Chapter 126: Only the World Government Became the Clown
Although it wasn't some nirvanic rebirth amidst a life-or-death battle, nor any sudden epiphany...
Reiner wasn't surprised that Zoro could awaken Armament Haki.
This youth, who had shown sword talent since beginning his swordsmanship training at a young age, still trained diligently every day without ever slacking off.
Ten years like a single day.
The promises, goals, and ambitions he set back then had not diminished in the slightest to this day.
Whether in talent, effort, or willpower, Zoro was not inferior to anyone. There was no reason he couldn't learn Haki.
Even if he suddenly awakened it during a nap one day, Reiner would still feel he deserved this power.
His fingers brushed over the sword wound that pierced his chest. A bit of warm blood was wiped away and flicked off casually. Reiner refocused his attention on Gion, who was pursuing him.
Below, the fierce battle between the Straw Hat crew and the Headquarters elite forces raged on...
Zoro and Sanji were responsible for intercepting at the forefront, tying down the majority of the enemy Marines.
Some soldiers who slipped through or went around were engaged near the lake formed by the collapsed Tower of Justice, fighting against Robin, Usopp, Chopper, and the Franky Family hoodlums led by Franky.
Nami, meanwhile, was amidst the clouds, continuously bombarding the entire field with the energy of her thunderclouds.
At this moment, the intense battle was already nearing its end. The members of the Straw Hat crew were on the verge of exhaustion.
"Hey! Why is it working on and off like this!?"
Zoro gritted his teeth, looking at the fading black Haki on his hand, and couldn't help but yell in annoyance, "Come out, damn it!"
"Well, you did just awaken it," Sanji said, kicking a Lieutenant Commander away with a flying kick, then landing lightly. "It's normal not to be proficient with it. Even I'm like that, let alone the second-best."
They still couldn't use Haki at will yet; it basically required expending mental energy and concentrating their attention to condense it.
Several times, while fighting, it had unintentionally dissipated. This wasn't a good thing in battle, as they needed to be constantly wary of enemy moves and actions, especially while being besieged.
"Tch!"
He got me that time. Zoro spat discontentedly. "There are still some left! You get out of the way! I'll clear the field!"
As he spoke, his gaze focused, and the black Haki on his wrist reappeared, slowly spreading onto his sword blades.
His legs bent slightly, then he leaped high into the air, his three golden earrings swaying in the wind. He turned sideways, holding his arms out flat, his three Haki-coated swords swirling with air currents as his body descended into the midst of the Marines.
"Three-Sword Style: Black Rope Dragon Twister!!"
Zoro, utilizing his powerful core strength, twisted his waist sharply. A fierce wind howled and arose, spiraling outwards.
Puchi! Puchi! Puchi! The powerful tornado swept the surrounding soldiers into the air, its blade-sharp winds continuously cutting at various parts of their bodies. Sprays of blood, as soon as they appeared, were swept up by the hurricane.
A soaring tornado was gradually dyed red, carrying the figures of over a dozen soldiers spinning within it.
After a moment, it dissipated, and the Marines rained down from the sky, lying scattered on the ground.
"Tch! Still talking about clearing the field."
Sanji, cigarette dangling from his lips, pushed off the ground hard, his figure shooting towards nearly ten Marines. "Aren't there still quite a few stragglers!?"
Charging at extreme speed, he tapped his toes, bent his legs, and tucked them in, gliding less than two meters above the ground into the crowd.
"...Shoulder Meat! Collier!" (Neck Meat!)
With each person he passed, his blackened leg whipped out fiercely, rapidly striking enemies on their faces, shoulders, and heads.
Amidst a chorus of wails, figure after figure flew backward in a line.
RUMBLE!!
Thunderclaps boomed in the sky. Finally, after several lightning bolts struck down, no Marine remained standing on the field.
Thus, the elite troops dispatched with the Buster Call, composed of two hundred Headquarters Lieutenant Commanders and Captains...
