Chapter 780: Chapter 780: Marine Deployment

New World - Marine Headquarters (Formerly G-1 Fortress).

Inside the grand briefing room, a gathering of high-ranking Marine officials, including Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, Admiral Borsalino, Chief of Staff Tsuru, and Vice Admirals Doberman and Onigumo, were deliberating over the urgent situation regarding Zephyr’s appearance on Secon Island.

While the Neo Marine main fleet had successfully diverted the Navy’s attention, Zephyr had executed a brilliant feint, leading an elite vanguard to Secon Island ahead of schedule and routing the local Marine garrison.

The brass was all but certain that Secon Island was destined to be obliterated by Dyna Stones, just as Firs Island had been. If that were the case, the Marine fleet’s only hope for a final stand would be at Piriodo Island.

BAM!

"Fleet Admiral Sakazuki! Urgent news from Secon Island!"

A Marine Captain burst into the room, gasping for air.

"What?! Is Secon Island not destroyed yet?" Sakazuki stood up abruptly, glancing at the moonlit sky outside with visible shock.

"The Chris Pirates have appeared on Secon Island! ’Golden Ring’ Aeridar, leading several officers and thousands of pirates, has engaged in a fierce conflict with the Neo Marines on the dunes on the far side of the island! Furthermore, the main Neo Marine fleet is moving rapidly toward the island and is expected to arrive within hours!" the Captain reported breathlessly.

"They moved that fast? As expected of the Grand Flying Fleet," Vice Admiral Tsuru remarked solemnly.

Fujitora had only reported the departure of the Chris from port that morning; to think they had arrived by nightfall.

"Additionally, a massive area of the hot spring mountains has been flash-frozen. We found a large quantity of Dyna Stones trapped in ice; our men are currently working on an emergency disposal!" the Captain continued.

"Frozen Dyna Stones?"

"No way... is that man on Secon Island too?"

"Kuzan-san... only he possesses such power!"

"As expected, even after leaving the Marines, Kuzan-san’s heart still burns with justice!"

The high-ranking officers began to whisper among themselves, the room buzzing with speculation.

"That’s enough!"

Sakazuki’s roar silenced the room instantly. He glared at his subordinates before turning his gaze back to the map.

"Ignore Kuzan for now. We have more pressing matters to resolve!" Sakazuki commanded in a low, gravelly voice. "Fujitora is patrolling the New World, and Ryokugyu is stationed at Mariejois. Kizaru, this task falls to you. You are authorized to mobilize whatever forces you deem necessary!"

"Nee~ even at the speed of our warships, it will take two to three days to reach Secon Island," Borsalino drawled lazily. "By the time we arrive, the battle will likely be over. It would be quite futile, wouldn’t it?"

"Perhaps you should head there alone first to take command of the local Marines," Tsuru suggested.

"Well... I suppose that’s the only way." Borsalino shrugged, accepting the order without further protest.

...

"Silver Line!!!"

With a sharp cry, a thin, beautiful strand of silver light flashed across the landscape under the watchful eyes of countless combatants.

BOOM!

The sand dunes were cleaved in two, leaving a narrow, jagged fissure hundreds of meters long.

"Huff... huff... so beautiful... yet so terrifying!"

Watching the silver light fade, Ain breathed heavily, her face pale and etched with gravity. The woman standing before her, a former Supernova from the same era as "Golden Ring" Aeridar, possessed the beauty of an elf, the heart of a viper, and the strength of a monster.

"You can’t win. Why not just surrender? Fufufufu~" Smythe Betilla laughed, her voice like silver bells as she covered her crimson lips with her hand.

"Never!"

Ain gripped her dual short swords in a reverse hold, her voice resolute. "I will never surrender to pirates!"

"My, my... if we keep going, I can’t guarantee I won’t... kill you," Betilla said with a dazzling smile that looked angelic but carried a chilling edge.

A tidal wave of murderous intent washed over the area. Ain’s breath hitched, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead.

"Here I come!"

Betilla charged. With a flick of her wrist, her blade, Silver Rain, unleashed an overwhelming cage of sword shadows that descended like a heavenly net.

"Pirate! I won’t let you interfere with Z-sensei!" Ain gritted her teeth, crossing her blades to meet the onslaught.

On the other side of the battlefield, the clash between Zephyr and Aeridar had escalated to a fever pitch.

"Tonight, either you die or I do! Shigan: Fist Authority!!!"

Zephyr lunged forward with explosive force, his fist hardened by Armament Haki. Even before the strike landed, the sheer pressure of the wind produced by his punch stung Aeridar’s skin like a knife.

BANG!

Aeridar crossed his arms to block. When the fist connected, a sound like muffled thunder erupted. A visible shockwave rippled through the air, stripping away the top layer of ground for a hundred meters and sending sand swirling into a frenzy.

Aeridar was blasted back, his feet carving two deep trenches into the earth.

"Heh... at your age, naturally, it’s you who’ll be dying! Lion’s Majesty: Great Sand Burial!!" Aeridar sneered. He bent low, pressing both palms into the sand.

RUMBLE!

The desert floor surged like an ocean. Massive lion heads formed from the sand, roaring silently as they surged toward Zephyr, threatening to swallow him whole. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"Die!"

Aeridar laughed as he piled more sand onto the mound, increasing the weight until it became a sand mountain dozens of meters high, intending to crush Zephyr beneath the pressure.

BOOM!

Suddenly, the base of the mountain exploded. Out from the swirling dust charged a figure jet-black and rigid as cast iron.

"Shiki couldn’t kill me with tricks like this. You’re far from his level!"

The "Iron Man" charged at Aeridar, his blackened body gleaming with a metallic luster under the moonlight.

"Oi, oi... are you joking?" Aeridar scoffed. "Golden Lion Shiki was killed by me!"

Aeridar straightened his right arm, pressing his fingers together. Haki coated his limb as it began to vibrate at a speed invisible to the naked eye.

"High-Frequency Vibration Black Blade!!"

"Arrogant brat! Rankyaku: Heavy Axe!!"

Enraged, Zephyr swung his right leg high, bringing it down like a massive executioner’s axe aimed directly at Aeridar’s head.

"Pathetic."

Aeridar smirked. As if predicting the move, he vanished.

CRASH!

The dune shook as a crater five meters wide was smashed into the earth. Sand rose and fell like waves as the impact swept outward.

Pop~

The air rippled slightly as Aeridar materialized behind Zephyr. With a cruel grin, his vibrating arm-blade slashed down.

Squelch~

The blade tore through flesh. Blood sprayed into the air, staining the desert sands.