466-470

Chapter 466: Justice Will Not Be Defiled  

“You dare to insult the Navy?!”  

Doberman shot forward like a bolt, charging straight at Nous!  

“Thunder Feather Slash!”  

This strike…  

It roared like thunder shaking the heavens…  

Utterly ferocious!  

The entire battlefield’s attention was drawn to the clash! 

Clang!  

A violent collision…  

It warped the very air around them!  

Savage shockwaves tore through everything in their path…  

Countless Marines were sent flying! 

“Sorry, Vice Admiral Doberman, but you’d better take a breather!”  

Nous’s eyes gleamed fiercely as lightning surged around him, coalescing into an explosive strike. His steel-like wings sliced through Doberman’s chest! 

Blood sprayed everywhere…  

Doberman clutched the gash on his chest and collapsed heavily!  

Boom!  

Right at that moment…  

The deck exploded…  

Lulu, dragging a bloodied Smoker, stormed back into the fray!  

“Vice Admiral Doberman!”  

“Vice Admiral Smoker!”  

Seeing this scene, the Marines were stunned…  

And then! 

Panic spread uncontrollably, morale plummeting!  

Vice Admirals…  

They were the backbone of the Navy! 

But now…  

Two of them had fallen! 

“Wahaha, you two are something else!”  

Seeing this, Bassas let out a hearty laugh…  

Among the three top fighters, he was the only one who hadn’t finished his fight! 

But to be fair…  

Bassas’s opponent was no pushover! 

Vice Admiral Onigumo…  

A powerhouse in his own right—defeating him was no easy feat!  

But Onigumo wasn’t feeling fortunate…  

With Doberman and Smoker defeated, his expression was grim!  

They had already thought highly of the Lightning Pirates…  

But to think…  

They’d lose two Vice Admirals right from the start! 

Even he himself was badly injured.  

Bassas’s strength far exceeded his expectations! 

“This is disastrous for morale!”  

Onigumo pulled back and shouted to Sentomaru, who was tangled up with Caribou, “Hurry up and get the Pacifistas to stabilize the situation!”  

The Pacifistas…  

They were their only hope to keep things from spiraling out of control! 

This much…  

Sentomaru, ever observant, understood clearly!  

But Caribou was proving to be a real pain! 

Sentomaru had once thought Caribou’s 200 million bounty was just due to his notoriety for slaughtering civilians, not because of raw strength! 

But now…  

Caribou’s power was anything but ordinary!  

The ground beneath turned into a swamp…  

Leaving Sentomaru with no solid footing, forcing him to rely on the Six Powers to stay airborne, which drained his stamina heavily!  

The swamp’s grip was relentless, and…  

You never knew what Caribou might pull out from it to attack…  

Because of this…  

Sentomaru had already taken a few hits! 

But if that was all, he wouldn’t be in such a rough spot! 

The real issue was…  

Caribou’s attacks were no joke. The swamp morphed into spears, coated with Armament Haki, raining down relentlessly with pinpoint accuracy that gave Sentomaru a headache! 

And if that was all, it’d still be manageable!  

The worst part was…  

Caribou’s reaction speed was insane. With his Logia-type elementalization, he dodged most of Sentomaru’s attacks!  

“I can’t keep tangling with this guy!”  

Sentomaru broke away…  

Retreating into the ranks of the Pacifistas!  

“PX-4, PX-5, target this guy!”  

“PX-6 to PX-20, attack Nous, Lulu, and the Lightning Pirates in the distance!”  

Under Sentomaru’s command…  

The once-idle Pacifistas sprang to life in an instant! 

Chapter 467: Unleash Your Power, Let’s Conquer!  

“Beep! Beep! Beep!” 

Their gazes locked onto their respective enemies!  

“Target confirmed: Wet-Haired Caribou, bounty 210 million berries!”  

“Target confirmed: Lightning Bird Nous, bounty 800 million berries!”  

“Target confirmed: Dark Queen Lully, bounty 495 million berries!”  

…  

A flurry of voices rang out…  

And then…  

They charged straight at their chosen foes!  

“They’re coming right for us, huh? Heh, this’ll be fun!” 

Nous grinned as he eyed the approaching Pacifistas.  

Boom!  

But just then…  

A massive explosion rocked the scene, accompanied by a terrifying tremor! 

The island where Fujitora and Yoru were fighting…  

It was utterly unrecognizable now!  

Yoru’s mouth was smeared with blood, her body bruised purple and red, radiating a fierce, steaming aura. 