—All defeated and fallen!
"—Phew!"
Sanji let out a breath, smoke curling upwards with it, hazily covering his face. "That was exhausting. But it's finally over."
"It's still too early to say it's over. The main event is next, right?" Zoro stated coolly, his longswords not yet sheathed.
He shifted his gaze towards the sky, where several airborne figures radiated powerful auras, occasionally clashing and rapidly separating again.
"Everyone! Are you all okay!?" Nami's figure flew down from the sky, hurriedly arriving near the lake to regroup with the others.
"We're... fine..." Usopp panted heavily, half-squatting, palms on his knees to support his body.
Chopper's form gradually shrank as he gasped for breath. "What's the... situation now, Nami?"
"Luffy and Reiner are still fighting. You guys take their King Bulls and circle around to the Front Island first."
Sanji and Zoro ran up, gesturing towards the large Franky. When Luffy wasn't around, command usually fell to him and Reiner.
Sanji stopped, speaking rapidly, "You guys go find Granny Kokoro first and prepare to launch the Sea Train! Zoro and I will stay behind to cover Reiner's rear! Once Luffy breaks free, we'll catch up to you!"
"I want to stay too!"
Nami quickly interjected, a flash of blue light on her hand as she gestured. "I still have a lot of stamina! I can help..."
"No!"
Sanji decisively refused her, turning his head to look at the distant warships. "Everyone else is almost exhausted. If you all leave, those Marines might still pursue. We need someone to escort everyone away safely."
"Miss Nami, your ability is suited for quickly dealing with large numbers of soldiers. No one is more suitable for this task than you."
"But I..." Nami subconsciously clenched her fists, looking worriedly towards Luffy and Reiner, who were still fighting fiercely. After a moment...
"I understand."
Nami unwillingly unclenched her fists, then looked directly at Sanji and Zoro. "I'll leave this place to you! Once Luffy's side is resolved, everyone must come back safely!"
Zoro responded gravely, "Relax. Believe in us."
"Waaah~~ You guys are all so manly!"
Franky wiped his tears with his large arms, crying and yelling, "This is too touching! Since a true man has made a decision! Then let's not be wishy-washy anymore! Everyone get on! I'll definitely get you there safely!"
The King Bulls had saddles mounted on their backs. Franky led Nami and the others onto them.
At this moment, Enies Lobby was ablaze with fire, the entire island engulfed in an apocalyptic scene. But the heat waves had also caused some of the surrounding ice to melt.
The two giant Bulls, carrying dozens of people, their fins paddling like feet, splashed into the newly thawed sea, gradually moving away from the island.
Only Zoro and Sanji remained.
Sanji removed the cigarette butt from his lips, ground it out on the floor, his expression gradually turning grave. "Headquarters Vice Admirals, huh? You still holding up, Moss Head?"
They had clearly seen the strength displayed by the Vice Admirals. Although they weren't afraid of a fight, to actually win against them... honestly, they weren't confident.
"Just worry about yourself, Pervy Cook."
Zoro flicked the blood from his sword, a fervent glint in his eyes as he looked towards the sky. "This overtly sharp sword aura is quite dazzling. Just right, since my Haki isn't proficient yet. Might as well go all out in one go."
With the opponents here dealt with, they prepared to help Reiner by splitting off two Vice Admirals; it could at least alleviate some of his pressure.
Zoro looked up, his gaze fixed on a figure in the sky. He bent his legs and began to run, simultaneously shouting to Sanji, "Hey! Kick me up!"
The person his gaze was locked onto... was actually the strongest swordsman present, Gion!!
—Hiss!
In the sky, Reiner, sensing the situation here, directly sucked in a breath of cold air.
You really dare, don't you!? See a swordsman, and you just have to charge!?
Behind him, the bone serpent, white as porcelain, formed the Ring of Ouroboros. The tomoe drum at its very top, from which arcs of electricity had been leaping, now pulsed as dozens, even hundreds, of thigh-thick long lightning serpents emerged.
