Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
During this period, everyone spent their time at sea, circling around the waters of the Volgala Kingdom.
Every few days, Tsuru's warship would appear in their vicinity and launch a brief artillery bombardment.
Today was January 20th, year 1527 of the Sea Circle Calendar.
At this moment, the sailing ship approached an uninhabited island shore. The terrain of the island was quite peculiar.
There were crisscrossing waterways on this island, but the most prominent were two unusually wide rivers that intersected in the middle, dividing the island into four parts.
This was a location they had selected over these past few days. It was a very convenient island for both ambush and escape.
The ship began to circle the island to scout for any ambushes.
Better safe than sorry.
Meanwhile, far behind them on the sea, Tsuru's warship was also slowly appearing.
Still trailing closely behind.
Merlin looked at the sky around him. Dark clouds were dense, and the atmospheric pressure in the environment was extremely low.
It was going to rain!
He had this realization in his heart.
At this time, the equipment slot appeared before his eyes. Merlin glanced at the synchronization value of the Camel Fruit in the [Equipment Slot]: [27%].
Moreover, five days ago, Merlin had obtained a brand-new special specialty from the Camel Fruit.
[Climate Sense]: Your body's sensitivity to wind and water in the surrounding environment far exceeds that of ordinary people. Relying on this instinct, you can easily detect various changes in the surrounding climate.
Stretching out his palm, he sensed the sea breeze blowing around him. The humidity in the air was far higher than usual, and the mucous membranes in Merlin's nasal cavity could even distinguish the concentration of moisture in the air.
"What's wrong?"
Monet came to Merlin's side, looking puzzled at his strange movements.
"It's going to rain!"
"Hmm?" Although Monet was puzzled, she didn't react much. She had become accustomed to Merlin's keen sense of environmental climate changes during this time.
At this time, Merlin looked at Lao G, who was controlling the helm at the bow, and Gladius, who was also there, and walked over.
"When are they coming?"
Merlin asked him.
Gladius turned his head and said with a solemn expression, "Should be soon. Just spoke with the Young Master; they will arrive in about an hour."
Saying this, he looked in Tsuru's direction, a cold sneer curving his lips: "Their good days are about to end."
Hearing his bold words, the corner of Merlin's eye twitched imperceptibly. So brave?
One look and you could tell he hadn't seen the world, although Merlin hadn't truly seen it either.
But he couldn't be bothered to pay attention to him anymore.
Hearing footsteps, he looked at Rosinante walking over. His expression was equally solemn. Upon arrival, he asked directly, "Are we really going to fight them later?"
"According to my observation, there is a very powerful guy on Tsuru's ship. If both Doffy and Merlin are tied up, one wrong move and our family might suffer casualties."
Listening to Rosinante's words, Gladius gave him a deep look. "This battle is unavoidable. We can't just hide every time. We have to let them know we aren't pushovers."
Seeing that communication was impossible, Rosinante was helpless and looked at Merlin again: "Do you think our chances of winning are high?"
Merlin smiled and didn't speak, turning to walk towards the stern. Monet followed closely.
Arriving at the stern and sitting on the railing, Merlin looked at the distant warship and whispered to Monet who had followed him: "During the battle later, you are responsible for following Rosinante. That kid is cunning and has good luck."
Monet was a bit puzzled but didn't press further, just nodding lightly: "Okay, then be careful yourself. That woman from the other day was very strong."
Merlin chuckled lightly. Of course she was strong.
Someone who could unleash a flying slash that matched his full-force blast was no ordinary person.
Having finished his instructions, Merlin closed his eyes to adjust himself. The surrounding air pressure was gradually becoming lower, and dull thunder began to rumble in the sky.
Time passed slowly in this waiting.
One hour and twenty minutes later.
3:00 PM.
This ship rendezvoused with Doflamingo's Numancia Flamingo by the main river channel on the north side of the island.
Merlin opened his eyes at this moment and looked at Tsuru's warship chasing behind.
Observation Haki swept over, and human-shaped electric fields appeared in his consciousness.
At this time, Doflamingo descended from the sky, landing beside Merlin, looking at the opposing warship with cold indifference in his eyes.
"Will you deal with Tsuru later?"
"No, there is a powerful swordsman over there. I will deal with her."
"..."
"...Good."
Doflamingo grinned: "If you say she's powerful, then she shouldn't be weak. Then this time, let's have a real fight to the death with them!"
Saying this, his aura surged. Looking at the ground of the island on the left, his figure flashed and appeared on the island.
At the same time, both ships stopped.
Not long after, when the warship was close to three hundred meters away, Doflamingo's Conqueror's Haki surged towards the warship. At the same time, he laughed loudly: "Fufufufu, Tsuru, long time no see!"
At this moment, a dazzling slash flew out from the warship. Simultaneously, Merlin's gaze concentrated, he unsheathed his sword, and a beam of light also slashed out.
Bang! The slashes shattered in mid-air.
Merlin leaped out, following a parabolic trajectory, landing beside Doflamingo.
Immediately after, Lao G, Diamante, Pica, and Gladius also appeared beside them one by one.
They stared coldly at the six female Marines who landed on the ground fifty meters away, stepping on the air amidst popping sounds.
At the same time, dozens of Marines who hadn't fainted rushed over from the warship and stood more than ten meters behind them.
Among them was Teresa.
Vice Admiral Tsuru, the leader, looked at the Donquixote group. At this time, she looked calmly at Merlin and said, "Are you the Merlin who spread Platinum Lead disease in those countries?"
"What an honor for a small figure like me to be remembered by the famous Vice Admiral Tsuru."
