LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 250: Chapter 250: Commanders vs. Admirals (Part 1)
Li Yuan's mastery of Geppo (Moonwalk) surpassed even that of Garp, a Marine hero. While Garp's immense strength lay in his fists, his agility and lower-body techniques fell short of his upper-body capabilities.
Li Yuan, on the other hand, had cultivated balanced power across his entire body. His mastery of Geppo was forged through relentless training with weighted gravity stones, combined with the aid of Gravity Homies, which reduced his body weight and granted him unparalleled aerial combat advantages over Garp.
"Hahaha! Try killing me if you can!"
Li Yuan laughed heartily as he launched a flurry of attacks with his Seven-Star Sword.
Though Garp was a powerhouse, Li Yuan held the upper hand. Garp had to remain cautious of the Seven-Star Sword's abilities, while Li Yuan fought freely and without restraint. Li Yuan's physique and speed slightly exceeded Garp's, but even that marginal edge allowed him to dominate the fight.
---
Meanwhile, aboard Garp's dog-headed battleship, Ashura Doji and Chinjao had their sights on another target.
"Hahaha! Look, Chinjao! Another Marine Admiral—Z!" Ashura Doji's eyes gleamed as he spotted Admiral Zephyr aboard the ship.
Years ago, Ashura Doji and Barrett had fought Zephyr in a two-on-one battle during his prime. They had been utterly crushed. Now, three years later, Ashura Doji was significantly stronger and eager to test himself against the Admiral once more.
"An Admiral, huh? I'd like to see how I measure up against one," Chinjao declared.
Though Chinjao possessed the strength to be a core commander in the Infinite Pirate Fleet, he hesitated to take the promotion. Memories of Li Yuan flattening his drill-shaped head haunted him. Until he was confident he could pass Li Yuan's evaluation, he preferred to remain a rank lower.
"Pirates, prepare to die!"
Zephyr, seeing the audacious pair, stepped off the ship, using Geppo to launch himself toward Ashura Doji and Chinjao.
"Hahaha! Bring it on, then!"
Ashura Doji activated his Gravity Homies, lightening his weight and enhancing his aerial agility. He leaped into the sky, transforming into his hybrid form, his Ashura Sword Aura radiating from his body.
"One-Sword Style: Ashura Blood Slash!"
His sword, coated in jet-black Armament Haki, unleashed a deadly arc of energy.
"Black Arm: Black Punch!"
Zephyr met the attack head-on, his Haki-infused fist smashing into the slash. The impact shattered the sword strike and sent Ashura Doji flying back hundreds of meters.
"Hahaha! Zephyr, your punches are weaker than three years ago! Even your wrist strength has diminished!"
Though knocked back and his hands stinging, Ashura Doji's excitement grew.
"Futile taunts!"
Zephyr dismissed the insult with a snort and chased after Ashura Doji, aiming to knock him into the sea—a fatal fate for a Devil Fruit user.
Zephyr's strength had indeed waned. The loss of his wife and child three years ago dealt a severe blow to his willpower. Since Haki relied on one's fighting spirit, Zephyr's declining resolve had weakened his overall combat effectiveness, despite his physical body remaining intact.
Even so, he believed he could still handle these two pirates.
---
"Eight Impact Fist Secret Technique: Dragon Drill!"
Chinjao intercepted Zephyr, his hybrid form amplifying the power of his legendary drill-shaped head. Coated in Armament Haki, the indomitable drill surged forward like a raging dragon.
"Wrist Smash!"
Zephyr abandoned his pursuit of Ashura Doji and punched Chinjao's drill head directly.
"This drill is… stronger than expected!"
Chinjao's brute force and precision overwhelmed Zephyr, forcing him to retreat.
"One-Sword Style: Cross Evil Slash!"
Ashura Doji seized the opportunity, releasing a massive cross-shaped slash aimed at Zephyr.
"Rokuogan!"