Who to release...? Reiner looked around, the answer already in his mind.
"Hundred Snakes Annihilation Formation!"
The swift long serpents, like innumerable blue-white beams of light, shot out, surrounding Gion and several Vice Admirals.
Just as the encirclement formed, another hundred fire serpents surged out, their wildly dancing bodies carrying terrifying high temperatures, forming a second encirclement.
Only Yamakaji, and Momonga who had just been heavily punched by him, remained outside.
"Bastard Four Eyes!" Zoro gritted his teeth, looking at the sky. Hundreds of red and blue serpents interwove into a net, trapping Reiner along with three Vice Admirals within.
Although he knew Reiner's intentions, he couldn't help but show some dissatisfaction. "That guy! Is he looking down on people!?"
"Alright, stop complaining."
Sanji flew towards Yamakaji, calling out to Zoro, "Leave the squinty-eyed one to me! You take care of that handlebar-mustache guy!"
"Don't order me around, bastard!" Zoro cursed but still obediently charged towards Momonga.
"Aiya, we've been separated."
Yamakaji, with his honest, simple face, smiled faintly, looking down at the two figures charging from below. "Even if we break through and rush in, we'll just be forced out again, won't we?"
"Have the elite troops all been defeated?"
Momonga's voice was low as he wiped a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth. "Looks like we've been thoroughly outmaneuvered by the opponent."
Stopping his continuous air-stepping, his cape billowing upwards behind him, Momonga's figure rapidly descended towards the ground. "Let's go. With two of them eyeing us covetously, we can't fight this man."
"Old Me doesn't mind either way," Yamakaji replied with a light chuckle, his gaze inadvertently shifting towards the fierce battle between Luffy and Lucci in the distance. "Looks like that side is about to produce a result. How will it turn out, I wonder..."
Above, Reiner noticed Yamakaji turning his head, then looked back at the three Vice Admirals led by Gion before him.
Not just once... Since just now, he had occasionally noticed them inadvertently glancing towards Luffy and Lucci's fight.
Pat! Pat!
Two figures landed.
"Your eyes are fierce enough."
Momonga faced the green figure charging straight at him, sword drawn. "Your aura is very sharp. Then let Old Me test your quality."
Sheathing his sword, he shot forward in a lunge, skimming across the ice. His left hand held his scabbard, his right rested on the hilt, his gaze like a sword.
"Iai Slash!"
With Momonga's low grunt, the longsword at his waist was drawn. The cold blade flashed out, leaving an afterimage in the air as it whipped out rapidly.
"Three-Sword Style: Onigiri!"
Clang!
Steel blades collided, striking fierce sparks.
Zoro opened with his most familiar technique. Although he didn't fear his opponent, it didn't mean he wasn't wary, especially since his opponent was using the most explosive Iai style.
However, the moment of contact, he was instantly shocked. An immense force transmitted through his arms, sending his entire body flying backward.
Zoro's back skidded across the ice, plowing a trench dozens of meters long, finally crashing into a two-meter-high block of ice frozen from a wave.
BANG!!
The fractured ice block, along with shattered ice, crashed down, burying his body.
"Such great strength."
ZING—!
A green glint flashed straight past. The ice block split in two, revealing smooth, mirror-like cut surfaces and Zoro within. He spoke in a low voice, "Although I was mentally prepared, I still got sent flying by one hit."
"You saw through Old Me's Iai slash?"
To think he blocked his sword... Momonga was somewhat surprised. He put one hand in his pocket and said coolly, "To have such exquisite sword skill at such a young age... the younger generation nowadays is truly incredible."
His longsword slid across the ground, kicking up sparks. With an upward flick, a giant crescent-shaped slash flew out.
Then, Momonga pushed off with both feet, his figure charging out after the flying slash.
"108 Pound Phoenix!"
Boom!
Zoro countered with a flying slash of his own. The bird and the crescent moon collided and exploded violently, specks of green light dissipating into the air.
