Chapter 244: 244: One After Another!
Akainu and Sengoku's expressions changed instantly as they both launched counterattacks.
"Dark Hound!"
A molten lava fist, shaped like a hound's head, blasted forth and collided head-on with the massive fireball burning like the sun.
Meanwhile, Sengoku's golden palm sent out a powerful shockwave that took the form of a glowing sphere, slamming into the dragon-shaped beam of light with earth-shattering force.
BOOM!
The sky trembled violently, and a burst of explosive wind swept in all directions!
"You Red Dog! Today will be your end!"
A voice full of rage thundered down from the heavens—
A figure wrapped in blazing flames came crashing from the sky like a meteor.
"Fire Fist Ace!"
Some Marines gasped, recognizing the fiery man immediately.
And just then, a blinding beam of light streaked down into the central plaza of Mary Geoise. The light rapidly condensed, forming a human silhouette.
He wore a wide-brimmed hat and a long black trench coat, gloved hands gripping a metal staff. With a cold grin, he stared at Sengoku.
"Remember Marineford? When you attacked Luffy?" His voice was low, but dangerous. "Sen…goku."
Sengoku, now in his golden Great Buddha form, looked at him icily. "You think gaining the Glint-Glint Fruit makes you my equal? Don't get cocky, brat. Where are Dragon and Ron?"
Sabo tipped his hat with a playful smirk. "Don't worry. When it's time, they'll be here."
Suddenly, a giant Vice Admiral charged at him from behind with a mighty swing of his blade.
But Sabo's figure shimmered—and in the blink of an eye, he vanished into photons.
Flash Step!
He reappeared right in front of the giant and delivered a crushing light-speed kick to his gut, sending the towering officer flying across the plaza like a ragdoll, crashing into a palace wall.
Sengoku's expression turned grim. "This isn't a place for you to run wild!"
His eyes gleamed red, and an overwhelming wave of Conqueror's Haki erupted toward Sabo.
Caught off-guard, Sabo froze for a heartbeat.
Seizing the moment, Sengoku raised his enormous golden palm and slammed it down through the air toward him!
It looked like Sabo wouldn't be able to dodge in time—
Until a massive figure appeared in front of him out of thin air.
A paw-shaped hand lifted and absorbed the shockwave completely.
Everyone's eyes widened.
"Bartholomew Kuma…"
Sengoku's expression darkened further.
The sudden appearance of the Tyrant wasn't the end of it.
An ominous wind began to howl across Mary Geoise.
Dark clouds gathered, thunder boomed, and lightning forked across the heavens—chaotic weather tore through the skies.
BOOM!
A colossal bolt of lightning struck straight down at the Five Elders' palace!
The leader of CP0 narrowed his eyes. In a flash, he stomped the ground and vanished, activating a supreme-level Shave technique.
In the next instant, he appeared mid-air and punched upward, his fist hardened with Armament Haki.
CRACK!
The bolt of lightning shattered apart above Mary Geoise in a blinding explosion of sparks and arcs of raw electricity.
Amid the fading lightning, the white-masked agent looked up at a fragment of floating island in the sky—standing atop it was a man in a cloak, tattoos on his face, his gaze cold and sharp.
"Monkey D. Dragon… You've finally shown yourself."
The CP0 commander's tone turned grim.
This man—declared the most dangerous criminal in the world—was a complete enigma. Even his abilities remained a mystery to the World Government.
But today… all questions might finally be answered.
The CP0 leader—code name Zero—stepped into the air with a burst of strength. Activating Advanced Moonwalk, he soared directly toward Dragon.
His entire body hardened with Armament Haki, and he unleashed an extremely advanced Life Return, exuding waves of scorching heat. His aura surged to terrifying levels.
"If we kill all of you here today… then nothing will ever threaten the World Government again. The Grand Line will finally know true peace."
"There's no such thing as true peace without justice and fairness," Dragon said calmly. "No one wants that kind of peace."
Above the battlefield, Zero and Dragon clashed atop the fragmented remains of the floating islands in the sky.
Amid the intense exchange, Dragon's powers gradually revealed themselves.
He was a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit user—the Wind-Wind Fruit.
And he had already awakened his fruit's powers.
He could command storms, summon dark clouds and torrential rain, and even create thunderstorms by conjuring massive storm clouds. All of this—was Dragon's power!
Beyond the fearsome abilities of his Devil Fruit, Dragon was also a master of hand-to-hand combat and all three forms of Haki.
He was the one who taught Sabo the Dragon Claw Fist.
In terms of sheer power, Dragon surpassed even the Marine Admirals—his strength teetered on the edge of Yonko-level!
Zero, on the other hand, was only at the level of an Admiral.
…
Down below—
Kuma and Sabo had joined forces against Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
Kaido battled Aokiji.
Ace was blown away by a punch from Akainu. Just as Akainu was about to deliver the finishing blow—
A bladelike shockwave slashed down from the heavens, transforming into a roaring azure dragon that barreled straight toward Akainu.
Akainu narrowed his eyes and launched a magma-coated punch to meet it head-on.
Magma and sword aura collided violently!
