High in the sky, Roy flickered continuously along the light trail, his gaze occasionally sweeping over the floating virtual interface before him, which displayed the ever-climbing score.
"The goal of earning points has been achieved. Looks like I can call it a day."
Roy muttered to himself. Going head-to-head with an Emperor like Big Mom, even if victory were ultimately achievable, would be a prolonged and grueling battle, which wasn't the optimal choice given the current situation.
Thus, Roy began to subtly guide the flow of battle. Instead of rushing to fight to the death with Big Mom, he leveraged his speed advantage to constantly pull at her attention. He would occasionally fire sharp rays, precisely striking her weak points in defense, but always maintaining a certain distance to prevent the battle from escalating into an uncontrollable situation.
Below on the sea, Vice Admirals Momonga and Doberman were locked in fierce combat with members of the Big Mom Pirates, leading the Marine soldiers.
Having already received the retreat signal transmitted by Roy through a special channel, they maintained their composure and order even amidst the enemy's fierce assault, fighting as they retreated and gradually moving toward the planned evacuation route.
In this operation, the Marines had managed to penetrate deep into the Big Mom Pirates' territory, and Admiral Kizaru had even temporarily knocked Big Mom into the sea.
It was undeniably a significant victory. It not only showcased the Marines' formidable strength but also delivered a powerful blow to the arrogance of the Big Mom Pirates.
High above, seeing that Momonga and the others below had successfully retreated, a smile appeared on Roy's face.
Today's battle had already been enough to reaffirm the Marines' dominant position in the eyes of the world; there was no need to prolong the engagement further.
He once again gathered all his strength, summoning countless spears of light that rained down upon Big Mom like a meteor shower, leaving behind a series of dazzling, deadly trails.
Then, his form flickered, instantly transforming into a brilliant beam of light that vanished into the sky, leaving behind only a faint afterglow and Big Mom's enraged, helpless roar.
Though furious, Big Mom knew it was nearly impossible to catch Roy, the user of the Glint-Glint Fruit.
Only Big Mom's roar lingered in the sky.
At the edge of a distant sea, a ship sailed calmly. Standing on the deck was a distinctive figure—a bird-man wearing a blue shirt and red-and-white striped pants.
This bird-man was shouting with unrestrained excitement, clutching a large stack of photos in his hands. These photos were like precious spoils of war, capturing the stunning moments of a battle.
The most striking among them was a breathtaking image of Emperor Big Mom being violently slammed into the sea, waves surging as her figure emerged and disappeared amid the foam.
This man was Morgans, one of the most renowned emperors of the underworld and the president of the World Economy News Press. His name carried immense weight in both the underworld and the upper world; every report he released could stir the winds of fate across the globe.
"Big news! This is absolutely unprecedented big news!" Morgans' eyes sparkled with excitement, as if he had discovered an endless treasure. "I need to think carefully about how to write this to maximize the value of this report…"
He muttered to himself, lightly tapping the edges of the photos with his fingers as his thoughts raced.
"Got it! This is it—Admiral Kizaru single-handedly severely injures Emperor Big Mom, rewriting the balance of power at sea!"
A triumphant smile bloomed on Morgans' face, as if he could already foresee the impending sensation.
"Hehehe, a headline like that is guaranteed to make the newspaper fly off the shelves and become one of the best-selling issues ever!"
He laughed, his voice brimming with confidence in the upcoming journalistic miracle.
Sure enough, not long after, countless News Coos took flight across the vast sea, delivering newspapers with pinpoint accuracy to every corner like messengers of information.
The headline blared: "Admiral Kizaru Severely Wounds Emperor Big Mom," accompanied by that striking photo of Big Mom struggling helplessly amidst the waves.
The entire world erupted. From ordinary citizens to the greats of the sea, everyone buzzed with discussion about this shocking news.
Upon hearing the report, the other Emperors—Kaido, Whitebeard, and Red-Haired Shanks—all wore grave expressions, speculating on the Marines' next move.
On Onigashima, Kaido drank alone, gazing at the distant horizon with a disdainful smirk curling at the corner of his mouth. "Heh, Linlin, have you finally fallen too? How disappointing."
In his eyes, one of the Four Emperors, Big Mom, being reduced to such a state by an Admiral was a serious blow to the Emperors' dignity and utterly shameful.
Meanwhile, within the solemn halls of Marine Headquarters, sunlight streamed through the massive windows onto the office floor. Vice Admiral Garp sat by a wooden table, gripping a newspaper tightly as he repeatedly slapped Roy on the shoulder with hearty force.
"Good job, Roy! Seriously wounding Big Mom, hahaha! You've really surprised me!"
Garp's laughter boomed like thunder, echoing through the room and drawing curious and admiring glances from the surrounding Marines.
Roy, however, appeared remarkably composed. Holding a delicate teacup, he gently blew away the wisps of steam rising from it and took a leisurely sip, seemingly detached from the clamor around him. In response to Garp's words, he merely smiled faintly.
"Vice Admiral Garp, please stop teasing me. For fighters at our level, the 'damage' from that battle was nothing more than a few trivial scratches."
Garp's laughter grew even heartier as he bit down on his rice cracker with a satisfying crunch. At that moment, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, seated behind his desk, joined the conversation. He wore a rare smile, his eyes conveying strong approval for Roy's actions.
"That's right, Roy. You did an excellent job this time."
Sengoku's voice was steady and powerful. Roy had not only successfully dealt a blow to the morale of an Emperor's crew but also delivered a resounding slap to Emperor Big Mom's reputation. This was immeasurably significant for bolstering the Marines' prestige and maintaining peace on the seas.
Thinking about how Roy usually slacked off, arriving late and leaving early, Sengoku felt a complex mix of emotions. If Roy could maintain this attitude forever, he'd be overjoyed.
"Well, if Fleet Admiral Sengoku could give me a bigger bonus, that'd be great."
The next moment, Roy's words dashed that hope. It was the same Roy who loved to slack off.
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