CLANG!!
Three longswords pressed together, parrying Momonga's descending blade. Even though his opponent used only one hand, Zoro needed all three swords to barely block.
"This is infuriating," Zoro grumbled, looking at his opponent's seemingly relaxed and comfortable demeanor, unable to help feeling annoyed.
He took a deep breath, veins bulging on his arms, which suddenly swelled by a size. With another exertion of force, his opponent's sword was slowly pushed upwards.
"Nigorilla!" (Two-Arm Gorilla!)
Clang!
"Hm?"
Momonga's sword was forcefully parried. He leaped back, using the momentum. Feeling the opponent's sudden surge in strength, he couldn't help but give Zoro another look.
Although he wielded his sword with one hand, it didn't mean he was holding back. Just as his feet touched the ground, his opponent's figure charged fiercely towards him again.
"Nigorizake!" (Two-Arm Gorilla Slash!) Zoro held his twin swords parallel before him, leaped into mid-air, and brought them down with immense force.
The powerful attack finally made Momonga withdraw his other hand, gripping the sword hilt with both hands and holding it horizontally above his head to block.
Clang!
"To have such strength just after setting sail..."
With a full-power burst, Momonga swung his blade fiercely, sending Zoro's body flying. "If I give you another two years, to what extent will you grow, Roronoa?"
A tinge of black began to dye his blade from his wrist upwards. The swordsman before him was not one to be defeated easily. Momonga's face grew serious.
"Who knows?"
Zoro smirked, all three of his swords similarly coated in Haki. "But surpassing you probably won't be an issue, right?"
He pushed off with his toes, taking the initiative to attack, the phantom of a fierce beast seemingly appearing behind him.
"Three-Sword Style: Tiger Hunt!"
"Iai: Flash Step!"
Clang!
Puchi!
Momonga's sword skill was exquisite, and his combat experience was also extremely rich.
Not only did he parry his opponent's move, but he also simultaneously found an opening and countered with a swift draw-and-slash.
A spray of blood splattered onto the pristine white ice, looking somewhat desolate.
"So this is the strength of a Vice Admiral."
Zoro gritted his teeth, enduring the searing pain from his waist. Even though he reacted and dodged in time, he was still inevitably grazed, a wound opening up.
He prided himself that his sword skill was not inferior to his opponent's; his strength, when using Nigorilla, could also match.
His Armament Haki was weaker than his opponent's, but he could barely block; its power was also sufficient to break through his opponent's defense. Although he was at a disadvantage, it wasn't particularly large.
The key was that his opponent's Observation Haki held a huge advantage. His own speed couldn't match, making his attacks exceptionally passive.
"Feels like there's not much chance of winning."
Zoro, far from being afraid, grinned savagely. "But at least... the gap isn't as despairingly large as it was back then."
His mind couldn't help but recall the earlier encounter with Hawk-Eyes at the sea restaurant; that was a truly hopeless situation where one couldn't see even a sliver of hope.
Zoro's eyes showed resolve. He raised his three swords and charged forward again. He didn't retreat then, and he wouldn't retreat now.
And in the future, he would absolutely never retreat!
"Three-Sword Style: Ushioni Yuzume!" (Bull Demon Courageous Claw!)
Clang! Clang! Clang! Two figures continuously intersected, sword glints and shadows frequently flashing with the sparks of clashing cold steel.
Momonga wasn't having an easy time either. He had to admit the man before him possessed exquisite sword skill. Although he held the advantage, he couldn't easily defeat his opponent.
Moreover, his current condition wasn't good. Earlier, when ganging up on Reiner, he had managed to slash him once, but the price was taking a heavy punch squarely on his right shoulder.
That exaggerated force and the Haki-imbued sand gauntlets... his wound still throbbed faintly now.
Every time he swung his sword, it felt as if his shoulder was about to be torn apart.
Elsewhere, Sanji and Yamakaji were continuously entangled.
