"Commander Jozu actually lost a strength contest...!"
"How is that possible...? Commander Jozu, who can lift a small mountain, actually..." "As expected of Snake Princess-sama!"
"She's the strongest Empress in the history of Amazon Lily!"
People from both the Kuja and Whitebeard's crews fighting on the front lines heard the commotion and looked over toward Hancock. They saw the exact moment of the clash between Hancock and Jozu and saw Jozu being forced back.
The Whitebeard Pirates' crew members were shocked, their jaws nearly hitting the floor, while the Kuja's morale soared.
Just then, a cry of pain was heard as Marigold, wielding a trident, took down two of Whitebeard's crew members. Marigold, a slight smirk on her lips, said, "What are you all standing around for? The battle's still on!" Everyone heard Marigold's words, snapped back to attention, and raised their weapons again as the two sides resumed their fierce fighting.
On the sea by the shore, Wolf was battling nearly half of the non-Devil Fruit users of the Whitebeard Pirates, led by Marco, who had the ability to fly thanks to his Mythical Zoan, the Phoenix-Phoenix Fruit.
Marco, in his ice-blue phoenix form, slammed violently into Wolf's giant body. "So hard..."
The moment Marco hit Wolf, he felt the immense defensive power of his opponent's body. He looked closely and saw that the back of Wolf's hand was raised to block him, and its surface was black!
He was using Armament Haki to defend! "What...?"
Marco's dead-fish eyes widened. After battling for a full day and night, he had assumed that Wolf had not mastered Haki. If he had, why wouldn't he have used it from the start of the fight?
But, right after a full day and night of fighting, this guy suddenly started using it!
Wolf's bruised and bloody face revealed a smile that was both simple and sinister. In his unique, phlegm-filled voice, he said with a hint of surprise, "Oh? I can... use it now?"
He might not be the brightest, but he wasn't an idiot. He knew that to work for Alucard, simply being a "ship" wasn't nearly enough.
Since the beginning of his time under Alucard, he had started practicing Haki. And now, after only being able to use it occasionally, he could finally use it with some proficiency.
Marco flapped his wings and landed next to Izo and the others. He looked up at Wolf's right hand, which was gradually fading from black back to its normal color. "With the ability to use Armament Haki, this big oaf is going to be difficult to deal with."
Izo's lipstick-painted lips pursed tightly. He turned to the other crew members beside him. "Has Squard's group not arrived yet?"
About an hour into the battle, Izo had instructed his crew to contact the independent pirate crews under Whitebeard for reinforcements, such as Squard's Maelstrom Spider Pirates and Islewan's pirate crew. Currently, there were 28 pirate crews affiliated with Whitebeard, with a total number of over ten thousand members.
"Commander Izo! The pirate crews led by Captains Squard, Islewan, McGuy, and Kinga are on their way and will be here soon," one of Izo's men reported quickly.
"Four of them? Not bad."
Izo nodded. The pirate crews under Whitebeard's command were usually sailing in various parts of the New World, with a small number in the first half of the Grand Line. It was obviously
impossible to gather all of them in a single day. Whitebeard hadn't planned on a major war, so he hadn't brought many people, but "man proposes, God disposes"—a fight broke out anyway.
Hancock suddenly launched a fierce attack, forcing Jozu to retreat step by step. If not for his diamond-hard body, he would have been turned to stone as well.
"Slave Arrow!"
Hancock pulled a giant red heart from her pink lips, drawing it back like a bow and firing countless heart-shaped arrows.
"Watch out, Jozu! You'll turn to stone!"
Vista yelled, swinging his rapiers. A flurry of countless rose petals scattered. "Dance of the Roses!"
The moment they touched Hancock's Slave Arrows, Vista's petals also turned to stone, their increased weight causing them to fall to the ground before they could reach Hancock. The remaining few Slave Arrows struck Jozu, turning him into a stone statue in an instant.
"COMMANDER JOZU!!" "JOZU!"
Whitebeard's crew members shouted frantically when they saw Jozu's stone form.
Seeing this, Marigold and Sandersonia, leading the Kuja, immediately waved their hands, signaling their crew to attack. This was a great opportunity! The Whitebeard Pirates' morale was in disarray after losing a key fighter!
"Die!"
A cold glint flashed in Hancock's beautiful eyes. She prepared to kick Jozu's stone statue, knowing that if she did, he would be unable to return to normal.
BANG!!
Sparks flew. Hancock's eyes narrowed as she saw Vista's sword blocking her high-heeled shoe, desperately protecting Jozu's stone statue.
"Commander Vista!"
Hearing the cries of his crew, Vista shouted, "Get Jozu's statue onto the ship! Boa Hancock's power is similar to Aokiji's Ice-Ice Fruit, so there might still be a chance to save him!"
"Got it!"
Several crew members rushed to move the heavy stone statue toward the Moby Dick. The other crew members, without a word, immediately formed a protective escort.
"As expected of a pirate crew with so much battle experience."
Hancock's heel was still pressed against Vista's rapier. While her words were a compliment, her icy tone showed no sincerity.
Vista managed a faint smile, pushing back against Hancock's kick. He swung his sword and shouted, "Don't underestimate the Whitebeard Pirates!"
"Commanders! Squard's reinforcements have arrived!!"
Suddenly, someone on the shore yelled. Everyone turned their heads and saw four pirate ships with different flags rapidly approaching from the distance. Leading the charge was a skull with a spider's body—the Maelstrom Spider Pirates led by Squard!
Judging by the size of the four ships, their combined crew numbered at least eight hundred, if not a thousand.
Sandersonia, who was holding her own against the Whitebeard Pirates' sixth division commander, narrowed her eyes. "If they get here, we're in trouble!" With that thought, Sandersonia retreated a short distance and yelled to Wolf on the sea, "Hey, Wolf! Don't let them get to shore!!"
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