One Piece Thundergod Marine

This slash came at an exceptionally tricky angle, perfectly timed to intercept Kuma as he raised his palm to counter Law's attack, causing his spine to lean forward at a critical point where his right heel was unsupported.

"This guy's killing technique has reached an extraordinary level."

Kuma couldn't help but feel a chill at Dante's strike. If he lacked sufficient skill, even if he identified the attack's trajectory, he would just have to watch helplessly as he was beheaded due to his shift in balance.

However, he happened to possess enough skill.

*Swat!*

With his massive hand fully extended, Kuma pushed forward, a shockwave erupting from his arm. His nearly seven-meter tall figure flew backward, evading the slash mid-air.

The power of the Paw-Paw Fruit didn't require him to bend his arm in a conventional manner to activate its abilities.

*Shuā!* 

The icy blade zipped past Kuma's head, slicing the corner of his hat and igniting a flame that bore no warmth, instead radiating a frost-like chill.

Yet Kuma felt no frostbite; the chill he sensed was not physical but penetrated directly to his soul.

*Clang!* 

Kuma flipped his body and extended his hands downward.

A resonating clang of metal filled the air, instantly causing all visual illusions to vanish. Dante's figure then sprang forth from the Void, flashing like a shooting star, his feet dragging against the floor as he rapidly closed the distance.

"Law!"

Without waiting to stabilize, Dante called out.

"Leave it to me!"

Law grinned slightly, aligning his left hand's index and middle fingers while bending his ring finger at the knuckle, then pulling it in front of him.

ROOM: Transfer!

*Shuā!* 

As Dante braked, he instantly vanished from his original position. Mid-air, Kuma, who hadn't yet landed, sensed the killing intent coming from behind him.

Dante had swapped places with a stone that Law had previously launched above Kuma!

The friction between Dante's feet and the ground had generated an effect akin to executing a draw and slash, building up an immense force that shot him forward as soon as he appeared.

That force suddenly went out of control; even Dante couldn't achieve perfect control. Thus, he could only go with the flow and employ his most proficient basic sword technique.

Moonlike Stream Murdering Sword: Full Moon!

*Swish…*

*Shuā!!*

A delicate silver line traced a circle in an instant, and as the moonlight flowed, it rippled like ink, gradually filling the circle. When a full moon emerged, a splash of crimson added an eerie, blood-red hue to it.

"..."

Kuma felt a sharp pain, his face twitching as he let out a muffled groan, twisting to land and suddenly pushing his hands downward.

*Bang!!*

The hard stone layer shattered, and the debris of stones and bricks served as a barrier against the subsequent attacks. Seizing the opportunity, Kuma dove into the fortress's second level, calming his breathing.

On his back, a scarlet gash ran from his right shoulder to his left waist, ripping through his clothing. As he breathed, the muscles around it heaved, resembling a writhing serpent.

"So that's it; the true main attacker isn't Law, it's the Marine Ghost Sword!"

Kuma was shocked, feeling a sincere heart-pounding anxiety at the duo's earlier cooperation.

In the One Piece world, where monsters roamed, it was well-known that a swordsman could stand tall among the world's strongest with just a sword, not something trivial.

Conversely, any swordsman known across the seas wasn't someone to be trifled with! 

Their terrifying aggression compelled all but a few specialized fruit ability users to weigh their own resilience carefully.

With Dante, who focused solely on lethal sword techniques, acting as the primary attacker, and Law's Operation-Operation Fruit providing assistance, their combined threat level soared beyond measure!

"I need to come up with a plan quickly; otherwise…"

Kuma turned to look outside, where the sky was slowly closing in. Once it became sealed, the only way to break it would be to defeat Rowen, the core point of it all.

"Even if I can't break it, I must get them out of here!"

Facing such a predicament, Kuma made a resolute promise to himself.

---

At the G-10 Branch, Playground.

Luffy looked up at Rowen, his face showing confusion, surprise, disbelief, and a touch of sadness: "What do you mean?"

"What do you mean, what?"

"You said Nami saw me but didn't want to show up… what does that mean?"

"Ha, you truly are as naive as ever, Luffy."

Rowen sneered, "She doesn't want to continue sailing with you as a pirate. It's that simple; don't you understand?"

"I don't believe it!" Luffy rebutted loudly, "Nami is our navigator; she's my crewmate!"

In response…

"Whether you believe it or not, it's none of my business!"

Rowen let out a light laugh as a current of electricity burst forth, striking Luffy. As a rubber man, the fruit's resistance allowed him to ignore the pain from the electric shock, but the explosive current sent him flying.

Below, the prepared Marines raised their spearguns, determined to turn this bold rebel, who dared to desecrate their flag, into a pincushion.

"Danger!"

Suddenly, a fighting figure leaped through the air from a distance.

Zoro, wielding three stolen swords, had his legs bent like a jumping crab, his arms crossed in front of him, eyes fixed ahead.

Santoryu: Bull Ghost: Brave Claw! 

*Dīng Dīng Dīng Dāng!*

A sound like metal striking resonated, and a large number of spearguns were severed at their tips, falling to the ground. Zoro didn't stop for a moment, wielding three ordinary iron swords with an effectiveness rivaling that of famed blades.

One Hundred and Eight Painful Phoenix! 

Spinning on the spot again, he created a whirlwind of sword waves, blowing away the surrounding Marine soldiers. Seizing the opportunity, Luffy landed smoothly and stood back-to-back with Zoro.

"Thanks, Zoro!"

"Less talk, Sanji, go find Nami. The other two need to retrieve [The Merry]... We must hold on until they regroup with us."

As Zoro spoke, he tore off his T-shirt and entwined the hilt of his sword with the back of his hand to prevent it from falling.

"Got it."

Nodding seriously, Luffy swung his fist, knocking away a soldier who had approached.

"This is getting boring!"

Seeing this, Rowen shook his head.

Where had Luffy's usual reckless determination to confront the final boss gone? 

I'm right here, and yet he doesn't come looking for trouble with me?

"It seems Luffy has recognized the reality earlier than I expected, knowing he's not my opponent and trying to avoid fighting me."

"Whatever, my target isn't him anyway…"

Thinking this, Rowen called out to Henry, who was dictating the battle from a distance: "Henry, what are you waiting for? Take them down... You're not expecting me to intervene, are you?"

If it required him, the renowned Vice Admiral Soryu, to deal with the Straw Hats, who had a bounty of merely 30 Million, then all the soldiers at G-10 might as well hang themselves with noodles.

In response, Henry, who had been waiting for Dante to show up, was taken aback. His expression soured, and then he gritted his teeth and drew his sword.

"Brothers, follow me!"

"Oh!!"

During the previous arrest operation, that raccoon had left a deep impression on Henry, and he wasn't eager to test this Captain's strength.

A realistically self-aware person generally has a clear understanding of their own capabilities. Henry was certain he could only handle ordinary pirates with a bounty of around 100 million.

As for someone like Luffy, a rookie with the potential of a Supernova, it was better left to strong individuals like Dante and Ain.

However, with the highest senior official giving orders, Henry, who had been skirting the edges, could only lead the charge and rush into the fray.

The leader's initiative was boundless, and in an instant, the pressure on Luffy and Zoro skyrocketed!

Facing the overwhelming numerical advantage of the Marine forces, the two felt like a rock in a tempest, at risk of being smashed and drowned at any moment.

*(End of Chapter)*

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