Shamrock lifted his head and stared fixedly at Beth, naked wariness written all over his face. For his immortal body, Conqueror's Haki was the most effective counter; it greatly slowed the regeneration of his wounds.
"This is getting troublesome."
The relaxed ease he'd had before was completely gone.
Beth tightened her grip on the greatsword wreathed in Conqueror's Haki, her gaze locked onto Shamrock. Since he could recover, then she would simply keep attacking—see whether his regeneration was faster, or her rate of dealing damage was faster.
While Beth and Shamrock were locked in a fierce battle, elsewhere on the battlefield another top-tier clash erupted at the same time.
Wherever Teresa passed through the battlefield, any guards or CP0 elites who tried to block her path were no match at all. She swung her sword with casual ease, a faint indifference to killing in her eyes.
However, a figure stepped out to block her way.
Garling.
The commander-in-chief of the God Knights had not rushed to show off like the other members. He had been calmly observing the entire battlefield. When Teresa displayed a strength that no one present could stop, he knew he had to make his move.
He merely stood there as an invisible pressure spread out from him. The scar on his face looked even more ferocious in the flickering firelight around them. His eyes were icy cold, devoid of even the slightest human emotion—only an extreme indifference toward life itself.
"No wonder you could fight on even terms with Hawk-Eye," Garling said. His voice was not loud, but carried a faint, condescending scorn. "But today, you won't be that lucky."
Teresa halted, her silver eyes falling on Garling. Deep in her gaze, a glimmer of interest flashed past, as if she'd found an amusing piece of prey.
"Oh? You're the strongest one among this lot, aren't you?" Teresa asked calmly.
"Hmph."
Garling felt a flicker of irritation at her attitude. That detached, unconcerned manner of hers completely ignored his presence. It had been many years since he'd last felt this way. He couldn't help but think back to Rocks at God Valley—back then, that man had worn the exact same expression.
With that thought, he stopped wasting words and moved.
His motion didn't look fast. He simply raised the sword in his hand and slowly swung it toward Teresa.
Yet in the instant that sword was swung, Teresa's always-calm expression shifted slightly.
"Shh! Shh! Shh!"
Dark-red sword auras stabbed toward her from every angle, their emitted slashes carving deep ravines into the ground.
Teresa's expression remained unchanged as her greatsword danced. The deadly dark-red arcs of sword light were intercepted one after another with pinpoint precision.
"Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang—!"
Sparks erupted continuously where their blades met.
Garling's body suddenly braced, both hands gripping his sword as he raised it high above his head. A massive dark-red, half-moon-shaped slash slowly formed—this was Garling's strongest strike, one that could split a mountain peak in two.
Facing that blow, a trace of solemn light finally flashed through Teresa's eyes. She no longer held anything back.
"Yoki Release, fifteen percent."
In an instant, Teresa's eyes turned golden. Faint violet yoki and dark-red Conqueror's Haki seeped out around her, the two auras intertwining with each other and even throwing the surrounding airflow into chaos.
She did not dodge. Instead, she set her greatsword upright before her and thrust straight into the oncoming, world-shattering dark-red slash.
The two tremendous slashes collided in midair with a thunderous impact.
"Rumble-rumble-rumble-rumble—!!!"
The entire royal capital could feel the terrifying impact. Everyone on the battlefield was drawn to the sight, stunned by what they were seeing.
"What a frightening power," Kizaru muttered to himself from afar.
Teresa's strength had far exceeded expectations. As for her opponent, Garling, Kizaru had recognized him the moment he appeared. The God Knights were no strangers to him, and this man was a monster who had survived the God Valley incident. Now he was trading blows with Teresa evenly, and Kizaru couldn't help but worry whether this mission could truly be completed.
Teresa and Garling fought from the ground up into the air, then crashed back down to the earth again. Wherever they passed, ruin was all that remained.
The more Garling fought, the more shocked he became. He realized that his proud swordsmanship and strength could not gain even the slightest advantage over this golden-haired woman.
Yet the state of the battlefield at that moment made Garling's expression change drastically. Ever since Enel and the others had entered the fray, the guards had been falling in swathes. Aside from himself and Shamrock, the rest of their side was being completely suppressed. Even with their immortality, they were totally outmatched.
Garling wanted to break away to provide support, but every time, Teresa appeared at the critical moment to block his path.
"Letting your mind wander in the middle of a fight isn't a good habit," Teresa said lightly.
"Damn it!" Garling's face grew darker and darker.
At this time, Ronan's gaze calmly swept over the entire battlefield. When he saw panic finally appear on the faces of the Celestial Dragons, a cold smile curled at his lips. Then he walked straight toward them.
Ronan didn't pay any attention to the Celestial Dragons' guards around them, because they simply had no chance to even get close enough to stop his advance.
Seeing Ronan coming nearer and nearer, the Celestial Dragons' expressions turned frantic. They immediately ordered the remaining guards at their side to rush forward and block him.
As the guards charged, Alicia's figure flashed. In a blink, she appeared among them, effortlessly reaping their lives.
Ronan walked on as if he hadn't seen any of it, continuing toward the Celestial Dragons—and drawing ever closer.
Watching Ronan approach, the marines who had been guarding the Celestial Dragons also raised their guns and aimed them at him.
A shaft of golden light suddenly condensed in front of Ronan. A tall, slender figure appeared out of it.
One of Marine Headquarters' greatest fighting forces, Admiral "Kizaru," stepped out to bar Ronan's path.
"Your Majesty, could you maybe stop right there?" Kizaru drawled.
Ronan didn't answer. He simply stopped and stared quietly at Kizaru.
"That's not a place you can just walk into as you please, you know," Kizaru added with a helpless little shrug.
"Admiral Kizaru," Ronan said slowly, "you're planning to protect the Celestial Dragons?"
"A mission's a mission. This old man doesn't really have a choice."
"What if I insist on going through?" Ronan's tone hardened.
"This is as far as you go," Kizaru's voice dropped a few degrees, a hint of authority entering his tone. "It's for your own good, and to avoid a lot of unnecessary trouble. If you take another step, I really will have to take measures."
(End of Chapter)
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