Facing this apocalyptic scene, even with Sakazuki's fierceness and confidence, his expression couldn't help but grow grave, pupils slightly contracting.
"Meteor Volcano!"
He suddenly roared. His burly figure shot up from the ground, actively meeting those countless falling meteors! His fists swung with speeds barely visible to the naked eye, violently and swiftly alternating toward the fiery red sky.
With each punch, a massive fist formed of scorching, viscous magma separated from his arms, like volcanic bombs flying in reverse, carrying the will to incinerate everything and precisely bombarding those howling meteors!
Boom!!! Boom!!! Boom!!!
Deafening explosions instantly merged together, as if hundreds of massive cannons roared simultaneously in the clouds. Dark red magma and crimson meteors crazily collided, compressed, and ultimately exploded in midair! Each explosion whipped up scorching, violent shockwaves!
Magma and meteors shattered into countless fragments of various sizes under extreme force collision, like a grand yet deadly fireworks display. These fragments containing terrifying heat poured down like hail, smashing into the ocean below.
Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!
The sea surface was pounded with countless massive depressions, exploding towering water columns mixed with steam and debris. The originally calm, azure sea now resembled a giant pot over raging flames. Seawater violently roiled and boiled with terrible sounds. Vast areas were dyed crimson by magma and meteors!
Countless unfortunate marine creatures caught in this death zone didn't even have time to struggle before being instantly cooked alive by extreme heat, floating belly-up to the surface. The air bizarrely filled with the strange "fragrance" of roasted seafood.
"So scary!" Chopper and Bonney hugged each other, trembling.
Enel stood at the bow, staring dumbfounded at this terrifying scene that could easily erase an island. That bit of pride belonging to a "god" was finally completely crushed and dissipated at this moment.
He might also destroy a small island with Raigo, but that required long preparation time, nowhere near as effortless as Kai.
Currently, Kai, secretly admired by Enel, showed no smugness on his face. Large-scale destructive power had always been top-tier powerhouses' forte, but that only cleared fodder.
Duels between experts were just beginning!
"Sakazuki's mine."
Kai's voice was steady, making decisions instantly. "Yamato, you take Kuzan. That masked CP0 agent, Kuma, you handle him. No problem?"
He quickly arranged the highest-combat-power matchups.
"Leave it to me!" Yamato rolled up her sleeves, shouldered her kanabo, and grinned with surging battle intent.
"I will win," Kuma responded calmly, slowly removing his white gloves.
Kai nodded, gaze turning to Enel beside him, tone serious. "Enel, I need you to find opportunities to defeat a Marine Vice Admiral first. Can you do it?"
Hearing this, Enel raised his chin confidently. "Hmph, this god alone is enough."
"Don't be careless."
Kai warned once without saying more. If Enel had mastered Armament Haki, fighting Vice Admirals wouldn't need his reminders. Kai turned back, looking at Akainu's group, who'd stopped the meteor shower, feeling little anxiety.
Honestly, without the Sky Island journey adding immediate combat power Enel, today's battle outcome would be hard to predict. Fighting to the death, he'd definitely win, no doubt about that. But his companions would pay extremely heavy prices.
Currently aboard ship, those who could fight Marine Headquarters Vice Admirals and win, besides him, Yamato, and Kuma, only Kozuki Hiyori remained. Zoro, Sanji, and others had huge potential but currently lacked refinement.
But adding Enel as a powerful variable completely changed the battle situation! With his strength, he could fully leverage local numerical advantages, quickly opening breakthroughs and shaping the entire battle's direction!
Kai finally warned gravely. "Remember, quick decisive battle. Once Marines fall to disadvantage, they absolutely won't sit idle and will definitely call reinforcements."
And who could arrive at crucial moments besides Borsalino?
Finished speaking, Kai leaped over the railing. His form rapidly expanded mid-air, transforming into beast-man form most suitable for one-on-one combat.
"Sakazuki!"
"Kai!"
Amid roars, two peak powerhouses simultaneously locked onto each other.
"Dragon Pulse!"
Kai opened his mouth, releasing an extremely condensed energy shockwave. Sakazuki showed no weakness. His right arm's magma boiled as scorching magma shot through the air!
"Dark Hound!"
