"Impossible!!! Absolutely impossible!!!"
"Why aren't you affected by ultrasonic waves at all?!"
In the skies beyond God Island, a senior CP0 agent swung his razor-sharp claws, coated in Armament Haki, colliding head-on with Luffy's massive fist.
For a moment, neither side yielded—their strength was evenly matched.
Jet-black lightning flared like torn rifts in space around them, turning the very center of the battlefield into a forbidden zone where life itself seemed unable to exist.
The scarred man's grotesque bat-like face, paired with the transcendent black flame-clouds coiling around his body, made him resemble an ancient demon that had stepped straight out of the Classic of Mountains and Seas.
Luffy, by contrast, radiated solemn authority. Under the dual influence of his Devil Fruit and Haki, his expression was grave and resolute.
Conqueror's Haki burst forth around him, making him look like a war god descended from the heavens—sent to subdue a great calamity threatening the mortal world!
BOOM!!!
With a thunderous explosion, Luffy and the CP0 agent blasted apart once more, halting midair as each stabilized themselves in their own way.
"Heh—if you want to know that, go ask Red!"
Luffy, his hair stretching and flickering like living flames, grinned smugly.
Under the effects of Glitzy Glow, the ultrasonic attacks that the scarred agent had relied on as his trump card proved utterly ineffective against Luffy.
From the moment their serious battle began, the two had already exchanged nearly a hundred blows.
Although the scarred man possessed terrifying recovery speed thanks to his awakened Zoan-type Devil Fruit, bats were ultimately not a species suited for prolonged frontal combat.
In truth, his sonic attacks held a significant advantage even against admiral-level monsters like Issho.
They were unavoidable assaults—ones that could damage the human body through ultrasonic vibration, even if the victim blocked their ears!
Yet today, he had run into Luffy… who had mastered Glitzy Glow.
Under the powerful effects of a Partner Move, any negative impact from ultrasonic waves was rendered meaningless to Luffy.
And with the Regenerator Ability—plus the fact that Luffy was practically a legendary sit-up champion—his recovery was only slightly inferior to that of an awakened Zoan.
The balance of victory between them had already tipped the moment Luffy completely neutralized the ultrasonic attacks.
What remained was simply a contest of will—who could endure longer on the battlefield.
…
…
Meanwhile, on another battlefield.
Kizaru's light-speed evasion was so fast that even Issho, despite his formidable Observation Haki, couldn't fully lock onto him.
And summoning too many meteors risked smashing this God Island—floating atop the White Sea—straight down into the Blue Sea below.
Thus, even with admiral-class power, Issho could only support Zoro and Sanji through gravity.
But…
Though Issho was "only" playing a support role, his control was nothing short of godlike.
Under precise gravity manipulation, Zoro and Sanji not only dodged Kizaru's light-speed attacks with pinpoint accuracy—they were even able to contend with an admiral despite the vast gap in raw power.
Still, Zoro and Sanji were ultimately too weak at this stage.
Even with the Facade buff enhancing them, the damage they could deal to Kizaru remained limited.
Though Zephyr had always disdained Kizaru's overreliance on Devil Fruit combat, only those who possessed an overwhelmingly powerful fruit—and the talent to wield it—could truly understand…
Just how exhilarating that power felt!!!
"Have the CP0 bastards already lost as well?!"
Once again evading Zoro and Sanji through elementalization, Kizaru suddenly turned his gaze into the distance.
In the sky, a gigantic fireball—blazing like a miniature sun—lit the heavens crimson as it raced straight toward him.
"KIZARU!!!"
The moment he realized he'd been spotted, Ace broke into a wide grin and shouted Kizaru's name.
In the next instant, terrifying flames erupted from Ace's body, forming a colossal fire dragon that surged toward Kizaru.
"Another troublesome one, huh…"
Kizaru's already heavily creased brow tightened further. Spreading his hands before his chest, he immediately fired a dazzling beam of light at the incoming fire dragon.
BOOM!!!
Like a monster struck by an Ultraman laser, the blazing dragon exploded midair, spreading into a magnificent sea of flames above the clouds.
The heat washed over Kizaru—but caused him no harm at all.
And then—
The flames behind him suddenly condensed, rapidly forming Ace's figure—half human, half fire.
Ace swung a fist coated in Armament Haki, smashing it toward the back of Kizaru's head.
But without Issho's gravitational support…
The punch struck nothing but dispersing starlight.
"Compared to those two, your punches are really quite soft~ Fire Fist Ace."
Kizaru mocked him mercilessly as he evaded through elementalization.
"Tch!"
Ace didn't lose his temper, but he couldn't help clicking his tongue in annoyance.
After all, Issho's support ultimately worked by using gravity to generate massive acceleration—then converting that acceleration into speed.
And speed meant power.
That was the fundamental reason Zoro and Sanji could grow so strong under Issho's support.
But as everyone knew—
Flames had virtually no mass.
So Issho's support did almost nothing for Ace.
Fortunately—
Ace himself already possessed strength on the level of a Yonko's right-hand man.
ROAR—!!!
A vast inferno burst forth from Ace once more, rapidly condensing into a towering flame giant!
"If you're so good at running—then take this!!!" Ace laughed as he threw a punch.
At the same time, the massive flame giant in the sky mirrored his motion.
"Flame Emperor · Fire Fist!!!"
BOOM!!!
A colossal fist descended from the heavens, blotting out the sky as it smashed toward Kizaru.
Feeling the scorching heat lick across his skin, a white glare flashed across Kizaru's brown sunglasses.
"Sigh… why do monsters like this keep appearing on the seas?"
He murmured softly.
In the next moment, his body shattered into countless points of light, scattering outward.
Those light particles then transformed into innumerable Kizaru light clones.