And Fujitora…  

His clothes were scorched, his face grim. 

Sweat dripped from his forehead as he panted heavily, a bleeding gash on his right arm.  

Clearly…  

It was a stalemate!  

“Brothers, show these Marines what you’ve learned from all that training! Don’t let them underestimate us!” 

Yoru, back turned to her crew, roared with sky-high bravado.  

“OHHHH!!!!”  

Seeing their boss hold her own against a Navy Admiral, the pirates’ morale skyrocketed! 

And with Yoru’s personal rallying cry…  

They were like wild horses let loose, showing off their full power!  

“Filthy pirates, don’t get cocky!!”  

“Fire!!!”  

On the Navy’s side…  

Officers below Vice Admiral rank were commanding the battle.  

For anyone below Vice Admiral level, firearms were still a big deal! 

And Navy warships? They were loaded with long-range cannons.  

“Open fire!!!”  

“Sink their pirate ship!”  

“No way we’re letting them set sail!!!”  

Rear Admirals and Captains barked orders. 

“Yes, sir!”  

The rank-and-file Marines jumped to obey.  

“Heh, they dare underestimate us?”  

“Think we’re pushovers, huh?”  

“Beast Unit, charge with me!!!”  

From the Lightning Pirates’ warship…  

A short but heavily armored man shouted at the top of his lungs!  

“Yes, Brother Zagus!”  

Behind him stood twenty others, decked out in similar battle gear!  

Boom!  

The Navy warship fired its first cannon shot!  

Bang!!!  

Flames erupted into the sky…  

Amid the rolling heatwave, a pirate ship’s mast was shattered, wood splinters flying everywhere!  

“Haha, feel that power, pirates?!”  

“Keep firing, don’t stop!”  

“Blast these evil pirates with the absolute justice of our cannons!!”  

Seeing the cannons’ destructive force, the Marines cheered, their barrage growing even more relentless!  

But…  

“What’s that? Something’s closing in fast!!”  

Suddenly, a Captain pointed at a group of shadowy figures speeding through the smoke, shouting in alarm.  

“What?!”  

His cry drew everyone’s attention. 

A massive black shadow burst through the smoke, revealing itself before them!  

It was a pitch-black bat, its body like forged steel, its deep eyes seeming to pierce the soul!  

“Time to taste our strength, Navy!”  

“Sonic Shock!!”  

The bat’s voice—Zagus’s voice—rang out, followed by an ear-piercing screech that echoed across the battlefield…  

“AHHH!!!!”  

Marines clutched their ears, collapsing in agony, screaming in pain. 

Chapter 468: The Army of Ability Users  

“Hmph…” 

Even the nearby Rear Admiral couldn’t help but wince in pain, momentarily unable to launch an attack!  

And behind the bat…  

A group of towering, monstrous figures, each wielding massive weapons, stepped onto the battlefield! 

A rhino! 

A giraffe! 

A hippo! 

An elephant! 

A lion!  

…  

If Straw Hat Luffy were here, he’d notice how much these guys resembled the Jailer Beasts from Impel Down!  

They looked kinda goofy…  

But…  

Their strength was no joke! 

“What the…”  

As these monsters appeared, the bat ceased its sonic attack, but the Rear Admiral’s expression grew even grimmer!  

Every single one of them…  

He could tell their strength was on par with his own!  

“The Lightning Pirates actually have a team of Zoan-type Devil Fruit ability users!”  

The Rear Admiral’s scalp tingled with dread!  

“Heh heh, what’s that? Scared already?”  

The bat landed and transformed back into Zagus. “We’re Lord Yoru’s carefully crafted ability user squad.”  

“I never imagined I’d become an ability user, let alone gain this kind of status and power!”  

“Lord Yoru basically gave us a new life, and we’d do anything for him!”  

“Today, we’ll show you the results of our training!”  

“Don’t be too shocked!”  

Hearing this, the Rear Admiral could only think, “Shocked? I’m not shocked—I’m freaking terrified!”  

Twenty ability users…  

Even a Giant Vice Admiral wouldn’t be able to handle them!  

He needed backup! 

He needed the other Rear Admirals to help! 

But the other Rear Admirals…  

Hardly any of them could break free! 

Because the Lightning Pirates’ 20,000-strong main force was already charging in! 

With the Navy’s current numbers…  

There simply weren’t enough hands to spare for this Rear Admiral!  

The only possible support…  

Would be Sentomaru’s Pacifistas!  

