[83] : The Ambush!

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"Let me see how much you've grown."

Hearing the Admiral of the Army's urging, Zephyr wasted no time. advanced on Arthur, his imposing figure like an oncoming mountain, radiating an unstoppable pressure.

"Soru!!"

He vanished, reappearing in front of Arthur, his fist—wreathed in Armament Haki, aimed at Arthur's face.

Soru—the Six Powers speed technique—was practically useless against Arthur, whose reflexes were unmatched. No matter how fast, it couldn't surpass Arthur—or Kizaru.

Anything slower than his reflexes was a snail's pace to him.

"Admiral Zephyr, I regret we didn't get to fight last time. I'm glad we have this opportunity now." Arthur's excitement surged.

Trapped by the barrier, his only option was to fight. He pushed the sense of dread aside, focusing on the battle against the Marines' strongest.

Boom!!

Their fists collided, the force shattering the icy ground, the shockwave rippling against the barrier, absorbed and neutralized.

Arthur stumbled back, shaking his wrist, a grin spreading across his face. "Such power! As expected of a Marine Admiral."

Zephyr also took a step back. "You're strong, too. You've grown considerably since our last encounter. It's a shame you chose the wrong path."

Arthur burst into laughter. "The wrong path? Hahahaha! That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!"

"Different paths, different perspectives. You can't dismiss my choices just because you're a Marine. Does being a Marine automatically make you right? Who decided that? Hahahaha! Tell me!"

Zephyr's face darkened. "Unrepentant fool. You'll have plenty of time to reflect on your choices in Impel Down." He prepared to attack.

"You seem to have forgotten my speed advantage, Admiral." Arthur grinned.

Zzzzzzt!

He transformed into lightning, appearing behind Zephyr.

"Look out!!" Kizaru, the only one who'd seen Arthur move, yelled a warning.

Alas, it was too late...

Zephyr couldn't react to Arthur's lightning-fast teleportation. Even if he had sensed the movement, he couldn't have dodged. Arthur's lightning-wreathed fist slammed into his back.

Boom!!

Zephyr crashed into the icy ground like a cannonball, sliding across the shattered surface, leaving a deep furrow in his wake.

He coughed up blood, his internal organs rattled by the blow.

"To injure me at your age… You truly are a monster, kid!" Zephyr grimaced.

Arthur's eyes narrowed. "He only coughed up a little blood after taking that punch?" He hadn't used his full strength.

But even a glancing blow, amplified by his speed, was a terrifying force. Zephyr's resilience was remarkable.

"Garp, go help him. Arthur hasn't even used his 'Thunder God' form yet," Sengoku said, his brow furrowed.

Sengoku, assessing the situation, realized Arthur was a match for Zephyr. The Admiral, his spirit broken by the death of his family at the hands of pirates, couldn't fight at his full potential.

Arthur, on the other hand, his fighting spirit burning, was fighting with reckless abandon, giving it his all.

"Help?" Arthur, overhearing Sengoku, instantly formulated a plan.

Escape was impossible, surrounded as he was, but he hadn't had his fill of fighting yet. He wasn't eager to face Garp's iron fists.

"I'll start with the weakest…"

If he was going down, he'd take a few of them with him. A cruel glint flashed in his eyes as he vanished in a flash of lightning.

Whoosh!

He reappeared in front of Vice Admiral Tsuru, his hand transforming into a massive claw of crackling lightning, the pressure suffocating as he reached for her head.

"No! Look out!" Kizaru roared.

Arthur's earlier attack on Zephyr had put Garp, Sengoku, and Tsuru on high alert. Even without Kizaru's warning, they would have reacted.

The Marine's "Monster Trio" hadn't earned their reputation for nothing. They'd honed their teamwork through countless life-or-death battles, their positions perfectly coordinated, covering each other's weaknesses.

Targeting Tsuru was a mistake.

Kuzan and Kizaru, lacking their coordination, were the weaker targets.

But killing Tsuru would enrage Garp and Sengoku, creating openings for Arthur to exploit.

Rage amplified strength, but it also clouded judgment, reducing combat effectiveness.

That was Arthur's plan.

"You little punk! Take this!"

The trio, anticipating Arthur's attack, moved as one.

As Arthur's lightning claw descended, Garp's fist, fueled by rage, slammed into it. The force of the blow shattered the air, its power enough to level mountains.

Tsuru, unfazed, raised her hand, a shimmering light enveloping her, protecting her from the attack.

Boom!

Sengoku transformed into his massive Buddha form, golden light radiating from him as he raised his palm, a shimmering halo of energy forming around it.

"Buddha's Palm—Impact Wave!!"

The trio, veterans of countless battles, their teamwork flawless, unleashed their combined might.

Boom!

Arthur's lightning claw clashed with Garp's iron fist, a powerful shockwave rippling outwards, dispersing the lightning and forcing Arthur back into his human form.

As Arthur's hand recoiled, Sengoku's impact wave struck his exposed arm.

Boom!!

Pain shot through Arthur's arm. If he hadn't partially withdrawn it, the force would have shattered it completely.

"Hahahaha! Now this is exciting!" Instead of anger, a thrill coursed through Arthur, his madness growing.

"Divine Judgment!"

His left fist transformed into a lightning bolt, aimed at Sengoku, while he himself retreated, escaping the Monster Trio's coordinated attack.

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