Chapter 292: Chaotic Battle (Part 1)
The sea breeze swept across the warships, making the navy flags flutter in the air.
The sound of waves crashing against the hulls echoed continuously, and the tense atmosphere spread everywhere.
Although the navy had mobilized more than two thousand soldiers, most of them were hastily gathered from various branches in the North Sea.
Their strength could be imagined.
Facing one of the world's top pirates, saying they weren't nervous would be a lie.
Just one look at the opposing force gave them an immense sense of pressure, as if death itself loomed over them.
"Gulp!"
The soldiers swallowed hard, their eyes fixed on the unwavering pirate crew ahead.
In the midst of fear, however, there was a spark of courage.
Perhaps the only way to overcome fear was to face it head-on.
"Are we just going to stand here and wait? Then let's get started! Fire!"
Zephyr stood at the bow of the ship, staring at the figure of Charlotte on the shore, and roared.
"Fire!"
With Zephyr's command, the naval officers shouted orders.
Cannons roared, and countless cannonballs shot out like raindrops.
The sky became shrouded in shadows as the volley of cannonballs descended like a dark cloud.
The members of the Rockefeller Pirates couldn't help but tense up.
After all, no one could remain calm when facing such an overwhelming barrage.
"Heh! Still the same old tricks!"
Charlotte remained seated on the rock, eyes narrowed with a hint of disdain.
With a swift swing of his Seven-Star Sword, a gigantic green slash burst forth, cutting through the sky like a meteor.
The sword energy, stretching a thousand meters long, seemed to tear the heavens apart.
Everyone was stunned as they witnessed the massive green arc slicing through the sky.
"This... this is the world's strongest swordsman?"
The spectators were left speechless by the unparalleled display of swordsmanship.
Even Doflamingo, hidden among the observing ships, was stunned, his sunglasses slipping from his face.
"I think we need to reconsider our relationship with the Rockefeller Pirates," Doflamingo muttered.
The people around him, including Trebol and the other executives, nodded hastily, equally awestruck.
The gigantic sword slash seemed to shatter even the space itself. The thousands of cannonballs were annihilated mid-air, none making it to the ground.
A brilliant firework-like explosion lit up the sky before dissipating.
Zephyr stood at the bow, his brows deeply furrowed.
"It went as expected," he muttered.
Realizing that the artillery fire was useless, he decisively ordered, "Landing operation! Go ashore!"
Warships after warships docked along the coast as over two thousand naval soldiers disembarked.
Zephyr took the lead, with his officers following closely behind. He walked steadily toward Charlotte, who was still sitting calmly on the rock.
Charlotte gave a faint smile and slowly opened his eyes, his pupils dilating.
Suddenly, a surge of dominating aura erupted from him—an overwhelming Conqueror's Haki spread from his body, covering the entire area.
The sky darkened as dark clouds gathered, and lightning crackled through the heavens.
The sheer pressure caused by his Haki made the naval soldiers stagger, with two-thirds of them collapsing to the ground, foaming at the mouth.
Even some of the vice admirals and many of the rear admirals felt weak at the knees, barely holding their ground.
"This... even the rear admirals are affected?"
Zephyr gritted his teeth, clenching his fists as he took in the scene.
Sakazuki (Akainu), standing to the side, looked grim. He felt the intense pressure gnawing at his determination.
"I can't let this continue!"
Covering his fists with Armament Haki, Zephyr stomped the ground and shot forward like a cannonball, aiming directly at Charlotte.
Charlotte didn't move from his spot.
Bang!
Zephyr's fist shattered the rock where Charlotte had been sitting, but the pirate leader had already moved.
A metallic clang rang out as Zephyr's armored fist clashed with Charlotte's sword, creating a shockwave that swept through the area.
A fierce windstorm erupted, blowing sand and stones in all directions.
"Attack! Kill the pirates—leave no one alive!"
The naval officers gave the order, and the soldiers charged forward.
Three vice admirals led the attack, while Rear Admiral Sakazuki lunged at the nearest target.
"Hellhound!"
Sakazuki roared, launching a magma hound from his fist.
Barrett stepped forward, his fists covered in Armament Haki, and punched out to meet the magma beast.
Boom!
The collision sent magma splattering in all directions, but Barrett's strength pushed Sakazuki back.
"The Devil's Heir, Douglas Barrett!" Sakazuki muttered.
Barrett sneered.
"A Logia user, huh? Let me see how tough you really are!"
His punches, imbued with Haki, continued to rain down, smashing through the magma and forcing Sakazuki into a defensive stance.
Elsewhere, the three vice admirals engaged in combat with the top officers of the Rockefeller Pirates.
Estes and Caesar led the charge against the lower-ranking officers and rear admirals.
They moved through the chaos like unstoppable forces, cutting down marines with ease.
Amidst the battle, a figure stepped forward to block Estes—Vice Admiral Onigumo, wielding dual swords.
With a clang, his swords clashed against Estes' blade, sending sparks flying.
"A dual-wielding swordsman?" Estes murmured, realizing that her opponent wasn't ordinary.
"You little brat! Let me see how much of your father's swordsmanship you've inherited!" Onigumo shouted, swinging both blades with precision.
Realizing she couldn't match him in pure swordsmanship, Estes activated her Devil Fruit ability—ice crept over her blade, giving it a frosty edge.
"So, you're not purely a swordsman but a Devil Fruit user," Onigumo remarked with disappointment.
"Shut up! My father is my father, and I am me! Stop comparing us!" Estes shouted angrily, her ice-covered sword clashing fiercely against Onigumo's dual blades.
The chaotic battle had begun, and the clash between the world's strongest swordsman and the legendary admiral would determine the fate of the North Sea.
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