Chapter 112: Can You Take Me Down, Akainu! 

Huff~

Before the smoke from his exhale could dissipate, he caught a glimpse of Kuina darting overhead, her sword gleaming brightly as it aimed straight for Dalmatian.

"Hey, hey, hey..."

Dalmatian raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised. "Coming straight for me as soon as you show up? Isn't that a bit..."

"Too arrogant, Pirate!"

Kuina's blade was about to reach his throat when his eyes flashed red, and he swiftly tilted his head to dodge. His semi-beastified dog claws, already imbued with thick Armament Haki, swung back to grab her wrist—

Clang!

In the explosive sound of metal clashing, Kuina blocked with her sword, using the momentum to flip backward. The tip of her blade scraped the ground, sending sparks flying as she landed gracefully.

Dalmatian, too, was forced to take two steps back from the impact.

He glanced down at his claws, where the steel-hard knuckles now bore a thick white mark across all five fingers.

"Interesting..." He licked his sharp canine teeth. "Little girl, your swordsmanship isn't bad. Too bad your strength is lacking."

Kuina didn't respond, only slowly adjusted her breathing. Her palms were slightly numb, but her grip on the sword remained as steady as a rock.

"So..." Dalmatian suddenly crouched slightly, the muscles in his legs tensing like springs. "Just this much isn't enough to impress me!"

Whoosh!

His figure vanished instantly, leaving only an afterimage in his place.

Kuina's pupils contracted sharply. Although she hadn't mastered Observation Haki yet, the keen intuition of a Master Swordsman allowed her to make a split-second judgment—

Left side!

Clang!

The blade of Wado Ichimonji barely managed to block the incoming claw, the tremendous force sending her sliding back several meters.

Dalmatian reappeared, his assault relentless as his claws came down like a storm.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound of metal clashing was continuous, sparks flying in all directions. Kuina's swordsmanship flowed like water, each strike precisely parried, but the residual force pushed her back step by step.

"Hey! What's wrong?!"

Dalmatian's lips curled into a sneer. "Only defending? Where's the momentum from earlier?"

Snap! His tail suddenly lashed out like a whip, fast and vicious.

Kuina's attention was focused on his claws, and she barely managed to dodge, but the tail still grazed her waist, causing a searing pain. She stumbled, nearly falling to the ground.

But at that moment.

Nojiko finally broke through the combined blockade of several Marine officers and arrived nearby.

"I'll help you!"

The Mithril Gloves on her hands suddenly glowed with a brilliant blue light, and her right fist shot out like a cannonball, aiming for Dalmatian's side!

"—Ripple Fist: Crushing Extreme!"

"Huh?"

Dalmatian's dog ears twitched slightly, his assault pausing for a moment as he brought his left claw back to block.

The moment fist and claw collided, Kuina seized the opening, her blade slicing upward from below: "Reverse Wind Slash!"

Rip!

Dalmatian's military green suit was torn open, a bloody gash running from his abdomen to his chest.

In pain, he let out a furious roar, his right claw clenching into a fist as he swung it toward Nojiko's face!

Nojiko didn't hesitate, retracting her fist and crossing her arms in front of her face. A deep, ink-black Armament Haki instantly covered her entire arms.

Thud!

With a dull thud, she was sent flying backward by the punch, tumbling several times on the ground before flipping up and landing firmly on her feet.

She shook her slightly numb but unharmed arm, a hint of excitement curling at the corner of her lips.

"Not bad, big dog," she said, flexing her wrist, her knuckles cracking. "But—this is more like it!"

A year ago, in Cocoyasi Village, when her fist technique was at a critical stage of advancement, Xiano had been her full-time sparring partner for a while.

His strength seemed to be about the same as her brother's back then, maybe even a bit weaker?

She could handle this just fine!

"...?"

Dalmatian glanced down at the wound on his chest, blood slowly seeping out. The unacceptable sight instantly ignited a fierce glint in his eyes.

"Two brats who don't know their place!"

