Throughout the entire fight, whether it was Zephyr or the veteran hailed as the Marine Hero, the two never underestimated each other. From start to finish they gave no quarter — and they aimed to crush Kronos.
Yet Kronos kept beating them back, forcing them to retreat again and again.
Even though these two veterans were old, they still had skill and experience. They weren't the sort to be overwhelmed two-to-one — and yet here they were, pushed down to the edge.
What had seemed impossible was unfolding: Kronos' strength forced even the most battle-hardened Marines to accept what they had previously thought inconceivable.
No matter who you were, it was unimaginable that Kronos could be this strong. "Powerful" no longer covered it — it was terrifying.
In the shadows, a man in a coat with a cigar between his lips watched, his face drawn and grim.
This was Smoker.
Smoker had been ordered by Sengoku to hide with several Marine Headquarters elites — like hunters in the trees — waiting for the right moment. The plan was simple: as soon as Kronos exposed a weakness, they would strike and end him in one decisive move.
"Kronos is unreal. How can he still have so much strength after fighting Whitebeard? This isn't right," Smoker muttered, rubbing his face in disbelief.
He'd known Garp and Zephyr for years; they had strength left in them. Smoker had expected a long, grueling battle — at least a few hours to see who would break first.
But that didn't happen. Not hours — thirty minutes. In the blink of an eye, the two celebrated veterans were on the back foot and being dominated from beginning to end.
Was it that Zephyr and Garp were suddenly too old to fight? Smoker shook his head. No — Kronos was just that monstrous.
"We can't just stand by," Hina said, drawing a deep breath. Her face had gone solemn. "If things continue like this, Garp and the others could fall before we even move. Can we really let that happen?"
Her worry was justified. If the battle continued and no intervention came, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"We have to act. We can't stay here and watch!" another Marine elite said coldly, his voice full of determination.
Smoker raised a hand and cut in, his expression dark. "If we act rashly now, we'll only make things worse. Trust me on this — my judgment won't be wrong. If you rush in without a plan, you'll be the ones to cause trouble for Garp and Zephyr."
"So what do we do?" Hina asked.
"For now, we trust the two veterans," Smoker replied firmly. "Garp and Zephyr are Marine legends. If anyone can turn this around, it's them. We hold position, watch for the opening, and strike when it's safe. Don't act out of panic."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can visit my Patreon page:
Patreon.com/PhoeniXcel
There are 10+ advanced chapters available for you to read.
Your support would be greatly appreciated.
📢 Check out my new Naruto fanfic!
[Naruto: I Don't Want Recognition]