Chapter 144: The Self-Proclaimed Guardian of Balance
Red Force - Deck
"BOOM—!!!"
The sea churned, and the wind howled furiously. The Red Force was like a red beast, tearing through the waves, charging full speed toward the crumbling deserted island!
The residual Conqueror's Haki in the air was still wreaking havoc, making the deck vibrate faintly!
Beckman stood at the railing, the cigarette in his mouth trembling, ash blown away by the sea breeze. His brow was furrowed tight, his eyes fixed on the distant, apocalyptic battlefield.
"I didn't expect... that guy really suppressed both Kaido and Whitebeard."
"A battle on this level... just watching it makes it hard to breathe."
Yasopp stood beside him, gripping his sniper rifle tightly, cold sweat beading on his forehead. His voice was low. "Kaido was pushed this far? That's... the 'Strongest Creature'!"
"The intel said Kaido fought Zephyr before this, and even clashed with Whitebeard."
"But even so, this is too ridiculous... he was nearly beaten to death, wasn't he?"
Lucky Roux stood nearby, face full of shock. He had taken a bite of meat but forgot to chew, muttering indistinctly, "If Captain was any later, Kaido might really be dead..."
The air on the deck was stagnant as iron.
Shanks stood at the bow, his single arm resting lightly on the hilt of Gryphon. His red hair flew like fire in the wind, his presence sharp as an unsheathed blade!
He looked at the figure high above the island, expression solemn, eyes swimming with hidden killing intent and complex emotions.
"Roy..."
"What exactly are you trying to do..."
—Shanks' voice wasn't loud, but it seemed to cut through the wind and sea, shaking everyone to their core.
High above, Roy hovered in the firmament, eyes cold.
He withdrew his fist and stood straight, locking eyes with Shanks across the distance. The corners of his mouth lifted slowly into a mocking sneer.
"Heh... self-proclaimed 'Guardian of Balance'..."
Two gazes collided fiercely in the air. Before a word was spoken, the pressure rolled like a storm!
Whitebeard looked at the horizon, his gaze shifting between Roy and Shanks, slowly narrowing his eyes. "...Roger's brat?"
"He's grown to this level..."
He murmured, thinking of his own sons. His tone was a mix of relief, wariness, and a hidden unease.
Slowly, he thrust Murakumogiri into the scorched earth beneath his feet. The quake power on his fist receded slightly, but his aura remained heavy as a mountain!
Deep Underground - Between Rock Crevices
While everyone's attention was focused on the arrival of Red-Haired Shanks—
A shadow quietly slipped across the broken surface!
King, covered in wounds, transformed into his Pteranodon form and silently dove into the underground fissures.
Amidst the shattered rock layers lay a massive dragon body.
"Big Bro Kaido—!!!"
King's pupils contracted violently. Kaido was a bloody mess, scales mostly stripped away, chest collapsed, broken horns stuck in the ground. The massive dragon looked like it might stop breathing at any second!
The king who once terrified the New World couldn't even lift his head!
"Damn it... how could this happen...!"
King forced down the agonizing pain in his body, desperately spreading his wings. Trembling, he lifted Kaido's broken body, his voice hoarse with grim determination.
"I'll get you out... even if I'm crushed to pieces, I will bring you back to Onigashima!!!"
Roy's perception spread like a spiderweb, instantly locking onto the two auras underground!
"...King and Kaido?"
A cold light flashed in his eyes, his fist slowly clenching. "Trying to run?"
He shifted slightly, but in the next moment, he suddenly sensed two waves of Conqueror's Haki descending like mountains!
"!!!"
In the distance, Shanks had broken through the air, Gryphon unsheathed, the blade wrapped in red-black lightning that tore space apart!
He looked like a crimson comet, killing intent soaring!
On the ground, Whitebeard roared, the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit gathering abruptly. Murakumogiri struck the ground, and the entire island trembled!
The air vibrated, space collapsed!
"Bad..."
Roy's gaze sharpened, his body shaking, but he remained cold as iron. "Stamina is on the edge... fighting further is disadvantageous..."
But!
