Chapter 426: Whitebeard's Power

"Rankyaku!" x4

Just then—amid the rolling clouds of dust—figures erupted across the battlefield, stepping swiftly on midair. They turned out to be CP0 operatives, each flashing forward with shave/Geppo techniques. They simultaneously snapped their right legs forward, firing off fierce rankyaku slashes one after another at Dal and the others.

Before Dal, Ares, Athena, and the rest could react, the one who moved first was No. 9 Hyde, only sixteen years old.

On his right wrist, there was a delicate-looking bracelet, which visibly transformed into a gorgeous katana.

"Night Demon Assault!"

"Tch—"

A flash of steel.

A brilliant crescent slash arced out with lightning speed, instantly blasting apart the approaching flurry of rankyaku attacks.

"Boom… boom…"

Powerful collisions sent shockwaves and gusts, stirring up thick dust so intense that it was hard to see.

"Soru… Buddha Impact!!"

Simultaneously, a golden figure rocketed forth, luminous palm radiating a mighty shockwave wrapped in black-red lightning, slamming straight at Dal—eldest son after Thor, that is, the "Second Son" of the Kukulkan family.

"Heh…"

Dal's expression did not budge. Tall and imposing, he gathered his own fearsome aura, his blade now glowing with Conqueror's Haki plus Armament Haki. Threads of terrifying energy coursed about the blade as he dashed out to meet the blow.

"Kami-e: Divine Evasion!!"

"Boom—boom—"

"crackle crackle…"

The golden Buddha-palm clashed with empty air—without physical contact—both sides hammered by black-red lightning. Waves of violent force rent the ground; the entire island trembled underfoot. Overhead, turbulent winds churned the clouds. Streaks of sky parted in a gigantic rift, with two opposing airflows shoving each other aside.

"Elbaf Spear—"

No. 8 Ares let out a feral laugh. He stepped forward aggressively, intending to attack first. His color of observation locked onto Black-Arm Zephyr's location, raising his huge saber in preparation. Yet before he could swing—

"Rankyaku: Shave!"

A figure lunged forth—a flash of movement revealed Black-Arm Zephyr making the first move.

"Ice Pillar!!"

Frosty air poured from both hands in a raging surge of ice pillars, drowning Ares's position in subzero cold, trying to freeze him solid.

But Ares only snickered. The flame behind his head spread over his blade, burning fiercely. He lunged ahead:

"Fire Dragon Emperor!!"

Roaring flames billowed forth in a colossal fire dragon shape, staining the sky a searing red. Lifelike, it bared its claws and roared.

"Crackle…" The scorching heat wave blasted forward, enough to make any observer's scalp go numb. It instantly vaporized the ice pillars and kept barreling on toward Zephyr.

"Ice Block: Pheasant Beak!!"

A resounding screech of frost soared up. A massive ice phoenix coalesced, buffeting its wings with lethal subzero force. The two attacks—fire dragon and ice bird—collided in midair.

"Boom… boom…"

"sssshhh…"

Meanwhile, three of the newly appointed Warlords of the Sea came charging forward, eyes brimming with bloodlust. They brandished their weapons, cloaked in Haki, storming into the still-intact section of the island to attack the tall but youthful figure blindfolded with a bandage—No. 10, Athena.

"Damn brat…"

"Hyahah, drop dead!!"

Seeing these three formidable pirates rushing in, Athena, though blindfolded, observed their every move via her powerful Color of Observation, calmly spread her jet-black wings, and launched skyward.

"Gravity Blade: Fierce Tiger!!"

Expression stern, she channeled tremendous gravity into her katana and slashed downward.

"Vmmmm…"

A moment later, the space in front of them visibly distorted, crushing inward. The pirates, faces aghast, quickly leaped back in alarm.

"Boom… BOOM…"

"More More: Tenfold Speed!!"

At almost that same instant, a large man vaulted in, dashing across the air with savage speed. Byrnndi World, with a savage grin, curled his left fist in Armament Haki and hammered toward No. 11 Arcas.

"Hey, I'm not so easy to handle, old man."

Arcas smirked. Towering in a giant's proportions, he dwarfed World. He carried a massive glaive, whose silvered blade now flared with Haki. He lifted it to parry World's punch.

"CLANG!!"

Sparks flashed as monstrous strength collided, tearing the earth as crosswinds erupted all around.

The pair glared at each other, malevolent intent crackling like static.

"Lunarian brat—"

World's eyes gleamed as he hopped back, left hand drawing a pistol in a fluid motion. With a sneer, he fired on Arcas:

"More More: Hundredfold!!"

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Three consecutive special bullets whooshed forth. As they raced ahead, each visibly expanded into cannon-ball size, accelerating by a hundred times. They roared in on Arcas at point-blank range, aiming to obliterate him.

But in the blink of an eye, under World's startled gaze, Arcas casually dropped into a stance. Holding the glaive one-handed, he clenched his free left fist, veins bulging.

"hummmm—"

A visible aura rippled around that fist.

"DON!!"

He slammed his fist into empty air, a sound like a drumbeat echoing across the battlefield, rattling every eardrum with a dull thud—almost as if it pounded directly on hearts.

Time itself seemed to freeze.

"What the—??"

"He's cracked the air…?"

"That's Whitebeard's power!"

Not just World: Sengoku, Zephyr, and everyone else fighting Arcas paused, eyes wide. They realized the boy had the quake-based ability.

"Crack… crack…"

Sure enough, next instant, the air itself tore apart, lines of fracture streaking outward.

"R-r-rumble…"

A tremendous shockwave blasted out, colliding with World's bullets in midair. A massive explosion erupted.

"BOOM… BOOOOOM…"

"sshhhh…"