"Back in the day, there were numerous wars between Whitebeard and your Navy; I participated in quite a few! It's no surprise we've met. However, for the esteemed Navy Headquarters Marshal to remember a nobody like me, I must say I'm deeply honored!"
"No, it's unrelated to the Whitebeard Pirates, it's a much older matter..."
Sengoku paused, realizing it was just an uncertain guess of his own, and perhaps there was no need to explain it face-to-face with this guy.
He shook his head, preparing to steer the conversation back to the topic of allegiance, when suddenly his expression changed drastically, and he stood up abruptly, turning to look out of the window.
"What is it, Marshal?"
Vice Admiral Dor inquired, puzzled.
"There is an extremely powerful aura rapidly approaching the base."
Sengoku's expression was grave, a drop of cold sweat appeared on his forehead, "There's no attempt to hide it, arrogant, yet very unfamiliar; I've never encountered it before..."
In the New World, he had met with the Four Emperors.
So the only one who fits this description is...
"Shano!!!"
Sengoku roared angrily at the sky, and almost simultaneously—
Boom!!!
The entire ceiling was suddenly torn apart, and the upper parts of the surrounding walls collapsed with a crash!
Amidst the rising dust, a handsome young man with black hair and black eyes descended from the sky, stepping into this top floor of the fortress, one step at a time.
"Seems like I've come at a bad time."
His indifferent gaze swept around, finally landing on Blackbeard, with a slight smile revealing his gleaming white teeth, "Interrupting your deal, how inconsiderate of me."
"Shano?!"
Having been stared at like this, Blackbeard felt a chill run up his spine, right to the top of his head.
He bounced off the couch, fists clenched tightly, his face twisted in an ugly expression: "How did you, this brat, know I was here!"
Yesterday morning, after his injuries had slightly recovered.
He used his fruit's low-altitude flight ability to fly over the sea for a whole day, instantly putting several thousand sea miles between them!
How could this guy precisely pinpoint his whereabouts!
And how did he manage to catch up so quickly!
Shano showed no intention of answering, didn't even glance at him, but turned his gaze to Sengoku, speaking leisurely:
"Although it's our first meeting, Marshal Sengoku, you should pretty much understand my temperament by now. Considering the temporary truce with your Navy, you'd best step aside. I have a personal vendetta to settle with this toothless green-headed fly."
"Personal vendetta?"
Sengoku had already positioned himself in front of Dor, shouting angrily, with a subtle golden Buddhist light flickering around his body:
"A personal vendetta among pirates, I've never heard of it being settled at a Navy base! Moreover, Marshall D. Teach is currently under consideration for cooperation with the Navy. Do you think you can kill him just because you want to? As long as I'm here, how could I possibly allow such recklessness!"
"I have no interest in babbling further."
Facing the pale Buddhist light illuminating the entire room, Shano paid no heed, speaking calmly to himself:
"For Garp's sake, I'll say it one last time, step aside, this matter is none of your business, and you can't stop me, Sengoku. Should you remain in the way causing problems, I'll have no choice but to take you on as well."
"How arrogant! How presumptuous!"
Sengoku laughed angrily, "Have I been away from the battlefield so long, to be underestimated by a junior like you? Has this sea forgotten the renown my fists built punch by punch back in the day!"
"Then go ahead and give it a try."
Shano sneered coldly, his eyes flashing with a cold gleam, and his figure vanished instantly from where he stood.
Such speed!
Sengoku was startled, the pupils behind his round spectacles flashed with a red gleam and immediately both palms, radiating golden light, thrust forward fiercely!
Boom!!!
Two figures collided violently in the center of the office, the ferocious shockwave instantly shattered all four walls completely.
Sengoku felt a sharp pain from his palm, that fist entwined with black and red lightning punched right through his shockwave, landing heavily on his chest.
"Cough!"
Sengoku spat a mouthful of fresh blood, his body flew backward, crashing into the ruins.
"Seems you've deteriorated more than Garp! At your age, daring to take on my Haki entanglement without even using your fruit ability?"
In a low voice, Shano stepped forward, about to pursue when he suddenly sensed something, his steps pausing slightly.
Boom!
A formidable and fierce punch wind, came from the right, accompanied by a faint smell of smoke, and Dor's furious shout:
"Sound Soul Explosion!"
Without turning back, Shano casually raised his right hand, accurately blocking Dor's incoming fist with the back of his hand.
Though this seasoned Vice Admiral exerted her full strength, she couldn't even leave a white mark, let alone shake Shano's right hand in the slightest.
"I remember you, having the courage to attack me even now, is commendable."
Shano glanced at her through the gap of his arm:
"But it's not worth lauding; if I were you, I would immediately go and evacuate the lower-ranking Navy members to prevent increased casualties, rather than futilely sending myself to death here."
"You—!"
Dor gritted her teeth, her face full of unwillingness, but just as she began to speak, a sharp, tearing pain shot through her abdomen.
Shano's right foot, at some indeterminate time, had already kicked heavily into her lower abdomen.
Boom!
The terrifying impact made her eyes bulge, and she flew backward like a cannonball, straight out of the fortress building, crashing into the center of the base square.
"Vice Admiral Dor!"
Naval personnel in the square exclaimed and rushed over to help, only to see Dor struggling to support her upper body.
She glanced around, recalling what she had just heard, spent a few seconds in internal conflict, but ultimately wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and shouted hoarsely:
"Everyone withdraw to the edges immediately, block the perimeter of the island only, this fight is beyond your participation!"
Meanwhile, at the top of the fortress.
After being lashed by the shockwave, this place had completely turned into rubble.
Sengoku climbed out of the debris, the golden Buddhist light suddenly swelling, his form expanding within a breath to over ten meters tall, almost rivaling the Giant Race.
Human-Human Fruit: Mythical: Great Buddha Form!
"Shano!"
Sengoku's roar resonated like a giant bell, "Cease your actions at once! This is a Navy base! No room for your wild and unruly behavior!"
"That's more like it!"
Shano's figure suddenly appeared overhead of Sengoku, grinning, his right leg descending like a war axe, "Taking such a form finally makes you worthy of fighting me, but I'll still tell you this..."
"Don't get in my way!"
Boom!!!
The kick entwined with black and red lightning clashed with the Buddha palm once more, but this time, the golden Buddha's palm was also imbued with a massive amount of Supreme King Haki.
After all, he is Navy Headquarters Marshal Sengoku!
The belief he holds is the Justice that Dominates the World!
He also possesses Supreme King Entanglement!
Boom!
The two Supreme King Hakis violently collided, massive thunder resounding and flickering, causing the entire G-14 Branch fortress from top to bottom, including its foundation, to tremble violently.
A slew of increasingly horrific shockwaves swept in all directions, the upper structures of the fortress collapsing layer by layer like paper, countless documents and debris spiraling skyward in the gale, crashing down in a synchronized cacophony.
Finally engaging with full force, huh...
Zehahaha, what an opportunity!
Blackbeard, who had been steadily retreating to the side, suddenly showed an expression of wild joy, ruthlessly activating his ability!
Bzzz! Bzzz!
In the blink of an eye, his body shrank dramatically to about half a meter, transforming into an oily, glossy green-headed fly, buzzing off toward the distance.
However.
Just a hundred meters out, the surrounding air abruptly turned viscous like a quagmire, a strong sense of crisis surging within.
This is...
Instinctively, Blackbeard turned his head, just in time to see a crimson blade light the entire field of vision like a cascading galaxy, enveloping him within.
Simultaneously, Shano's cool voice resonated:
"Where do you think you're going? Did I give you permission to leave?"