Chapter 172
### **Chapter 172**
**Dang!**
A **huge golden figure** plummeted from the sky, landing with an impact so powerful that the air itself **shook like a tolling bell**.
In the golden light, a **massive Buddha** took a step forward.
**Sengoku the Buddha had arrived.**
The moment his **giant golden foot touched the battlefield**, the air **trembled** with his sheer presence.
Bullet, still in his **steel-clad form**, had **no time to react**.
**Boom!**
The shockwave from Sengoku's landing **shattered** Bullet's steel plating, sending him **hurtling backward**.
He crashed into the ground, **spitting blood**, his body skidding across the battlefield.
Lifting his gaze, Bullet **gritted his teeth**, glaring at the **towering Buddha** before him.
Sengoku's expression was **grave**.
He raised a golden palm and **brought it down in a thunderous slap**.
Bullet crossed his arms, reinforcing them with Haki to **block the attack**—but—
**Boom!**
A **hemispherical shockwave** exploded around him, the force crushing his defenses.
Bullet barely held on—until—
**"Ice Spear: Double Thrust!"**
Two **razor-sharp ice spears** flew in from the side.
Aokiji's attack **couldn't pierce Bullet's Haki**, but it **threw him off balance**.
**That was enough.**
Sengoku's **next attack landed clean.**
Bullet was **slammed into the earth**, the ground beneath him **cratering** from the impact.
Sengoku glanced around the battlefield, his golden form **radiating authority**, and addressed the three figures nearby.
**"I'll leave this to you."**
Without another word, he **flashed away**—heading straight for Carl.
---
Roger, sensing **something was wrong**, instinctively turned—
But it was **too late.**
**Boom!**
Sengoku struck **Roger's back** with **devastating force**.
Before Roger could recover, Carl **appeared in front of him**, his sword **slashing across Roger's abdomen.**
**Schlck!**
Roger's **eyes widened**.
Blood **gushed** from his wound.
If not for the **protection of his Haki**, he would have been **cut in two.**
From a distance—
**"Captain!!!"**
Both **Rayleigh and Gaban** immediately **abandoned their fights**, racing to Roger's side.
Not far away, **Lucia** landed lightly, her sword digging into the dirt for support.
Her face was **pale**—a clear sign of **exhaustion**.
She had barely managed to hold her ground against **Gaban**, the **third strongest of Roger's crew**.
Now, with the battlefield **clearing**—thanks to Carl's **relentless massacre**—Lucia finally had a moment to breathe.
But the battle was **far from over**.
Akainu and Borsalino were **faring better**.
**Together**, they managed to **keep Rayleigh at bay**, preventing him from reaching Roger.
Meanwhile, Gaban **charged in**, his dual axes **glinting in the light**—
**Swoosh!**
Carl moved **instantly**, kicking Gaban **mid-air**.
Then—
**"Dark Vortex."**
A gravitational force **dragged Gaban back**, pulling him **straight into Carl's knee**—
**Crack!**
The impact **sent one of Gaban's teeth flying**.
Roger barely **managed to intercept** before Carl could **snap Gaban's neck**.
Even so—
Gaban **refused to back down**.
To him, **retreating wasn't an option**.
Even if he **lost teeth**—even if this **took years off his life**—he would **stand by Roger** until the very end.
But Carl had **no patience** for sentiment.
He left Roger for **Sengoku to handle**—
And set his sights on **Gaban.**
**"Gaban!"**
Roger's voice **thundered across the battlefield**—but it was **too late**.
Carl and Gaban **clashed fiercely**.
For a few **exchanges**, Gaban held his own—
Until—
**Clang!**
His **axes flew from his hands**, spinning through the air—
And landed **at the feet of Shanks and Buggy**.
The two young pirates **froze**, staring at Gaban's discarded weapons.
Shanks' gaze **snapped to the battlefield's center**—
His breath **caught in his throat**.
**Carl held Gaban by the neck.**
Gaban's once **strong, proud body** had been **reduced to a withered shell**.
Then—
**Slash!**
Carl **severed Gaban's head.**
With a casual flick, he **kicked it towards Roger.**
Buggy **went pale**, his large **red nose trembling**, snot **dripping from his face**.
Shanks stood **motionless**, his voice barely a whisper.
**"Gaban… died, just like that?"**
Roger caught Gaban's **severed head**.
His **scream** tore through the battlefield—
**"GABAAN!!!"**
For a brief moment, even **Sengoku hesitated**.
But Carl—
Carl **did not.**
This **wasn't an anime**—there were no **dramatic pauses** for grief.
Carl **spread his wings**, casting a shadow over Roger, his sword **Muramasa raised**—
Just as the blade **descended—**
**CRACK!**
The **air itself shattered** like glass.
A **shockwave** sent Carl **flying.**
He twisted in the air, folding his wings before landing **gracefully**.
As he **rolled his shoulders**, shaking off the impact, his **lips curled into a smirk.**
**"Whitebeard, you've grown weak. Was that supposed to tickle?"**
Whitebeard stood beside Roger, his **expression dark as a storm cloud**.
Half of his **face was mangled**—a twisted wreck of flesh and scars.
If Sengoku knew about Naruto, he might've thought **Whitebeard was cosplaying Uchiha Obito.**
Whitebeard **glanced down** at Roger, who remained **frozen in grief**, his tears **silently falling** onto Gaban's remains.
**"If you don't want to fight, get out of here."**
But Roger **didn't move.**
His eyes were **locked** on Gaban's lifeless head.
Whitebeard sighed.
He knew this pain **all too well**.
Carl had **slaughtered his sons**—
And now, Roger was **suffering the same loss.**
Carl, however, had **no intention** of letting Roger and Whitebeard **wallow in grief.**
Sengoku, standing nearby, **saluted his fallen comrade.**
But Carl?
Carl **moved.**
His **sword flashed**—
And he **rushed forward once more.**
This time, against **Whitebeard himself.**
But Whitebeard **had learned** Carl's tactics by now.
Carl **never warned before striking**—his **attacks were swift and merciless.**
So Whitebeard **didn't wait.**
His **blade swung forward**—
**Boom!**
A **shockwave erupted**, blasting **Roger's grip loose**, sending Gaban's head **soaring away.**
The sudden **shock brought Roger back to his senses.**
And in his **eyes—**
There was **only hate.**
He **gripped his sword tighter**, his fingers **trembling with rage.**
He would **kill Carl.**
But first—
His gaze **swept the battlefield.**
Even Roger's **elite crew** had begun to **fall.**
His eyes **landed on their lifeless bodies**—
Now lying **motionless in pools of blood.**
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