Zephyr stabilized himself mid-air with Geppo and unleashed the secret Six Powers technique. His devastating punch collided with the slash, shattering it into harmless fragments.
Yet, before he could recover, Chinjao's drill head surged toward him again, with Ashura Doji close behind.
Individually, both were slightly weaker than Zephyr. Together, however, their combined assault kept him on the defensive.
Despite his confidence, Zephyr realized the difficulty of taking down these two pirates. Both possessed Ancient Zoan Devil Fruits, granting them formidable durability and recovery. Maintaining his current stalemate was the best he could hope for.
---
On Grimoire Island:
Spectators watched the battle unfold from a distance with telescopes, their astonishment growing with every passing moment.
"Even with Admiral Zephyr and Marine Hero Garp here, the Infinite Pirate Fleet is holding them off!"
"Ashura Doji and Chinjao together are a match for Zephyr. Does that mean Barrett and another commander could take on Sengoku? If so, adding Captain Li Yuan, the Fleet's strength rivals the Marine Admirals!"
"When you put it that way, it's terrifying! And the Infinite Pirate Fleet is just one of the legendary pirate crews. What about the Flying Sky Pirates? Are they just as strong? The New World pirate crews are monsters!"
Some spectators initially considered stealing from the Fleet amidst the chaos but quickly abandoned the idea upon spotting Kumas guarding their supplies. Instead, many continued trading with the Fleet, unbothered by the Marines' presence.
"The Infinite Pirates are protecting us. As long as the profits are good, we're taking the risk!"
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Marine Headquarters:
"What? Li Yuan's in the West Blue, holding off both Garp and Zephyr?!"
Steel-Bone Kong nearly smashed his desk in frustration.
After calming down, he devised a new plan. "With Li Yuan, Chinjao, and Ashura Doji absent, we'll strike the Infinite Pirate Fleet's home base in the Infinite Sea. Test their defenses and gauge the Flying Sky Pirates' response."
"Send Sengoku to lead the assault. If anything seems off, he's to retreat immediately."
New World, Marine Forces:
Sengoku received the orders and set out with three warships to attack the Infinite Pirate Fleet's territory.
But Shaki soon relayed the news to the Fleet.
"Send Barrett to intercept Sengoku at the Infinite Sea's borders. Do not let him enter our waters!"
Shaki's orders reached Barrett, who was training Hermes.
"Hahaha! Hermes, let's go! You'll see how strong a Marine Admiral truly is! Maybe together, we can take him down!"
Hermes had been rapidly improving under Barrett's tutelage. Barrett, feeling he had little left to teach, had planned to take Hermes to Elbaf to challenge the giants. Sengoku's arrival, however, provided the perfect opportunity.
"Marine Admiral… fight!"
Though his words were simple, Hermes' determination shone brightly as he followed Barrett toward their next challenge.
Chapter 250: Commanders vs. Admiral Sengoku (Part 2)
Hermes, though only recently able to speak basic human language, had already proven his immense learning ability and potential in combat.
"Hahaha, excellent! Let's fight the Marine Admiral!"
Barrett roared with laughter, rallying the crew as they prepared to intercept Sengoku's advance. Despite his casual tone, he knew how formidable an Admiral was and took the preparation seriously.
---
"Captain, should we intervene against Sengoku?"
As the Flying Sky Pirates observed the situation, they quickly deduced that Sengoku's movements were a reaction to Li Yuan's absence in the West Blue.
"Gahahahaha! No need. That's the Infinite Pirate Fleet's business, not ours!"
Golden Lion Shiki dismissed the idea outright. He was eager to see what cards the Infinite Pirates had up their sleeve and wasn't about to interfere.
While both pirate fleets shared enemies in the Marines, their relationship was far from friendly. Neither allies nor adversaries, they were rivals competing for dominance in the New World.
"Sengoku's strength is terrifying. With Li Yuan, Ashura Doji, and several core members absent, Barrett and the remaining commanders might not hold him back," Reinhardt analyzed.
