Chapter 178: Taking You All Out at Once! (7K)

Chapter 178: Taking You All Out at Once! (7K)



Ten massive warships, taller than the bridge itself, sailed swiftly in two rows of five.

Standing at the forefront of the leading row of ships was the admiral leading the fleet.

Demon Slaying Order.

As soon as they received the signal for the Demon Slaying Order, they sprang into action. The signal originated from Enies Lobby, making their headquarters at the Navy Headquarters the closest to the target location!

With troops dispatched from their headquarters and taking advantage of the rapid cyclic currents of the Gate of Justice, they arrived at the Gate of Justice leading to Enies Lobby within thirty minutes.

On the central warship stood a man with a long beard, a stern expression, and a tall hat. One couldn't tell if it was because his skull was unusually tall or if he simply favored tall hats.

He wore a light green suit, a navy cape, and a pair of pink-handled swords at his waist, making him a dual-wielder.

Vice Admiral Strawberry Stroberry of the Navy Headquarters.

On the warship to his left stood a man with a mohawk, his long hair tied back, and a goatee. A sword hung at his waist.

Vice Admiral Squirrel of the Navy Headquarters.

And on the furthest left was a man with a broad face and a bushy beard, wearing a constant smile.

Vice Admiral Fire Mountain of the Navy Headquarters.

To Stroberry's right was a man with numerous scars on his face, giving him a fierce appearance.

Vice Admiral Doberman of the Navy Headquarters.

On the furthest right warship, standing on the deck with his arms crossed, wearing a helmet, and sporting gold earrings was another man.

Vice Admiral Ghost Spider of the Navy Headquarters.

These vice admirals were well-known on the high seas and could be considered elite among their peers.

Ghost Spider stared at the 'Hesitation Bridge' drawing ever closer, along with the Enies Lobby island behind it. He took a deep drag on his cigar, exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, and said in a low voice, "Whether it was a misjudgment or not, we of the Navy follow orders. Regardless of what lies ahead, be it an island or otherwise, we will faithfully execute our mission! All warships, aim and, upon entering the range of the Hesitation Bridge, open fire on Enies Lobby!"

A nearby sailor started, then asked urgently, "Vice Admiral Ghost Spider, there are Navy personnel on Enies Lobby. Should we signal for them to board before we commence the bombardment?"

"Did you not hear my order?"

Ghost Spider remained unmoved, "Proceed. Open fire."

"But..."

Bang!

The sailor who spoke up fell to the deck, a bloom of blood spreading across his chest.

Ghost Spider, still holding his flintlock pistol, didn't even glance at the fallen sailor. His gaze fixed ahead, he said coldly, "I have no use for insubordinate sailors."

The other sailors on the ship fell silent, their postures straightening even as some of them wore reluctant expressions.

"Vice Admiral!"

A cry came from the sailor in the crow's nest, "We've spotted 'Disaster' Norton Sage on the Hesitation Bridge!"

"Norton Sage."

Ghost Spider's eyes widened, his already gloomy face growing even more somber, "So it's that pirate who lacks respect for the World Government. He dares to intrude on Enies Lobby, a place no one has ever dared approach. All warships, open fire on the Hesitation Bridge!"

"Yes!"

Several sailors quickly gathered at the front deck, loading the cannons with ammunition. Just as they were about to light the fuses, their movements froze, along with everything else in that moment.

The sound of the ships cutting through the waves, the flapping of the sails in the wind, and the footsteps of the sailors running across the deck—all sound vanished, and the world fell into a momentary tranquility.

Splash.

The sailor at the front, who had been loading a cannon, fell to the deck, his eyes rolled up, showing only the whites. It was as if this had triggered a contagion, as one by one, the sailors on the deck collapsed.

On a warship that typically held a thousand sailors, no more than fifty remained standing.

"Conqueror's Haki!"

The five vice admirals' eyes widened as they fixed their gazes on the approaching Hesitation Bridge and the white-haired man standing on it, a cruel smile spreading across his face.

"He's a man with potential," Squirrel said, his voice dropping.

