What a crazy guy. To think he's charging at Sakazuki alone. Mammoth Fleet, fall back! Take the treasure ships and retreat. This is no longer a battle you can participate in." Rosinante said, watching Jack, who was crazily battling against Sakazuki.
Hearing Rosinante's words, the Mammoth Fleet crew hesitated. They wanted to retreat too. After witnessing Sakazuki's earth-shattering abilities, they no longer had the will to fight. While they were bloodthirsty and crazy, it didn't mean they wanted to be killed. However, they knew Jack's personality. If they retreated now, Jack would definitely wipe them out later.
"Do you have any doubts about my orders?" Rosinante's gaze fell on the Mammoth Fleet crew.
As Rosinante spoke, an overwhelming and domineering aura pressed down on the crew.
Under the weight of this aura, cold sweat broke out on the crew's foreheads. It felt as if Death itself was staring at them.
After becoming the King of the Kingdom of Joromia, Rosinante's aura had grown stronger. As the saying goes, "One's position nurtures their aura." With his growing presence, his Conqueror's Haki had also increased. Rosinante could now easily control his Conqueror's Haki, so although the crew felt pressure, they didn't lose consciousness.
"N-no, we obey Your Majesty's orders." The Mammoth Fleet crew was genuinely frightened.
"Remember, the treasure is your life. Without it, you will have no life."
"Y-yes!" Hearing Rosinante's words, the Mammoth Fleet crew began to hurriedly steer the fleet, turning the ships. Though Rosinante's tone was calm, to the crew, it felt like the whispers of a demon, making them terrified and obedient to his command.
"Don't think about running away. Inferno River, Great Eruption!" After sending Jack flying again, Sakazuki's arm transformed into a fiery volcano, charging toward Rosinante and the Mammoth Fleet.
"Swish!" Rosinante's figure flashed and appeared in front of the massive molten fist.
"Silent, heat Silence; Silent, Attack Silence!" Rosinante raised his palm, blocking the oncoming eruption from Sakazuki. Compared to the giant molten fist that looked like a volcanic eruption, Rosinante's palm appeared minuscule. Yet, right in front of this small palm, the massive fist couldn't move an inch.
"I can't let you destroy my fleet. After all, the treasure I need is on these ships!" Rosinante smiled.
Sakazuki glared at Rosinante. His fiery volcanic hand kept spewing magma toward him. Rosinante used his Silence ability to continuously nullify the intense heat and impact of the eruption. The two of them were locked in a deadlock for a moment.
"Let's see how long you can hold out. Leave one ship, the rest will pursue the pirates!" Sakazuki increased the intensity of the Inferno River eruption while giving orders to his subordinates.
"Yes! Target the Jack Pirates and pursue!" Sakazuki's Vice Admiral shouted.
"Bastard, don't look down on me." Jack, having just been sent flying, got up and charged at Sakazuki again.
The battle with Sakazuki had dealt a huge blow to Jack. His strength was now at the level of a normal Vice Admiral, whereas Sakazuki had nearly Admiral-level strength. On top of that, he was a Logia-type Devil Fruit user. With his Haki, combat power, and fruit abilities, Sakazuki easily overwhelmed Jack.
Time and time again, Jack was struck by Sakazuki. If it weren't for the Silent Healing Sealing ability on Jack's body, he would have been gravely injured by Sakazuki's magma powers long ago. After being beaten so many times, Jack was almost on the verge of going mad.
"Hmph, I wasn't planning to waste time with you, but since you want to die so badly, I'll grant your wish." Sakazuki snorted, and the Inferno River eruption swept toward Jack, instantly engulfing him in the fiery magma.
Sakazuki's Inferno River eruption was an ability he developed by mimicking a volcanic eruption. His punch looked like a magma fist, but it was essentially the force of an entire volcanic eruption.
As Sakazuki swept his arm, the volcanic eruption forcefully swept over Jack, surrounding him with a tremendous impact. The scorching hot magma immediately set Jack's body on fire. Even though Jack was covered in Haki, the intense heat from the magma still burned through and injured him.
"Soul Stealer!" Rosinante unsheathed his sword.
Quick, so quick that one couldn't even react. His blade came out silently, without a single flash, yet Sakazuki's fiery volcanic arm was silently sliced apart.
"It's... it's broken. Sakazuki's arm has been cut off."
"Is this the same sword that defeated Borsalino?" Sakazuki muttered.
As Sakazuki's arm was severed, he remained calm. When he spoke, magma poured from the severed spot and quickly reformed his arm. Soon, the magma dissipated, and his arm was restored to its original form.
While Rosinante's sword strike had severed Sakazuki's arm, Sakazuki reacted swiftly, instantly retracting his arm. As a Logia-type Devil Fruit user, it was easy for him to turn his arm into magma and regenerate.
"Silent, invisible, incredibly fast. Indeed, it's worthy of the name 'Soul Stealer'." Sakazuki stared at Rosinante.
"It's not as impressive as you say. If it were that powerful, your arm wouldn't be attached to your body right now." Rosinante smiled.
"Indeed, it's still lacking, but it's because of that that I can't let you continue growing. Otherwise, you'll become even harder to deal with than Roger!" Sakazuki said darkly.
"You say that, but I'm truly terrified!" Rosinante chuckled.
"Bastard, bastard! Bastard!" Without Sakazuki's continuous volcanic eruption, Jack finally escaped from the Inferno River's power. After all, Jack was quite powerful, with strong Haki and formidable defenses. However, even with all that, he was now in a pitiful state, gasping for breath, his body covered in burns, barely able to stand.
[Has he sustained injuries? Looks like Jack's stamina is almost depleted. No doubt Sakazuki is much stronger than Jack right now. It's time to retreat.] Rosinante thought to himself.
"Not dead yet?" Sakazuki glanced at Jack and said lightly. He didn't pay much attention to him, still remaining cautious of Rosinante. Jack, for now, wasn't worth his full attention.
"Can you leave him to me? He's my first subordinate, and he has potential. I can't let you just kill him." Rosinante smiled.
"You both are staying today!" Sakazuki said coldly.
As Rosinante spoke, his body disappeared like lightning, suddenly reappearing in front of Sakazuki, his sword coming down silently toward him.