The figure of the divine being was sent flying like a cannonball, tearing through layers of ice before finally transforming into lightning to dissipate the last of the impact and barely stabilize himself.
Crack!
The lightning coalesced, reforming into Enel's figure.
Breathing heavily, he gripped his Golden Rod tightly, glaring at the towering figure in the distance. The arrogance and disdain in his eyes had finally given way to deep wariness.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong!
Since descending to the Blue Sea, this was the first time he had suffered such a heavy loss in a direct confrontation!
This Blue Sea dweller before him... was far more terrifying than he had anticipated!
To uphold the dignity of a god, he had to go all out from the very beginning!
Then, with this move...
"Inazuma!"
A fierce glint flashed in his eyes as he raised his right arm. The sky suddenly darkened with rolling thunderclouds.
CRACK!!!
A torrential flood of blue lightning descended endlessly from the heavens, engulfing the entire area where Kuma stood.
This was indiscriminate, destructive bombardment on a terrifying scale.
Even the Marines charging toward Dressrosa's giant rock formation on both flanks were caught in the attack.
"Ahhh!"
"Get out of the way!"
Screams erupted one after another. The dozens of Marines closest to the strike were instantly swallowed by the lightning—some collapsed trembling to the ground, while the majority were reduced to charred corpses.
Smoker, who was locked in combat with a Naval Headquarters Vice Admiral, also found himself within the lightning's range.
His expression darkened as he swiftly dispersed into smoke, reforming moments later. Clenching his cigar between his teeth, he glanced toward the source of the attack, his brows furrowed deeply.
"That bastard... he doesn't even spare his own allies," Smoker muttered.
The Vice Admiral he was fighting, Mozambia, was livid. "Enel! You bastard! Do you have any idea what you're doing?! Do you want the World Government to strip you of your Warlord of the Sea title?!"
The Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea—in the end, they were still just Pirates.
Untrustworthy!
Enel ignored him entirely, even scratching his ear impatiently without so much as a glance in their direction.
Thunder and rain alike were divine blessings!
When a god bestowed grace from the heavens, why should he care for the lives of mere mortals?
As for the title of Warlord of the Sea, he had never cared for it. Nor did he plan to stay in the Blue Sea for long.
Once he gathered enough gold and found the greatest shipwright in that place called Water 7...
He could finally pursue his dream.
The Infinite Vearth!
That was the only place worthy of a god's presence!
As for now...
His eyes saw no one else—only the towering figure that had remained motionless under the relentless storm of lightning.
"Didn't dodge this time, huh?"
Enel narrowed his eyes, observing for a moment before his confidence gradually returned. He grinned. "Why aren't you bouncing it back now?"
"Hey! Say something, mortal! This isn't even my ultimate technique yet. If you collapse from just this, I'll be very disappointed!"
As if responding to his taunts...
The massive figure finally moved.
"Useless."
Kuma's voice emerged from the lightning, calm as ever.
Huh?
Under Enel's astonished gaze, he stepped out of the thunderous torrent one step at a time, crackling electricity surrounding his body, yet he remained completely unharmed.
Even the glasses on his nose bridge remained intact.
"A man who can control lightning... truly rare. I've only known one before. That man's strength and conviction could be considered among the strongest in this world."
Kuma looked down at Enel with slight nostalgia:
"Compared to him, the Devil Fruit you've obtained is no weaker in ability... but that's all it is. Grand in spectacle, yet hollow in substance. In terms of power... it seems you can't even break through my Haki."
He didn't even need Haki.
The robust physique granted by his Bacania Clan bloodline was enough to resist most of it.
"..." Enel's face darkened, veins bulging at his temples.
Hollow in substance?
And claiming his divine power came solely from that so-called Devil Fruit?
How dare this insolent Blue Sea savage... how dare he say such things!!
Just as he was about to rebuke,
Kuma suddenly vanished from his spot.
"Behind me!"