Just, by comparison, their fight seemed somewhat casual.
BANG!!
Sanji lashed out with a high whip kick. His opponent, as if having anticipated it, raised his left arm to block. The powerful wind pressure impacted outwards.
Although Sanji also used Haki, his powerful leg strength couldn't shake his opponent.
"Quite a nice kick, young man."
Yamakaji chuckled, then drew his sword with his right hand, swung it, and forced his opponent back. "Plenty of power too. Pity your Haki is still a bit lacking."
"You bastard," Sanji gritted his teeth and leaped up.
His legs became a blur of afterimages, swift and powerful like dozens of pitch-black steel pillars crashing down.
"Armament: Tekkai!" (Armament: Iron Mass!)
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Dull impact sounds echoed continuously. Yamakaji's Haki coated his entire body as he tensed up, directly tanking his opponent's storm-like attacks.
The immense force continuously buffeted him, his figure pushed back bit by bit, his feet skidding marks on the ground. Yet his expression remained unchanged, still maintaining a chuckle.
As if attacks of this level couldn't cause any substantial damage at all.
"Even harder than that bastard werewolf!"
Sanji gritted his teeth, suddenly remembering the words that werewolf had said during their earlier fight.
Then, he stomped a foot on his opponent's chest, twisted his ankle, and actually spun rapidly in mid-air for several rotations. "Since that's the case... then how about you try this move!?"
When Sanji's spinning body stopped, his blackened leg actually began to glow red. He smirked.
"When using Tekkai... you can't move freely, right? Diable Jambe!" (Devil Wind Leg!)
The scorching hot foot, carrying astonishing high temperatures, smashed fiercely towards his opponent's chest!
Bang!
Yamakaji was instantly alarmed. Although his Observation Haki sensed the threat of this move, just as Sanji said, while using Tekkai, he couldn't flexibly move his body to dodge.
The powerful kick smashed down violently. A hurricane gusted outwards, making his Justice cape flap loudly.
His body shot backward several meters. His Armament Haki-defended chest actually glowed red, the pain as if seared by flames, incredibly intense.
"Ssss—That really hurts!"
Yamakaji couldn't help but slightly open his eyes, a grave look appearing as he faced his opponent. "So I was the one being too clever."
"Only this much effect?"
Although he had finally inflicted substantial damage, Sanji's eyes showed even greater apprehension.
Diable Jambe plus Armament Haki – if this move had landed on that CP9 werewolf earlier, the fight would have been decided instantly.
Yet, hitting this squinty-eyed Vice Admiral in the chest... merely caused him some pain.
He pushed off hard with both feet, pressing closer, his fiery red leg continuously striking out with high temperatures.
"If one kick isn't enough, then I'll kick until it is!"
"Regrettably, Old Me won't give you that chance, young man."
Facing the torrential rain of kicks, Yamakaji's entire body suddenly went limp, like a piece of paper swaying in the wind.
"Kami-e!" (Paper Art!)
Densely packed black-legged kicks lashed out rapidly. However, his burly body swayed agilely, causing all attacks to miss.
"A technique that makes the body like paper, sensing the airflow from attacks to evade, huh?"
Sanji recognized it at a glance; he had seen this move when fighting CP9. "Then how about this?"
He immediately increased the force in his kicks. Each blow contained his full strength, even causing the surrounding airflow to become chaotic.
His opponent's figure paused; the disordered airflow made Kami-e lose its precise sensing.
His evasion also lost its initial flexibility, allowing Sanji to seize an opportunity and once again land a kick on his abdomen.
BANG!!
Yamakaji's body shot backward. Enduring the pain, he swung out a flying slash, forcing back the pursuing figure.
"You only fought CP9 once, yet you've already figured out the weaknesses of Rokushiki."
Yamakaji's smiling face turned serious. "Young people's minds truly are flexible. Indeed, I cannot underestimate you."
"Soru!" (Shave!)
Holding his longsword, which glinted with a cold light, he continuously stamped his feet, his figure flickering as he charged forward.
