Chapter 44: Ch 44. High-Level Battle, Live Demonstration
A total of five warships had surrounded Ohara.
At the very center stood a colossal flagship — unmistakably a Vice Admiral-class vessel, and standing firmly upon its deck was none other than Akainu himself.
His piercing gaze locked onto the island ahead. Both fists clenched tightly, trembling with restrained fury.
"Increase the firepower!!"
One officer hesitated.
"But, Vice Admiral Akainu, didn't the Fleet Admiral instruct us only to test the waters...? If we go all-out like this…"
Before the man could finish, Akainu snapped:
"Justice must not be tainted! The very existence of this island is evil — and it is our duty to cleanse it!"
Akainu's brows were tightly furrowed, his aura growing fiercer and more menacing.
Around him, the soldiers fell silent.
Since Akainu had given the order...
They would have to obey — no questions asked.
One after another, cannon shells roared from their barrels, trailing smoke as they soared in arcs through the sky, crashing down onto the defensive wall made of the Tree of Knowledge's roots, unleashing thunderous explosions.
Within the island.
Roman used the Illusion Illusion Fruit to cloak both himself and Weevil in long cloaks.
The cloaks concealed their figures and faces.
Roman gently placed his hand over Robin's silky hair.
With a faint smile, he whispered:
"Robin, let me give you a little gift. Watch this performance carefully.
This will be a rare experience to learn well."
As his voice fell, Roman slammed both palms to the ground.
"Wood Release –Nativity of a World of Trees!"
From beneath the earth, life energy burst forth — rich and overflowing.
The twisted, tangled roots that had formed the massive wall around the Tree of Knowledge began to stir... and slowly withdrew back into the earth.
Beside him, the towering figure of Weevil stood silently.
Roman gave his command:
"Weevil, destroy every warship in your sight. Anyone who dares to stand in your way — kill them."
"Yes!"
With a thunderous response, Weevil charged forward — unstoppable and brutal.
The show had officially begun.
On the deck, Akainu's eyes narrowed.
The root wall had vanished, revealing two cloaked figures standing in the open.
His heart skipped a beat.
But then, he took a deep breath and stared intently at the island.
"...It's him."
The one with the smaller frame — Akainu recognized him.
The very same man who once defeated both him and Aokiji in a single strike.
As for the other...
That mountain-like figure... a figure he had never seen before.
Still, despite facing two unknown powerhouses, Akainu's feet remained firmly planted.
"The Marine never retreats!
In this battle against the looming evil, only justice shall remain eternal!"
With that roar, Akainu leapt into the sky.
Moonwalk(Geppo) — activated!
His body surged upward, soaring above the battlefield.
Both arms transformed into surging magma, blazing with terrifying heat as he launched his assault at the charging Weevil.
"Good!
Let me show you the taste of... Hellhound!"
His magma-arms extended, howling through the air.
The very space around them rippled and warped from the scorching heat.
Compared to the last time, his strength had more than doubled!
But his opponent... was Weevil.
A beast in human form with no fear, no pain.
As the magma roared toward him, Weevil didn't even flinch.
His skinny, long legs bent slightly — and
BOOM!
The ground cracked beneath his feet as he launched himself like a cannonball straight at Akainu!
As if Akainu's fiery assault didn't even exist in his eyes.
BOOM!!!
Two magma blasts struck Weevil directly, burning shallow holes into his torso.
Blood gushed — but within three seconds, the wounds had healed.
The sight made Akainu freeze.
'Regeneration...?! That fast?!'
Before he could react, Weevil was upon him.
His fists surged with Armament Haki, and though not as refined as Roman's, it was strong enough.
With a feral roar, Weevil's fists slammed into Akainu's chest without mercy!
But Akainu had already used Observation Haki to partially elementalize himself — avoiding a direct hit.
"Hmph! You think someone like me would get hit by something so childish?
I've trained in hell to get to this stage!"
He howled.
His body erupted in fresh magma.
"Hound Crimson Lotus!"
Molten arms morphed into giant hounds, magma forming snarling canine heads that lunged and bit at Weevil with blazing fury.
"Die! Let the sea swallow your evil!!"
Akainu surged forward to end it all in one decisive strike.
But—
Suddenly—
His instincts screamed.
Something monstrous had locked onto him, like a beast ready to devour its prey.
In the blink of an eye—Weevil's muscles bulged grotesquely.
His eyes were bloodshot.
With an explosive surge of strength, he shattered the magma dogs with raw power!
Before Akainu could react
BOOM!!
A blow, even stronger than before, crashed down upon his head!
His mind blanked.
A dizzy haze took over.
Watching from the island, Roman simply shook his head.
"Still the same old Akainu. Always shouting about justice. Always brimming with blind confidence. His strength is solid, but he gets too full of himself."
As he spoke, he calmly analyzed every move in the ongoing clash.
Beside him, Robin watched intently, nodding in rhythm with his insights.
She was already starting to anticipate their next moves.
This wasn't just a fight.
This was a masterclass.
For Robin, this was a rare and precious experience.
Understanding battles at this level would help her avoid countless missteps in the future.
Behind them, Olvia silently observed.
Olvia clearly understood Roman's intentions as well.
Her heart filled with emotion.
She remembered when she first met Roman — how he had saved her.
If not for him... she might not be alive now.
Now I can stay by Robin's side... and even catch a glimpse of him from time to time...
Yes — for Olvia, this was happiness.
In the skies above, the battle between Weevil and Akainu had reached a fever pitch.
Fists and magma clashed like thunder and lightning.
Back on the warships, the Marines were all frozen.
They'd forgotten to reload the cannons.
"He's... a monster..."
"His stamina seems endless..."
"Wait—did you notice? That cloaked man on the shore still hasn't made a move!"
"That must be their leader! I heard he wiped out a Buster Call with a single sword slash!"
"That Buster Call had both Akainu and Aokiji in it!!"
"So... he's just watching because he doesn't even need to fight...?"
That realization sent shivers down their spines.
"Quick! Contact Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"
"But... going over Akainu's head... that could be..."
"Who cares?! Akainu's tied up with that monster, and the real threat hasn't even moved yet! If we don't contact the Fleet Admiral now... we might never get the chance!!"