Relying on his Observation Haki, Enel swiftly turned, only to find Kuma already within arm's reach, a massive palm bearing terrifying pressure descending upon him.
"Pressure Cannon·Rapid Fire."
Boom boom boom boom boom!
Five shockwaves erupted almost simultaneously, each more than twice as powerful as before and far harder to evade.
Yet this time, Enel snorted coldly, his body dissipating into lightning.
"Foolish mortal, did you really think the same move would work on a god twice?"
His voice echoed from all directions as flickering lightning made Enel's figure appear and disappear around Kuma at speeds nearly impossible to track with the naked eye.
Even Observation Haki struggled to lock onto him.
What a nuisance.
Kuma frowned slightly.
From his perspective, the opponent's overall strength was riddled with flaws—except for his genuinely formidable Observation Haki, which even Kuma had to admit surpassed his own.
Every other aspect... physique, strength, willpower, Armament Haki intensity, combat experience—all were mediocre at best.
But...
He just had to possess such a convenient ability.
"Thunder Metallurgy·100 Million Volts!"
Enel suddenly materialized behind Kuma, his golden staff melting into liquid form under high-voltage lightning before instantly reshaping into a sharp trident aimed straight at Kuma's back.
"Got you!"
A vicious glint flashed in Enel's eyes as violent lightning erupted from the trident. Yet, at the moment of impact—
"Paw Impact."
Kuma remained expressionless, not even turning his head as his right arm twisted at an impossible angle to lightly press backward, the paw pad on his palm precisely meeting the trident's tip.
Hummm!
A terrifying spherical shockwave exploded outward. Enel felt an irresistible force slam into him, instantly warping the trident out of shape!
Once again, he was sent flying hundreds of meters, crashing deep into the ice.
"Cough—!"
In the icy crater, Enel spat out blood, his golden trident now broken in two.
To his horror, he realized his Elemental Transformation couldn't fully nullify this impact—his internal organs had suffered severe trauma.
"What kind of absurd ability is this..."
He struggled to his feet when suddenly, the sound of rushing air came from above. Looking up, he saw Kuma descending from the sky, his massive shadow enveloping him.
"Pressure Cannon—Three Hundred Strikes."
Kuma spoke in a low voice, his palms striking at speeds invisible to the naked eye. Countless transparent bubbles shaped like bear claws poured down like a torrential storm!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Amid the unending explosions, the entire ice field trembled.
Yet...
Enel transformed into streaks of lightning, swiftly dodging every single Pressure Cannon.
Kuma silently gazed up at the flashes of lightning.
He had anticipated this—this was the troublesome issue he had been concerned about earlier.
If the opponent had taken the initiative to attack, he could have seized the opportunity to deal a heavy blow.
But like this, with the opponent gripped by fear, unwilling to engage head-on and relying solely on powerful Observation Haki and the speed granted by the Rumble-Rumble Fruit to evade...
Even he would find it difficult to finish the fight quickly.
But it didn't matter.
Maintaining the upper hand was enough. If this continued, the accumulation of injuries would eventually reach a tipping point.
Patience was something he had never lacked.
...
Aside from Kuma and Smoker, the other executives of the Curtain Closer were scattered across the ice field, all locked in fierce battles.
Jack faced off against Doberman and quickly gained the upper hand, overwhelming him to the point of suffocation.
He didn't transform into a mammoth but instead took on a form between human and mammoth—the so-called "Half-Beast Transformation."
His already burly frame grew to over ten meters tall, his long trunk resembling a third sword clenched in someone's teeth.
Though it seemed useless at first glance, it could shield his face or strike unexpectedly, proving surprisingly effective.
The reason he hadn't taken his usual Mammoth Form...
This was something Boss Xiano had taught him.
For Zoan-type Devil Fruit Ability Users—especially those with bulky forms—fully transforming into their beast forms in high-level battles was the dumbest way to fight.
