Chapter 72

Snap.

Snap.

Snap.

Space cracked.

A massive tsunami surged up from both sides of the island.

Waves hundreds of meters high.

The sight made one's scalp tingle.

Meanwhile, within the Heavenly Tasks Group,

there was an uproar.

Hu Tao: "Is this really a battle between humans? I doubt I'd survive a single second if I went over..."

Kaedehara Kazuha: "My swordsmanship is nothing before him. With such combat power, no wonder the master said the mission was too dangerous."

Ningguang: "Is this also the power of a Devil Fruit?"

Su Han: "Yes, its name is the Gura Gura Fruit. It can unleash vibrational force—tsunamis, earthquakes, space fractures. Even so...

he still lost.

Though it was due to age, the Marines are still incredibly strong."

As soon as he finished speaking,

a man flashed into the air.

"Ice Age!"

Two beams of freezing energy

shot toward the tsunami.

The terrifying waves instantly turned to frost.

Not just that—

the nearby sea surface was frozen as well.

Another Devil Fruit ability had appeared.

At this moment, a man with hawk-like eyes swung his blade at Whitebeard.

A massive black sword aura tore through the ice.

Sending dozens flying.

The entire ice sheet was split by an extremely deep crack.

Kaedehara Kazuha stared at the slash and couldn't help but suck in a breath.

Is this the third stage of Haki?

It's simply too powerful.

However, even such a devastating slash

was blocked by a figure glowing with diamond-like radiance.

Diamond Joe!

"Heh heh... not bad, Hawk-Eyes. The title of World's Greatest Swordsman truly lives up to its name!"

Another Fruit user appeared.

Of course, the battle continued to escalate.

Luffy tried repeatedly to charge forward, but each time he was knocked back.

Until finally he was kicked right beside Whitebeard.

The clash of top-tier fighters officially began.

Huang Yuan launched a photon blast, only to be kicked away by the Phoenix.

The intensity of the battle

left the group silent.

They even began to wonder,

Could Mr. Zhongli really defeat such an opponent?

Mo Na: "I wish we'd gone with Mr. Zhongli. Even buying a little time would've helped."

Although geothermal energy was somewhat terrifying,

it wasn't impossible to stop.

They still had their own combat strength.

Su Han: "Remain calm. Just watch quietly. Immortals aren't that weak either."

As he spoke,

the third Admiral stepped forward.

"Great Eruption..."

A blazing magma fist exploded outward, its searing heat warping space itself.

But Whitebeard easily blocked it.

Vibrational force erupted.

The two clashed evenly.

Shockwaves rapidly spread outward,

knocking everyone nearby off their feet.

"Whitebeard... you're simply getting old. Even your Haki is starting to decline!"

"Heh... dealing with a brat like you isn't a problem."

Murakumogiri twisted.

It directly knocked Akainu flying, but the latter swiftly turned his body.

And landed lightly on the ground.

His eyes darkened as he stared at Whitebeard.

In terms of strength,

He was no match for the opponent; he'd need to think of another way.

The battle continued.

With the Straw Hat kid's entrance, it immediately turned into a heated clash.

Within the Celestial Task Group.

Ganyu: "Why hasn't Mr. Zhongli made his move yet? Isn't this the perfect timing…?"

Mo Na: "Maybe he's observing the combat style of this world. After all, these people are experts—learning a bit could be beneficial."

"Besides, isn't Ace perfectly safe?"

On the execution platform.

Ace was naturally very safe.

Because he was originally bait.

···Seeking Flowers····· ····

They naturally wouldn't kill him so easily.

At this moment, Zhongli stood atop the glacier, silently observing the battle below.

Eight

Although for others,

Five

This kind of battle was intense.

Six

To him, it was merely interesting.

One

The cruelty of the Archon War—

Zero

Only those who had experienced it knew its true horror.

Nine

With a wave of his hand, he severed the island.

Seven

Easily destroying an entire mountain.

Eight

Battles of that level could effortlessly reshape the terrain of a region.

Two

“However, this world is indeed interesting... I originally thought Haki was nothing more than a type of internal energy. Yet there’s actually such a method.”

Ling

Mm.

Long

Very interesting...”

Zhongli looked down at the people fighting with Haki.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

Then his gaze settled on Bai Huzi, and he shook his head, saying, “This is the toll of time. In his prime,

this man would undoubtedly have been a peerless hero.”

His heart was injured.

His physical abilities had also drastically declined.

The fact that he could still remain standing

was already extremely rare.

Unfortunately, he did not possess any healing ability.

Otherwise, someone so admirable

.. 0 ...

would still be worth befriending.

Even sitting down for a drink together.

The battlefield changed in an instant.

With the help of the Whitebeard Pirates, Luffy quickly reached the execution platform.

Seeing Ace within arm's reach,

his heart swelled with joy.

“Ace.... Hahahaha, I’ve come to save you!!!”

“Luffy, run!”

“I won’t run! I came to save you...”

Luffy leapt forward.

Completely ignoring Garp, whom he had just knocked away.

At this moment, Sengoku couldn't help but intervene as well.

But for reasons unknown.

He also held back.

Causing Ace and Straw Hat directly to be flung away.

The person at the execution platform was Candle Boy.

He immediately produced a key.

And rescued Ace.

Everyone’s hearts trembled.

Finally saved?

A reunion between brothers was always filled with joy.

“Let’s go... hurry up and leave!!!”

“Of course, hahaha...”

The two brothers retreated toward the edge of the battlefield, but at that moment Akainu appeared before them.

The Mera Mera Fruit, against the Magu Magu Fruit,

became utterly useless.

Added to that, Ace didn’t understand Haki.

Within seconds, he was beaten into pieces.

“Your Mera Mera Fruit is nothing but a tiny flame before me... and Whitebeard is a complete failure!!!”

Boom.

Hearing the insult toward Whitebeard,

Ace couldn’t help but rush forward with a punch.

But he was struck and sent flying backward.

The power of the Mera Mera Fruit, against the Magu Magu Fruit,

was too immature.

There was no room for counterattack whatsoever.

And Luffy was also at the end of his strength.

Looking at the defeated brothers, Akainu sneered, "It's all over..."

He shot up into the air.

The fist turned into scorching magma.

Akainu's attack wasn't aimed at Luffy, but instead targeted Ace!

This blow sent chills down everyone's scalp at the scene.

"Ace!!!"

He had clearly already been saved.

Yet he was going to fall here?

Boom.

A stone spear landed in front of Akainu, blocking all the attacks.

"I'm protecting this child..."

At some unknown point.

A figure had appeared before Ace, though no one knew when.

[74] "I'm protecting this child..."

[75] A spear of rock landed in front of Akainu, blocking all attacks.

[76] "Ace!!!"

[77] They had already been rescued.

[78] And yet he would fall here?

[79] Boom.

[80] The fist transformed into scorching magma.

[81] Akainu's attack wasn't aimed at Luffy—it was aimed at Ace!