"Explosion Style: Guren Rolling Grand Explosion Meow!"
(=＞＜=)
"Boom—!"
Accompanied by Klee Meow milky voice and a not-too-violent explosion, a dazzling and dangerous red light instantly lit up the giant Meowsanoo.
Immediately afterward, overwhelming flames swept in all directions indiscriminately.
Not only was the huge stage where Klee Meow and the others were performing swallowed by the intense flames, but even the gold wall behind them used to block off the pier was mostly melted. The surrounding golden water was heated to a boil.
Even the water level of the massive golden pool below dropped slightly but noticeably.
From the audience seats far away, Sherwin and the others could feel the surrounding temperature rise a bit...
Of course, the members of the Felyne Investigation Team remained very calm it wasn't as if they hadn't seen anything fiercer before.
Even so, the main stage of Gran Tesoro currently resembled a miniature sun, living up to Klee Meow nickname, the "Sun."
The fastest ones, Shermie Meow and Kizaru, naturally fled immediately. But even so, the person and the cat were both somewhat shaken...
"Stupid Klee! You should give a warning before using your ultimate move, meow!"
(=`н=)
Shermie Meow, landing on one of Tesoro unretracted gold pillars, jumped up and down while shouting complaints toward the stage.
Borsalino, who had also found a pillar to land on, stared blankly at the still-burning stage in silence, unable even to utter his usual catchphrases.
At the very least, he was still in one piece, aside from a few paw prints kicked onto him by Shermie Meow and three shallow cat scratches on his face.
Sakazuki situation was also manageable. Although he failed to dodge Klee Meow attack, both sides were fire-aligned, and there was that lingering question of a "superior-inferior relationship" between their powers. Most importantly, Klee Meow did not use Armament Haki...
So, while he looked a bit disheveled, Sakazuki didn't actually sustain any injuries thanks to the damage reduction from his fruit elemental properties and his Armament Haki defense. Even his clothes were perfectly preserved due to his elemental transformation.
He had simply consumed a bit too much physical stamina overall, his condition wasn't much different from Kizaru.
Aramaki, however, was in much worse shape. Not only was he naturally disadvantaged by elemental type, but his mastery over his fruit powers paled in comparison to Klee Meow.
To make matters worse, he had actively sought death by turning himself into such a massive target, and most crucially, he had drawn the special attention of the little Ragdoll...
This resulted in Aramaki taking the most damage, despite Klee Meow attack being indiscriminate.
Even with the protection of Armament Haki, he couldn't hold out for long. The giant treant Aramaki had transformed into was quickly burned into a "charcoal man" within the intense flames.
This "charcoal man" state only lasted for a moment before being further incinerated into white ash, leaving only a small amount of charred debris and carbon powder at the edge of the "sun."
In addition, the roots buried deep within the gold were all roasted into segments of charcoal by the high temperature.
If Aramaki hadn't cautiously extended a single root far away as a precaution when he first realized Klee Meow abilities were his natural counter, the future Navy would likely be missing the figure known as "Ryokugyu."
"Are... are you kidding me?! Isn't her bounty only a little over seven hundred million?!"
After "reviving" from that single remaining root, a visibly thinner Aramaki growled with a face full of shock and fury, "The Navy intelligence capabilities are far too pathetic!!!"
Having only recently joined the Marines, he felt little sense of belonging. Furthermore, having nearly died just moments ago, his emotions got the better of him, and he began to lash out at the Marines in a fit of rage.
On the other side, Klee Meow, who had deactivated her "Meow-sano'o," also looked displeased...
"Why is your Wood Style so weak too? It not fun at all, meow!"
(ω)
The little ragdoll was deeply disappointed. She had wanted to recreate the scene of "Meow-sano'o" battling "Veritable Thousand-Armed Meow" from "Naruto Meow," but that green-haired uncle across from her couldn't even handle a little burning.
However, as the "sun" extinguished, the walls that had been mostly melted away revealed the situation at the docks behind them, and Sherwin attention was immediately drawn there.
"What do you think you're doing to the Dodo Advance, meow?!!"
=(==(=Д=(=`Д=)
With the best vantage point and the highest speed, Shermie Meow instantly transformed into a bolt of lightning and charged toward the Dodo Advance, which was being restrained by several ships.
Borsalino did not move to intercept her. Instead, he took the opportunity to flash over to Sakazuki side.
"The plan has failed. Let retreat."
"...Go!"
Despite not sustaining much damage themselves and desperately wanting to seek revenge on Sherwin, Akainu understood that the situation was now beyond help. He could only grit his teeth and suppress the resentment and unwillingness in his heart, quickly retreating with the still-terrified Aramaki.
As for Aramaki, he had even fewer objections. He was even secretly considering whether he should just quit the Navy and run away if Akainu and Kizaru intended to continue the fight.
After all, his original intention in joining the Navy was only to prove he was "superior" and to enjoy privileges, not to risk his life against these monsters.
"Should we keep them here, Meow?"
Kaido Meow came to Sherwin side and asked softly.
Sherwin hesitated for a moment but shook his head, abandoning the tempting idea.
"Forget it, Navy Admirals aren't that easy to deal with."
If they really wanted to take action, finishing off Aramaki would certainly be no problem. Akainu, with his average speed and a missing leg, wouldn't be much of an issue either. In fact, with Shermie Meow on their side, it wasn't even impossible to keep Kizaru there...
But all of this was predicated on the assumption that they only had those three as opponents. The Navy and the World Government weren't dead they wouldn't just watch Sherwin take out two remaining Admirals and an Admiral candidate.
More likely than not, they had already sent reinforcements by now. Without the certainty of quickly taking down Akainu trio, there was no need for Sherwin to get entangled with them.
Another reason was that once the two sides truly clashed, the commotion would be far greater than before.
There was a high probability that the Gran Tesoro could not be preserved, and it was hard to say how many passengers on the ship would survive.
Having just formed an alliance with Tesoro, it would be somewhat dishonorable to overturn his entire livelihood.
Furthermore, they had just put on a show to get Tesoro connected with a member of the God Knights if the Gran Tesoro industry was gone, Saint Bertrand would likely ignore him.
A "Golden Emperor" with a complete industry and ties to the God Knights was far more valuable than a bankrupt one.
Therefore, Sherwin simply aimed the "Maid Heavy Bowgun" and fired two more shots at Akainu to provoke him, then ignored them and led the Felynes toward the harbor.