Noticing that even the injured Carrot and young Bonney showed worried expressions, Skull spoke in as calm a tone as possible while continuing preparations for departure without pause.
However, his unnatural laughter at the end betrayed his forced composure.
After Brook helped Skull quickly finish their preparations, he watched their ship slowly leave the shore with determined light in his skeletal eye sockets.
"Yes, I always believe in Jerry. He'll return as promised, just like Laboon and me. In that respect, we're the same kind of people. Yohohoho!"
Then Brook spoke solemnly: "Everyone, let's set sail!"
"Right!" Everyone exchanged glances and answered in unison.
It wasn't that the crew was worrying unnecessarily—it was simply that a Marine Admiral put enormous pressure on everyone.
The Marines' highest combat power wasn't just an intimidating title but a recognized fact acknowledged by all forces, including the pirate world.
Beyond the simple matter of Aokiji easily controlling and sending Cavendish flying in their brief encounter, various rumors and intelligence from the past consistently showed Marine Admirals defeating enemies with overwhelming force.
Compared to the elusive Kizaru they'd encountered at sea before, Aokiji—whom they currently faced on solid ground—created a much greater sense of oppression.
After all, they all knew that in the middle of the ocean, even if Jerry couldn't defeat his opponent, he could always escape using his water manipulation abilities.
Jerry slowly picked himself up from the cracked and cratered ground. The injuries across his body couldn't conceal the fierce determination he radiated or the defiant smirk on his face.
"Hmph! You're just a Marine Admiral—I won't be intimidated by you!" Jerry was breathing heavily but still held his head high with pride.
"Is that so?" A calm voice echoed through the air as a tall, thin figure emerged from the gradually settling smoke and dust, approaching with measured steps that seemed to cover impossible distances.
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