His body began to expand, his fur growing wildly. In the blink of an eye, he had fully transformed into a massive black-and-white spotted dog, over five meters long, even more imposing than Agin.

"Since that's the case, let me show you the true strength of a veteran Vice Admiral of the Headquarters!"

Kuina and Nojiko stood back-to-back, turning their heads to exchange a knowing glance.

"Like we discussed, I'll take the lead," the black-haired girl with a high ponytail whispered.

"Got it," the blue-haired girl replied, clenching her fists. "I'll create opportunities from the flank."

"Roar—!"

Dalmatian's hind legs slammed into the ground, cracking the solid surface of the dock.

Despite his massive size, his speed was astonishing. In an instant, he was upon them.

His sharp fangs gleamed like mirrors under the sunlight, reflecting the determined gazes of the two girls as they looked up.

At the same time, it also reflected the battlefield on the other side—

...

"White Fist!"

"Shoulder Shoot!"

Boom!

Smoker and Zeff each repelled the marines closing in from the left and right, landing on the ground side by side.

Their eyes simultaneously locked onto the alluring figure draped in a Justice cloak not far ahead.

Vice Admiral Bumaya was lightly licking the tip of her syringe, her eyes gleaming with a morbid excitement.

"Hey, old man," Smoker muttered around his cigar, "this woman seems off. Her Devil Fruit ability is weird too. Be careful."

"I've lived long enough to see all kinds of lunatics," Zeff grinned, his right leg slightly raised, the joints of his steel prosthetic clicking softly. "You're the one who shouldn't hold me back, Smokey."

"Tch..." Smoker smirked, not wasting any more words. He gripped his jutte horizontally, Armament Haki quietly coating it.

"Yahohoho, this is so exciting~"

Bumaya suddenly covered her mouth, giggling. "Two big men coming at me together? Wonderful! Actually, I really love... turning tough guys like you into sieves, little by little!"

Whoosh!

She leapt into the air with Moon Walk, her figure flickering. When she reappeared, she was above Smoker, her syringe thrusting down like a spear!

"Time for your shot, kiddos!" she giggled.

Shave!

Smoker instantly dodged, the spot where he had been standing now a charred, corroded hole from the syringe's strike.

"Poison?!"

Zeff's pupils contracted, and he roared, "Be careful, Smokey! Her syringe can release deadly poison!"

"Only figured it out now? Too late~"

Bumaya's figure reappeared like a ghost behind Zeff, her syringe sweeping toward his neck.

"Is that so!" Zeff's eyes turned fierce as he swiftly turned and kicked back without hesitation.

A sneak attack of this level? Did they really think he was senile and couldn't react?!

Clang!

His steel prosthetic leg, wrapped in Armament Haki, lashed out like a whip, deflecting the syringe!

Bumaya was also pushed back, but she giggled relentlessly. Still in mid-air before landing, the tip of her syringe suddenly began to spin rapidly, spraying a cloud of pink mist!

"Compassionate Healer·Sweet Scented Breeze!"

The pink mist rushed straight toward Zeff and Smoker. Despite its warm and sweet fragrance, both men's expressions changed instantly, and they were about to retreat when—

Crack!

A blinding flash of lightning suddenly lit up, and a semi-circular, dome-like electric force field instantly enveloped the two.

"Well done, Agin!"

Seeing this familiar scene, Zeff turned his head and shouted.

"Awooo—!"

Agin swiftly darted past from the flank, charging forward recklessly, unstoppable.

The two rear admirals tried to block it, but even working together, they were still struggling and could only barely manage to contain it.

If not for that, Agin wouldn't have been able to spare the effort to help its companions here.

Zzzz~

The electric force field continued to expand, not only isolating the pink mist but also reflecting it back.

The mist quickly spread with the sea breeze, and in no time, it enveloped many of the surrounding marines.

"Bad news!"

A marine captain's face turned pale as he shouted sharply, "It's Rear Admiral Bumaya's ability! Hold your breath and retreat to the perimeter!"

Many were startled and reacted quickly, but a significant number were caught off guard and inhaled the mist.