"A true warrior must learn to wield their Devil Fruit Ability flexibly, not be enslaved by it!"
"The Mammoth Form may grant immense strength and defense, but your speed plummets. Against agile opponents, you'll just become a sitting duck!"
"In such cases, adjusting to a Half-Beast Transformation to balance strength and speed is the right approach! Haven't you seen how Kaido does it?"
Boss Xiano's voice seemed to echo in his ears.
Jack wholeheartedly agreed.
Putting aside everything else, fighting on this ice field without thinking and immediately transforming into a mammoth?
Too easy to fall through and sink into the sea... He had suffered real consequences for this before, leaving him with something of a phobia.
THUD! THUD!
His massive, pitch-black fists hammered against Doberman's sword, sending shockwaves through the blade until it began to warp and twist.
Jack grew more relaxed as the fight went on, even taking the time to recall Xiano's teachings and test them one by one in battle.
Doberman, however, was the complete opposite.
At first, he had managed to hold his own, but as the battle dragged on, his sword began to show signs of strain.
His body was no different.
His palms were already split open, blood continuously dripping down the hilt onto the ice. His consciousness was gradually blurring.
Only sheer willpower kept him standing this long.
Just then, a commanding roar suddenly rang out!
"Hold on, Doberman! I'm coming to help!"
Jack glanced sideways.
A Vice Admiral draped in a Justice cloak was charging toward him at full speed.
The man was burly, with a cigar in his mouth and what appeared to be a dog-head hat at first glance—but upon closer inspection...
He was actually a Zoan-type Devil Fruit Ability User like himself, maintaining a Half-Beast Transformation.
Wasn't he called Dalmatian or something?
Jack licked his tusks, finally feeling a spark of excitement.
He'd heard Smoker mention this guy before. Back when Jack hadn't even joined the crew, this man had once teamed up with Akainu to hunt them down.
Single-handedly, he'd pushed even Boss Kuina into a disadvantage back then.
Though both were Marine Vice Admirals, as Boss Xiano often said, the gap between one Vice Admiral and another could sometimes be wider than that between a man and a pig.
This guy was one of those seasoned, troublesome types.
But...
Perfect timing!
Taking on two veteran Vice Admirals at once—now that was barely interesting enough!
"You think two against one can take me down?"
Jack burst into wild laughter, his massive legs stomping the ice as his ten-meter-tall frame erupted with shocking speed, closing the distance instantly.
Both fists coated in black Armament Haki, he simultaneously launched punches at the two men from left and right!
"—Who the hell do you think I am?!"
...
Northwest corner of the ice field.
Two figures darted like lightning, their blades clashing in a rapid series of metallic "clangs."
The battle between Kuina and Peach Rabbit, two Master Swordsmen, was reaching its climax.
Both were fighters of exceptional agility.
Kuina utilized "Forward Slash" to constantly adjust her positioning, making her attacks come in relentless, suffocating waves, each faster than the last.
Peach Rabbit, on the other hand, possessed formidable Martial Arts prowess, having mastered "Shave" and "Moon Walk" to perfection.
Coupled with far more swordsmanship combat experience than Kuina, she kept pace effortlessly, appearing completely at ease.
"Hey, if I remember right, you're not a Devil Fruit Ability User, are you?"
Peach Rabbit grew increasingly curious as they fought, smiling playfully:
"A pure Master Swordsman who can control the power of wind? Such swordsmanship is unheard of. Care to teach me?"
"Afraid not. The tuition at our dojo is quite steep!"
Kuina smirked coldly, her toes lightly tapping the ice as her figure suddenly blurred.
The next instant, she appeared directly above Peach Rabbit, flicking her wrist to switch from a slash to a thrust aimed straight at the latter's forehead!
Whoosh!
Before the blade even descended, a piercing sword intent howled through the air.
Clang—!
Peach Rabbit seemed to have anticipated this. Swinging Konpira horizontally to block, she used the sparking impact to abruptly twist her blade, leveraging the force to hurl Kuina high into the air—then...
