"Get out of the way!"
With an explosive roar, Aeridar punched out. The air instantly became turbulent, erupting into an intense shockwave.
RUMBLE—
A white halo burst forth, shattering the ground inch by inch and kicking up dust into the sky. The shockwave violently threw dozens of pirates, including Sai, backward. They all coughed up blood as they flew through the air.
"Brother!"
Boo shouted in alarm.
"Gear 2!"
Luffy's eyes narrowed. He took a strong stance, his legs pumping like bellows, and his body immediately turned bright red, steaming profusely.
WHOOSH~
Luffy instantly vanished from his spot. When he reappeared, he was in mid-air to Aeridar's side.
"Gomu Gomu no… Gatling!!!"
His arms stretched out, throwing countless high-speed punches downward in a chaotic barrage.
Rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble…
The ground was shattered to pieces, and a cloud of smoke immediately billowed up, lingering for a long time.
"Who are you hitting?"
Aeridar appeared out of thin air behind Luffy, sweeping his leg across his waist.
CRACK!
"Ugh~"
In mid-air, Luffy's body was bent into a U-shape. He coughed up blood and was sent flying sideways, a continuous trail of blood arcing in the air.
"Luffy!"
A figure flashed quickly, catching the flying Luffy. Both of them landed on the ground.
"Jinbe, what you've done has made us very angry." Aeridar hovered in mid-air, his eyes slightly narrowed as he looked down at the blue-skinned whale shark Fish-Man.
Setting Luffy down, Jinbe looked directly at Aeridar and said, "I beg for your continued protection of Fish-Man Island, Aeridar-san. I am already prepared to die here in this battle!"
Aeridar tilted his neck, slowly landing on the ground. He said unhappily, "That's a real headache. It looks like you're truly determined to help them to the very end."
It was impossible for Aeridar to abandon the profits of Fish-Man Island, so even if Jinbe hadn't mentioned it, he wouldn't allow Fish-Man Island to descend into chaos and jeopardize his own interests.
"Block me, and I'll let the Straw Hat Boy go," Aeridar said expressionlessly, striding toward him.
"Aeridar-san, please forgive me!"
Jinbe took a Fish-Man Karate stance, his entire presence condensing with aura.
"Straw Hat Boy!"
At this moment, Boo rushed over and carried the still recovering Luffy to the side.
"Hah~ I almost died! Died! Died!"
Not far away, Ivankov quickly got up by supporting himself with his hands, giggling. "That's impossible! Hee-haw!"
No sooner had he spoken than Ivankov stumbled, clutching his chest and half-kneeling on the ground, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.
"W-What a heavy punch. My breastbone feels cracked… He really is a monster!"
Aeridar was an Impact-Impact Fruit user, specializing in physical attacks. His strength was terrifyingly great. Unless one had a monster-level body, they shouldn't hope to easily withstand his punch. One could say that even Whitebeard wouldn't want to take his punch directly with his body, unless it was a freak like Kaido.
"Iva-san!"
Boo, carrying Luffy, ran to Ivankov, followed by several pirates of the Happo Navy.
"Iva-chan! Jinbe!"
Luffy slowly opened his eyes, weakly looking at Ivankov and Jinbe in the distance.
"Are you still alive, Straw Hat-boy?"
Ivankov wiped the blood from his mouth, looking worriedly at the semi-conscious Luffy.
"This is too severe!"
A nearby doctor checked Luffy's injuries, his expression grave. He said heavily, "No matter what, this is no longer something that can be solved with emergency treatment! He requires complete medical attention!"
"The Straw Hat-boy can't fight anymore. But…" Ivankov turned his head, looking toward the execution platform, and bit his lip in frustration.
"Iva-chan!"
Suddenly, Luffy stretched out his hand and tightly grabbed Ivankov's arm.
He breathed with difficulty, his voice hoarse. "I have one last thing to ask you. Please, give me the Tension Hormones… Give them to me! Please, Iva-chan!"
The hand clutching Ivankov's arm tightened even more.
Ivankov's mouth dropped open, and he cried out in shock, "Don't talk about 'last requests'! Don't say such inauspicious things! You can't inject the Tension Hormones again! You'll be finished!"
"No, you've been fighting non-stop since Impel Down. The poison has already pushed you to the brink of death. Your body is far past its limit!"
"I told you before that Tension Hormones are only for emergency treatment! If you keep numbing your body like this, you will truly lose your life afterward!"
Luffy, relying on his stubborn will, suddenly raised his head, grabbing Ivankov's collar and staring at him. His voice trembled as he said, "Do your best! If I die, then I die! Just let me fight, Iva-chan!"
Ivankov opened his mouth, staring at Luffy in shock…
"If I can't save Ace because I can't fight now, I… will want to die afterward anyway!" Luffy roared hoarsely. "Give me the power to fight now!"
"I told you! If you die, I won't be able to face Dragon!" Ivankov clutched his head in pain, yelling sharply, "You ignorant fool!"
"Are you serious?"
After a moment, Ivankov asked seriously, but seeing Luffy's insistent yet feeble state, he could only say grudgingly, "I understand! Have it your way!"
With that, Ivankov raised his right hand. His fingernails grew long and sharp, like a medical syringe, and he fiercely stabbed them into Luffy's body.
BOOM
Luffy's heart pounded violently, and his body trembled.
Meanwhile, Aeridar and Jinbe had already begun their fight.
"Forgive me, Aeridar-san! Water Shot!" Jinbe gathered a large drop of water on his palm and violently flicked it toward Aeridar.
WHOOSH~
The large drop of water whistled through the air like a heavy-caliber bullet.
CRASH!
The ground exploded, and a large amount of debris scattered.
Aeridar, still airborne, glanced at the hole blasted into the ground, then grinned. "You really aren't holding back, Jinbe!"
"That is because my time to die has not yet arrived!" Jinbe replied, neither subservient nor arrogant.
Aeridar curled his lips, his body suddenly shooting forward. He launched a punch straight at Jinbe's face.
"5,000 Brick Fist!!"
Jinbe's eyes focused, and he threw a full-force punch.
CRACK!
The two fists collided, and the air seemed to be squeezed and burst. A visible ring of air instantly exploded and spread outward.
"7000 Brick Roundhouse Kick!!"
Jinbe felt a monstrous force surge through him. He immediately retreated and pulled his punch back, his somewhat bulky body quickly spinning into a devastating roundhouse kick.
THWACK!
The large, blue, Geta-clad foot solidly struck Aeridar's chest. A wild whirlwind swept across the area for dozens of meters.