But the Pacifista unit…  

Was taking heavy losses too, thanks to facing off against powerhouses like Nous and Lulu!  

“You’re not still hoping for backup, are you?”  

Zagus saw right through the Rear Admiral’s thoughts and grinned. “Give it up—that’s not happening!”  

“Alright, boys, let’s go!”  

With that command…  

Zagus vanished in a flash! 

The Rear Admiral’s pupils constricted as he swung his blade to the side! 

Clang!  

In the next moment, Zagus reappeared, his massive blade clashing heavily with the Rear Admiral’s! 

“Not bad reflexes, Mr. Rear Admiral!”  

Zagus said with a laugh, his eyes gleaming with uncontainable excitement!  

And the other twenty ability users…  

Like a tidal wave, they brandished their giant blades, maces, and axes, surging into the Marine ranks!  

Boom!  

In an instant, chaos erupted!  

Crash!  

Blood sprayed, and screams filled the air! 

“Damn it!!!”  

Dashing through the crowd, Tashigi saw the scene and rushed to help!  

“Oh, a pretty lady, huh? Alright, let’s have some fun!”  

Facing Tashigi, who blocked his strike, the lion-headed ability user clenched his left fist and swung it fiercely! 

Tashigi’s expression shifted…  

She quickly raised her right leg, thrusting her knee forward, coated in Armament Haki!  

But the moment they clashed…  

Tashigi realized just how terrifying a Zoan ability user’s strength was!  

She was sent staggering back! 

“Pretty lady, you lose!”  

The lion leaped forward, his massive blade swinging down mercilessly!  

Tashigi’s pupils shrank—she couldn’t dodge in time! 

“Pirate, don’t get cocky!!”  

A commanding, spirited voice rang out, accompanied by an overwhelming presence. A towering figure wielding a long spear thrust it downward with incredible speed! 

Chapter 469: Ceasefire  

"Hey, hey, hey! A giant Vice Admiral’s got me in her sights? That’s a bit much!" 

The Lion hurriedly dodged out of the way!  

Sure, he was wild!  

And he held the rank of one of the Ten Knights!  

But a giant Vice Admiral? That was an enemy he knew he couldn’t handle!  

He wasn’t that reckless.  

“Vice Admiral Roland!”  

Dasqi looked at the giant female Vice Admiral who’d just saved her, her face brimming with gratitude.  

“Step back. This guy’s not someone you can take on!”  

Vice Admiral Roland—the same giantess who, during the Summit War, had gone up against Little Oars Jr. and got sent flying with a single punch. 

It wasn’t that she lacked strength!  

It’s just that Little Oars Jr.’s overwhelming power, towering height, and 550 million Berry bounty made him a foe no mere Vice Admiral could handle!  

But the Ten Knights? That was a different story.  

Most of them had fallen to Roland’s might. 

“Your opponent isn’t me, though!”  

The Lion pulled back, retreating swiftly.  

Roland moved to pursue, but a massive sense of danger surged from behind!  

She spun around to block—  

Only to see Doggs, in his beastman form, charging in with a devastating punch!  

“Your opponent’s me, Vice Admiral Roland!”  

Doggs’ eyes glinted with a dangerous spark as he spoke.  

Meanwhile, the enemy he’d been targeting—Koby—was being treated for his injuries, covered in blood and battered from head to toe.  

BOOM!  

Another deafening crash echoed, the ground trembling with the weight of the impact.  

The giant Vice Admiral, “Great Axe” Ronz, had officially been defeated! 

Runti had knocked him out cold with a brutal tackle!  

“Ugh, that was no fun at all!”  

Runti’s gaze immediately shifted to her younger brother, Page One.  

Seeing him struggling in his fight, she snapped. 

“You damn jerk, Drake! How dare you pick on my little brother!”  

In a flash, Runti charged at Drake like a cannonball, slamming a ferocious headbutt right into his waist.  

Drake hadn’t seen her coming at all!  

No time to defend—  

The impact left him spitting blood, bones cracking under the force! 

“How could this happen?!”  

“The Vice Admirals are dropping one after another! Is the Lightning Pirate Crew really this strong?!”  

The lower-ranking Marines watched in despair.  

Before their eyes, twenty beast-like monsters rampaged, unstoppable by anyone!  

BOOM!  

Another explosion rocked the distant island! 

A crimson figure and a purple one shot backward, their clash sending massive waves crashing across the sea!  

“Cough, cough. As expected of a Navy Admiral. Terrifying!”  