"I heard he inflicted quite a wound on Master Zefa," Doberman said coldly. "Given his strength in the East Blue, it's no surprise he possesses Conqueror's Haki."

"A bounty of 600 million berries," Fire Mountain said with a chuckle. "Looks like it's not just simple destruction he's after."

Ghost Spider raised his head, his expression grim. "We must take him out before he reaches his full potential!"

Stroberry drew the twin swords from his waist and said calmly, "At this level, it's no longer appropriate to have our subordinates engage the enemy."

As the warships drew closer, the number of standing sailors among the initial fifty continued to dwindle. From time to time, one would collapse, and by the time they reached the Hesitation Bridge, there were barely a dozen left standing on each ship.

With a thousand sailors per warship, there should have been a total of ten thousand. However, the number of those still standing didn't even reach fifty.

These sailors were all colonels in the Navy and could be considered elites. Their ability to withstand Sage's Conqueror's Haki was a testament to their strength.

However, this number was insufficient to activate the Demon Slaying Order.

Without enough personnel, they couldn't even manage to stop the ships, let alone operate the cannons.

"There are still some of you standing? I thought it was just the five of you. Call for some backup, will you? Your Demon Slaying Order is useless now!"

Sage laughed loudly as he watched the ten warships about to dock in front of the bridge. He kicked out with a leg, sending a massive slash toward the lead warship.

Clang!

Just as the slash was about to hit the warship's bow, Stroberry leaped forward, twin swords crossed, easily deflecting the attack. The slash landed on the bridge, right in front of Sage.

The other four vice admirals also jumped down from their positions at the front of their respective ships, standing side by side with Stroberry.

"Disaster, Norton Sage, don't underestimate the Navy!"

Doberman pointed his sword directly at Sage and shouted, "You, an embodiment of sin, will only meet one end—arrest!"

"Oh? No call for backup yet? The Demon Slaying Order is led by vice admirals, right? You all seem stronger than the ones I met at the festival."

Sage spread his arms to his sides, his right foot stepping forward to align with his left. He laughed softly, "Take you all out, and then I can call for backup, right?"

The two sides stared at each other, neither Sage nor the five vice admirals showing any sign of fear.

Sage was fearless by nature, and the five vice admirals were seasoned veterans who had seen it all.

The Conqueror's Haki only managed to startle them momentarily.

Whoosh!

Strawberry was the first to attack, crossing his twin swords in an 'X' formation and swiftly slashing out with a flying strike.

Sage grinned ferociously, not even bothering to dodge. Instead, he took a deep breath and exhaled forcefully.

It was the Breath Technique!

A surging wave of energy emanated from the sonic wave of his exhale, shattering the 'X'-shaped slash.

But at that moment, Squirrel leaped high into the air, performing a mid-air Iaido stance. As the slash below crumbled, he twisted his hand, drawing his sword with such speed that the initially clear blade now gleamed with a pitch-black hue.

Clang!

The swift and fierce black blade was blocked by a single finger.

Sage's index finger extended horizontally, emitting a flowing black aura that resembled burning flames as it blocked the descending sword.

He lifted his head and flashed a disdainful smile at Squirrel.

Squirrel's eyes darkened as he instantly landed on the ground, his blade sliding along Sage's finger and swiftly reversing direction to slice at his neck.

Clang!

Sage extended his arm forward, his horizontal index finger now pointing vertically to block the attack once more.

Squirrel slashed upward, the sharp blade sliding along the finger and then downward in a swift motion. With both hands gripping the hilt, the blade, already imbued with Haki, now flowed with even more intensity as he forcefully slashed downward.

Sssss!

A diagonal gash appeared on the bridge, starting from in front of Squirrel and extending downward, causing half of the bridge to almost sink into the sea.

And in front of Squirrel, Sage had vanished from his original spot.

"That move had some power to it."

The voice came from behind Squirrel, who stiffened for a moment before sensing the gust of wind by his ear. Sage's fingers were about to pierce his temples, coated in Haki and poised to strike.

