Chapter 404: Chapter 404: The Decisive Battle Begins
Chapter 404: The Decisive Battle Begins
...
A sky of gray and gloom, a fine drizzle that gradually grew heavier. With a blow of the fierce wind, the threads of rain were suddenly thrown into chaos.
On the crimson west coast of the island, the tide violently slapped against the rugged reefs, splashing up one cool wave after another.
Zoro and Fujitora fought fiercely, their swords clashing and sparking. Sword lights and blade shadows flashed nonstop, and one rough slash after another had left the crimson earth a scene of devastation.
On the south coast of the island, a fierce battle was also taking place, but it was a scene of deep and serene vitality.
Countless towering giant trees rose from the ground. All sorts of vegetation covered the earth. Thick tree roots were knotted and intertwined, almost turning this several-kilometer-long coastline into a tropical rainforest.
Sanji’s figure flickered as he weaved through the heavy tree shadows. While dodging the thorny vine whips that lashed out from all directions, he would occasionally kick out a shockwave in a counterattack.
Besides the two on the outer perimeter of the island, fierce battles had also broken out in various parts of the island. The entire Egghead was almost submerged in a sea of fire.
"Sokkuu Dokkō!!"
"Tekkai: Utsugi!!"
Faced with Sentomaru’s palm pushing down, Chaton Gake brought his arms close to his waist and let out a low shout, spreading his legs and firmly planting himself in a horse stance.
Bang!!
The impact made the "Justice" coat behind Gake flutter, but his figure was not shaken at all. Instead, he had sent the other bouncing back.
"Don’t even think about passing, Sentomaru. Even if we were once colleagues, I can’t go easy on you in a war like this."
Gake squinted his eyes and said lightly, his expression both affable and somewhat sleazy.
"Damn it...!"
Sentomaru gritted his teeth and stared at Gake. Akainu had already taken the Seraphim deep into the island. Seeing that he had a hard time breaking through, his heart couldn’t help but become anxious.
Four Seraphim... this was undoubtedly a fighting force that could turn the tide of the battle. Whichever side controlled them would be enough to shift the scales of victory.
Especially now, when almost everyone was in a stalemate.
In the sky, Nami transformed into lightning and moved at high speed, from time to time releasing a bolt of lightning that blasted into the enemy group.
Behind her, Smoker’s lower body turned into a white mist and jetted, flying at high speed. His eyes were fierce as he pursued Nami relentlessly:
"Don’t even think about running!!"
"Here we go again. What an annoying guy."
Nami frowned, her expression becoming a little impatient.
The two were both Logias. Although the Rumble-Rumble Fruit was superior in all aspects of its ability, the elements did not counter each other. And to make matters worse, her Armament Haki was not as good as Smoker’s. The fight was simply endless.
Nami had no intention of getting entangled with the other. She transformed into a bolt of lightning and flew away.
At the same time, under the siege of the Marines led by the various vice admirals, with the cooperation of a large number of rear admirals and commanders, Robin, Usopp, Franky, and the others were all trapped in a stalemate.
Their powerful support, Hancock, was also being held back by Gion.
Vice Admiral Tsuru crossed her arms and stood on a building, calmly surveying the battlefield.
After Sengoku and Garp had joined forces to restrain Reiner, the Marines had instantly seized the initiative in deploying their forces. With their large numbers and targeted operations, there were faint signs of them gaining the upper hand.
The only thing that made her a little worried was that Garp’s and Sengoku’s situations did not look very good. The two of them, even when joining forces, were actually unable to suppress Reiner. This couldn’t help but make Tsuru’s heart grow heavy.
Once the two were defeated, the unrestrained Reiner would release a large number of undead again. This would undoubtedly be a devastating blow to the Marines.
Could it be that they had to have Akainu, the Fleet Admiral, personally join the battle?
Just as her thoughts were wandering, her expression suddenly froze.
"Is that...?"
Tsuru squinted her eyes slightly, her gaze focusing on the distance. Something seemed to have attracted her attention.
A figure was leaping between the tall buildings, rapidly approaching the battlefield from a great distance.
"Straw Hat...?"
Vaguely recognizing the other’s identity, Tsuru murmured to herself, her brow gradually becoming grave.
Thump—Thump—Thump.
A pair of footsteps, steady and powerful, trod on the street.
Akainu’s face was grim. His cold eyes, hidden under the brim of his cap, showed a hint of anger, as if he were a volcano that was on the verge of erupting.
The surroundings were filled with the roar of cannon fire and the smoke of explosions. He walked straight through the battlefield, all the way to where Sengoku and the others were.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Around the battlefield, a large number of officer-level Marines held cannons and bombarded Reiner. They were loaded with special cannonballs that would open up into a net embedded with Seastone after being fired.
While fighting Garp and Sengoku at the same time, these Seastone nets undoubtedly brought a little trouble to Reiner, but not much.
He could even just use more large-area moves, and as he fought, the surrounding Marines would be unknowingly affected and fall.
"Black Snake Reiner..."
