The chaos before them was brutal, but at least the core area of Mary Geoise didn't seem to have been fully dragged into it yet. The Celestial Dragons should have mostly evacuated to safety by now. Still… that floating island.
Tsuru's eyes also shifted to the sky. The energy surges bursting out from up there from time to time made even this experienced old veteran feel a chill.
Sengoku's gaze was likewise locked on the airborne island. He could also sense several extremely powerful battle auras erupting from up there!
"There are even stronger enemies up there!" Sengoku's expression changed drastically. In an instant, he understood—the true core battlefield wasn't here in front of him… it was in the sky!
Almost at the exact moment Sengoku sensed those auras flaring on the floating island, Kuzan—who had been watching the battlefield from the side—moved!
He didn't bother with the distant duel between Akainu and Teresa, and he didn't even spare this chaotic battlefield a second glance. Cold frost rapidly condensed over his body, and beneath his feet, a crystalline ice path spread outward, stretching diagonally upward in a straight line toward that floating island!
"Ice Age: Path!"
Kuzan's figure slid along the ice track he created, charging toward the floating island at high speed. For Kuzan, he had to get on the island as soon as possible and figure out what was happening up there—only then would he have any chance of stopping them from causing even greater destruction to Mary Geoise. He could feel it: the enemies on the island were extremely dangerous!
"Kuzan!" Sengoku saw Kuzan's move and immediately understood his intent. Without the slightest hesitation, Sengoku took a deep breath, and his overwhelming Haki erupted!
"Daibutsu form!"
Dazzling golden light surged out of Sengoku as his body rapidly expanded within that glow. In the blink of an eye, he transformed into a gigantic golden Buddha—his Zoan Devil Fruit, the Hito Hito no Mi, Mythical Zoan, Model: Daibutsu!
In golden Buddha form, Sengoku stomped down hard—
BOOOOM!!
The ground cracked into a huge crater under his power, and then his massive golden body shot upward at a speed completely at odds with its size, following along Kuzan's ice path and charging toward the floating island!
He couldn't keep watching from the sidelines. Nusjuro-sei lying fallen in the distance already proved how grim the situation was. He could not allow the enemies on the floating island to inflict even further damage on Mary Geoise!
Vice Admiral Tsuru watched Kuzan and Sengoku rush into the sky one after the other. A trace of gravity flashed through her aged eyes, but she did not follow. Her abilities were better suited to handling the scene below; a head-on assault among top-tier monsters was not her specialty. She immediately turned and ordered the communications troops:
"Relay orders to all units—hold the line! Prioritize treating the wounded, establish defenses, and prevent the enemy from spreading! At the same time, search with full effort for any surviving world nobles and protect them!"
The order was passed down at once.
The moment Sengoku landed on the floating island, he saw Ronan standing calmly in the distance. As long as he captured Ronan, this battle would end immediately.
Without hesitation, Sengoku charged straight at Ronan.
A golden figure beside Ronan suddenly blasted forward!
BOOOOM—!
Golden light exploded outward. Tesoro's entire body was covered in gold, and it expanded rapidly—turning in moments into a towering golden giant dozens of meters tall!
"Buddha Sengoku?!" the golden giant rumbled in a muffled voice. "I'm your opponent! If you want to lay a hand on Ronan-sama, you'll have to get past me first!"
Tesoro's hatred for the World Government—and for the Celestial Dragons—was carved into his bones. Stella's death, years of humiliation, old grudges piled on new… all of it erupted in his chest!
And Sengoku—this Fleet Admiral of the Marines—was unquestionably one of the most visible symbols of the World Government.
Sengoku's forward momentum halted for an instant. Those enormous Buddha eyes looked at the golden giant that had appeared. Surprise flickered through his gaze, but far more present was cold, imposing authority.
"Tesoro, the one who ate the Gold-Gold Fruit? Who gave you the nerve to think you can face me head-on?"
"Nerve? Hahahaha!" The golden giant roared with laughter. A massive golden fist, like a falling meteor, slammed viciously toward Sengoku. "Humiliation and despair gave me the nerve I have now! Pain forced me to grow! Today, I'll use this power of gold to smash your fake 'justice' to pieces!"
"Great Buddha Shockwave!"
Facing that golden punch with enough force to shatter mountains, Sengoku didn't yield an inch. A gigantic Buddha palm thrust forward, and the white shockwave packed within it collided head-on with the golden fist!
DOOOOM—!!!!!
Like two meteors smashing together, a deafening blast echoed across the sky, and a violent shockwave exploded outward in all directions!
The golden giant's punch was stopped by sheer force. His entire body even jerked back slightly—and on that supposedly indestructible golden fist surface, a thin crack actually appeared!
Tesoro let out a furious roar. Even more gold gathered from the air, instantly repairing the damage, and the power in that fist surged again!
"Golden Hellfire!"
The golden giant opened his mouth wide and spewed scorching golden flames that swept toward Sengoku!
"Parlor tricks! Buddha Light Shines Everywhere!"
Even brighter white Buddha light burst from Sengoku, forming a solid wall of radiance that blocked the incoming golden hellfire completely. Buddha light and golden flame collided violently, hissing with a harsh sizzle—locked in a deadlock for a moment!
"You think one Devil Fruit is enough to challenge Marine justice?" Sengoku's voice boomed like a bell. The gigantic Buddha palms pressed together, then split apart sharply—firing an even larger shockwave straight into the golden giant's chest!
"Golden Shield!"
Tesoro reacted instantly. He crossed his arms over his chest, and flowing gold condensed into an enormous golden shield!
BOOOOM—!!
The white beam slammed into the golden shield! The immense force drove Tesoro backward again and again, each step leaving deep footprints in the ground. Spiderweb cracks spread across the shield's surface, yet it still didn't fully shatter!
"It's useless, Tesoro!" Sengoku barked sternly. "Your power isn't bad, but if you think you can shake me, you're still far from it! Devil Fruit powers are not invincible!"
"Then test it!" Tesoro roared. The golden giant stomped hard, and the ground beneath instantly turned to gold. In the next instant, countless massive golden spikes erupted and stabbed toward Sengoku from every direction!
"Golden Hell: Thorn Forest!"
"Buddha's Wrath: Tremor!"
Sengoku stomped down with a massive Buddha foot, and an invisible shockwave burst outward from him in all directions! Under that vibration, the incoming golden spikes were as fragile as glass—shattering into a storm of golden powder.
(End of Chapter)
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