But at that moment, without even turning around, Squirrel remained still, maintaining his stance.

Just as Sage's fingers were about to reach Squirrel's head, a red dot suddenly flashed in his eyes, prompting him to instinctively stomp his foot and leap into the air. Behind him, Strawberry's crossed swords cleaved the air, their attack missing its mark.

However, just as Sage reached the sky, a figure appeared behind him. Fire Mountain unsheathed his blade and swung it down with force.

Sage tapped his foot in the air, creating a swirling smoke ring of energy beneath him. Using Moonwalk, he swiftly spun around, his arms brimming with Haki as he blocked Fire Mountain's descending blade.

Clang! Bang!

The Haki-infused blade struck Sage's arm, and the tremendous force caused him to plunge downward involuntarily.

As he fell, Ghost Spider was already waiting for him. Ghost Spider exhaled a puff of smoke, gripped his twin swords, and his long hair suddenly floated up, transforming into six arm-like shapes. Somehow, he had acquired six more swords, which his hair-arms now wielded, resembling eight arms aiming at Sage as he fell.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

As Sage's body descended, he abruptly spun, his arms and legs coated in Haki like a whirlwind, colliding with the eight swords' fierce offensive and creating a shower of sparks.

Whoosh!

In the brief second that Sage was engaged with the others, Doberman transformed into an afterimage and appeared behind him, stabbing his sword forward.

Pfft!

The sword pierced the air, spraying blood, but at that moment, the whirlwind that had been fending off the eight swords from the front and back suddenly spun like a bullet and fell backward toward the bridge.

Sage wiped the wound at his waist and looked at the blood on his palm, chuckling. "Looks like you're not the kind of weaklings I met at the festival."

They had mastered the Six Styles, Combat Techniques, Swordsmanship, and Haki, all with freedom and proficiency.

They were stronger than Benn Beckman.

In fact, Beckman in his prime would probably be around this level.

Among the vice admirals, they were undoubtedly elites.

"Norton Sage!"

Ghost Spider pointed all eight of his swords at Sage. "Surrender now! You are no match for us!"

"Ho ho ho ho! You're overly confident, aren't you? You've only grazed my skin," Sage laughed loudly, the wound at his waist already emitting white mist and rapidly healing.

At this sight, Ghost Spider's pupils contracted. "Life Return?"

"I won't play this game with you anymore," Sage said as he removed the jewelry from his fingers and put them away, along with his cape.

Sage wasn't strong enough to nonchalantly face off against these elite vice admirals, especially all five of them together.

Especially when it came to the strength of their Haki; if they were to fight in their usual states, it would take at least half a day to deplete their Haki reserves before a victor could be decided.

These men were extremely experienced, and Sage had sensed that during the fight. They had highly developed Kenbunshoku Haki, as even when they made contact for a moment, they instinctively avoided being hit.

Perhaps they had sensed something.

Normally, Sage would be delighted to have these five vice admirals temper their strength against him.

But right now, he didn't have the time for that.

So...

Hsss!

Sage exhaled a sharp, arrow-like white breath that spread across the ground, and at the same time, he tossed his cape into the air, letting it drift downward.

Boom!

That figure rushed forward, transforming from its normal state to an enlarged form in an instant as it charged toward Ghost Spider.

Ghost Spider was taken aback, his reaction a fraction slower as he instinctively positioned all eight swords in front of him, creating a whirlwind of blades.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Amid the whirlwind, sparks flew, and within those sparks appeared a mass of pitch-black flames, like an oversized black inferno that expanded to a height taller than Ghost Spider. It rushed forward and collided with the swords.

Ghost Spider took a step back, his eight swords swiftly forming a spider web-like defense in front of him.

Boom!

A small ball of flame exploded against the eight swords, and within that flame was a hideously grim fist.

An incredibly hideous, muscular body was revealed, with muscles as twisted and knotted as steel cables, resembling a suit of muscle armor.

"You blocked it?"

Sage flashed a sinister smile at him. "No, you didn't! Sky Splitter!"

Boom!

The fist, still pressed against the blades, suddenly surged with Haki, which then exploded outward toward Ghost Spider.

