Chapter 297: You Are the Challenger!

"Stop messing with me!"

Cavendish roared.

He was nearly completely out of control.

Losing to Gao Wen would be one thing — after all, no matter how you looked at it, there was no chance of him beating that guy.

Losing to Gao Wen's vice-captain Xiang Keluo was barely acceptable too — after all, the one who ran wasn't him, it was that White Horse guy; the shame was his, not mine!

But if he couldn't even beat some man who'd popped up out of nowhere, then his name…

While he was thinking.

A fierce sense of crisis surged into Cavendish's head, chilling his spine while simultaneously cooling his thoughts.

Cavendish looked up.

He saw Ajin standing calmly on the deck, eyes lowered, looking down at him, while the skeleton on Ajin's shoulder extended and wove together, forming a massive cannon!

Hiss—!

In the piercing shriek, a great volume of air was sucked into Ajin's mouth, then in an instant compressed into the cannon barrel on his shoulder, transformed into pure force!

"Bone Cannon!"

Ajin roared, and the cannon barrel on his shoulder bloomed with a pure-white beam; the powerful recoil made the Lionheart Knight ship sink slightly.

The cannon shell, wrapped in Armament Haki, blasted forth, hurtling toward Cavendish, who didn't even have time to react before being struck.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

A string of massive trees were snapped by Cavendish as he crashed through them.

Dust and smoke rose like dragons, blotting out the sky.

Cavendish's consciousness itself grew blurry at this moment.

Normally at this point, White Horse would have taken over this body at the first instant, but this time, until Cavendish completely collapsed, there was no response at all.

It was because Xiang Keluo's figure had also been in pursuit at this moment; he glanced at the unconscious Cavendish in the distance and for a moment felt rather listless:

"You beat me to it?!"

"Unlucky."

Ajin slowly shed the skeleton around his body, glanced at Xiang Keluo, and roughly guessed what had happened:

"That guy has some skill, but if he wants to be our opponent, he's not qualified."

"At the very least, a Warlord or an elite Vice Admiral of the Marines would be needed to get exciting."

"What do we do with him?!"

After a moment's deliberation, Xiang Keluo said:

"That guy is Cavendish of the Beautiful Pirates; looks like he's been stationed here all along, wanting to use Gao Wen as a stepping stone to make a name for himself."

"Keep him alive for now, and see how Gao Wen wants to handle it."

"His pirate crew should be nearby; I'll take a few men and go crush them!"

……

At the same time.

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

This place was not far from the Sabaody Archipelago — less than a hundred nautical miles.

It was also why, although the Sabaody Archipelago gathered all sorts of pirates wanting to pass through Fish-Man Island to Enter the New World, very few dared to cause trouble near the Sabaody Archipelago.

But there's always an exception to everything.

At this moment, Sengoku sat in his office, brows tightly knit.

"Gao Wen's crew is causing trouble at the Sabaody Archipelago?"

"Yes, Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"

A slightly uneasy voice came through the receiver of the Den Den Mushi on the desk.

"Knight Gao Wen is currently fighting Hawkeye Mihawk; the area around Forest No. 013 has already been drawn into the battlefield, and several forests have already sunk."

"I'm worried that if this continues, it may eventually escalate into a battle that engulfs the entire Sabaody Archipelago."

"You know, some Celestial Dragons may secretly come here to attend some unspeakable auctions; if something really goes wrong…"

"Enough!"

Sengoku opened his mouth to cut the other off:

"I'll have people sent to support right away; make sure the impact is kept within acceptable bounds!"

"Yes!"

He hung up the call.

Sengoku couldn't help reaching up to rub his brow; his complexion was visibly haggard.

He took a deep breath, then summoned Kizaru — who had previously fought Kaido fiercely in the New World and was now recuperating at Marineford.

The latter had bandages wrapped around his hands, still wearing that flippant look:

"I'm still recuperating, you know~ my lord~"

"That's quite enough; even slacking off has its time and place."

"With your constitution, that little injury doesn't warrant three or four months of rest."

Sengoku swept a glance at him, saw only a fair-and-rosy, full-of-spirits face, then looked again at the bandages wrapped around Kizaru's hands, and instantly grew even more annoyed:

"Besides, how could the doctors at Marine Headquarters wrap bandages so crudely? You clearly did this yourself, didn't you?!"

"ko~wa~i~ne~"

The Huang Yuan's face didn't flush, nor did his heart skip a beat:

"I blocked a monster like Kaido in the New World for the sake of justice, yet I still get talked to like this by my comrades; another day where I want to retire~"

"I really envy that guy Kuzan, able to take a vacation openly and properly~"

Sengoku's mouth twitched, yet he also felt helpless.

