Sakazuki and Issho are both strong individuals with clear objectives.
Originally, the NEO Marines appeared here intending to deal with Charlotte Linlin while she was partially isolated.
After they arrived at Minion Island, they discovered that the area had already devolved into chaos, and the goal of the fighting was clearly the Ope-Ope no Mi, which grants eternal life. Consequently, their plan changed—
The first objective was to destroy the Ope-Ope no Mi.
The second objective was to kill Kaido or Charlotte Linlin if the opportunity arose.
In reality, however, both men knew that achieving the second objective in such a chaotic environment was practically a pipe dream.
Now that the Ope-Ope no Mi had been destroyed, they had no reason to stay and fight.
Currently, it was only a four-person siege, but if the God's Knights reacted and ordered Garp and Borsalino to join the attack, the two of them would face a total of six powerhouses.
Although Garp would likely find an excuse not to participate, Borsalino could not avoid it; a few "pew, pew, pew" shots from the side were mandatory.
Therefore, their previous attacks were primarily focused on obstruction, precisely so they could use this chance to leave this troubled land.
"Bastards! Don't think you can run!"
Charlotte Linlin was furious.
She was bursting with pent-up rage that hadn't been released yet. How could she let them just run away? She immediately pursued them closely.
Borsalino shoved his hands into his pockets, his elemental body faintly shimmering.
"What a troublesome day, yeeh~"
He tilted his head toward Garp:
"Well then, Vice Admiral Garp, I should also go back and continue my mission~"
"After all, those Fishmen won't jump into prison by themselves~"
Having said that, Borsalino's body transformed into a streak of light, soaring toward the New World, no longer paying attention to the sinking island.
Garp stood on the crumbling island, his face ashen as he looked at the shattered dog-head warship nearby and the Marine soldiers lying haphazardly on the deck.
He ignored the three members of the God's Knights, leaped up, and jumped toward the dog-head warship.
Although Donquixote Doflamingo had been teaming up with Perospero to besiege Gion, he was also keeping an eye on the situation on the island.
He had now noticed that the Ope-Ope no Mi was destroyed and that everyone was beginning to retreat.
He sighed internally, his sharp fingernails digging into his palm:
"The Ope-Ope no Mi is gone... That was truly a waste of effort."
Since the great battle on the island was over... this was not a place to linger!
A nearly transparent thread shot out from Doflamingo's fingertip, adhering to the high-altitude clouds.
"Sky Road!"
Pulled by the thread, he shot straight into the sky, leaving Perospero exposed directly to Gion's sword.
"Damn Donquixote Doflamingo!"
Perospero immediately realized that he had been sold out!
He abruptly turned back, meeting Gion's suddenly sharp gaze.
Gion held her sword with both hands, the blade instantly enveloped in deep Armament Haki, tracing a crescent arc in the air.
"Pink Tide Slash!"
The sword energy tore through the air. Perospero hastily held his Candy Cane horizontally in front of him to block, but was immediately knocked back several steps, nearly falling into the sea.
Almost simultaneously, Garp's figure leaped like a cannonball from the island, plummeting directly toward the warship.
Perospero caught sight of this terrifying scene and no longer bothered with blocking. He forcibly twisted his body, exposing his back to Gion, enduring the residual power of the sword energy, and fled frantically toward the queen mama chanter without looking back.
The sharp slash penetrated the candy wall defense, tearing a hideous wound across his back, running diagonally from his left shoulder to his right hip. Blood instantly gushed out.
Meanwhile, Charlotte Linlin, who had been chasing Sakazuki and Fujitora as they departed, watched their battleship gradually move away. Her anger unspent, she prepared to sail after them.
When she looked back, she saw Vice Admiral Tsuru beating up her sons on her ship.
"Tsuru!!!"
Charlotte Linlin's roar made the surface of the sea tremble.
Her enormous body erupted with terrifying speed disproportionate to her size. The emperor sword, wrapped in violent lightning and Haoshoku, cleaved down toward Vice Admiral Tsuru with the force to split mountains and seas.
"Mama Raid!"
Carrying a devastating torrent mixed with black-red lightning and purple flames, the air was compressed, creating visible ring-shaped air blasts.
Vice Admiral Tsuru clapped her hands together, activating the power of the Wash-Wash Fruit to its extreme. An invisible cleansing force field, like the toughest gauze, blocked her front, attempting to wash away the destructive energy.
The two forces collided violently!
BOOOM!
Amidst the tremendous sound, the deck beneath Vice Admiral Tsuru's feet shattered inch by inch. She herself was pushed backward by the immense force, sliding dozens of meters, her boot soles carving two deep grooves into the wood.
Seeing Charlotte Linlin return, Vice Admiral Tsuru did not prolong the fight and immediately ordered her adjutant:
"All personnel evacuate, cover each other, and return to the ship."
"Don't think you can run!"
Charlotte Linlin was full of unvented rage and had finally caught someone; how could she let her escape so easily? The emperor sword in her hand cleaved down repeatedly.
*Clang!*
Facing Charlotte Linlin's fierce offense, Vice Admiral Tsuru calmly blocked with her palm. Amidst the loud crash, the deck beneath her feet fractured extensively once more.
Although there was a significant gap in their raw strength, holding out for a while was not an issue.
Vice Admiral Tsuru successively blocked several of her opponent's attacks, and after deflecting another heavy blow, confirmed that all personnel had boarded the warship.
"This is far enough, Linlin."
Vice Admiral Tsuru withdrew her stance and elegantly retreated back onto the warship.
Seeing Vice Admiral Tsuru retreat to the warship, the fury in Charlotte Linlin's eyes nearly erupted.
She currently looked ready to fight anyone, just like when her Eating Disorder flared up.
Charlotte Linlin stomped the deck violently, causing the entire ship to tilt as her massive body prepared to charge again.
"Mama!"
Perospero's voice and the sound of him landing occurred simultaneously, dropping not far in front of Charlotte Linlin and interrupting her action.
Her attention was drawn by the call, and she turned her head, her gaze falling upon the dog-head warship nearby.
She saw Garp and Gion standing side-by-side on the deck, watching her side with hostile eyes.
The muscles in Charlotte Linlin's face twitched, and the surging anger boiled, finally condensing into a cold snort:
"Mamamama... Marines! You got lucky this time!"
She grabbed Perospero and lifted him, ignoring the casualties among her pirates, and commanded:
"Chase them! Today, this old woman must kill that mad dog Sakazuki!"
Under her command, the BIG MOM Pirates completely ignored the two warships and headed straight to chase the NEO Marines' battleship.
Garp glanced at the retreating Charlotte Linlin but had no intention of continuing the fight. After meeting up with Vice Admiral Tsuru's warship, his booming voice echoed across both vessels:
"Medics! Save them! Everyone who can still move, get moving!"
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