Merlin smiled and said. At this time, the tall and beautiful woman beside Tsuru looked at Merlin with amazement: "The little handsome guy looks good. Interested in having some fun with big sister?"
Saying this, she drew her sword and slashed.
Zwing! A sharp whistle of air.
A ten-meter diameter slash flew over, approaching in the blink of an eye.
However, at this moment, a fierce light flashed in Doflamingo's eyes. His right hand swung out violently, and a condensed column of threads spewed out like a laser.
"Overheat."
Bang! The two attacks shattered each other upon collision.
"Hehe, I wondered who it was. Turns out it's Headquarters Vice Admiral Momousagi, Gion!"
At this moment, Tsuru suddenly shouted: "Retreat!"
Orders strictly enforced.
The subordinates beside her leaped back one by one, stepping on the air to quickly move away.
At this moment, the ground in front of them turned into white threads thrusting upward, piercing through.
Zwing! A slash descended from the sky.
The thread spikes on the ground collapsed instantly.
A haze flashed in Doflamingo's eyes.
At the same time, accompanied by the shining of white-gold light from the Marine camp, a crisp voice rang out: "Blessing: Courage. Blessing: Strength Enhancement... Agility Enhancement... Physical Enhancement."
After doing all this, Teresa panted heavily, but visibly to the naked eye, the aura of the surrounding Marines surged instantly.
Doflamingo's eye corner twitched. He couldn't help turning to look at Merlin and grimacing: "Your doing?"
Merlin grinned and chuckled: "Blame me?"
However, at this time, the Marine group had spontaneously protected Teresa in the middle.
This was a big treasure.
At this time, Gion chuckled at Merlin, crooked her finger, and then another slash flew over.
Seeing this, Merlin's eyes flashed. The ground beneath his feet cracked with a crack. His figure broke through the air, disappearing at a speed hard to discern with the naked eye.
Seeing this, Doflamingo secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Gion was no weaker than him.
Immediately, the ground beneath his feet exploded, and his figure flew towards Tsuru.
Clang!
Swords collided.
Dazzling sparks flew.
The two retreated.
Looking at Gion five meters away, Merlin narrowed his eyes. "Such great strength."
Gion's mouth twitched, her palm slightly numb. Immediately after, her right hand turned pitch black in the blink of an eye, spreading up the blade.
The next second, her figure suddenly shot out. Immediately after, a pitch-black blade edge appeared before Merlin's eyes.
Clang!
At this moment, Merlin advanced instead of retreating. The sword in his hand was also wrapped in Haki, slashing brazenly. The blades collided.
In an instant.
Violent airflow spread out from around the two.
The next second, Gion flew back.
Her eyes were somewhat incredulous. Empowered with Haki, Merlin's strength was actually above hers.
However, taking a deep breath, Haki all over her body began to flow. A touch of cherry red appeared on the pitch-black blade.
In the blink of an eye, the Great Grade sword Konpira in her hand swung out three peach-colored beams in succession.
At this time, red light flashed in the eyes of Merlin, who had already rushed forward. His legs accumulated power instantly. With a boom, his whole person shot out at extreme speed. Simultaneously, Night Earl held high in his hand slashed down instantly against the incoming slashes.
A dark red flash appeared.
Crash!
One slash shattered the three slashes swung by Gion.
At the same time, a violent air explosion appeared, and with the whistling air, carrying shattered slash energy, it swept towards Gion.
Geppo (Moonwalk).
Gion instantly jumped high into the sky, then leaned her upper body forward, stomping the air violently with her legs. Her figure swooshed down towards Merlin from the sky.
At this moment, Merlin stopped his figure. Night Earl exploded suddenly from his side, a dark red blade light swinging from bottom to top from the right side of his body.
Clang! An explosion resounded through the sky. This slash collided heavily with Gion's swing.
Amidst the whistling air.
Gion suddenly borrowed the force to fly into the air, then kicked and slashed in mid-air, streams of Rankyaku (Tempest Kick) slashes pouring down from the sky.
Merlin gathered his Observation Haki around him, heightening his perception sensitivity. His figure moved incredibly nimbly through this stream of slashes.
At the same time, locking onto Gion in mid-air, his figure passed through the rain of slashes in a breath. At this time, turning his body, the sword in his hand slashed upward in an instant, a blade beam flying towards her.
Snap! Seeing the slash coming, Gion instantly stepped on the air to dodge easily. Immediately after, stepping on the air a second time, she fell from the sky. As soon as she landed, she shattered the ground and sprinted over, the long sword dancing in her hand, colliding fiercely with Merlin's sword.
Their figures turned into afterimages, blade lights cutting through the air, and ear-piercing sounds of metal collision rose and fell with their engagement.
In the distance, Doflamingo and Tsuru were fighting fiercely. However, his fruit ability was countered, and even his awakening technique couldn't gain any advantage.
Even in technique and Haki, Tsuru was more than a level higher.
The thread attacks swung by Doflamingo would lose their form and become soft and limp every time they reached Tsuru's side.
As for the Donquixote Family executives, they were confronted by the elite officers on Tsuru's ship.
For a time.
Several battle situations fell into a stalemate.
For a while.
Neither side could do anything to the other.
Clang!
The two clashed swords and separated again.
Looking at Merlin with a solemn gaze, Gion felt helpless in her heart. Merlin was particularly tricky. Even if various combat techniques were still slightly immature, relying on his physique and reaction ability far exceeding hers, he could manage not to fall into a disadvantage at all.
"Why don't you use your ability?"
"Merlin boy!"