"Thousand Cherry Blossoms!"
Konpira arced upward in a sweeping motion, the sword's momentum transforming instantly as it carved countless razor-thin slashes through the air—like a blizzard of cherry blossoms—engulfing Kuina from all directions!
What bizarre swordsmanship!
Kuina's pupils contracted as she swiftly swung Wado Ichimonji, the blade's edge stirring the air currents to form an invisible wind wall before her.
"Wind Barrier!"
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!—
Dense slashes collided with the wind wall, producing crisp metallic clangs as sparks flew wildly. Nearly all the attacks were swallowed whole, vanishing without a trace.
However.
A few sharp sword auras inexplicably slipped through from the flanks, above, and below, leaving shallow cuts on Kuina's sleeves and cheeks.
"Tch..."
Kuina frowned slightly, glancing at the bloodstains before dismissing them with indifference. She adjusted her posture midair and landed steadily.
This woman...
She claimed to have never seen Kuina's Wind Control Swordsmanship before, yet her own swordplay was more unpredictable than anyone else's.
Truly troublesome.
The longer their battle raged, the more Kuina realized that this Admiral candidate before her possessed unfathomable strength, with almost no openings to exploit.
In fact, the pressure she exerted was even greater than Chaton had back then.
Had this been her from not long ago, lasting this long would have been her limit.
But now...
Kuina narrowed her eyes.
Just four days ago, while en route to Dressrosa,
Lord Xiano had found her in the second-floor sword training field and infused her with a faintly glowing energy mass.
According to Lord Xiano, this was a peculiar strength he had stumbled upon, one that greatly enhanced physical prowess.
And indeed, it had.
Kuina felt her strength and stamina limits surge dramatically, filling many of her previous physical shortcomings.
Now, she was confident she could fight this Marine Headquarters' strongest Master Swordsman to the very end!
————
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Inside the office bearing the plaque "Absolute Justice," the atmosphere was so tense it could drip water.
Unaware of the mood, a goat leisurely chewed on a top-secret document.
Before it, Fleet Admiral Sengoku paced back and forth, hands clasped behind his back, his expression agitated as he remained silent for a long while.
"How long has the battle been going on?" he suddenly stopped and asked.
"Report, Fleet Admiral! It's been over five hours!" the Lieutenant snapped to attention. "From what we can see... the overall situation remains deadlocked with no clear advantage on either side."
"Five hours! And still no upper hand?"
Sengoku's face darkened.
This ambush plan had been proposed by Kizaru after noticing anomalies, and Sengoku had personally approved it after careful consideration.
Such was the current treatment of the Curtain Closer.
Nearly on par with the Four Emperors, even Admirals lacked the authority to decide on engagements—they had to report to Headquarters first.
Akainu and Aokiji were occupied with critical missions and couldn't be reassigned.
From the outset, Sengoku's goal hadn't been to capture Xiano but to cripple his core forces before they could firmly establish themselves in the New World.
Arresting someone approaching the level of a Four Emperor in the New World?
That strategic objective was too grand, too unrealistic.
Akainu had made that mistake before—Sengoku wouldn't repeat it.
Of course, crippling the Curtain Closer was no simple task either.
A single Admiral charging in alone was definitely not enough.
But what if you added a Vice Admiral candidate, a Warlord of the Sea with a powerful Logia-Type Ability, and several elite veteran Vice Admirals?
Sengoku had thought it would be more than sufficient.
In his view, Kizaru could easily keep Xiano occupied, leaving him no room to interfere elsewhere, while the remaining Marine Vice Admirals and the Warlord Enel would be enough to pressure the other officers into a desperate struggle.
The key to breaking the deadlock lay with Gion.
That Kuina, though she was the Lieutenant of the Falling Stars Adventure Pirates, still fell slightly short compared to the right-hand men of the Four Emperors.
