Boom!!!
As the two Conqueror's Haki forces—one golden and one purple—collided violently like clashing energy spheres, the sea below erupted into turbulent waves.
At the same time, the surrounding air seemed to distort under the immense pressure, twisting violently as countless strands of dark purple lightning burst forth in crackling arcs.
Even without entering the state of concentrated Conqueror's talent, Kaito Arisawa's Conqueror's Haki displayed astonishing dominance.
Not only did it push Don Chinjao's Conqueror's Haki back toward the sea between the two forces, but it also continued suppressing it.
Soon, the overwhelming golden pressure swept across the entire fleet of the Eight Treasures Navy.
Thud… thud… thud…
Eyes rolled back.
Bodies collapsed one after another across the ships.
Compared to the War Pirates, who were frequently exposed to Kaito's Conqueror's Haki and had gradually built resistance, the Eight Treasures Navy had never experienced such pressure.
Especially since Kaito's Conqueror's Haki was clearly stronger than Chinjao's.
Within a single breath, the massive fleet—containing nearly ten thousand men—saw more than half its forces collapse unconscious under the crushing pressure.
Even though the fleet consisted of the elite forces personally led by Chinjao, the result was still devastating.
Otherwise, even more would have fallen.
"Damn it!!"
Feeling his Conqueror's Haki suppressed and nearly forced back to his own side, while his Observation Haki told him that more than half his subordinates had fainted, Chinjao roared in fury.
"Keep firing!"
"Blow those bastards to pieces!"
Boom boom boom!!
The remaining members of the Eight Treasures Navy who had resisted the Conqueror's Haki hurried to take action, scrambling to prepare another wave of artillery fire toward the distant coast.
But they were already too late.
Among those who had collapsed unconscious were many of the fleet's gunners.
Even if replacements stepped in immediately, they had already lost precious time.
And Kaito's pirates were not the type to grant their enemies such opportunities.
Before the Eight Treasures Navy could fire again, a storm of artillery shells launched from the coast.
Boom!!!
Violent explosions erupted across the ships of the Eight Treasures Navy.
Flames and smoke burst outward as shells detonated across decks and hulls.
Several ships quickly reached their limits.
Under the relentless bombardment, they sank miserably into the sea amid blazing fire and thick black smoke.
Some sailors managed to jump into the water in time.
But far more were dragged down along with the sinking ships.
With Kaito's Conqueror's Haki disrupting the enemy forces, the War Pirates had successfully reversed their disadvantage in artillery power.
Even when the Eight Treasures Navy eventually reorganized and resumed firing, they were already being suppressed by the War Pirates' bombardment.
Under such circumstances, by the time the Eight Treasures Navy fleet finally reached the shore, the losses were severe.
The number of ships alone had been reduced to fewer than twenty.
"Kill them!!"
"Charge with me!"
"Die, you bastards!"
Despite their heavy losses during the approach, the Eight Treasures Navy remained extremely fierce.
As soon as their ships reached the coast, the sailors jumped ashore one after another, roaring as they rushed toward the War Pirates.
"Suppress them with gunfire!"
"All squads, follow me!"
"Attack! Don't give them time to breathe!"
As the Eight Treasures Navy stormed onto the beach, the War Pirates responded like a pack of wolves.
Following their usual military discipline, each squad immediately opened suppressive fire.
Gunshots echoed across the battlefield.
Blood sprayed.
Screams filled the air.
The Eight Treasures Navy troops who had just landed were instantly met with a deadly hail of bullets.
Boom!
A heavy thud shook the ground.
It was Don Chinjao.
The old pirate leader had leapt from the bow of his ship the moment it docked and landed heavily on the coast.
Sparks flew.
The moment he touched the ground, he received the same treatment as the rest of the navy soldiers.
A rain of bullets descended upon him.
But unlike the others—
Chinjao's powerful Armament Haki immediately revealed its strength.
The haki coating his body deflected the incoming bullets.
Each bullet that struck him was instantly bounced away.
His bloodshot tiger-like eyes glared fiercely at the War Pirates ahead.
Ignoring the gunfire entirely, Chinjao charged forward.
A closer look revealed his target.
Mangu.
As always, Mangu fought at the very front.
From the very beginning of the battle, he had been swinging his massive mace wildly, smashing apart any Eight Treasures Navy soldiers who tried to block his path.
"Die, you brat!!"
Whether it was Sai's death or the heavy casualties suffered by his forces, Chinjao's rage had reached its peak.
Rushing toward Mangu at incredible speed, the old pirate roared and launched a ferocious punch.
His right fist was wrapped in thick Armament Haki.
Chinjao moved extremely fast.
In the chaos of close combat, even though Mangu had already awakened Observation Haki, it was still too late to evade.
His expression changed.
With no time to dodge, Mangu hastily raised his left arm and hardened it with Armament Haki.
Boom!!!
Chinjao's punch crashed into Mangu's defensive arm.
Armament Haki collided violently with the shockwave power of the Eight-Impact Fist.
A thunderous explosion rang out.
Mangu groaned.
His body staggered backward before being blasted away entirely.
His left arm was visibly bruised from the impact.
Without hesitation, Chinjao stepped forward again.
After sending Mangu flying, he didn't slow down.
Instead, he rushed forward to finish him off.
"ROOM — Cut!"
A hemispherical energy field suddenly expanded across the battlefield.
It enveloped Chinjao just as he rushed forward.
Startled, Chinjao turned his head sharply.
Not far away—
Trafalgar Law stood with cold, focused eyes.
Almost simultaneously, Law drew his sword and slashed.
An invisible cutting wave shot forward.
"Armament Hardening!"
A red flash passed through Chinjao's eyes.
His Armament Haki surged to its maximum strength, coating his body completely.
The invisible slash struck his waist.
But it only left a faint line across the hardened haki.
It failed to truly cut through.
Clearly, even though Law had made significant progress during the recent training period, his Armament Haki still fell short of Chinjao's.
However—
Law's attack was not useless.
Because it successfully interrupted Chinjao's pursuit.
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