Each clone wielded a laser-formed Ama no Murakumo Sword, and together they slashed at the incoming flame fist.
In an instant—
Red and gold collided, erupting into a blinding radiance brighter than the sun itself!
The searing light illuminated God Island, plunging the entire landmass into stark shadow by contrast.
BOOM!!!
Moments later, with a deafening explosion, the massive flame fist and countless light clones detonated simultaneously, releasing a scorching shockwave that surged outward in all directions.
Only after a long while did everything finally settle.
Ace and Kizaru reappeared high in the sky.
Both of their breathing patterns had subtly changed.
After being harassed by Zoro and Sanji, and now clashing violently with Ace, even an admiral with deep foundations and tremendous stamina couldn't help but feel fatigue.
Suddenly—
Two figures attacked Kizaru from both sides!
"Hey! Admiral! You didn't forget about us, did you?!"
Zoro came soaring in from the distant horizon, his sword intent condensed into a dragon. Empowered by gravity, his speed exploded to terrifying levels.
A cold flash of steel.
A slash like one that split heaven and earth apart cleaved through the stunned Kizaru, slicing him cleanly in two midair.
As his body separated, Kizaru seemed to react a moment too late, glancing back at Zoro's retreating figure—his brow knitting even tighter.
Things were starting to spiral beyond his expectations.
For the first time, he seriously considered abandoning the mission.
Even if that meant his evaluation in the eyes of the Five Elders would plummet.
"How troublesome~"
Kizaru muttered impatiently as his severed body transformed into light once more, gathering slightly above into an inverted downward-kick stance.
At that exact moment, Sanji—who had attacked alongside Zoro—came hurtling in like a meteor.
BOOM!!!
Unlucky Sanji didn't even have time to shout his move's name before Kizaru's kick sent him straight into the ground, blasting a massive crater into God Island.
But to Kizaru's surprise—
Two pitch-black spatial wormholes suddenly opened behind him!
Two figures clad in Akatsuki robes burst out, launching fierce attacks at Kizaru without hesitation!
"Six Powers · Moon Ring!"
"Six Powers · Shadow Spear!"
BOOM!!!
The sudden assault gave Kizaru no time to react—half a fist-sized hole instantly appeared through his body as blood sprayed outward.
Then a crescent-moon Rankyaku slash descended.
With Armament Haki reinforcing it, the attack carried Kizaru's body crashing straight down!
By sheer coincidence—
It was the very crater Sanji had just made.
Watching everything unfold through Observation Haki, Sanji halted midair, stomped hard, and entered his maximum-output Diable Jambe state.
"Diable Jambe · Flanchet STRIKE!"
BANG!!!
Pouring all the fury from that earlier kick into this blow, Sanji roared as his foot slammed into Kizaru's abdomen.
Already falling and unable to resist, Kizaru was launched skyward once again—like riding a brutal drop tower.
And waiting along his trajectory were Zoro and Ace.
Their eyes gleamed sharply.
"Flame Emperor · Flame Spear!!!"
"Three Sword Style · Thunderclap!!!"
WHOOSH!!!CRACK—!!!
Blazing fire and roaring lightning erupted simultaneously.
The flames spun rapidly, forming a gigantic blazing spear that thrust straight toward Kizaru!
At the same time, a flying dragon formed of sword intent and lightning burst from Zoro, crashing toward Kizaru's body!
BOOM!!!
Boundless energy detonated across Kizaru's form.
And then—
Issho, who had been supporting all this time, suddenly appeared at the battlefield's center.
Along with him—
A colossal meteor plummeted from the heavens!
WHOOSH—!!!
The violent wind pressure shrieked sharply.
Zoro and the others exchanged glances, then leapt away under gravity's pull, rapidly exiting the meteor's impact zone.
Kizaru—battered by continuous attacks and paralyzed by Zoro's Tri Attack effect—could only wear a look of shock and agony as he slammed into the meteor's center.
Then—
Driven by the meteor's momentum, he was smashed violently down into God Island below!!!
BOOM!!!
A vast cloud of dust erupted, engulfing the skies above God Island and spreading in all directions—like it might swallow the entire world.
For the people of Sky Island, this was a day they would never forget.
Even though the Straw Hats had already evacuated them to distant temporary shelters…
Everything that happened here still reached their eyes through countless means.
Blazing flames.Brilliant lightning.Blinding light.And a meteor falling from the heavens!
For reasons unknown, as the Sky Islanders watched it all, the terror once instilled in them by Enel seemed… not quite so frightening anymore.
…
…
Some time later.
The dust finally settled.
Zoro and the others hovered around the meteor, forming a circle.
He first glanced curiously at the two CP0 agents who had come to assist, then frowned in confusion.
"Why isn't there any movement?"
Sanji looked equally puzzled.
"Don't tell me… we actually defeated a Marine admiral?!"
"Could be~" Ace said with a grin, nudging the brim of his hat with a flaming finger.
But Issho—who possessed the strongest Observation Haki present—shook his head gently.
"Things may not be quite as you imagine."
As he spoke, he waved his hand. Gravitational waves rolled across the meteor.
The massive rock lifted and shifted aside under his control.
In the stunned gazes of everyone present—
A massive hole piercing straight through the entirety of God Island appeared before them.
At that moment, an Hyperspace Hole opened belatedly nearby.
Red stepped out briskly, his face filled with astonishment.
He had arrived near the battlefield long ago.
But knowing his own strength would only drag them down, he hadn't rushed in.
Still…
Even he hadn't expected that a Marine admiral like Kizaru would choose to flee under Zoro and the others' siege!
Was an admiral's dignity really worth so little?!
Couldn't he fight to the bitter end like Admiral Akainu?!
"This is going to be a big headache…"
Red murmured softly, countless thoughts flashing through his eyes.
(End of Chapter)