Akainu’s gaze was cold and full of murderous intent. From his shoulder to his chest, his entire right arm transformed into boiling magma. The scalding, viscous magma dripped onto the ground, and the ground immediately melted, sizzling as white smoke rose.
"Lord Sakazuki!"
"Is the Fleet Admiral going to make a move himself?"
"This suffocating pressure."
Seeing Akainu’s appearance, the surrounding Marines immediately respectfully made way, and at the same time, their eyes were filled with hope as they looked on with anticipation.
"You evil brat! This old one will definitely kill you here today!"
Akainu’s eyes were ferocious as he leaped high, dragging his magma-transformed fist as he charged up.
"Meigo!!"
With an explosive roar, the ball of magma, which contained a terrifying temperature, in Akainu’s right arm suddenly erupted. His five fingers bent into a claw and viciously tore down!
Having just pushed back Sengoku, Reiner whipped his head up and saw a scorching red giant claw rapidly grabbing at his head.
Boom!!
The magma smashed onto the ground. A large pool of magma spread out in all directions. There was also a lot of magma that splashed into the air, mixed with the rainwater, and quickly evaporated.
A large amount of steam filled the ground. The surrounding temperature suddenly rose. Akainu’s gaze was fixed on the white mist below.
However.
"Behind you, Sakazuki!!"
Sengoku shouted at him in a panic. A circle of golden light rotated in his pupils. He had already seen Reiner use teleportation to escape.
Hearing his voice, Akainu’s expression changed, and he whipped his head around. He saw Reiner’s fully charged, pitch-black heavy fist already close to his face!
"Annihilating Rush Fist!!"
Bang!!
Black lightning raged and exploded. The fist, containing Conqueror’s Haki, angrily pierced Akainu’s face, sending him flying at high speed and crashing into the ground!
Boom!!
A giant deep pit was blasted into the ground. A strong wind pressure blasted out, dispersing the pervading steam and kicking up a large amount of dust and smoke.
"Desert Spada!!"
"Goshikito!!"
Two Seraphim flew in from the left and right. A high-frequency vibrating sand blade, tens of meters long, chopped down from above. Reiner’s figure flashed and dodged.
S-Flamingo swung his hand, and five sharp, thin threads, under his control, once again cut at Reiner.
"Aragami no Honoo!!" (Wild Bite of Flame!!)
Reiner blew out a fierce flame from his mouth, which quickly condensed into several fire snakes that spun and bit out, swallowing the thin threads and continuing to blast at the Seraphim.
Before Reiner could land, Akainu’s figure charged out of the smoke and dust again.
"Inugami Guren!!"
Akainu’s face was ferocious. His clothes were covered in dust, and blood flowed from his forehead, reddening half his face, which made him look somewhat savage. His arm swelled and transformed into magma as he blasted at Reiner.
In the violent eruption of magma, a ferocious dog’s head condensed and bit up fiercely.
Reiner unhurriedly raised his palm. Darkness swirled and gushed out. His palm, like a vortex, generated a huge suction force.
"Kurouzu!!"
A one-trick pony, good for all occasions.
The scarlet evil dog, transformed from magma, crashed into the black mist like a mud ox entering the sea. It was stopped ten centimeters from his palm, unable to advance an inch. Instead, it was continuously absorbed into the vortex.
"Let me give it back to you to taste!"
After absorbing Akainu’s attack, Reiner waved his hand at the scattered Marines around him. The black mist quickly spread out, transforming into a giant curtain.
"Darkness: Liberation!!"
Scalding magma poured out from the black curtain, splashing out like a waterfall.
Seeing this, countless Marines’ eyes showed terror. They all turned and fled in panic.
"Run!!"
"Retreat! Quick, hide!"
"Kinrin Heki!!"
A golden light suddenly bloomed, creating an invisible wall that blocked the splashing magma.
At the critical moment, Sengoku descended from the sky. His two palms pushed out a Buddha’s light barrier to block the surging magma. Then he drew back one palm to his waist and condensed a ball of golden light that bloomed with a shockwave.
Swish!
Reiner was the first to attack, flashing forward. However, the golden light in Sengoku’s pupils rotated. His Buddha’s eye had already seen through everything.
"Daibutsu: Kansatsu Hō!!" (Great Buddha: Penetrating Killing Cannon!!)
Boom!!!
With an angry shout, he pushed out his palm. A focused shockwave pierced through space, engulfing the just-appeared Reiner. The terrifying explosion made the entire earth tremble.
"Now!!"
Sengoku shouted anxiously.
"I know!"
Before the shockwave had dissipated, Garp had already charged up, a sharp glint in his eyes as he grinned. Haki quickly dyed his arms.
In the Buddha’s light impact, Reiner’s peripheral vision caught a glimpse. He immediately freed a hand and aimed it at Garp.
Under the azure flame, countless bone fingers grew rapidly, constructing a two-meter-high pitch-black heavy shield, its surface glowing with a dark light and carved with a ferocious demon face.
"Goshu Akujin!!"
