As for Ace, he stared at the battle with excitement in his eyes, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, his hand pressing down on his hat: "One day, I'll also become this strong, no, even stronger than anyone!"
After saying this, he also entered Zephyr's body.
Time continued to pass. While pursued by the Marine Headquarters' fleet, people continuously approached Zephyr and entered his body.
But as the number of people decreased, the pressure on Zephyr facing so many enemies increased drastically.
Especially once everyone had entered his body, now countless marines surrounded him tightly, and even with Kuma's help, cold sweat covered his forehead.
The situation was getting bad!
"Kuma… ."
But just as Zephyr was about to say something to Kuma…
Boom!
A terrifying aura swept over.
Before the marines could react, the countless marines surrounding Zephyr all foamed at their mouth and collapsed unconscious.
Even the few strongmen still awake could barely stand in this overwhelming impact.
"This is..."
Zephyr abruptly lifted his head and saw Ian, whose eyes radiated golden light, his expression ferocious as he looked their way.
Zephyr immediately burst into laughter: "Hahahaha! Conqueror's Haki, is it? Kuma, don't just stand there, send me away! I'll wait for you all over there. Make sure to bring Ian back alive!"
"Rest assured, Mr. Zephyr. I will."
Kuma did not hesitate; he rushed to Zephyr and slapped him with his palm.
Seeing this, the remaining conscious marines turned pale and roared in fury: "No!!!"
But it was already too late, in that instant…
Bang!
A paw-shaped light membrane appeared around Zephyr and launched him toward the West Blue!
Marine Headquarters' pursuit mission had failed!
…
On the other side, seeing Zephyr and the others leave, Ian finally let out a heavy sigh of relief while raising his axe to block the incoming beam of light.
The two fought from the sky to the ground, then from the ground back to the sky, from the center of the island to the coast, wherever they passed, nothing remained intact.
Thick smoke billowed, sand and stone flew, and the ground shattered!
"So terrifying!"
Borsalino, who also noticed this scene, sighed with a headache: "I didn't expect you actually had Conqueror's Haki. No wonder you said such things."
Marine Headquarters' justice is a pile of shit!
That sentence had always circulated within the marine ranks. Some Marines were furious at it, while others didn't care.
"Oh, right, your justice is..."
Borsalino looked at Ian, wrapped in blazing light, and said one word at a time: "Egoistic Justice. Truly terrifying justice. But..."
His body turned into light as he flew into the sky, then he crossed his arms: "Since that's the case, I can only bring you back."
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
As his voice fell, countless laser rays burst from his arm, forming a net-like barrage falling toward Ian.
This was an indiscriminate area attack!
And that wasn't all, while firing the lasers, Borsalino turned into light again, appearing all around Ian, no, rather, Ian's surroundings were filled entirely with Borsalino.
Borsalino's speed was pushed to the limit, and every beam was Borsalino!
From all directions, above, below, and every angle, they launched a saturation assault on Ian.
But facing this attack, Ian did not feel fear at all. His expression didn't even change.
The blazing flames on his body, like the fire of the sun, erupted even more fiercely; he looked as though he was bathing in solar fire, becoming even brighter and more dazzling.
The sun was on him, no, he became the sun.
Yes, a sun emerged from him, its radiance spreading in all directions, seemingly even overwhelming the light emitted by Borsalino.
Borsalino's expression changed drastically. He stared at the sun-like radiance swallowing his light, his eyes filled with horror.
He was light too, yet, at that moment…
"I caught you!"
A cold voice fell.
Swallowed in the solar radiance, Borsalino snapped out of his shock, and without a moment of hesitation, he pushed the Glint-Glint Fruit to its extreme, turning completely into light.
This was the ultimate collision between light!
When the sun sets and night descends, the sun in the world shines its brilliance in this moment.
That sun collided with Borsalino, the solar light and laser light clashed, merged, and exploded together.
The Marines remaining on the island stared at this scene in terror, their whole bodies trembling.
Was this something a human could do?
No, it's not the time to think about that.
"Hurry and run!"
With a trembling shout… The extreme heat rushed outward in all directions.
Boom!
The sun exploded!
...
At this moment, the night was already deep.
On the Marine Headquarters' side, Sengoku, who had waited an entire day and night, spoke in a serious tone to the Den Den Mushi with messy hair on its head, saying: "I understand. Since that's the case, hurry up and go back!"
Then, after a slight pause, he added. "You've worked hard."
After his words fell, Sengoku hung up the call, crossed his hands, and rested them on the desk, silently staring forward without saying a word.
He just sat there motionless, as if contemplating something.
No one knew how long had passed when a long sigh suddenly sounded.
Sengoku then withdrew his hands and rubbed his exhausted face.
After taking a deep breath, as if he had made a decision, he suddenly slapped the table and stood up with a serious expression on his face as he shouted loudly toward the door: "Someone, notify all the Rear-Admiral and above officers stationed at headquarters, have them gather in the conference room immediately!"
…
"Click… Gacha!"
On the other side, Kuzan fell silent after the call was disconnected. Only after a moment did he put away the Den Den Mushi.
Looking at Borsalino, who was still lying on the cracked ground with his limbs spread open, leisurely staring into the night sky, he said calmly: "Had enough lying there? If you've had enough, get up. It's getting late, we should go back."
"I'm seriously injured, you know. Let me rest a little longer."
Hearing Kuzan's words, Borsalino opened that strange mouth of his and said leisurely: "That kid… He was terrifying! He really scared me to death!"
Although he spoke of being seriously injured and terrified, his relaxed tone and lazy posture didn't show even a bit of fear.