The crimson figure was, of course, Yoru.  

His face was pale, his breathing heavy, but the flames around him burned hotter, distorting the very air!  

The purple figure was none other than Fujitora Issho (yes, Fujitora’s name is Issho).  

He wasn’t in much better shape, his sword-hand trembling, yet he spoke calmly: 

“No less from a man with a bounty in the billions. Even I can’t bring you down!”  

Hearing this, Yoru sheathed his blade. “If that’s the case, how about we call it quits?”  

“Keep fighting, and I can’t guarantee how much more damage you’ll take!”  

The Marines were stunned, then humiliated.  

Was Yoru pitying them? 

“No way we’re stopping!”  

“Don’t underestimate us!!!”  

The Marines roared, their pride wounded, their anger boiling over.  

Even the pirates were baffled.  

The situation was clearly in their favor—why was Yoru backing down? 

It didn’t make sense!  

“Heh, sounds good to me!”  

Fujitora sheathed his sword with a chuckle, completely ignoring the Marines’ protests. 

Chapter 470: Rising to the Rank of Emperor  

And so… 

Under the will of both sides…  

This battle ended anticlimactically! 

Some were utterly baffled by the outcome! 

Others were left wanting more!  

“Admiral, why are we retreating? What happens to the Navy’s pride if we back down like this?!” Onigumo demanded, his face stern.  

He despised this kind of weak behavior!  

“Heh, so what? Should we fight to the bitter end and both sides lose everything?”  

Fujitora smiled. “The Marshal’s orders were to test the strength of the Lightning Pirates. That goal’s been achieved.”  

“I’m sure you’ve all seen just how strong they are!”  

“Besides, the situation was already turning against us. Continuing the fight would’ve cost countless valuable lives.”  

“In war, the greatest victory is achieving your objective while preserving as much of your own strength as possible.”  

Hearing Fujitora’s explanation, Onigumo, though still frustrated, softened his expression.  

He apologized to Fujitora: “I was out of line earlier. Please forgive my rudeness!”  

“The Lightning Pirates… they’ve truly earned their place among the Four Emperors!”  

After a long pause, the gravely injured Smoker spoke, his voice heavy with concern.  

In the past…  

People said the Lightning Pirates had the potential to become an Emperor-level crew, that they were on the verge of reaching that rank!  

But those were just compliments!  

Now, though? 

They genuinely had the strength to back it up!  

“To take them down, we’ll need a carefully crafted plan!”  

“We can’t act recklessly!”  

Fujitora let out a soft sigh. “Sometimes, not being able to witness the chaos of this world with my own eyes feels like a regret.”  

The others fell silent.  

Meanwhile, on Yoru’s side!  

“Captain, why’d we pull back?!”  

Dogs was clearly reluctant.  

They had such a huge advantage!  

“No need to overdo it. This time was just about showing off the results of your training. It wasn’t about starting an all-out war with the Navy…”  

“Plus, facing Fujitora at sea? If we pushed him too far, he could leave us all with nowhere to stand!”  

“His ability is terrifying. There’s no need to fight to the death and let everyone get hurt.”  

Yoru continued, “Alright, after this battle, our name’s out there. Let’s head back to where we belong!”  

Their destination…  

Their main base—Night Island!  

As Yoru led his crew back to their stronghold, Night Island, 

Fujitora and his Navy forces arrived at Navy Headquarters! 

He reported the details of the battle with Yoru to Marshal Sakazuki!  

“The Lightning Killer has officially reached the strength of an Emperor and commands a crew on par with that level!”  

“They’re no different from Kaido of the Beasts and his pirate crew back in the day!”  

“To take them down, we’d likely need a force on the scale of the Summit War!”  

Fujitora spoke slowly, summarizing his findings.  

“I understand.”  

After hearing Fujitora’s report, Sakazuki fell into a rare moment of deep thought. 

Yoru’s rise was entirely the Navy’s fault for letting it happen.  

No way around it! 

After the Summit War,  

The New World was in complete chaos. Then, when the Beasts Pirates fell, the New World became even more unstable.  

They needed a king to stabilize the New World, to make their cleanup efforts easier.  

Yoru was that candidate! 

But Yoru rose too quickly.  

So much so that he slipped out of their control.  

Now,  

He’d become a massive threat!  

“Issue a new bounty. Officially declare that Yoru’s Lightning Pirates are an Emperor-level pirate crew!”  

Sakazuki gave the order!  

For now, there was no better option.