"Pft!"

Ghost Spider bit down on his cigar, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth as he was sent flying backward uncontrollably.

"Great strength, coupled with the sudden burst of Haki, dealt a solid blow to his body, causing him to crumble where his Haki protection was lacking."

Sage kicked out to the side, and with a crisp snap, his foot connected with the blade of the oncoming Fire Mountain.

The instant he made contact, Sage slid his leg along the blade until it reached his knee, then twisted and bent, wrapping the blade with a force that pulled Fire Mountain toward him.

Sage twisted his leg and turned his waist, delivering a fierce knee strike to Fire Mountain's head, sending him crashing to the ground.

Without pausing after the strike, Sage's body flickered, and in an instant, he appeared before the swooping Squirrel, who had already drawn his blade in anticipation. A red dot flashed in his eyes as if he had expected Sage's move, and as Sage disappeared, he slashed diagonally with his sword.

Clang!

Near his neck appeared Sage's palm, his single hand gripping the sharp blade, the protective Haki around his body combining with his physical strength to resist Squirrel's swordmaster-level Haki and slash without taking any damage.

As he caught the blade, Sage's other hand formed a fist and punched Squirrel in the abdomen, sending him flying into the air, his body curling up.

With a single punch, Sage sidestepped and kicked Squirrel, sending him flying into the warship and crashing through the deck, gouging out a deep furrow until he hit the iron wall at the ship's edge and came to a stop.

Sage kicked out with his leg and stomped heavily, his body twisting and both hands reaching out to catch the crossed twin blades of Stroberry, who was rushing at him from behind. He bared his teeth at Stroberry and rammed his head forward, butting him on his unusually tall head.

It wasn't that he was wearing a tall hat; his skull was just abnormally long.

Stroberry involuntarily leaned back, and in that moment, his hands lost their grip on the blades, which Sage deflected to the side. He stepped closer and shouldered Stroberry in the chest.

Bang!

The immense force sent Stroberry crashing into the outer hull of the warship, creating a deep dent.

As he shoved Stroberry aside, Sage swiped his arm to the side, grabbing the blade of the oncoming Doberman and pulling it to the side to expose his flank. He then threw a punch aimed squarely at his head.

Boom!

The punch caused Doberman's head to dent inward momentarily, and his entire body crashed into the bridge, creating a massive dent and sending stones flying.

Sage shook his hand and flashed to his original position, his body shrinking as he reached out and caught the cape that was gently floating down, draping it over his shoulders.

"Hahahaha! Looks like you need some more backup!"

His eyes once again shone with a sinister light, and his Conqueror's Haki, now understood by these vice admirals, seemed to take on a substantial form, a black and red torrent surging into the sky.

Even the city that never slept seemed to dim slightly under the influence of this overwhelming Conqueror's Haki.

"This guy..."

Ghost Spider stood up shakily, his whole body covered in blood. He spat out the bitten-off end of his cigar and eyed Sage warily.

Could Haki be used to such an extent?

These vice admirals had already reached the level where they could freely manipulate Haki, yet compared to Sage, they were not even in the same league.

Sage's Haki seemed to take on a shape of its own, constantly adjusting its range and form to attack.

Not to mention his terrifying physique and body techniques.

Especially his body techniques! He used every part of his body—hands, feet, head, joints—in combat, like an extreme fighting machine with no limits!

Stroberry struggled to pull his limbs out of the dent in the warship's hull and fell to the ground, gasping for breath. He glared at the grinning Sage and said in a deep voice, "Kaido?"

This exaggerated combat style reminded him of the Sea Emperor, a similarly formidable fighter currently roaming the seas.

"Although it's humiliating..."

Squirrel climbed back onto the edge of the warship, looking down at Sage. "We have to admit that we can't take him down."

"Then call for backup!"

Doberman climbed out of the dent, unconcerned about the blood flowing from his head, and said coldly, "This dangerous man must be arrested as soon as possible!"

The Demon Slaying Order was important, and Enies Lobby had to be destroyed. But standing in their way was Sage, who was also a critical obstacle.

