The shells poured down like a rainstorm.
Between breaths.
The once vibrant island was destroyed by artillery fire in an instant.
It was dilapidated, with scarlet flowers still lingering on the black charred wood...
Ohara Coast.
A tall woman with white hair was holding a little girl about 8 or 9 years old.
Although she was out of breath and exhausted, her eyes were determined and she ran with no intention of slowing down!
At this moment, several shells seemed to have predicted their movements and came straight towards them!
Gong Boom Boom!!
Just as the shell was about to hit them, a huge body blocked the attack!
"Saul!!" the little girl in her arms shouted in surprise.
The white-haired woman turned her head in surprise upon hearing this, tears welling up in her eyes as she said in surprise and joy:
"Saul!!"
What came into view was that Saul used his tall body to block the impending artillery fire!
hiss--
Although the artillery bombardment did not cause any fatal damage, the pain made Saul gasp.
"Long time no see...Olvia!"
Saul raised his head and looked at Olvia happily.
Looking at Saul, who looked disheveled and covered in shell marks, Olvia seemed to understand the hardships he had endured along the way.
It turned out that when the first shell hit the Tree of Knowledge, the noise it caused attracted Saul's attention.
The first thing he did was to go in the direction Robin left to look for Robin and Olvia who might have returned.
During this period, his huge body was hit by artillery fire many times because he was too big a target.
Just a quarter of an hour ago, he spotted Olvia and the other person running towards him.
then,
Bang!!
His huge body burst out with powerful force, and the broken stones and wood were instantly stirred up!
In this way, he used his broad back to block the bombardment of artillery shells.
"R-Now's not the time to talk... Let's go to the coast first!"
Saul suppressed the pain and said with a smile.
Soon after, at the coast.
"Saul, it's great to see you again!" Olvia looked up at Saul excitedly with tears in her eyes.
Saul looked at Olvia and Robin, patted his head and laughed:
"Hey, hehe Me too, and you, little Robin"
Robin also laughed, imitating Saul's laughter.
After a round of greetings...
"That's great...but let's get going!"
Looking at Ohara who was constantly making explosions, Saul couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.
"Hmm..." Robin and Olvia nodded and looked at the huge raft on the sea ahead.
Just as a few people were about to board the raft.
The next second, a serious young man's voice came:
"Looks like you guys can't leave!!"
When Saul heard the voice, his pupils shrank and he turned his head stiffly.
Because he was very familiar with this voice. It was his good friend when he was still in the navy, Vice Admiral of the Marine Headquarters - "Aokiji" Kuzan!
In an instant, the voice came again:
"——Ice Time Capsule!"
A cold breath came towards them, heading straight for Saul and the other two.
The blue-white ice surface began to spread from the shadows in front at a speed visible to the naked eye, passing by the three people and heading straight for the sea surface.
The next second, the originally turbulent sea surface was instantly frozen, the cold wind was biting, and it turned into a world of ice.
And the raft was also embedded in the ice...
Saul couldn't help swallowing, and the sweat on his cheeks dripped down.
At this moment, he felt like he was facing a great enemy, and his nervous words betrayed him directly.
"Long time no see...Kuzan!!"
From the shadows, a tall and slender figure slowly walked out.
It wasn't until a short while later that the burning firelight revealed his appearance.
He has black curly hair and a cold look in his eyes. He is wearing a white suit vest and a dark blue shirt. There are a few pieces of ice on his body that are emitting cold air.
A chill escaped from his mouth, as if his words had become icy cold:
"Why…are you here?!"
"Why would a peace-loving person like you betray the navy! —Saul!!"
Kuzan looked at his best friend in front of him, and Olvia, the wanted criminal of the World Government, behind him.
Saul protected Robin and the other man behind him, his eyes gradually becoming firm.
"Kuzan, you won't understand... I chose to leave the Navy just for the justice I uphold!!"
Although Saul and Kuzan were both vice admirals of the Marine Headquarters, he knew that the sailors in front of him were only 26 or 27 years old and he could not challenge them.
He has been drifting on the sea all this time, and coupled with the injuries he suffered from artillery bombardment, his chances of winning against Kuzan, one of the three great monsters of the navy, are infinitely close to zero!
Kuzan looked at one of his few close friends in front of him. Although he was reluctant to bring him to justice, his inner justice and the current mission forced him to take action.
"Saul... Although I really want to hear your explanation, you should save what you have to say for the military court!!"
Then Aokiji stomped his right foot on the ground, and the cold air centered on his right foot quickly spread towards Saul.
When Saul saw Kuzan's move, he immediately turned around and said to Olvia and Robin nervously:
"Olvia, take Robin and go first...I'll stop him."
Olvia was about to refute, but seeing the determination on his face, she could only nod with difficulty.
"...Okay! Promise me that Saul will stay alive!!"
Boom!!
Saul's huge fist slammed into the ground.
In an instant, large chunks of rubble were lifted up by the powerful force, successfully blocking Kuzan's freezing ability.
Seeing this, Olvia knew that if they stayed, they would only be a burden to Saul.
Tears rolled down her eyes as she picked up Robin and ran in the other direction.
"Saul!!" Robin cried sadly, tears streaming down her face.
Kuzan immediately changed his target and wanted to chase in the direction of Olvia's escape.
With extremely fast speed, he instantly got rid of Saul's entanglement and chased after him.
In the next second!
Kuzan's eyes grew serious, and he stopped chasing and quickly jumped away from his original route.
boom!!
In an instant, a huge black rock hit the ground where Kuzan was about to land like a cannonball.
Observation Haki? !
It was obvious that Kuzan predicted Saul's attack with his Observation Haki.
The reason why Kuzan did not transform into an element was because the boulder was wrapped in Armament Haki by Saul!
"Your opponent is me... Kuzan!!"
Saul threw several huge black rocks at Kuzan one after another.
Kuzan sighed helplessly and looked at Saul in front of him with a firm gaze.
He knew that if he didn't deal with his best friend in front of him, he would not be able to continue the pursuit!
"In that case... Saul, I can no longer hold back!!" Kuzan's arms were gradually covered with a layer of ice, and white cold gas emerged from his arms.
brush!!
In a flash, Kuzan disappeared from the spot, and the place he passed by quickly turned into a white world of ice and snow.
"——Ice Age!!"
The next second, Kuzan appeared above Saul's huge body. Saul's Armament Haki wrapped around his arms, and his huge fist collided with it.
boom!!
The two fists collided, and the powerful force stirred up circles of air ripples carrying ice chips.
In an instant, Saul felt a biting chill in his arm. His arm, which was already wrapped in Armament Haki, was gradually covered by ice.
Saul instantly unleashed the mighty power of his giant clan and repelled Kuzan...
"ah!!"
Saul used his remaining Haki to stop the spread of Kuzan's Ice Fruit ability.
Whoosh whoosh——
He breathed in the air in big gulps, panting as he looked at Kuzan and laughed:
"Hey, hehe~ Kuzan... you're still so strong!"
Kuzan held his forehead helplessly and said:
"Saul, you are still so optimistic..."
Kuzan walked towards Saul step by step, with a blank expression on his face, but mixed feelings in his heart.
He didn't understand why Saul, who was as hopeful about the future of the Navy as he was, would protect the criminals of the World Government and even betray his beloved Navy.
Just then!
Boom boom boom!!
The navy ship's gunfire was aimed at the refugee ship that he had personally seen off!
Under dozens of artillery fire, the refugee ship sank instantly...
Kuzan looked at the scene in disbelief.
"…Sakazuki!! Why…are they not even sparing civilians?!"
At this moment, Kuzan's eyes were full of confusion...