Shockwave and magma violently collided and exploded in midair! Violent energy turbulence scattered and impacted, whipping the just-calmed sea surface into raging waves again.
After simple "greetings," both held nothing back. Their figures instantly blurred, clashing together.
On the Marine warship, Kuzan's gaze precisely captured Robin's figure. A trace of indescribable complexity flashed in his eyes before instantly being replaced by gravity.
"Ara ara, seems I need to prepare a sufficiently spacious stage first."
Kuzan easily crossed the railing. The instant his toes touched the sea surface, freezing air erupted explosively from his landing point. The previously scorching, boiling sea surface temperature plummeted!
Thick, solid ice layers spread outward at visibly insane speeds, thickening. Within just a few breaths, a boundless, multi-kilometer white ice field formed beneath Kuzan's feet, becoming this great battle's new battlefield.
"For justice! Charge with me!"
Onigumo waved eight long swords, loudly rallying as he first leaped from the warship like an arrow from a bow, charging toward Rayquaza! Under his lead, elite Marine soldiers and officers surged onto the ice field like a bursting dam, roaring!
Same moment.
"I'm going!"
Yamato could no longer restrain herself. With a delicate shout, she grabbed her kanabo and impatiently leaped from the ship. The instant she became airborne, white beast fur rapidly covered her entire body. Beast-man form instantly completed as her aura surged!
Behind her, Beast Pirates brandished various weapons, roaring as they charged toward Marine lines. Both forces thunderously collided at the ice field's center. Battle cries and weapon-clashing sounds instantly tore through the sky!
"Namuji Hyoga!"
Lightning flashed on her kanabo. Yamato swung hard, white shockwave blasting toward distant, still-standing Kuzan.
Just then, an incomparably sharp flying slash like a crescent moon suddenly attacked from the side, directly severing Yamato's shockwave at the waist.
"Oni Princess Yamato, your opponent is me!"
Momousagi held her beloved blade Konpira, blocking Yamato's path with sharp eyes.
"Get out of my way!"
Yamato impatiently glanced at her, feet not stopping as she tried to forcibly break through from the side. Momousagi wouldn't let her pass so easily. Toes lightly tapped ice as she swung her blade to intercept.
But just then, a clear, delicate shout came from ahead.
"Oden Two-Sword Style: Tōgen Totsuka!"
Two crossed, brilliant, meteor-like, massive slashing waves came in X-formation, directly striking Momousagi! Momousagi's pupils contracted as she hurriedly blocked with her blade. Pitch-black Armament Haki instantly covered both arms and beloved blade Konpira!
Bam!
Slash and blade violently collided with muffled explosions. Powerful impact pushed Momousagi back over ten steps, leaving deep scratches on the ice.
Such powerful slashing.
She looked at the dragon-girl before her, slightly frowning.
"Yamato, go quickly! Leave this to me!" Kozuki Hiyori crossed her twin blades, eyes determined.
"Got it!" Yamato didn't linger, form like wind as she again charged toward Kuzan.
"Since you insist on blocking..." Momousagi slowly adjusted her stance, famous blade pointing at Hiyori. "Then I'll take you down first!"
"If you can, just try!" Kozuki Hiyori's eyes burned as she fearlessly advanced.
Breaking through the interception, Yamato charged before Kuzan like white lightning.
"Kuzan, let's battle!"
"Thunder Bagua!"
The kanabo wrapped in black-red lightning crashed toward Kuzan.
"Ice Glove!"
Kuzan's expression unchanged, right fist instantly elementalized, wrapped in Haki, swinging toward Yamato. Rod and ice fist deadlocked for seconds.
Bam!
Kuzan's right fist shattered explosively. The kanabo's momentum was slightly reduced, yet still heavily smashed his right shoulder, blasting most of his shoulder and arm into scattered ice crystals!
"Ara ara..."
Kuzan looked at his missing half-body, tone still somewhat lazy, though his eyes held more seriousness. "Truly remarkable. Even mastered Conqueror's Haki coating? If I hadn't pre-emptively elementalized, I'd really have taken a hit."
Cold air rapidly condensed and repaired the wound. His tone shifted. "However, in Observation Haki prediction, it seems I'm superior."
"Less talk, come again!" Yamato's battle intent intensified as she fiercely charged again.
