Along the coast, next to the berthing spot of the luxury cruise ship.
"The Navy Fleet has been completely annihilated."
Smoker, with a cigar in his mouth, casually tossed the unconscious Navy Headquarters Vice Admiral Strawberry onto the beach, "Those officers and soldiers who broke through the front with Akainu have also been dealt with. Those still alive are basically all here."
"So Strawberry ended up facing you, huh?"
Nojiko rubbed her slightly sore wrist and smiled, "Good work, I was planning to go find him myself."
At her feet lay another Navy Headquarters Vice Admiral, but compared to Strawberry, his notoriety and experience paled in comparison.
"Opponents of this caliber are nothing special."
Smoker felt proud, but outwardly he put on an indifferent look, puffing a smoke ring as he faintly said:
"Compared to that Commander Snack from last time, they're far inferior."
Back then.
Just entering the New World, a G-5 Branch base commander Vergo had left him embarrassed, unable to win after several exhausting battles.
But now.
Smoker felt he could proudly claim—
Among the current Navy Headquarters Vice Admirals, there were no opponents he feared, even if the famous Flying Squirrel senior came over, he could at least fight to a draw!
"Only two Navy Grand Admirals left."
Zoro also came near, looking toward the distant sea, "Kizaru has been tightly suppressed by Uncle Issho and others, won't hold out for long, but Akainu and big brother Shano haven't settled their match yet."
"Idiot, their opponent is the Navy's highest combat strength, settling the match isn't that quick."
Sanji rolled his eyes, just about to say something when he suddenly went silent, ears twitching.
Not just him, the others also turned their heads.
The explosion sounds from deeper in the valley suddenly became dense and intense, even the ground started to rumble.
"Looks like it's the critical moment."
Zoro squinted his eyes, "Not much else to do now, should we go and have a look?"
"Have some sense, the aftershocks of the battle could cost you your life."
Smoker moved the cigar to the other corner of his mouth, looking over wordlessly, "Just like a newborn calf not scared of tigers, daring to join the fight when the captain is battling?"
These two brats, enduring a direct Supreme King impact up close, would probably pass out with eyes rolling!
What help could they offer, would the captain even need their assistance?
Zoro and Sanji exchanged a glance.
Both recalled facing Akainu in the valley before, that suffocating, soul-trembling oppressive fear.
Suddenly, they smiled awkwardly.
Rushing over would indeed be suicide, they didn't fancy having a large hole opened in their chest by Akainu...
...
Boom!
Another explosive shockwave rang out through the forest.
Or perhaps it could no longer be called a forest; after hours of ongoing battle, Akainu's Fruit Ability had already turned the entire valley into a lava purgatory.
All vegetation burned to charcoal, streams evaporated, even the exposed rocks melted into red-hot magma, flowing between the cracked ground.
In this seemingly apocalypse-like scene...
Swish!
The figure of Shano, just knocked down, burst out from the sky of fiery rain, sound explosion clouds rippling behind him, his black and red entwined hand grabbing Akainu's throat.
Whoosh!
The terrifying pressure made Akainu's skin tremble and hair stand on end.
He struggled to pry Shano's hand off, but the black-red lightning entwined him like vines, making it impossible to break free for the moment.
"Hey, old dog, that punch you just gave me hurt a lot! You, try this move too!"
Shano grinned, suddenly exerting more force, then just like throwing a bowling ball, he viciously hurled Akainu downward!
"To the seabed... fall!!"
Garp once used this move in the Hive Island battle, knocking his proud disciple Aokiji from the sky into the ocean.
And now, facing Akainu, whose strength is similar to Aokiji, he could certainly do the same!
As for no ocean?
That doesn't matter!
This sea of lava is no less of a sea!
Boom!!!
Under immense force, Akainu's figure crashed into the magma like a meteor, piercing over a hundred meters into the ground, stirring up volcanic eruption-like turbulence.
Whoosh!
Piping-hot magma splashed up tens of meters high, then solidified mid-air into black volcanic rock, plummeting down like raindrops.
This time.
After four or five seconds, Akainu staggered to stand in the deep pit.
Bloodied all over, his cap was nowhere to be found.
The Cloak of Justice and his dark red suit were tattered beyond recognition, revealing a body filled with burns and bruises, but his presence remained strong and fierce, eyes growing ever more vicious.
"Cough... cough cough!"
Akainu spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with magma, fixed his gaze on Shano in mid-air, and laughed grimly, "Thinking this force could crush me? It's not over yet, brat!"
"As expected..."
Shano used Aerial Dance Skill, arms folded, hovering above, looking down at Akainu, eyebrows slightly raised.
What a tank! Such a tank!
It's safe to say, in this world, except for a few rare fragile types, those reaching the Emperor General level.
Almost all are virtually indestructible monsters! All tougher than Jack, champions of endurance!
Gaining the upper hand, suppressing Akainu, this Shano had already achieved.
But to thoroughly defeat him, he'd need much more time.