"Tekken: Meikotsu!!" (Iron Fist: Ringing Bone!!)
Garp’s fist bone seemed to emit a trembling hum as he smashed it down violently!
Bang!!!
Dark red lightning exploded densely. Garp’s two eyes were ferocious. The thick shield was directly twisted and deformed under this exaggerated fist, and a large amount of bone fragments flew and scattered.
Reiner was sent flying backward by this terrifying force, like a cannonball, crashing through several tall buildings.
"Hahaha! It’s not over yet! Take another of this old one’s fists!"
Before Reiner could stop, Garp laughed loudly, spread his legs into a half-squat, and with a mighty push on the ground, he shot out.
This is troublesome...
The flying Reiner’s expression gradually became grave. He could still suppress the two of them, but with Akainu joining in, it was a completely different matter.
Two fists are no match for four hands. To fight three of the Marines’ top combatants at the same time was already a struggle. Not to mention, there were three Seraphim waiting for an opportunity at the side.
Although these Seraphim were not particularly troublesome for him, they were not an existence that could be ignored. One against six... even with his teleportation ability, he was tired of dealing with it.
If this went on, even with his multiple abilities, a flaw would sooner or later be found.
Reiner thought for a moment and immediately decided to release a portion of his undead.
When he was fighting Garp and Sengoku, he had gathered his strength to suppress them. Now that the situation had turned, what he should be considering was how to pin down the enemy and reduce the pressure.
Although it would reduce his own methods, and the other would definitely try to shake off the undead and attack his main body, it would at least make him a little more relaxed.
But just as he was preparing to summon his undead...
A figure streaked past him at high speed, and a fierce wind whipped his messy hair. Luffy’s feet jetted wildly, and at an extremely fast speed, he flew out from behind Reiner!
"Grandpa!!"
Luffy, with his Gear Fourth activated, let out a loud shout. He called him affectionately, but his thick fist was not at all merciful as it smashed towards him!
"L-Luffy?!"
The sudden voice made Garp’s expression freeze for a moment. It was this one moment of distraction. A fist the size of a water bucket directly smashed into his face.
Bang—!!
A human meteor fell from the sky in a straight line, smashing heavily into the ground and creating a deep pit, kicking up a circle of dust and smoke.
"Garp!!"
Sengoku’s face was shocked. He whipped his head around to look at the newcomer. Akainu’s eyes also darkened at the same time. Luffy’s appearance instantly drew everyone’s attention.
"To lay a hand on my companion... even Grandpa can’t be forgiven."
Thud.
A pair of sandals landed on the ground. Luffy pressed his hat with one hand and slowly looked up, a corner of his mouth lifting slightly.
"Sorry. I’m not late, am I?"
"What do you think? A little later, and you could have collected my corpse."
Reiner replied jokingly. He flew down from the air and came to Luffy’s side, stopping.
"Now it seems I won’t be dying today."
"But of course."
Slap!
Luffy’s voice was powerful. He slapped his fist on his chest, his gaze fixed on Akainu, his smile firm.
"We’ll send all these guys flying, and then set sail just like before."
"You really dare to talk big, Straw Hat! All of you will die here today! Don’t even think about leaving alive!"
Akainu shouted in a low voice, his eyes cold as he released his killing intent. Without a word of nonsense, his arm transformed into magma and erupted, directly starting the fight.
"Meigo!!"
The scorching magma spewed out, its front end’s five fingers bent into a claw, directly grabbing at Luffy’s head.
Bang!!
Faced with this sudden and powerful attack, Luffy hurriedly raised his arms, and his Armament Haki covered his wrists, blocking the magma claw.
Hiss—!
The Magma-Magma Fruit was indeed the strongest in terms of explosive power. Even with the protection of Haki, Luffy’s pitch-black wrists were still quickly burned red by the terrifyingly high temperature, and wisps of white smoke rose.
"—Hiss! Hot, hot, hot, hot!"
Boom!!
Luffy sucked in a sharp breath of cold air in pain. He shouted as he quickly jumped back, and the scalding magma smashed onto the ground and flowed out in all directions.
Reiner also quickly jumped away, and the spot was immediately filled with scorching steam.
"—Phew! —Phew!..."
Landing back on the ground, Luffy puffed out his cheeks and blew hard on his two red and swollen palms.
"..."
Reiner gave him a speechless, sidelong glance.
At least try to endure it. You just made a bold statement, and now you’re like this. Your cool factor just dropped to zero.
On the other side, Sengoku glanced at Garp in the deep pit, his eyes also showing a hint of disgust:
"How long are you going to lie there, Garp? Don’t tell me an attack of that level knocked you down."
"That really hurt. I never thought that one day, this brat’s fists would be able to hurt this old one."
Garp clutched his head and walked out of the deep pit. Blood was trickling down his forehead, and he looked really pathetic.
Seeing this, Sengoku was even more speechless.
When you were fighting Reiner, you were full of life. The moment Luffy came out, you fell to the ground. You only took one punch. Why don’t you just play dead?
(End of Chapter)
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