They were following orders, but now, with Sage blocking their path, they couldn't destroy Enies Lobby, and they couldn't let this dangerous man go!

If five of them weren't enough, then they'd call for five more!

"Headquarters, requesting backup."

Fire Mountain also stood up and shouted to the remaining colonels on the warship, "Inform them that 'Disaster' Norton Sage is obstructing us at Enies Lobby. He must be arrested at all costs!"

If they let Sage stop them here, the Navy would lose face, and the Demon Slaying Order would be a failure!

"That's more like it."

Sage chuckled, sitting cross-legged on the ground with one hand propping up his chin as he eyed the five vice admirals. "If you're not going to fight, then take a rest. I wonder how many people your headquarters can send here."

"What are you trying to do?"

Squirrel jumped down from the warship, landing near the bridge. "Are you just trying to stop the Demon Slaying Order? What does Enies Lobby have to do with a pirate like you?"

Sage's attacks were indeed powerful, but as elite vice admirals, they weren't going down that easily.

Even now, Squirrel felt soreness in his left shoulder and side, and he suspected his internal organs might be ruptured, but he still had fighting strength left.

Sage was strong, but there was no need to fear him.

At their level, if they felt fear, they wouldn't have achieved such high status and strength.

The reason they weren't continuing the fight was that they also realized they weren't a match for Sage, and...

Squirrel glanced at the judicial island town behind the bridge, where the civilians still had time to evacuate. Having Sage blocking their path might not be a bad thing.

"Enies Lobby has nothing to do with me, but you're interfering with my robbery plans. The Navy forces at the Seven Waters Capital have always been on guard against me, and they won't leave without an evacuation order."

Sage laughed. "The Demon Slaying Order is a good excuse. If you want to complete your order, just withdraw the ships from the Seven Waters Capital.

"Was it you who pressed it?" Squirrel's pupils constricted.

As a Dove Faction Navy, he knew that Kuzan had given Spandam the signal device for the Demon Slaying Order, and that guy wouldn't have pressed it. So, the culprit could only be Saga, who had appeared on Enies Lobby!

Sage didn't respond but instead watched the five of them with interest, a smile playing on his lips. "You guys are quite interesting, each in your own way."

He pointed at Squirrel and Fire Mountain, then at Ghost Spider and Doberman. "You two are brimming with killing intent, yet you remain rational. Do you know you're not strong enough?"

Finally, he pointed at Stroberry. "And you, it seems like you're open to anything. Looks like the overlords of these seas have different mindsets indeed."

They were indeed different.

Stroberry was a neutral party in the Navy, open to anything and everything. He valued orders but also had his own way of handling things.

Squirrel and Fire Mountain were moderates who pursued a 'benevolent justice.' They believed that even the most heinous pirates deserved a trial before being convicted and showed care for their subordinates and civilians.

Ghost Spider and Doberman were radicals who advocated for 'absolute justice.' They believed that evil must be eradicated, and for that cause, any sacrifice was worth making. They also highly valued orders and missions.

"But there's one thing you all have in common!"

Squirrel tightened his grip on his sword hilt, his gaze fixed on Sage. "Our purpose is the same: to uphold justice and arrest you, a pirate!"

"Justice? Hmph!" Sage chuckled. "The winner writes history. Admirals, in this situation, I am the justice!"

"It's because of pirates like you that the Navy exists!" Doberman stood his ground. "Disaster, a temporary victory is not a true victory. There are countless powerful pirates roaming these seas, but only the Navy are the true victors!"

"Who cares about that?" Sage sneered. "If you're not going to fight, then wait there. Also, my patience is limited. When I destroy the next wave of the Demon Slaying Order, I hope the reinforcements you bring will be from the Seven Waters Capital."

Without waiting for a response, Sage turned his attention to the surging sea.

Alone on the bridge in the middle of the ocean, surrounded by the vast expanse of water, it would be a waste not to fish.

"Hey!" Sage called out to the sailors on the warship. "Bring me a fishing rod and some bait. I'm not going to wait for half an hour, so let me catch some fish!"