"Die, die!"

"Who are you? Die too!"

The marines who inhaled the pink smoke instantly began breathing heavily, their eyes turning bloodshot, as if they saw everyone around them as mortal enemies. They swung their swords wildly at anyone they saw.

The marine encirclement was instantly torn open, and chaos erupted.

"Great opportunity, Nami! Break through from here and get ready to board the ship!"

"Got it, Zeff!"

The orange-haired figure dashed toward the Sunset at the shore. Several marine officers tried to block her, but they were suddenly cut off by a surge of flames.

"Ouch… so hot!"

"Dammit, where did these flames come from? Is that giant wolf causing trouble again?!"

It's me!

Nami, who was almost out of the encirclement, felt utterly exasperated.

What's wrong with these guys?

Lightning is lightning, fire is fire, and they're blaming Agin…

Are they blind? Can't they see where the flames are coming from?!

Zzz—Crack!

At the same time, the electric force field finally dissipated.

Zeff's steel prosthetic leg stomped heavily on the ground, the resulting shockwave dispersing the remaining mist. He looked up at the female rear admiral across from him:

"Thanks for creating the opportunity. It's a good thing your so-called 'Compassionate Healer' doesn't even spare your own people."

Bumaya's smile froze on her face for the first time.

She turned her head sharply to look behind her.

The marines who had fallen into hallucinations were still attacking each other, and the chaos was spreading rapidly.

The disorder spread like a plague through the ranks. The marines who hadn't been affected were forced to defend themselves while retreating, and the encirclement in this direction had completely collapsed.

"Hey, you useless idiots, do you know how much you've embarrassed me?!"

She let out a hysterical scream as the syringe suddenly deformed and elongated, its needle expanding abruptly.

"Just return to normal already! You fools, if you still refuse to recover, then let me grant you release—"

"Benevolent Healer·Great Cleanup!"

Hundreds of tiny poison needles shot out like a torrential rain toward the out-of-control marines, who immediately began foaming at the mouth and collapsing to the ground.

The marines on the periphery, though saved by her, cast terrified glances her way.

"Madwoman!"

Smoker's expression changed drastically, and he couldn't help but curse, "Hey! You bastard, how can you still claim to uphold the word 'justice' on your back?!"

As a traitor to the Navy, he had always used his smoke abilities to suffocate and incapacitate the lower-ranking marines who tried to stop him, rarely resorting to lethal force.

But this woman...

As a Vice Admiral of the Naval Headquarters, she was utterly deranged, showing no regard for the lives of her subordinates!

This barrage of poison needles had killed at least a hundred marines in an instant... How could she do it?

A lunatic!

Another madwoman, just like Vice Admiral Onigumo!

Thankfully, he had made his own choice in Loguetown.

If he had continued to work alongside such vermin, how could he ever have the face to speak of "justice"?!

"What are you muttering about, traitorous Navy man? Justice?"

Bumaya flashed into view again, closing in on him, "That doesn't seem like something you're qualified to talk about now, does it? As long as it helps Mr. Sakazuki, eliminating a few pawns like you pirates is nothing..."

Boom—!!!

A deafening explosion suddenly erupted in the northern sky, shaking the entire island.

Both sides paused momentarily, instinctively looking up.

In the distance, crimson lava poured down like a torrential rain, staining the distant clouds a dark red.

Such a terrifying spectacle.

As expected of Mr. Sakazuki...

Bumaya's eyes instantly glazed over, her cheeks flushing unnaturally, and even her hand holding the syringe trembled slightly.

"Hey, why don't you just put down your weapons and surrender? That way, when big sister gives you your shot, she'll use a little less force, okay?"

She suddenly spoke in a sickly sweet voice, tilting her head and giving Smoker a sinister smile:

"Can't you see? Mr. Sakazuki is already enraged. Your Captain will soon be reduced to ashes..."

————

"Six Styles Ultimate·Yamabuki-Colored Ripple Dash!"

Boom!