"Finally willing to get serious?" Sanji wasn't complacent. He knew his opponent was about to get serious now.
Meanwhile, in the sky...
Countless rhombus-shaped shields surrounded Reiner, blocking the bullets fired from Onigumo's pistols.
"Great Fire Annihilation!"
Flames erupted from his left shoulder. A massive wall of fire, like a tsunami, swept out, engulfing Momousagi who was charging forward.
"Half Moon: Flying Rabbit!"
ZING—!
Suddenly, a fierce wind arose, the powerful wind pressure scattering the flames.
Then, another giant slash shot out, tearing through the sea of fire, revealing the pink figure within.
"Two Hundred Million Volt: El Thor!" (God's Judgment!)
Reiner countered by blasting out a thick beam of lightning, which tore through the crescent slash and continued unabated towards Gion.
At this moment, several new wounds had appeared on his body.
However, aside from Gion's initial slash, the others were merely minor flesh wounds.
In contrast, his opponents were in an even sorrier state; all three Vice Admirals had patches of skin charred black from burns.
Especially Gion; taking a fire serpent head-on earlier clearly hadn't been pleasant.
"So that's how it is."
Reiner murmured to himself. Earlier, when he noticed them inadvertently glancing towards Luffy and Lucci's distant battle, he had begun to think.
The Navy's attitude felt somewhat strange to him.
He knew long ago that Aokiji wouldn't easily make a move against them. Since Aokiji didn't act on Long Ring Long Land, there was little reason for him to suddenly come here to capture them. When he arrived, Frieren's Observation Haki indeed hadn't sensed any hostility.
But when fighting these Vice Admirals, they were clearly going all out, showing no intention of holding back.
This made him feel a bit conflicted.
If Aokiji joined the battle, their lineup could easily take them down. His inaction meant the Navy hadn't made up its mind to fight them to the death.
Then why are these Vice Admirals fighting like their lives depend on it?
There's only one answer: they are also waiting for the outcome of Luffy's battle!!
Tie down Reiner and the others. If Luffy loses, they attack and capture. If Luffy wins, they retreat. The reason they fought Reiner so fiercely wasn't because of the two meteorites at the beginning.
After all, Aokiji had intervened and blocked them, destroying only a few warships and not causing many casualties. It was simply because if they didn't go all out, those Vice Admirals couldn't tie him down!
They didn't want to directly attack Luffy. Besides Garp's influence, Reiner couldn't think of any other reason.
But CP9 directly answered to the World Government. If Lucci arrested Luffy, the Marine Admirals, including Aokiji, would likewise just watch quietly.
Actively helping them or anything... that was too ridiculous, impossible.
If Luffy was captured, they wouldn't care about the other Straw Hat members at all. Marines capturing pirates was perfectly justified; they'd just round them all up!
Thinking this, Reiner instantly lost his will to fight. Then he wouldn't fight desperately either.
Fighting to the death here... and the Enies Lobby Buster Call incident would turn out to be like a child's game.
However, this is also quite good.
The Navy has its own agenda; he doesn't care. His crew's trip to Enies Lobby was a net gain, no losses.
Robin resolved her inner conflict, Zoro and Sanji awakened Haki, Nami got to practice with the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, and the others also improved more or less.
The only one losing out was the World Government. This wasn't making them all rich? (Sarcasm)
As for Luffy losing to Lucci... Reiner was unconcerned. Impossible.
When push came to shove, Luffy could shorten his lifespan and use a major power-up, then thrash Lucci.
Taking ten thousand steps back, even if Luffy did lose, Reiner just needed to step in and one-shot Lucci. Aokiji wouldn't actively try to capture Luffy then either.
Suddenly, the situation felt incredibly stable.
Reiner looked down at Zoro and Sanji fighting below. Fight on. Fight slowly.
From Haki awakening to mastery... it's best if they achieve it all in one go here.
(End of this chapter)
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