His eyes suddenly became sharp, killing intent like a blade. "Thinking of leaving just like that? Impossible!!!"
"SWISH—!"
He vanished instantly!
"Don't think about it!!!"
Whitebeard shouted, slamming his right fist into the ground!
"Quake: Earth Split!!!"
"BOOM—!!!"
The quake power penetrated the earth. Underground rock layers rose and fell like waves, collapsing heavily, attempting to forcibly disrupt Roy's spatial positioning!
"Roy, you dare?!!"
High in the sky, Shanks' eyes narrowed, Gryphon turning into a slash of blood-red lightning!
"Divine Departure!!!"
"SLASH—!!!"
A blood-red sword light cut through the sky like a meteor slicing the sun, heading straight underground!
Underground - Between Fault Lines
King was dragging the dying Kaido, fleeing frantically, when he suddenly felt the void around him shake violently. Cold sweat instantly soaked him!
"Wh-what's happening—?!"
A terrifying figure flashed into existence right in front of him!
"ROY!!?"
King's pupils shrank, despair flooding his heart. "It's over!!!"
"BANG—!!!"
In the nick of time, the killing intent of the "Divine Departure" from the sky arrived!
Roy spun around violently, Haki exploding onto his right fist!
"BOOM—!!!"
Fist met blade light, black-red lightning exploding. The entire underground space seemed to be torn in half!
The shockwave detonated, forcing Roy back several steps, the space beneath his feet fracturing!
The aftershock of "Divine Departure" blasted into the side rock wall, tearing open a life-and-death passage!
King saw the opening and flapped his wings without hesitation, carrying Kaido as a black streak of lightning toward the deep sea!
"MUST ESCAPE!! MUST ESCAPE!!! ONE SECOND LATE AND WE'RE DEAD!!!"
Roy reappeared, hovering above the ruins, chest heaving, breath slightly ragged.
He scanned Whitebeard below coldly, then looked at Shanks attacking from the air.
A cold smirk touched his lips. "If I chase any further, I'd be exposing my back to you two..."
Shanks landed slowly, sheathing Gryphon, his voice low. "Roy, that's enough."
Whitebeard withdrew his quake power, eyes cold, snorting. "Brat... you thought this through clearly."
However—
His gaze narrowed slightly, finally sensing something wrong. "Brat... your stamina isn't right?"
"That oppressive stance just now... was faked?!!"
Whitebeard's expression grew colder, whispering through gritted teeth, "So redirecting my quake slash... wasn't something you could do casually."
Roy didn't respond. He stood silently, expression unchanged, but the slight heave of his shoulders betrayed him.
Shanks also narrowed his eyes slowly, a glint of cold light flashing past.
—He saw it too. Roy's stamina consumption was immense.
"A genius like Roy appearing in the Marines... is too big a variable."
"With this growth rate, give him a few more years..."
Shanks' eyes turned abruptly cold, killing intent piercing the void like a needle!
"Might as well kill him here and now!"
"SHING!!"
Gryphon was drawn again, killing intent exploding!
Roy's perception screamed, his face changing drastically!
"...Want to kill me? Just you two?!!"
He roared coldly, Haki surging wildly around him, space vibrating like tearing silk!
Hearing this, Whitebeard laughed out loud, fists cracking!
"Gurararara~ Marine brat, you really are arrogant without limit!!"
"That bluffing look of yours... I almost believed it!"
Battle lust like a mountain, killing intent rising everywhere!
The Haki of three monsters expanded again. The world darkened, the air almost solidifying!
It felt like battle would erupt again in the next second!
"Ahahaha~"
A lazy, slurred voice suddenly drifted from the sky.
The three froze. High above, a blinding golden light suddenly gathered!
A figure descended slowly with a nonchalant attitude, hands in pockets, a smile on his lips, steps relaxed.
A golden coat fluttered in the wind, photons gathering under his feet to form a platform!
"How scaaaary~~~"
"Trying to gang up on our Marine boy?"
"That's... very unsportsmanlike of you~"
One of the Marines' Greatest Powers, Admiral Kizaru Borsalino, has arrived!!!
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