Although the Navy side only had a Vice Admiral and an Admiral leading, this combination’s threat level far exceeded that of two Admirals under normal circumstances.
In the enemy camp, the only one they truly needed to guard against was Whitebeard alone.
The rest, in Garp and Sengoku’s eyes, did not yet pose any significant threat.
At the bow of the World Government warship, a figure landed swiftly at the very front.
Garp’s gaze pierced through the layers of waves, locking onto the small black dot growing closer and closer.
As the distance closed, a grin slowly spread across Garp’s face—the excitement of a hunter finally spotting his prey.
“He’s here.”
The distance between the two sides continued to shrink, the sea wind carrying a salty, briny scent as it swept toward them.
Whitebeard stared at the two figures on the opposite ship’s bow, his brow furrowing involuntarily.
“I told you…
the intel from those Kuja Pirates might not be reliable.”
“Newgate, complaining now is useless,” Stussy said coldly, her tone noticeably tense as she glanced at the other side.
“The most important thing is how we can retreat safely.”
“Retreat?” Whitebeard gave her a heavy look before glancing down at the deck of the speedboat beneath their feet.
“Look at our ‘equipment,’ and then think about how naive that idea is.”
Indeed.
Their vessel was called a “speedboat,” its only advantage being speed.
Beyond that, it had no defensive capabilities, no cannons, no sail adjustment mechanisms.
And the World Government’s warship?
That was a military vessel—fast, capable of attacking and defending, its performance leagues ahead of the speedboat.
Not to mention an even more fatal issue: the effect of seawater on Devil Fruit users.
On this battlefield surrounded by sea, limiting Whitebeard’s abilities was like adding insult to injury.
“Damn it!” Stussy finally couldn’t hold back her anger.
“Weren’t we supposed to be the weakest in terms of combat strength on our side?
Why are Garp and Sengoku here?!
The intel from those Kuja Pirates is ridiculously off!”
No one answered her.
Because Garp on the other side had already spoken.
“Hey…
Newgate.” The sea wind blew directly into his face, the cloak behind him bearing the word “Justice” flapping loudly.
He clashed his fists together, producing a dull thud, a barely contained excited smile on his face.
“Ready to take my punches?”
“Bastard, you’re celebrating a bit too early,” Whitebeard retorted irritably before turning to Ron and the others with instructions.
“Stussy, you take control of the speedboat.
We’ll fight while retreating.
Kaido, Ron, Wang Zhi, you three assist me.”
Ron and Kaido nodded simultaneously.
Wang Zhi, however, snorted in dissatisfaction.
“What’s this, Newgate?
Are you treating me like one of your subordinates?”
“Hmph, idiot,” Whitebeard replied coldly.
“If you don’t want to get captured, keep quiet.”
Wang Zhi opened his mouth but ultimately didn’t argue back, though his expression remained unpleasant.
Then, Whitebeard planted his Murakumogiri on the deck, both hands clawing fiercely into the air.
His fingers dug into the atmosphere as if gripping something tangible, and he gave a violent tug.
Crack!
A crisp, explosive sound rang in everyone’s ears.
Instantly, the air barrier shattered like glass.
Countless visible cracks radiated outward in all directions from Whitebeard’s hands.
Immediately, the sea began to churn violently.
Enormous waves surged up from beneath the ships, making the entire ocean seem to tremble.
The World Government warship rocked fiercely, its hull swaying side to side.
Marines on deck staggered, grabbing onto the railings for support.
“Damn it,” Sengoku’s gaze darkened.
“The power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit is still too troublesome.
Even at sea, where we hold every advantage…
with just this move, he’s creating a situation where he could turn the tide.”
“Hahahaha!” Garp laughed heartily.
“It is a bit troublesome for us, that’s true.
But we’re on the open sea now—this is a double-edged sword!”
As he spoke, Garp suddenly raised his arm and swung it forward.
“Charge!
Catch up to them, and the threat vanishes!”
Sengoku agreed with that logic.
As long as they closed the distance, Whitebeard wouldn’t dare use that level of power again; otherwise, they’d be the ones capsizing.
“On my command!!” Sengoku directed.
“All cannons, fire!
Maximum speed, pursue them!”
At the same time, the World Government warship was lifted high by the massive wave, its bow rising to expose the wet hull beneath the waterline.
Whoosh~
With a deafening roar of propulsion, the warship surged forward from the crest of the wave.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!!
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!!
Jet-black cannonballs shot from the barrels, trailing flames across the sky.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!!
The projectiles arced through the air, raining down toward the speedboat’s direction.
Hitting the target was secondary; Sengoku’s real intention was to use the shockwaves and spray from the explosions to disrupt the speedboat’s course, forcing it to slow down or even change direction.
“Ron, Kaido, Wang Zhi,” Whitebeard reminded them gravely.
“The three of you, handle it.”
Cannonfire of this caliber was well within their ability to deal with.
Whitebeard himself needed to conserve his energy for any crises that might arise next.
“Leave it to me!”
As Kaido responded, Armament Haki already coiled around the spiked club in his hand.
He then swung it with tremendous force.
Swish!
A shockwave erupted from the tip of the club, shooting skyward.
Kaboom!!
A volley of incoming cannonballs was swept up by the shockwave mid-air and instantly detonated.
Billows of black gunpowder smoke blossomed in the sky, leaving ugly blotches against the blue expanse.
Wang Zhi didn’t slack off either, launching attacks to hit the cannonballs Kaido had missed.
“Hey, Ron, what are you doing?” Kaido was startled.
Coming to his senses, he saw Ron leap directly into the sea.
For a Devil Fruit user, what the hell was the difference between that and suicide?
The moment Ron left the speedboat—no, the instant he jumped—his body began to undergo a drastic transformation.
Dark red chakra surged from within like flames, enveloping his entire body.
Four dark red tails unfurled behind him, tracing four arcs through the air.
In the blink of an eye, a massive, four-tailed dark red monster crashed down onto the sea surface.
“He didn’t sink?” Kaido’s eyes widened, his mouth hanging open as he struggled to form words.
A Devil Fruit user standing directly on the sea, treating the water as solid ground… was that even possible?
“What are you doing, Ron?” Stussy was also stunned.
“Don’t worry about me.” Ron’s voice emerged from beneath the ferocious Tailed Beast Cloak.
“Keep moving forward.
I won’t hold you back.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he opened his mouth.
A dark red energy sphere rapidly condensed and expanded within it.
Hitting a target in the air was far more precise than aiming at the sea surface.
“Not good.”
Sengoku’s pupils contracted sharply.
He had no time to wonder what that thing was that had suddenly transformed from a human into a monster.
“Garp, with me!”
“Understood!”