"Gahahahaha! That's precisely why the Marines are testing them. They want to know what gives Li Yuan the confidence to leave his territory and invade the West Blue so brazenly!"
Shiki smirked. Watching the Infinite Pirates fend off a Marine Admiral was entertainment enough for him.
Battlefront: Rajag Island
Rajag Island was the westernmost outpost of the Infinite Pirates' territory in the New World. Sengoku approached the island with three warships, but Barrett, Hermes, Karoo, and Kano awaited his arrival, ready to intercept.
"Hahaha, Marine Admiral Sengoku! How about a little greeting?"
Barrett roared with laughter as he transformed into his hybrid Titanic Kong Form, his fists brimming with concentrated gravity. The sheer intensity of the gravity distorted the surrounding light, creating a vortex of darkness around him.
"Gravity Fist!"
Barrett unleashed a punch, sending an overwhelming gravitational shockwave across the ocean. The horizontal force pulled the sea into towering waves, combining with the gravity punch to create a devastating tsunami aimed directly at Sengoku's fleet.
Sengoku frowned, stepping forward as his body glowed golden, transforming into his Buddha Form, a massive golden figure towering over the battlefield.
"Buddha Impact!"
Infusing his palm with Conqueror's Haki, Sengoku released a shockwave that collided with the gravitational tsunami, neutralizing the waves and dissipating the punch's force.
Turning to his men, Sengoku ordered, "Steer the ships away from the island! Do not approach!"
He understood that ordinary Marines would be no match for the Infinite Pirates' officers and chose to face them alone, stepping forward on Moonwalk.
Upon landing on the island, Sengoku immediately noticed an unfamiliar figure standing beside Barrett—Hermes.
"Who is this?"
Sengoku's eyes narrowed. As a seasoned strategist, he had studied the profiles of the Infinite Pirates' commanders. The sight of a new face, particularly one standing on par with Barrett, was unexpected.
"Buddha Impact!"
Wasting no time, Sengoku unleashed a shockwave from his massive golden palm, targeting Hermes directly.
"Kill!"
Undeterred, Hermes roared and charged forward with a Shave, his fists coated in Armament Haki. Utilizing the Eight Impact Fist, he launched his own shockwave to counter Sengoku's attack.
However, Sengoku's shockwave, enhanced with Conqueror's Haki, easily overpowered Hermes' attack. The impact sent Hermes flying, his body battered as he crashed hundreds of meters away.
"Now, it's my turn!"
Barrett took advantage of the moment, transforming fully into his Titanic Kong Form. In this form, he stood as tall as Sengoku's Buddha Form, his golden physique exuding overwhelming power.
Despite his massive size, Barrett retained his mastery of martial arts, leveraging his experience to engage Sengoku in a clash of titans.
The two giants collided in a series of earth-shattering blows. Barrett's raw power and the unique gravitational force of his punches clashed with Sengoku's Conqueror's Haki-infused techniques, causing shockwaves that rippled across the battlefield.
"Heavy Impact Barrage!"
Barrett unleashed a series of rapid punches, each one distorting gravity and creating a localized vortex around his fists.
"Buddha Palm Barrage!"
Sengoku countered with a flurry of palm strikes, each imbued with shockwave energy that neutralized Barrett's attacks.
The ground beneath them cracked and split from the force of their clash, sending tremors across the island.
Meanwhile, Hermes recovered from the earlier blow, his determination unshaken. Watching Barrett hold his ground against Sengoku, he steeled himself and rejoined the fray.
"Barrett, I'm here to help!"
Hermes shouted, charging toward Sengoku with renewed vigor.
Barrett smirked, acknowledging the younger fighter's spirit. "Good! Let's show him what we've got!"
As Hermes joined the fight, Karoo and Kano moved to secure the battlefield, ensuring that no reinforcements from Sengoku's fleet would interfere.
Despite the odds, the Infinite Pirate Fleet's resolve burned brighter than ever, ready to defend their territory against one of the Marines' most fearsome forces.
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