CHAPTER 269: HEAVENLY PHENOMENA DESCEND! SILVER TONGUE
Brett possessed adaptability derived from giant tardigrades. This adaptability let him withstand lightning, channeling electricity through his body for electrical techniques. It allowed him to endure extreme heat, swimming through magma to locate Pluton. Naturally, it also enabled resistance to extreme cold, largely negating Aokiji's freezing abilities.
"This guy!" Zephyr stared upward in shock.
Though reluctant to admit it, Brett displayed absurdly overwhelming strength. His two prized students—the Navy's pillars supporting this era—were being suppressed by this man!
"So hot! !" Aokiji, engulfed in flames, crashed onto the ice surface where fire spread across the frozen ground.
"These are the flames that burned Akainu! Truly troublesome!" Aokiji exclaimed.
Instantly, ice covered his body, freezing the flames within it. Yet the fire continued burning inside the ice.
His surface ice shattered, flames falling away. Aokiji exhaled hotly. "Almost roasted alive."
Though his clothes were charred tatters, skin reddened from heat.
"I was about to say the same—his power is absurdly strong!" A light beam shot skyward, refracting down beside Aokiji. Kizaru, looking somewhat disheveled, scratched his head helplessly. "We're completely outmatched it seems."
"So powerful! They're Navy Admirals!" Behind Zephyr, Ain couldn't help but exclaim. Could such strength exist in this world? Unimaginable.
"End this!" Brett roared skyward.
Dense storm clouds swept outward from his center, covering half the sky instantly. The giant fog fish bloodline granted Brett cloud-summoning abilities. Combined with his existing flame-cloud creation, he could manifest any cloud variety at will.
Storm clouds complete, he infused them with lightning.
"Ten Thousand Thunder!"
In that moment, heavenly phenomena descended! Intense electricity danced within the clouds. The next second, thick lightning bolts fell like light pillars toward both admirals. The entire sea region was engulfed in storm clouds and lightning!
A scene resembling apocalypse unfolded across Sabaody's exterior waters.
"What is this?!" In an instant, lightning transformed Kizaru into light particles. "Does Kaido possess such ability?!"
"As suspected! This man's power is Kaido's enhanced version! What terrifying creation did Doctor Vegapunk produce?!" Aokiji couldn't maintain Kizaru's leisurely demeanor facing such thunder.
Lightning couldn't shatter light, but it could melt ice. While both admirals were pinned by descending lightning, Brett lowered his body.
"Come, Zephyr, time for Fish-Man Island." Brett exhaled slightly.
He expelled a massive bubble, engulfing Zephyr's group entirely. Flame clouds swept out, collecting the ground beneath them, dragging downward. The coastal section shattered completely.
"Ugh!!" Even someone as experienced as Zephyr couldn't suppress his startled cry.
Everyone was caught within the bubble, pulled by clouds into the sea depths.
"Hahahaha! Let's begin this wonderful deep-sea journey," Brett circled the bubble, descending rapidly.
"Don't think you're escaping!" Between falling thunder, Kizaru crossed his arms over his chest.
"Eight-Shaku Magatama!"
Light projectiles pierced the seawater, threatening to rupture the fragile bubble.
"How persistently bothersome," Brett turned his head, opening his jaw wide.
"Wind Bomb!"
Gales swirled within his mouth, expelled as materialized wind spheres wrapped in invisible waves.
The wind stirred seawater upward, detonating all light projectiles instantly. The wind carrying seawater even pierced upward through the water, becoming a magnificent waterspout rushing skyward!
"Whoa!" Kizaru flickered away, barely avoiding the waterspout.
"Ah, this has become quite troublesome," Aokiji said, standing amid descending thunder as he blocked above with his hands. "We lost Zephyr's group."
"Better prepare explanations," Aokiji sighed.
Both admirals' moods had soured considerably. Had times changed so rapidly they couldn't keep pace?
Someone existed who could nearly ignore both of them and openly escort Zephyr away?
"Perhaps that 'world's strongest' title needs changing hands," Aokiji said.
---
Beneath the sea surface, Brett brought Zephyr's group toward Fish-Man Island. Their speed was tremendous, already reaching pitch-black depths.
"Is... is this really safe?!" Zephyr's students examined the thin bubble separating them from seawater with trepidation.
If this bubble shattered, they'd all be crushed by the deep ocean.
What terrified them more were the massive creatures occasionally passing through the deep sea. Even slight contact meant obliteration.
Zephyr watched Brett swimming as a dragon form through the water, his expression grim. Despite knowing Brett's extraordinary nature, witnessing him actually manifest as a dragon swimming freely through the sea left Zephyr profoundly shocked.
This man had overcome a Devil Fruit user's fatal weakness!
"I've saved you again, Zephyr," Brett turned, smiling lightly. "Surely now we can have a proper conversation?"
"...I will repay your kindness eventually," Zephyr fell silent momentarily before responding. "However, I see nothing to discuss between us."
"Don't say that." Brett smiled. "Would you like to hear my story, Zephyr?"
"What?" Zephyr frowned. What was he suddenly saying?
"We have some distance to Fish-Man Island. We can slow down," Brett smiled. "Let me tell you my story, then discuss this world."
This moment required his silver-tongue abilities.