The ground below split open in fiery cracks that erupted with flames!
"Slave Arrow!"
A cold yet alluring voice echoed from above.
Countless heart-shaped arrows rained down from the sky, aiming at the Marines swarming the plaza.
Those struck began to petrify on the spot!
"Watch out!"
"It's Pirate Empress Boa Hancock!"
"Don't let those arrows touch you!"
A Vice Admiral shouted desperately.
But even with the warning, many Marines couldn't dodge in time. They were hit, turned to stone—and those stone forms began to crumble rapidly.
That same Vice Admiral looked up, eyes filled with fury as he stared at the figures standing on a floating island fragment: Boa Hancock with her regal beauty, and Kuina with her long blade at the ready.
"Damn it!"
"Gravity Blade—Fierce Tiger!"
Fujitora opened his milky-white eyes and swung his sword at the two women, sending a twisted blade of gravitational energy their way.
Kuina slashed forward with a sharp arc of her sword.
Boa Hancock launched a powerful Haki-enhanced kick!
Boom!
Three powerful forces collided in midair with explosive might.
…
"Fire Fist!"
Ace hurled another blazing punch toward Akainu.
Akainu's eyes gleamed with killing intent. "Brat, you should've died back at Marineford. How dare you show yourself again now!"
He erupted with bloodlust and fired a devastating magma hound punch. It tore through Ace's Fire Fist like paper, wrapped in Armament Haki and murderous rage, and surged straight at him.
"In terms of raw power, my magma is leagues above your flames!"
Ace's pupils contracted in fear.
And just then—
Another figure descended from the sky, cloaked in vivid blue flames. With twin wings of undying fire, he crossed them in front of Ace, intercepting the deadly blow.
The Phoenix, Marco, entered the battle!
…
While chaos erupted in Mary Geoise—
On Luffy's side of the world—
Weevil and Shiryu of the Rain had arrived, putting enormous pressure on the Straw Hat alliance.
Especially Weevil, now the wielder of the Gura Gura no Mi—the Quake-Quake Fruit.
With his monstrous body and absurd strength, bolstered by the most destructive Devil Fruit in existence—
He was holding his own against six powerful fighters at once: Luffy, Zoro, Kid, Killer, Cavendish, and Hawkins—and he even had the upper hand!
Jinbe was locked in combat with Shiryu and couldn't assist.
With a quake-infused slash, Weevil sent all six of his opponents flying!
The massive, bloated brute grinned dumbly while holding his naginata.
"I'm really strong, huh?"
"…What the hell is this guy?" Kid muttered, sweat pouring down his face. "What kind of monster just shows up like this?!"
Hawkins looked grim as well. "Edward Weevil… That absurd strength and regenerative power were already a nightmare. But now he has Whitebeard's fruit too…"
Zoro wiped the blood trickling down his forehead as he secured his bandana and took his usual three-sword stance. His gaze locked onto Weevil like a predator.
"If I can't beat a guy like this, then how can I ever catch up to him? Luffy—can you still fight?"
"Yeah."
Luffy wiped the blood from his lip and stepped beside Zoro. His eyes burned with resolve.
"Of course I can!"
Just as the two sides were about to clash again—
A new voice echoed from behind them.
"Yare yare… Looks like you guys are having a rough time."
Everyone turned to look.
The newcomer wore a fuzzy winter hat with leopard spots, hiding the upper half of his face. A massive sword—Kikoku—rested on his shoulder as he approached from behind Luffy and the others.
Shiryu narrowed his eyes at the sight of him. "Former Warlord of the Sea—Trafalgar D. Water Law."
Law stepped up beside Luffy's group, grasped the hilt of his cursed blade, and raised his gaze toward Weevil.
"Guess I'll lend a hand too."
Luffy, Zoro, Kid, Killer, Law, Hawkins, and Cavendish—seven top-tier fighters—joined forces to take on Weevil in a battle that would shake the heavens!
…
Beneath the Red Line, at the Marine base near the seaport entrance—
Diamond Jozu led the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates and was the first to storm the encirclement wall, engaging in a brutal clash with the elite Marines defending the stronghold.
The Beasts Pirates and the Revolutionary Army's ships collided with Marine warships, turning decks into chaotic battlegrounds of cannon fire, explosions, and blood-soaked combat.
The entire sea zone surrounding the base had become a flaming battlefield, engulfed in madness and carnage!
Chaton squared off against Jozu.
Elsewhere at sea, Aramaki alone took on both Jack and Queen of the Beasts Pirates.
Vice Admirals like Momonga and Onigumo were engaged in intense combat against the Tobiroppo and the true elites of the Beasts Pirates.
Rear Admirals such as Hina and Smoker found themselves battling the many Zoan-type users among the Beasts Pirates' ranks.
Tashigi and other Marine commanders led elite troops against the Revolutionary Army's Four Commanders and their powerful forces.
Atop the Marine base, Tsuru—the legendary strategist—stood overseeing the entire battlefield. With each wave of her sword, she unleashed powerful flying slashes, intercepting the bombardments from the ten airborne warships.
…
From the peak of the Red Line to the deepest depths below—
War had erupted on all fronts.
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