The moment the punch was unleashed, a massive shockwave tore through the ground nearby, and the nearly hundred-meter-long natural stone bridge in the distance completely collapsed and shattered.

Akainu, who was right in front of him, felt his face ripple violently like water, forming wave-like folds.

No!

His pupils contracted sharply.

This move seemed to be the pinnacle of the brat's physical techniques, combined with the Internal Destruction technique of Armament Haki. He shouldn't have—

Before he could finish the thought, the terrifying force had already penetrated his body!

Crack!

A clear sound of bone fracturing came from Akainu's chest, and the upper half of his clothing instantly disintegrated.

The entire person was sent flying like a kite with its string cut, crashing through several massive reefs along the way, and finally slamming heavily into the cliffside by the shore!

Boom—

The entire cliff collapsed under the impact, and tons of rubble poured down, completely burying Akainu's figure.

Splash— The waves, stirred by the shockwave, surged into a towering wall of water dozens of meters high, only to come crashing down like a torrential rain upon the pile of rubble.

"Huff, huff…"

Xiano maintained his punching stance, his fist steaming with scorching white vapor. He was breathing heavily, his gaze fixed intently on the ruins below.

Crash!

A massive hand covered in magma suddenly burst through the rubble!

Akainu slowly stood up, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, and his chest slightly caved in. But aside from that, there were no other injuries on his body, and his aura remained as formidable as ever.

"..."

He was actually bleeding?

His eyes narrowed slightly, and for a moment, he couldn't recall the last time he had seen his own blood.

It's been many years, hasn't it…

Akainu didn't wipe the blood from his mouth, instead raising his head expressionlessly to lock eyes with Xiano, who stood atop the cliff.

"What are you looking at?"

Xiano grinned, "My attack isn't over yet!"

Is this what a Navy Admiral is like?

The strike that had completely defeated Crocodile earlier had only made this guy bleed a little and caused some unseen embarrassment?

Damn, he's really tough!!!

As soon as the words left his mouth, Xiano's figure vanished!

Shave!

This time, his speed was even faster than before. Almost the moment an afterimage appeared on Akainu's retina, a fist wrapped in a golden ripple was already hurtling toward his temple!

"Useless. The same move only works once."

Akainu spoke in a low voice. His Observation Haki had already predicted the attack, and his head instantly transformed into its elemental form, allowing the punch to pass right through.

At the same time, his right knee shot up, a magma-covered kneecap aimed straight at Xiano's abdomen!

"Iron Body!"

Xiano didn't dodge. His abdominal muscles instantly tightened like steel, taking the knee strike head-on while his hands, fingers extended like sharp blades, rained down on Akainu's chest like a storm!

"Finger Pistol·Wave Rain!"

Swish, swish, swish— The naked eye could hardly keep up with Xiano's Finger Pistol strikes, but Akainu's body swayed like a willow in the wind, dodging almost all of them.

This was the pinnacle of Paper Drawing.

Having climbed step by step from the training camp of the Navy Headquarters, his mastery of the Six Styles was also at the world's top level!

Boom!

Boom!!

Boom!!!

The dull explosions echoed along the coast, sending shivers down the spine.

Unconsciously, the two had already exchanged dozens of blows.

The more they fought, the more their tempers seemed to flare. Eventually, both sides gradually abandoned dodging, opting instead to clash head-on with pure physical strength.

The ripples from the magma and the shockwaves from the fists collided continuously, creating visible shockwaves that spread out in all directions.

The entire coastline was collapsing under the intensity of the battle. Seawater poured into the newly formed craters, only to be instantly vaporized into billowing white mist by the intense heat of the magma.

"For a kid barely in his teens, you should be proud to have lasted this long against me."

Amid the rapidly clashing figures, Akainu spoke in a low voice, "But, it's about time we end this."

At this moment, his clothes were tattered, and his exposed body was covered in bruises, some areas already turning blue and purple.

The naval cap that had been worn for many years had mysteriously disappeared at some point.

Indeed, he seemed somewhat disheveled.

