On another part of the battlefield, Whitebeard, Golden Lion, and Charlotte Linlin faced off against Zephyr and Tsuru.
Though Zephyr and Tsuru were both formidable, they were clearly outmatched against three of the most powerful figures in the Rocks Pirates.
"These two are really tenacious. After taking so many of our attacks, they still refuse to go down," Golden Lion sneered, puffing on his cigar as he gripped his twin blades, Oto and Kogarashi.
It was clear that Zephyr and Tsuru had already sustained significant injuries. Their bodies bore deep wounds, their breathing was heavy, and yet—they remained standing.
Despite their disadvantage, the two Marines displayed sheer resilience. They evaded or blocked each attack with precise skill, unwilling to fall.
"So these are the so-called future of the Marines, huh? We'll need a little more time to take them out completely," Charlotte Linlin said, her eyes gleaming with bloodlust.
Even though Zephyr and Tsuru were only Vice Admirals at this point, they were hailed as the strongest of their rank. Their abilities rivaled even Marine Admirals, making them incredibly difficult to kill in a short span of time.
"No matter what happens today, your defeat is inevitable. Even if you kill us, it won't change a thing," Zephyr declared coldly, his gaze unwavering.
After all, this was a battle where the Marines had deployed their full force—Fleet Admiral Kong, the three Admirals, and numerous high-ranking officers were all present. Zephyr refused to believe that Whitebeard and the others could escape this war unscathed.
"Hah! You think that scares us? I've been through storms far worse than this," Golden Lion retorted defiantly.
"Enough talk," Whitebeard interjected. "Shiki, Linlin—we don't know when Marine reinforcements will arrive. Let's finish them now."
At his command, the three unleashed another devastating coordinated assault.
---
A Relentless Barrage
"Lions: Thousand Slice Valley!!!"
Golden Lion soared into the sky, gripping Oto and Kogarashi, before slashing wildly. The air crackled as his blades tore through space, sending a relentless barrage of flying slashes toward Zephyr and Tsuru like a storm of razor-sharp crescents.
"Gura Gura no Mi: Empty Shock!!!"
Whitebeard swung his Murakumogiri naginata, channeling his Devil Fruit's power into the very air. The space in front of him shattered into a spiderweb of fractures before erupting in a massive shockwave that barreled toward the two Marines.
"Prometheus: Sky Fireball!!!"
Charlotte Linlin let out a wicked laugh as she commanded her Homie sun, Prometheus, to release an enormous fireball. The scorching flames melted the ground beneath it, distorting the air with searing heat as it blazed toward its targets.
The combined power of these three monstrous attacks merged midair, forming a colossal wave of destruction.
"BOOM!!!"
The explosion sent violent shockwaves across the battlefield. The skies were split, white clouds vaporized by the sheer force of the impact.
A massive crater formed where Zephyr and Tsuru had been standing, the earth charred black by the flames.
As the dust settled, Zephyr and Tsuru were still standing, but barely. Blood dripped from their wounds, their bodies trembling under the immense damage they had suffered.
---
The Arrival of the Admirals
"Jihahahaha! Can't stand anymore, huh? Time to finish this," Golden Lion sneered, preparing to strike again.
Whitebeard, Golden Lion, and Charlotte Linlin stepped forward to deliver the final blow.
But suddenly—
Footsteps echoed across the battlefield.
The sound of marching boots sent a wave of tension through the air. A vast number of Marines surged toward them, their uniforms gleaming under the sun.
Leading them were Marine Headquarters' Three Admirals—Fleet Admiral Kong, alongside Zhenwu and Sabertooth.
Behind them, rows of elite Marines advanced, their eyes sharp and determined. The lowest-ranked among them was a Lieutenant Colonel. Each of them was a seasoned warrior, trained for war.
Golden Lion scowled. "Damn it… the Marines got here faster than I expected."
Whitebeard remained composed, gripping Murakumogiri tightly. "Three Admirals at once… this is going to be tough. But there's no turning back now."
Charlotte Linlin's expression darkened. "Tch. I was hoping they'd arrive one by one. If it was just one, we'd have a better chance, but with all three… our odds are looking bad."
Zephyr and Tsuru, seeing their reinforcements arrive, immediately withdrew toward Kong and the others.
Whitebeard and the others didn't dare pursue—not with the Admirals standing in their way.
"Tsk. They made it," Ayr muttered, his expression grave.
Nearby, Byrnndi World gritted his teeth in frustration. "Damn it! That bastard Garp kept us occupied long enough for the Marines to reinforce them."
Despite teaming up with Kaido, Byrnndi World had failed to bring Garp down. Now, with reinforcements here, the tide had turned against them.
On the Marine's side, Garp and Sengoku quickly regrouped with Kong.
---
Reinforcements and Resolve
"Zephyr! Tsuru! How bad is it?" Garp asked, concern evident in his voice.
Both Marines were severely wounded—blood stained their uniforms, and some of their wounds exposed bone.
"This… won't kill me," Zephyr responded with a strained smile.
"As long as we wipe out the Rocks Pirates… even sacrificing our lives will be worth it," Tsuru said firmly.
Despite her condition, her expression was unwavering. Not once did she grimace in pain.
Sengoku placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Tsuru. This time, we won't have to throw away our lives. With Kong here, we will win."
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