The gale howled, and shattered stones flew. The Golden Lion Shiki’s ability to keep his surroundings afloat was rendered completely ineffective under the clash of their powers.
Despite this, their battle did not cease.
Following the falling debris, their figures continued to leap amidst it.
Shiki, floating in mid-air, looked back at the shattered floating island and the two still fighting, a chuckle escaping his lips.
Kenjiro’s strength and fighting style were somewhat like Garp’s.
But compared to Garp, Kenjiro was still too green.
Genbu Marine Base.
Benedict stood on the Genbu warship, watching the approaching floating island miles away.
“Legendary old geezers really don’t play by the rules.”
Benedict rubbed his chin, then glanced at the Patriot missiles behind him.
“The Genbu warship is in hand, and I haven’t tested its power yet. Now’s the perfect time.”
“Genbu warship artillery team, receive your orders! Take down the island above us.”
Benedict gave the command. The two Patriot missiles on the Genbu warship, under the control of the artillery team, locked onto two floating islands respectively and launched their attack.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Shells flashed in the night, like sparks that instantly lit up the darkness.
On the flying pirate ship, Shiki stood at the edge of the deck, watching the extremely fast shells soaring into the sky, his eyes flickering with confusion.
Were these bombs?
Long?
Weren’t they supposed to be round?
The doubt flashed through his mind in an instant. Next, the giant islands were hit and began to collapse in large swathes.
Some of the large animals, in their panic, fell out of the barrier enclosing the islands and plunged towards the sea below.
These animals were his successful creations from his time in hiding.
If they were simply allowed to fall into the sea, they would lose their intended effect.
Thus, Shiki opened his hands and instantly activated his Pari Pari no Mi abilities.
Even though he didn’t touch the animals, it didn’t stop him from using his powers to control the seawater, forming giant water spheres that caught the falling animals one by one.
As the water spheres rose, the falling rocks were also forcibly squeezed by the Pari Pari no Mi, forming islands of various sizes for the animals to land on.
The Patriot missiles required time to reload after each launch.
However, for attacking these giant islands, Benedict found that he had overestimated them slightly.
The giant islands were too massive. Even though the Patriot missiles were destructive, they couldn’t completely destroy them.
Such power was not as good as him smashing through the giant islands with his own fists.
Wang Zhi, leading Silver Axe and Buggy the Clown, commanded their respective divisions, spread around the Genbu warship, all ready for battle.
“They’re not effective.”
“Even the mysterious ‘Patriot missiles’ can’t completely shatter the islands?”
“What do we do if these islands fall on us?”
“With my strength, I can’t possibly stop them!”
Buggy the Clown looked at the giant islands, somewhat panicked, his words revealing his intense fear.
Wang Zhi and Silver Axe glanced towards Buggy’s direction. Although they were somewhat impressed by Buggy’s growth over time, his timid and always-pretending nature was truly detestable.
Benedict, upon hearing this, chuckled, “Buggy, you’re a Devil Fruit user of the Bara Bara no Mi. Facing such giant islands that are about to fall and threaten your life at any moment.”
“Have you not considered tearing them apart, turning them into fist-sized stones, rice-sized pebbles, and dust-like powder?”
Hearing Benedict’s words, Buggy, completely disregarding Benedict’s status as Fleet Admiral, loudly retorted, “How is that possible?”
“Those are giant islands.”
“I can’t do it.”
The development of his Devil Fruit ability was mostly focused on himself.
Although he had strengthened his physical physique during this time, the development of his Devil Fruit powers remained very limited.
“Shanks has found nakama and formed a pirate crew.”
“He’s been making waves in the New World during this time, showing considerable combat prowess and gaining quite a reputation.”
“And you? Are you content with the abilities you possess now?”
Benedict didn’t mind Buggy’s tone. He looked up at the massive, floating pirate ship in the sky, reminding him.
Buggy’s personality needed to change.
The development of his own Devil Fruit powers needed guidance.
If developed, these giant islands would be no problem at all.
Hearing this, Buggy clenched his fist, the image of Shanks the Red-Haired appearing in his mind.
He was a guy he had to surpass.
No, how could he let Shanks steal the spotlight?
I must become stronger!
Buggy the Clown fiercely encouraged himself in his heart, resolving that after this battle, if he survived, he would diligently develop his Devil Fruit abilities.
But even with this thought, Buggy remained helpless in the face of the approaching giant islands.
“Fleet Admiral, is there any way to bring down these giant islands first?”
“If they really fall, our Genbu Marine Base will be destroyed!”
Unable to defeat or handle them, Buggy could only hope for Benedict to act.
Benedict nodded, a soft "hmm" escaping him. He then activated Geppo, leaping continuously towards the sky.
A moment later, Benedict landed on one of the floating islands.
What greeted his eyes were giant animals with bloodshot eyes.
Animals that had ingested the IQ gene serum possessed strong vitality, defense, recovery capabilities, and attack power.
If these were thrown into the Genbu Marine Base, even if they were all killed in the end, half of the Genbu Marine Base would likely be destroyed.
“Shiki the Golden Lion, want to come down and talk?” Benedict ignored the animals, instead looking up at Shiki in the distance and calling out.
Shiki had already spotted Benedict. Upon hearing him, he also flew down.
“Benedict.” Shiki hovered in mid-air, sizing up Benedict, and let out a loud, echoing chuckle, “You’re younger than I imagined.”
Sakata Gintoki chuckled in response, “I’m also stronger than you imagined.”
Hearing this, Shiki’s powerful Conqueror’s Haki instantly erupted from him.
Without affecting the surrounding animals and pirates, it precisely and solely enveloped Benedict.
Benedict was not to be outdone, and his Conqueror’s Haki also surged forth.
Crackling sounds!
The collision of the two waves of Conqueror’s Haki created sparks like black lightning between them, forming powerful shockwaves that swept through the surroundings.
Although targeted only at each other, the surrounding animals and pirates were still intimidated by their auras and felt a sense of dread.
Shiki the Golden Lion, witnessing the powerful Conqueror’s Haki displayed by Benedict, after a moment of confrontation, let out a loud, echoing laugh.
“Good, you have earned my recognition.”
“Benedict, join my pirate crew! I’ll make you my first mate, my right-hand man. Together, we’ll overthrow this world, and rule this world together!”
“Hahahaha!”
PS: Starting tomorrow, there will be three updates daily. If there are no unforeseen circumstances, they will all be at 8 AM. If there are any, it will be unscheduled bonus updates.