Chapter 67: The Great Explosion
A thick smell of gunpowder permeated the air.
The moment the two made contact, the air instantly exploded, and scorching white light filled their vision.
The Pirates, clearly aware of their Captain's ability, had run far away from the start.
Because the Explosion Fruit's ability cannot be precisely controlled when used, the greater the explosion's power, the wider the affected area.
Both figures were swallowed by the intense impact generated by the explosion and collision.
Both figures were sent flying backward during the explosion.
However, neither sustained significant injury.
Davis, covered entirely in armament haki, directly withstood the impact generated by the explosion.
A slight disturbance was insignificant before his powerful physique.
As an ability user, Wendigo wouldn't be harmed by his own ability.
Davis's powerful strike was also weakened by the immense destructive force of the explosion.
For Wendigo, the best defense was offense.
In a head-on confrontation, he was no weaker than Davis.
A great battle was imminent, and the two began a fierce confrontation.
One wanted to stall for time and wait for rescue, while the other wanted to defeat and capture the opponent quickly.
The Rocks Pirates also received the news from the Blaster Pirates.
They couldn't afford not to rescue "The Blaster" Wendigo.
In Rocks D.
Xebec's view, although Wendigo couldn't compare to Shiki and Newgate, he would be an Admiral in a few more years.
Furthermore, the Blaster Pirates were an Affiliated Pirate Group of the Rocks Pirates.
If they didn't rescue them, how would others see them?
Even if they didn't succeed, they needed to show their stance.
"Does anyone want to go rescue Wendigo?"
Facing Rocks D.
Xebec's question, the surrounding Pirates remained silent.
No one wanted to clash with the Marines for someone else, especially when it involved a Marine Admiral.
What if they got themselves caught?
Moreover, there were quite a few members who didn't get along with Wendigo and were secretly gloating that he had become the unlucky one.
The Marines counterattacking was within their expectations.
Some smart Pirates had stayed in Hachinosu and the Surrounding Seas during this time to avoid the Marines' attack.
"Then let me do it."
"It's a good chance to test my new sword and fight Davis again."
Shiki stepped forward once more, wearing his new weapon at his waist – two top-grade famous swords found among the treasures of the Croydia Kingdom's Nobles.
They were "Sakura Wood" and "Withered Ten," ranked among the twenty-one great grade swords.
After returning to Hachinosu, someone had delivered them.
Shiki was very satisfied with these two swords.
However, many were aware of Shiki's true purpose.
As his strength increased and his status rose, Shiki's prestige within the Rocks Pirates grew higher and higher.
He had started forming factions within the Rocks Pirates early on and already possessed considerable influence.
His astonishing growth rate and unique personal charisma led many Pirates to value Shiki's potential, gradually aligning themselves under Shiki's wing.
Being able to stand up for comrades and actively provoke a Marine Admiral – such strength and confidence were very popular among Pirates.
His prestige within the Rocks Pirates had already begun to compare with seniors like John, Silver Axe, and Wang Zhi.
Rocks D.
Xebec didn't mind this scene, as he was confident he could suppress everything.
Shiki was only just starting to develop.
Above Shiki, there were still stronger monsters like John, Silver Axe, Wang Zhi, and the Four Kings.
(In the setting, John, Silver Axe, and Wang Zhi are about ten years older than Shiki and Edward Newgate, joining the Rocks Pirates ten years earlier, and were newcomers who joined in the early days of the Rocks Pirates' establishment.
)
Although time might be too short, and "The Blaster" Wendigo was likely beyond saving, with Shiki's personality, he wouldn't make the trip for nothing.
And this was also Rocks D.
Xebec's intention.
"Notify the others about this news. The Marines definitely won't just target Wendigo alone; they should have other targets."
The Marines only sent one Marine Admiral.
The current New World had three Marine Admirals, twenty Marine Vice Admirals, including four Admiral Candidates.
(The eighteen Fortresses in the New World correspond to eighteen Vice Admirals, plus five sent from Headquarters, minus three who died in battle, makes twenty.
)
(The Marines have forty-six Fortresses, which doesn't mean forty-six Marine Vice Admirals.
The thirteen Marine Fortresses in the New World are newly built, making thirty-three, twenty of which are from the Four Seas.
)
(Additionally, Marine Headquarters has twenty-seven Marine Vice Admirals, nine of whom are from the Four Seas.
To resist the Four Seas Faction's occupation of Headquarters' power, they can only continuously promote young Marines from Headquarters, forming a numerical suppression against the Four Seas Faction within Marine Headquarters.
)
(Also, during special periods, there is an urgent need for more powerful combatants.
In chaotic times, promotions are faster, and there are more opportunities.
Relatively, most of these Marine Vice Admirals are not very strong, they just look intimidating in terms of numbers.
)
Such powerful combat power was truly formidable; it was impossible they only dispatched one person.
He had already given the reminder.
If they didn't pay attention, they deserved whatever happened.
Meanwhile, on Flame Island, the great battle that had lasted for three hours finally ended.
Although Wendigo, relying on the Explosion Fruit's ability, was no weaker than Davis in terms of destructive power.
He suffered from rapid stamina consumption.
In contrast, Davis, whose body technique was stronger and who had the boost of an ancient zoan Devil Fruit ability, had far greater endurance than Wendigo.
"Die! Marines! I will not surrender!"
Wendigo gasped for air, his entire body's skin turning red.
Especially his entire right arm, which glowed with a crimson light and showed cracks like lava.
He was about to use his trump card.
Once used, the result is completely irreversible, signifying that Wendigo had reached his limit and was pushed to a dead end.
"Dangerous! He's going to self-destruct!"
Davis's face changed, his gaze fixed on Wendigo's nearly burning right arm, feeling a fatal threat.
He roughly guessed what Wendigo was trying to do.
But it was too late.
Wendigo had already rushed in front of Davis, unleashing a punch that was almost burning with fire towards him.
Davis took the punch head-on, using the impact from Wendigo's strike to try and create distance.
However, Wendigo wouldn't give him that chance.
As the fist neared Davis's head, Davis's entire left arm withered and turned into dust, dissipating into the air.
This was like a fuse; terrifying energy erupted instantly, completely swallowing both figures.
In a short time, a terrifying explosion, an expanding crimson hemisphere, swallowed more than half of the Island.
With destructive power, Wendigo used one of his arms as the vessel for the explosion, producing astonishingly terrifying results.
Under such an explosion, the entire Sea Area trembled, and the Great Sea continuously churned up giant waves.
(end of chapter)