The colonel on the warship was taken aback and instinctively looked to his superior.

"Give it to him," Squirrel instructed.

This guy possessed the strength to defeat them, but now he was deliberately waiting for something. Regardless of his motives, the chaotic nature of pirates made them unreliable. It was a good thing to have something that could hold his attention.

These vice admirals, of course, knew about the notorious 'Disaster.' If they let him be, they might not get their reinforcements in time.

There were also many sailors on the warship, and the civilians on Enies Lobby Island still had time to evacuate. Having Sage stall for time might not be a bad thing.

Before long, the colonel jumped down from the warship, placed the fishing rod and bait at a distance, and then returned to the ship.

"No ambition, no insight into the situation? Too afraid to come closer? No wonder you're a weakling," Sage commented as he walked over, picked up the fishing rod, and cast it into the sea. He then sat cross-legged, quietly waiting for a bite.

The current situation was bizarre.

Ten massive warships were docked at the Hesitation Bridge, yet there was no movement from either side.

The five elite vice admirals faced the pirate but didn't make a move. Instead, they had their subordinates tend to their wounds.

They weren't foolish. If they could wait for reinforcements, why engage in a battle now? With more people, it would be easier to deal with Sage, so they rested, recovered their energy, and treated their injuries, preparing for another intense fight with him in half an hour.

Behind the Hesitation Bridge, Enies Lobby Island was bustling with activity. From time to time, there were sounds of collapsing buildings and the clamor of battle.

Sage stood at the center, with the Navy on one side and the invading pirates on the other, clearly divided as if neither could influence the other.

Half an hour later, ten more massive warships emerged from the gap in the Gate of Justice and swiftly sailed toward Sage's location.

"Here they come!" Ghost Spider, his body wrapped in bandages, gripped his eight swords tightly and growled, "Disaster, you will pay the price for your arrogance!"

"Ten headquarters vice admirals. That should be enough to capture you!" Stroberry remarked calmly. "Although it will be a tough battle."

Sage placed the fishing rod gently on the ground, letting it continue to dangle, then stood up and looked at the approaching warships. "Make sure the fishing rod doesn't break. I don't know if I'll have to wait for another half hour or an hour."

He stretched his body, then threw his cape aside and took a deep breath. As he inhaled, his chest and belly expanded, and he exhaled a sharp, arrow-like white breath. His body transformed, growing to over three meters tall, and he let out a ferocious roar.

The remaining five vice admirals focused their gazes on Sage, their expressions turning solemn.

This guy had also sensed the urgency of the situation and wanted to end it quickly? If that was the case, they couldn't let him succeed!

"Moonwalk: Comet!"

Boom!

Sage's ferocious form leaped high into the air. Amid the surrounding dark clouds, the beam of light shining from Enies Lobby Island illuminated him, making him appear as if he were descending from the heavens. He drew the attention of everyone, including the reinforcements on the warships, and the five vice admirals on those ships all looked up.

"I'm too lazy to mess around with you guys individually. I'll take you all out at once!" Sage declared.

He placed his left hand on his right arm, his fist clenched tightly as a vast amount of Haki flowed into it. Two black lightning bolts crackled around his fist.

"Wait, that stance..." Squirrel's eyes widened as he recognized the posture Sage had taken. "And that Haki... What are you planning to do, you bastard?!"

Sage, leaping high into the air, was about to throw a punch, and his stance was very familiar.

Perhaps it was because they were high in the sky, or perhaps it was the sunlight shining from Enies Lobby Island, but the vice admirals felt a sense of unreality as they looked at Sage. His figure seemed to blur, and in their eyes, he transformed into a man with a heroic smile, known as a 'hero' in the Navy.

"Garp?!"

"Hahahaha!" Sage fixed his gaze on the massive warships below and the approaching ships. His fist, infused with Haki, smashed down toward the twenty warships. His face contorted with ferocity and madness, reaching its peak.

"Fist of the Sky: Galaxy Impact!"

Boom!!!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end