Having said that, and ignoring the terrified pirates who were already shocked, Renji's figure vanished once more.
In the pitch-black crater, the smoke and dust lingered for a long time, and no one knew whether Cracker was alive or dead within it.
"What did that guy just do!? He made Cracker-nii disappear with a single blow?"
"A great pirate with a bounty of 860 million Berries, was he really so vulnerable in that guy's hands? Is this an Admiral?"
"Only Mama can deal with a guy like this, I'm afraid."
—
Bang... Bang...
On a rooftop, Katakuri was furiously clashing with Miguel, controlling dozens of mochi fists. Because he needed to use Observation Haki to foresee the future, each of his mochi fists was only imbued with intermediate Armament Haki.
Against Miguel, who also possessed intermediate Armament Haki, he couldn't achieve an overwhelming one-hit victory, but he did manage to land quite a few solid blows on the latter.
The gap in Observation Haki must be filled with Armament Haki.
Miguel was fully focused on this battle. Renji had taught him to concentrate the power of his body and mind on a single point to break through at the fastest speed during a fight.
Even with his powerful physique, after enduring countless heavy blows, Miguel's body was already covered in wounds. At this moment, he was pouring all his spirit into the improvement of his Armament Haki.
He wanted to become harder, stronger, and fiercer than ever before!
Only with such Armament Haki could he truly defeat the guy in front of him.
The undefeated Katakuri, with a bounty of 1.057 billion Berries, known as the strongest of the Sweet Commanders.
Bang... Bang...
As mochi fists rained down on Miguel, Katakuri, distracted by Cracker's situation, hadn't yet noticed that the former's Armament Haki was quietly beginning to undergo a qualitative change.
"This guy, is he really that resilient... Cracker!"
On the sea, Linlin rode the thundercloud Zeus, stirring up huge waves as she traveled.
However, a figure suddenly floated on the sea, blocking her path.
"Yo, we finally meet, you old hag."
Renji wore a brilliant smile, and a terrifying divine light surged in his azure eyes—the invincible true meaning born from his ultimate faith in himself.
"You brat!"
Linlin was first startled to see Renji. Although it was their first meeting, how could she, who had access to Marine intelligence, not recognize the person before her as the Admiral who had so brazenly provoked her not long ago?
She ordered Zeus to stop, and then—
"Mamamama! I didn't go looking for you, but you came to me. You're really asking for death."
Linlin laughed, taking off the hat on her head. Under the influence of the Soul-Soul Fruit ability, it transformed into a giant monstrous blade named Napoleon.
Linlin's Haki raged wildly, like a violent sea storm, terrifying and chilling. Yet, with a question still in her heart, Linlin spoke in a deep voice, "What? Have those Gorosei guys allowed you to strike at me?"
Without answering, Renji merely took a step, as if a celestial being had descended. The scene where Linlin's Haki had previously raged, stirring up a sea storm, was invisibly neutralized.
Boom!
His aura was like a sharp sword over a hanging river. Merely standing there, he seemed like an order and a shackle that bound heaven and earth, which mortal beings could never transcend in their entire lives.
What is the situation with this brat!
Witnessing this, even Linlin, who had weathered many storms and fought countless strong individuals, couldn't help but narrow her eyes.
The pressure emanating from Renji was comparable to, if not surpassing, that of Rocks back in the day.
This brat! Is he really that strong?
As a Soul-Soul Fruit user, her sensitivity to souls was far beyond ordinary people. At this moment, Linlin actually felt an inexplicable sensation towards Renji.
It seemed to be... a fear of Renji from the depths of her soul.
Understanding the reason for this emotion in her heart, Linlin couldn't help but be shocked. Immediately, a powerful mental force erupted, masking this fear that originated from her soul.
"Mamamama!"
As Linlin roared with laughter, thunder boomed. At the same time, she summoned Prometheus, igniting the divine flames of the mortal world, and Napoleon in her hand became wreathed in dark Haki lightning, her power reaching its peak.
The world changed color as the oppressive power of an Emperor was fully displayed.
Prometheus in the sky was the first to ignite with a bright light.
"How dare you strike Mama? Mama is the Soul Queen, a Sea Emperor, Linlin."
Renji, however, sneered lightly, "Do you think you'll still be an Emperor after today?"
"Mamamama! Gamble your life, Marine Admiral brat!" Linlin roared.
The thundercloud Zeus beneath her charged at Renji at an extremely fast speed. Prometheus in the sky struck first, unleashing a world-ending sea of fire that seemed capable of swallowing all of humanity.
Looking at the overwhelming, world-ending sea of fire that struck first, Renji's cold blade flashed from its sheath.
Crimson Blade!
A dark red slash, wreathed in Haki and tempered by Cursed Energy, converged into this earth-shattering strike.
Swish!
The dark red slash instantly pierced through the sea of fire, accurately locking onto Prometheus's core under the observation of Renji's Lv. 7 Heavenly Six Eyes. The ferocious light of hell sliced through, and the King of Curses' power erupted, instantly annihilating the soul bestowed by the Soul-Soul Fruit.
Buzz!
Renji's Lv. 7 Crimson Blade struck down, slicing through the sea of fire and soaring into the clouds. The entire sky turned a dominant dark red, and the power of the sword compressed the atmosphere before exploding into astonishing ripples across the surroundings.
"Prometheus!"
Linlin gasped in shock. The moment Renji unleashed that strike, her soul connection with Prometheus instantly severed, which meant that this capable subordinate had now completely perished.
To lose a powerful soul general right at the start of the fight, this Renji brat!
In her shock and fury, Linlin finally closed in. In her eyes, although Prometheus was dead, a mere soul could be recreated at will, and Prometheus's death provided an excellent opportunity to attack Renji.
Having just unleashed such an attack, this was Renji's opening. In other words, if she struck now and severely wounded Renji, she could win.
Elbaph Spear: Ikoku!