For a short while, she might be able to stall Gion, just as she had once done with Chaton on Sabaody.
But if the battle dragged on, she stood no chance against Gion.
Once Gion secured victory and freed herself up, she could instantly turn the tide, decisively tipping the scales of this battle in the Marines' favor!
Yet now…
The reports from the frontlines were ruthlessly slapping him in the face.
Was it still not enough?
Had they underestimated the Falling Stars Adventure Pirates' growth speed, even after taking such precautions?!
"..."
Sengoku's expression darkened like storm clouds.
He walked to the window, gazing out at the vast crescent-shaped harbor, and after a moment of silent contemplation, spoke:
"Contact Garp via Den Den Mushi. Ask if he's arrived at G-1 yet. If he has, have him set out immediately!"
"Yes, Fleet Admiral!"
The Lieutenant saluted and swiftly left.
Sengoku remained motionless, still staring out at the sea.
Deploying Garp to the New World ahead of time had been his contingency plan—one he hadn't wanted to use, for fear of provoking the Sea Emperors.
That unreliable old man, always taking leave at the drop of a hat, was practically retired. Yet in the eyes of the Four Emperors, he was still regarded with as much wariness as the current Three Admirals—if not more.
Sending him deep into the New World to engage in battle there was bound to stir discontent among the Emperors.
But now…
With the battle bogged down and their original strategy on the verge of collapse, there was no choice.
Dressrosa was a territory the World Government had explicitly ordered to be seized.
Its strategic importance was critical to the Marines' future plans for advancing into the New World—it had to be secured.
This was the highest decree from the Holy Land. No one could defy it.
Not even the Curtain Closer, not even that troublesome brat Xiano… had the right to interfere!
If they dared to meddle, they would pay the price!
Otherwise… where would the Marines' dignity—where would his dignity—stand?
————
Boom!
A fist wreathed in black-red lightning smashed violently against Ama no Murakumo.
The sacred sword finally let out a groan of protest, shattering into countless golden particles.
As the fist rapidly filled his vision, Kizaru's pupils constricted—he was about to activate his Elemental Transformation to evade, but the fist suddenly opened, seizing the white Justice cloak draped over his shoulders!
"You know, I've never understood this," Xiano sneered, his muscles bulging as another surge of Conqueror's Haki erupted around him. "You Marines love strutting around in these capes for show, fine. But when you're fighting someone on your level, you still insist on wearing this thing?!"
It's just pissing me off!
BOOM!
Before Kizaru could react, a sharp pain shot through his neck as he was hoisted up like a ragged sack, cutting through the air with a piercing sonic boom.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Pivoting at the waist, Xiano exerted tremendous force with his arms, swinging the Marine admiral in a full circle through the air before reversing direction and swinging him again, relentlessly slamming him back and forth!
Now in midair, now on the ice, repeating this hundreds of times before finally seeming to have had his fill, he viciously kicked him towards the giant rocks of Dressrosa, embedding him with a thunderous crash.
Boom—!!!
Debris scattered as dust filled the air.
"Cough, cough..."
Covered in dust, Kizaru clutched his chest, coughing violently for a while before staggering free from the rock face, revealing himself.
His hair was disheveled, his brown sunglasses long shattered and gone, with numerous bloodstains and bruises covering his body—a rather sorry sight.
Reforming Ama no Murakumo and gripping it tightly in his hand, he looked up towards the sky above the ice field.
Whoosh~
A tall, black-haired youth descended from the sky using Moon Walk, his dark locks whipping wildly in the turbulent currents of Conqueror's Haki, his clenched right hand slowly loosening.
The tattered remains of a white Justice cloak drifted down under Kizaru's narrowed gaze.
"Hey, old man..."
Their eyes locked as Xiano looked down at him from above, his lips curling into a mocking grin:
"After being used as a flail for half the day, you still haven't reacted? It's only been a few hours from noon till dusk."
"What... can't even keep up with my attacks anymore?!"
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