But compared to Xiano across from him, it didn't seem like much.

At this moment, the black-haired boy was covered in shocking burns, with some areas even revealing charred flesh curling up, emitting scalding white smoke.

However, the most severe injuries were on both sides of his waist and abdomen, where the white bones were exposed.

Although the wounds pierced by the lava were slowly healing, every movement caused fresh blood to seep out.

In addition, his left arm hung unnaturally.

Clearly, while blocking a heavy blow, the unequal strength had failed to completely dissipate the impact, resulting in a fracture that would be difficult to recover from in a short time.

If it weren't for his opponent's robust physique and astonishing self-healing ability.

In the intense close-quarters combat that had just unfolded, Xiano should have been defeated long ago.

"Cough, cough..."

Xiano was gasping heavily, his aura rapidly weakening.

Boom! Another punch clashed with Akainu. The former was merely forced back a few steps, while Xiano was sent crashing into the ground.

Crack, crack.

Spiderweb-like fissures spread densely across the ground. Akainu stood at the edge of the crater, expressionlessly watching the figure that stumbled and barely managed to rise from the dust.

"All talk, old man?"

Xiano's face was pale, spitting out a mouthful of blood, his grin stretching to his ears. "It's been over half an hour since you started saying that, and yet here we are! You still haven't taken me down!!!"

"..."

Akainu's gaze darkened slightly, but he had no retort.

Although only a few of Xiano's strikes had managed to harm him, and for the rest of the time, he had been completely dominated, it was true that after more than half an hour, he still hadn't brought Xiano down.

For someone of his rank as a Navy Admiral, this was undoubtedly a disgrace.

"Few on the seas can hold me off for so long with such reckless, life-risking tactics. To be precise, below the level of the Four Emperors, only Marco could do it, and now, barely, you."

Akainu spoke in a low voice, "You've indeed impressed me, kid..."

"But in the end, your fighting style relies on stamina, doesn't it?"

"Now, your aura is so weak, your stamina must be nearing its limit. So I wasn't wrong—it really is time to end this, including your companions. Do you really think, in this state, you can keep holding out until your comrades escape..."

At that moment.

Pop!

A column of orange-yellow flame suddenly rose from the distant sea, exploding in the sky like fireworks.

"Oh?"

Seeing this, Xiano's eyes lit up, and he suddenly chuckled, "Looks like they really did it, huh?"

What?

A cold light flashed in Akainu's eyes as he used Moon Walk to ascend to a higher vantage point.

Looking into the distance, he saw that the ship of the Falling Stars Adventure Pirates had already left the port and was speeding toward the open sea.

His face darkened completely.

Dalmatian, Bumaya, two Vice Admirals, along with several officers and over two thousand elite Navy soldiers...

With such a force, they still couldn't keep the enemy at the port?

What the hell are those useless fools doing?!

Whoosh—!

Akainu's lower body suddenly underwent Elemental Transformation, and a stream of molten lava spewed out behind him, propelling him directly toward the southern port.

But just as he flew a few meters, a figure suddenly flashed above him, delivering a fierce downward kick.

"Get—"

Xiano grinned ferociously, bringing down a battle-axe-like strike onto Akainu's shoulder!

"Down!!!"

Boom—!!!

Akainu's pupils contracted, but his body couldn't react in time. Like a meteor, he plummeted from hundreds of meters in the air, crashing heavily into the rocky shore below!

The terrifying impact shook the entire coastline, sending debris flying and dust billowing into the sky. The sea was also stirred by the shockwave, creating a massive wave dozens of meters high!

"Cough..."

Akainu pushed himself up from the deep pit, coughing several times in succession. His magma-like body dripped continuously as he looked up at the sky in disbelief.

Such speed, such force—it was clearly something only achievable when the opponent was at their peak condition. How could this be?

"What are you thinking, old man? Your opponent is me!"

The laughter of the black-haired boy reached his ears, and it seemed like he was still crunching on something. "We've come this far. There's no way I'll let all our efforts go to waste and allow you to stop my comrades!"

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