Hashirama Senju controlled the towering wooden golem, kicking up vast clouds of sand, while Roy piloted the complete body Susanoo.
As they moved, the once-endless desert underwent a startling transformation. The Wood Release ninjutsu employed by Hashirama Senju caused trees to continuously grow in their wake.
These trees tenaciously pushed up from the ground, swiftly taking root and spreading out, as patches of oasis slowly emerged across the desert.
"Are they trying to draw Hashirama Senju away from the capital, Alubarna?"
On a distant dune, Rob Lucci's gaze was fixed on the wooden golem and the complete body Susanoo as they moved further away, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
He knew all too well how terrifying the power of this battle was; if it broke out near the capital, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Follow them," he commanded in a low voice.
The members of CP9 immediately sprang into action, closely trailing Hashirama Senju and Roy.
They had no doubts about Roy's intentions. After all, it was an open secret that Roy had close ties to Alabasta.
In their view, Roy was doing this to protect the capital, to prevent this bustling city from being reduced to ruins in the clash between two powerhouses.
…
The wooden golem and the complete body Susanoo were locked in a fierce stalemate.
A sky filled with sand and dust swirled wildly in the gale, shrouding the entire battlefield in chaos.
At the heart of this chaos, the colossal forms of the wooden golem and Susanoo stood opposed like two towering mountain peaks, each of their movements triggering violent tremors in the earth.
"Impressive, truly impressive," Hashirama Senju remarked, looking at the complete body Susanoo before him with an expression of both surprise and excitement.
He sensed that his wooden golem was being completely suppressed by Roy's Susanoo, which caught him off guard.
"Just as I thought, your power surpasses even Madara's, doesn't it?"
He couldn't help but recall his countless past battles with Madara Uchiha. Even at its peak, Madara's complete body Susanoo had never been able to so easily overpower his Wood Golem Technique.
Now, facing Roy, this disparity in strength stirred within him an unprecedented desire for a challenge.
"Haha, looks like I'll have to bring out more of my power."
Hashirama Senju suddenly threw his head back and laughed. As the laughter echoed, his gaze sharpened instantly, becoming as keen as a hawk's, and his aura surged dramatically.
With a soft shout, he watched as a layer of dark, jet-black hue began to slowly envelop the already massive wooden golem—the radiance of Armament Haki.
This layer of Haki, like an indestructible suit of armor, tightly encased the wooden golem, instantly multiplying its imposing presence by several times.
Every inch covered by the Haki emanated a chilling pressure, solidifying the very air itself.
"Such an immense amount of Haki?"
In the distance, Rob Lucci and the others watched the battle with rapt attention.
When they saw Hashirama Senju unleash such formidable Armament Haki, they were filled with sheer astonishment.
As CP9 members, Haki was no stranger to them, but witnessing Armament Haki of such magnitude and power was a first. The pressure it exuded made their hearts race uncontrollably and their bodies tremble slightly.
Meanwhile, Roy observed Hashirama Senju's Armament Haki, a glint of admiration in his eyes.
"Just as I thought, Hashirama Senju's talent is incredibly formidable. In such a short time, his Armament Haki has reached this level."
He marveled inwardly.
Hashirama Senju's talent and rate of progress in Haki training left even Roy impressed.
Roy narrowed his eyes slightly, channeling even greater Armament Haki to envelop the complete body Susanoo.
In an instant, an even more terrifying wave of power erupted from Susanoo, a force that seemed poised to shatter the very bonds of heaven and earth, triggering a cataclysm.
Vast fissures split open across the ground, and the sky was rent asunder.
…
Meanwhile, Ace had also arrived by Luffy and the others' side.
His arrival eased Luffy's tension slightly, though the awe-inspiring battle before him left him with no time to dwell on it.
"Those two are incredible," Luffy exclaimed, his eyes wide with amazement and his mouth agape.
"Ace, are there people on the sea stronger than them? To become the Pirate King, do I have to be stronger than that?"
Luffy turned to look at Ace with a serious expression, a resolute gleam shining in his eyes.
Ace paused briefly, a complex look crossing his face.
He didn't answer Luffy's question immediately, falling into a brief silence instead. His gaze drifted towards the distant, intense clash between Hashirama Senju and Roy, a myriad of thoughts swirling within him.
He wondered if his own long-deceased father would have been able to surpass these two powerhouses.
"How is this possible? Master Hashirama is actually locked in a stalemate with that Marine Admiral?" Ace's eyes were fixed on the battlefield, a sudden cry of shock escaping him.
His face was etched with disbelief; he could hardly credit what he was seeing.
In his understanding, Hashirama Senju's strength was unfathomable. Yet, at this moment, this powerful shinobi was locked in a stalemate with Admiral Roy.
What shocked him even more was that, from his vantage point, Hashirama Senju seemed to be slowly losing ground. This realization sent waves of shock through his heart.
"Are Marine Admirals these days all this strong?"
Ace murmured under his breath, his voice laced with confusion and astonishment.
His perception of the Marines' strength was undergoing a profound shift.
But Ace wasn't alone in this line of thought.
On another part of the battlefield, Crocodile stood atop a sand dune. His face, usually brimming with confidence, now displayed only shock.
He had witnessed firsthand the terrifying extent of Hashirama Senju's power—the overwhelming Wood Release ninjutsu, the immense wooden golem—all of which had driven home the vast gulf between himself and such titans.
Yet, despite all that, Roy was not only holding his own against Hashirama Senju but seemed to be gradually gaining the upper hand.
Inside a concealed cave beneath a distant dune, Blackbeard lurked in the shadows, his expression wary as he watched the battlefield.
"That Kizaru is actually able to push Hashirama Senju this far?" he muttered to himself.
Blackbeard had personally witnessed the battle between Hashirama Senju and Whitebeard. In that clash, even the mighty Whitebeard had been unable to overcome Hashirama.
Now, seeing Roy locked in such a close fight with Hashirama Senju, a chill ran down his spine.
Elsewhere, Spandam cowered behind a dune.
"What's the situation?" Spandam asked, his voice trembling as he struggled to swallow, turning to Rob Lucci beside him.
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