Chapter 19: Breakthrough
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Black and red lightning snaked and darted through the air with incredible speed, but what was even more astonishing was the terrifying range of Arashi's punch.
From nearly a hundred meters above the pirate ships, his fist swung downward, and the immense power instantly reached the two pirate ships below, then exploded with devastating force.
The expressions on the faces of the pirate captains and officers quickly turned to terror.
"Boom!" The thunderous sound echoed as the two massive pirate ships cracked and shattered, sending countless splinters flying everywhere.
The sea below them rapidly caved in under the immense pressure. And this was just the initial burst.
The shockwave from his punch continued to spread, impacting the other three ships nearby.
"Crack!" The once sturdy hulls now seemed as fragile as glass, covered in countless cracks.
The unconscious pirates on board were suddenly flung into the air and thrown high into the sky before crashing into the distant sea, sending up sprays of water.
The sea, now dented and chaotic, the shattered pirate ships, and the pirates who had been obliterated into blood mist all formed an unforgateable scene in the minds of Marine officers like Shinbu.
When that fluttering white Marine cloak again entered their sight, and they saw the slender youth land on the ship's stern, it was as if they were witnessing a god descend.
The might of that punch would be a divine act they would never forget.
"Whoo!" Arashi slowly exhaled, looking at the turbulent sea ahead, filled with countless shattered wooden fragments and the floating, bleeding bodies of pirates.
The fierceness in his eyes gradually faded.
This punch was far from par with Garp's techniques; he only wrapped it with Conqueror Haki and had yet to learn how to use Armament Haki.
"I'm still far from where I need to be," Arashi sighed softly.
Gazing into the distance at the aftermath of the battle between the two pirate crews and the changing weather, he felt a deep sense of awe, sensing the presence of several other strong Conqueror's Haki auras.
Each one was no weaker than his own. Judging by the flashing lights and the violently churning sea, it was clear that each person's attack was far more powerful than his.
"In terms of power, technique, and experience, I'm still leagues behind them," Arashi's eyes reflected his realization.
Even from this distance, without witnessing it up close, he could feel the terrifying, destructive power of the strong fighters ahead. At that moment, a powerful ambition surged within him.
"One day, I will become as strong as them!" Clenching his fist, Arashi stared intently at the sky.
The overwhelming fleet of the Flying Pirates under Golden Lion Shiki left him with a profound sense of helplessness.
The fall of his comrades, especially the death of Rear Admiral Jerry right before his eyes, struck him with a deep sense of impact.
In the distance, the battle raged on, with the lightning in the sky growing even brighter and more frequent.
The dark clouds nearly covered the entire Edd War sea.
"How terrifying!"
"Their battle has split the sky and cut through the sea!"
"Golden Lion Shiki, Gold Roger!"
"This is the strongest fight in the world!"
The Marine officers behind him also expressed their astonishment and awe.
They were amazed by the ferocity of Arashi's punch but were even more fearful and shaken by the clash between the two pirate crews ahead.
Suddenly, a wave of slashing energy roared toward them, swiftly passing over their heads.
"Crack!" The mast snapped, leaning over and collapsing onto the deck.
Arashi took a deep breath as he looked at the clean-cut, understanding that this was just the aftermath of a slash from over ten miles away.
"We need to get out of here as quickly as possible!"
"The warship is heavily damaged, the mast is broken, but the backup power source and the paddles at the bottom are still intact."
"We can manage to keep moving!"
Soon, the remaining crew members assessed the ship's condition and, with a sense of relief, reported the findings.
Even though they were far from the centre of the actual battle, the shockwaves from the fight were still overwhelming for them.
Arashi walked to the ship's bow and picked up the Den Den Mushi that Rear Admiral Jerry had held. Just then, the Den Den Mushi rang.
"Rear Admiral Jerry, quickly report your situation," came a voice from the other end, catching Arashi off guard.
"Vice Admiral Garp," Arashi responded, "Rear Admiral Jerry has been killed. This is Arashi speaking."
There was a brief pause on the other end before Garp quickly replied, "As long as you're okay. We're heading toward Area A13."
"We've temporarily escaped danger. The Flying Pirates and the Roger Pirates have encountered each other and are battling.
So, we were fortunate," Arashi reported.
"Roger?!" Garp's voice rose with urgency. "Alright, I'll be there to support you immediately!" The Den Den Mushi call ended.
"Arashi, what should we do next?" Saul, who was being helped up by his comrades and leaning against the ship's rail, asked in a low voice.
The others had extinguished the fire at the stern, and everyone was relatively safe.
Arashi paused momentarily before looking up at the rest of the crew. All of them, including Simbu, looked at him with anticipation and hope.
Undoubtedly, the incredible punch he had just thrown had earned him the respect of the officers present, who were now willing to follow his orders.
"Steer the ship as far away as possible," Arashi commanded calmly after taking a deep breath.
"Vice Admiral Garp is on his way to support us."
"Our current mission is to ensure our safety while continuing to monitor the battle between Golden Lion Shiki and the Roger Pirates."
"Yes, sir!" Shinbu led the others in acknowledging the order. No one voiced any objections, and they quickly set to work.
The backup power source could only take them so far, primarily for emergencies.
The Marine warship's main propulsion was still its sails. After a short while, the warship had put more distance between itself and the battlefield.
"Boom!" The loud sounds of the battle, even from a great distance, were still incredibly clear, causing a ringing in everyone's ears.
Fierce winds howled above them, and they could see countless bolts of lightning densely flashing in the heart of the battle.
This was a clash between the best in the world!
The Flying Pirates had strength in numbers and elite fighters, while the Roger Pirates were all powerhouses.
"Rumble!" The battle continued, with thunder booming in the sky.
Suddenly, at one moment, torrential rain began to pour down, obscuring the view ahead.
Arashi squinted, focusing on the blurred outlines of the two opposing forces.
He quickly noticed that the sounds of the battle were diminishing until they finally faded into silence.
A pirate ship sailed through the churning sea, cutting through the storm, with a figure standing at the bow, laughing heartily amidst the raging wind and rain, displaying unwavering optimism.
"Ha ha ha ha!" Despite the distance and the sound of the storm, the voice rang out clearly.
"I told you, Rayleigh, this isn't our end! Even the heavens are on my side!"
Arashi raised his binoculars, focusing on the figure.
"Gol D. Roger!" he softly uttered the man's true name.
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