Meanwhile, above the battlefield, Doll, proficient in Rokushiki, used Geppo to move rapidly through the air, targeting Rayquaza directly, preparing to raid their headquarters.
Whoosh!
A deep purple poison arrow shot through the air at a tricky angle! Doll hastily twisted mid-air. Poison grazed past her cape.
"This path is closed."
Reiju in the pink raid battle suit also hovered using tech boots, blocking Doll's path with an alluring smile, though her eyes flashed dangerous sharpness.
Ground, ice field battlefield...
Killing sounds shook heaven! Onigumo with "Eight Spider Lances" attachment was madly slaughtering through Beast Pirates, face full of bloodthirsty grin.
"Three-Sword Style: Oni Giri!"
An explosive shout. Three interwoven cold lights suddenly attacked Onigumo from tricky angles.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Hair strands behind Onigumo's head danced with astonishing flexibility, forcibly blocking Zoro's three incoming blades. Tremendous force transmitted through the blades made Zoro's arms sink.
"Ignorant brat! Prepare to die!"
Onigumo laughed maniacally as his free hands drew their long swords. "Two-Sword Style: Strangulation!"
Zoro's pupils contracted. He wanted to withdraw blades and retreat, but felt his three swords gripped like iron vises, unable to break free momentarily!
Just as the Armament-wrapped dual blades were about to cross and fall, at this critical moment.
"Collier Shoot!"
A black leg accompanied by air-splitting sounds viciously kicked toward Onigumo's defenseless neck. Onigumo's brows furrowed sharply. In a split second, weighing pros and cons, his torso bizarrely swayed backward like a willow in the wind, narrowly dodging Sanji's determined kick!
However, as Zoro moved, the hair gripping him loosened slightly.
"Ha!"
Zoro roared forcefully. Three blades suddenly withdrew, successfully escaping and retreating several steps. After creating distance from Onigumo, sweat formed at his temples, though his eyes burned more fiercely.
"Hey, moss-head! You okay?" Sanji landed lightly, blocking his front side with his gaze locked on the enemy.
"Don't worry, won't die."
Zoro spat, adjusting his breathing. "Fighting this guy, can't be careless. His hair has abnormal strength and flexibility."
"Mm, I see." Sanji lit a cigarette, eyes unprecedentedly grave. This was their first truly life-threatening, powerful enemy.
Onigumo's grin remained, eight long swords reflecting cold luster.
"Good reactions. Then, let's begin round two."
His voice was like bone-scraping cold wind. "Don't die too quickly."
Another battlefield section...
"Fire Fist!"
Ace roared. A massive flame fist bombarded Doberman, but was sharply scattered by the latter's Haki-wrapped blade, sparks flying everywhere.
"Fire Gun!"
Ace wasn't discouraged. Knowing he was outmatched in close combat, he decisively adopted guerrilla tactics. His index and middle fingers pointed gun-like at opponents. Countless flame bullets shot toward Doberman in rapid succession.
"Boring tricks." Doberman snorted coldly.
Under Observation Haki enhancement, his form moved ghost-like, precisely blocking with blade edges what he couldn't avoid. Those flame bullets couldn't harm him at all.
While Ace struggled, Robin launched her offensive.
"Seis Fleur: Clutch!"
With Robin's delicate shout, countless petals appeared on Strawberry's shoulders, forming two arms that suddenly gripped his neck and squeezed hard! But he didn't budge, not even frowning.
"Are you giving me a massage, Devil Child?"
Strawberry's face was expressionless, tone carrying undisguised mockery. This strength, wanting to strangle him with Armament defense, was pure fantasy.
Robin instantly reacted. Joint techniques previously effective against ordinary enemies had no effect against Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral-level experts. She decisively changed battle methods.
"Diez Fleur: Shackle!"
Instantly, more petal arms madly grew around Strawberry's key joints. Arms, shoulders, waist, abdomen, legs. Ten arms like tenacious vines firmly bound him in place.
Though these arms still couldn't break through the Armament defense to cause real damage, they could briefly restrict his movement. Knowing she couldn't defeat a Vice Admiral, Robin simply abandoned attacks.
Just seeking to hold and delay Strawberry's battle time. Awaiting the turning point in the battle.