When they saw half of Zephyr's head being struck off, the other marines standing nearby were stunned.
Even though Zephyr had just killed many of their comrades, he was still Zephyr. And since he was now fighting Grimm, he remained both their companion and their teacher.
The power he had displayed earlier—surpassing that of an Admiral—was actually being suppressed!
Just how strong was Grimm's combat ability anyway?
Clang!
Suddenly, Zephyr's left hand seized the blade of the Ashbringer in Grimm's grip.
With a powerful twist of his body, he hurled Grimm high into the air, then let go, sending him flying like a hammer throw.
Grimm spun once in mid-air and landed unharmed. Meanwhile, the wound on Zephyr's neck was healing steadily.
But since there was no blood around to draw upon, the recovery was far slower than it would normally be.
From what Grimm could see, the way the Red Dog healed was almost identical to elemental transformation—just as if he had eaten a Blood-Blood Fruit!
Thinking of Logia-type abilities, Grimm suddenly remembered something: he still had an agreement with Vegapunk. Come to think of it, the five-year term was almost up!
Grimm's eyes narrowed, and a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. This time, he took the initiative and charged forward!
Whoosh!
Zephyr vanished from where he stood. Half a second later, he appeared behind Grimm, ten meters up in the air.
He raised his blood-red sword high and brought it crashing down like a giant battle-axe.
The Red Dog's signature move: Mountain-Cracking, Earth-Shattering Slash!
Boom!
In the next instant, the ground split open. Columns of blood, glowing like molten magma, shot upward from the fissures, continuing to gush for more than ten seconds before finally subsiding.
It looked spectacular, but at its core, it was a pure, heavy strike—immensely powerful and highly effective.
These blood pillars were no less destructive than Sakazuki's magma, and they covered a vast area, engulfing Grimm completely.
When the blood finally faded, the marines got a clear view of the scene. Zephyr stood motionless where he was.
Grimm stood right in front of him, his long sword thrust deep into Zephyr's abdomen.
Swish!
Grimm pulled his blade free. Zephyr tried to keep fighting, but his movements were now visibly sluggish. It took him great effort just to lift one hand.
Grimm, however, turned his back on him and began walking away. Just as Zephyr was about to strike him from behind, his body gave out.
He collapsed heavily to the ground—he had reached his absolute limit.
"Take him back," Grimm said as he walked past the marines, leaving only those words.
Instead of gratitude, the marines thought of four words regarding his refusal to deliver the final blow: No good will come of this.
Grimm had already dealt with all the nations that had betrayed him.
His next target was Bynbruce—the place agreed upon years ago with Vegapunk for their exchange. But now, his plan needed a slight adjustment.
Originally, he had intended to leave animals infected with the Blood Plague on the island. But now… sending Zephyr over instead would surely be more than enough.
Grimm wasn't worried that Vegapunk would go back on his word.
The reason was simple: Vegapunk was too intelligent. And intelligent people always know exactly what they should and shouldn't do.
Grimm smiled. Of course, if he didn't get what he wanted, it wouldn't matter much anyway. His need for Sea-Prism Stone was nowhere near as great as it had been before.
To possess the body of Sakazuki—the future Admiral Akainu—was an outcome Grimm himself had never anticipated.
Sakazuki had simply been unlucky. If he had chosen to flee with all his might, he might well have escaped.
In the end, it all came down to character. If he hadn't acted impulsively and exposed a flaw, his arms would never have been crippled by Grimm and Zephyr.
He wouldn't have been beaten into helplessness by the Red Dog-possessed Zephyr, and he certainly wouldn't have ended up sealed inside Grimm's Soul Box.
"Now then… which country is next?"
Grimm opened his communication link to Planck directly to ask for an update.
At the same time, he summoned his status panel.
Main Attributes
- WoW Paladin Strength: 126%
- DNF Paladin Level: 88
- Weapon – Ashbringer: Development Rate 132%
- Weapon – Truthseeker: Development Rate 102%
- Weapon – Silver Hand: Development Rate 65%
- Speed: 162%
- Holy Light Points: 1,238
- Skill Points: 0
- Skill – Call of the High Heavens: Upgraded to Lv. 2. Can now summon one additional archangel from the Council of Five: Auriel, Archangel of Hope.
Just then, Grimm sensed an incoming message. Assuming it was a report from Planck, he opened it—only to find it was from Kel'Thuzad.
"Great Master, I bring good news! The Military District of Naxxramas is fully constructed.
And that body you sent me earlier today is truly extraordinary—it can actually wield the power of magma! I have already appointed him as Commander of the Military District."
"Wait… that's… Instructor Zephyr's ship!"
Kuzan, who had been creating a path of ice across the sea, watched as a large warship slowly came into view.
Both sails bore the navy's blue seagull emblem, and the name ZEPHYR was painted prominently on the bow.
Kuzan's expression hardened, and he quickened his pace.
He had received an emergency distress signal from Sakazuki's men and had rushed here immediately, freezing the sea as he went.
Normally, sailing this distance would take at least a day or two.
But seeing the ship now, he felt a growing sense of dread.
According to earlier reports, Zephyr had two vessels, and Sakazuki had one—there should have been three in total.
The fact that only one was here meant the navy had already lost the crews of at least two ships.
When Kuzan boarded the deck, the marines there were all standing with heads bowed and shoulders slumped, as if they had suffered a devastating defeat. His face turned grave.
"Where are Sakazuki and Instructor Zephyr?"
At his question, every head dropped even lower, overwhelmed by shame. A major from Sakazuki's unit stepped forward, tears streaming down his face.
"Sir… Vice Admiral Sakazuki… he… he's already… damn it… that man Grimm… he…"
Though their ideologies often clashed, Kuzan had never imagined Sakazuki would die, nor did he ever wish for it.
The news hit him hard, and it took him nearly half a minute to compose himself.
"And… Instructor Zephyr?"
"He's resting in the medical bay. Grimm knocked him unconscious, but… there's something else…"
"Something else?" Kuzan's heart sank. A bad feeling crept over him.
"Vice Admiral Kuzan… now that you're here, we can finally breathe easier. Please, come with me. I'll explain everything in detail."
The major led him toward the medical ward—an area no one else dared approach.
When Kuzan saw Zephyr lying on the bed, his eyes narrowed sharply behind his sunglasses.
What lay before him no longer looked like a human being at all.
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