Not only Zephyr and Aokiji, but even the Huang Yuan had changed after meeting Knight Gao Wen in Alabasta.

Though not as intense as the changes in Zephyr and Aokiji, it felt like moisture nourishing things silently; subtle, yet even more unfathomable.

Sengoku did not know whether this was good or bad.

But now.

After being suspended by the Five Elders, Aokiji resolutely chose to follow Zephyr to the G-5 branch.

Akainu, depressed because his best friend died before his eyes, was secretly plotting something.

The Huang Yuan was already the only combat power capable of holding the ground at Marine Headquarters, aside from Sengoku himself and Garp.

"Knight Gao Wen and Hawk-Eye clashed on the Sabaody Archipelago, causing panic locally; before the situation expands further, I need you to step in and stop the battle between those two."

"After all, you know clearly that both Knight Gao Wen and Hawk-Eye possess combat power equivalent to that of the Four Emperors."

"Once those two truly go all out, there is even a possibility they could destroy the entire Sabaody Archipelago!"

The sloppy expression on the Huang Yuan's face vanished.

He raised his hand to adjust his glasses, his voice becoming rarely serious:

"Understood, my lord Sengoku."

A few minutes later.

The warship led by the Huang Yuan sailed out of Marineford's harbor, gradually accelerating as it sped toward the Sabaody Archipelago.

On the deck.

War Taowan stood shoulder to shoulder with the Huang Yuan; looking at the silent Huang Yuan, he couldn't help but ask:

"Old Uncle, that Knight Gao Wen you've mentioned so many times, what kind of person is he exactly?"

"That guy is clearly a pirate, yet in your mouth, he is a special existence."

"How to evaluate him..."

The Huang Yuan raised his hand to rub his chin, momentarily unsure where to begin; after a long while, he finally found a suitable word to describe him:

"Perhaps heretical!"

"But those words, those thoughts, transcend this era, seeing the true face of this world from another angle."

"That guy might pose no threat to the Marines, but for the World Government, he is undoubtedly equal to, no, perhaps even more dangerous evil than Luo Jie."

War Taowan paused slightly, reached out to grip his battle axe, his eyes firm:

"Although I don't know what you're talking about, if that guy has gained Old Uncle's approval, he is naturally different from other pirates; perhaps he can even become Mr. Vegapunk's friend."

"Hmph~"

The corner of the Huang Yuan's mouth curled into a slight smile:

"That kind of thing is hard for me to explain clearly too."

"However, our mission on this trip is to stop the battle between those two, or at least to keep the resulting impact within an acceptable range!"

War Taowan nodded heavily:

"Mm!"

As the two conversed.

The sea breeze gradually began to howl, the warship increased speed, cutting through wind and waves as it sped toward the Sabaody Archipelago.

Very soon.

The Sabaody Archipelago, formed by continuous tree seas and interwoven, connected roots and stems, appeared before the eyes of the Marine party.

And what they saw even before the Sabaody Archipelago itself were the slashes continuously shooting out from one corner of the island, along with two auras that terrified the soul.

"This feeling... is it real?!"

Feeling those two extremely powerful auras, War Taowan subconsciously tightened his grip on the battle axe behind him, cold sweat already seeping from his forehead:

"The last time I felt this way was when Mr. Sakazuki and Mr. Kuzan argued until sparks flew and were about to start fighting!"

"What kind of monsters are these two fighting?"

He was confident his defense was number one in the world; although there was some exaggeration, it also reflected his absolute confidence in himself.

But at this moment, merely feeling the aftermath of those two fighting already made his hair stand on end; if he truly fought them, he probably wouldn't last even an instant.

Thinking of this, War Taowan couldn't help but feel several degrees more worry for the Huang Yuan beside him:

"This is no joke; can you handle it alone, Old Uncle?!"

The Huang Yuan narrowed his eyes, gazing into the distance:

"It seems we didn't come at the right time."

War Taowan was puzzled:

"What do you mean?!"

"This battle is about to decide a winner and loser; I'll go take a look."

As the words landed.

The Huang Yuan leaped up, transforming into a streak of Jin Guang, vanishing into the sky.

Seeing this, War Taowan hurriedly commanded the warship to accelerate, hoping to land in the shortest time possible and bring the situation on the Sabaody Archipelago under control.

Several breaths later.

Near Forest No. 013.

Boom!

A beam of golden light struck the ground, detonating crimson flames.

Kizaru slowly stepped out from the fire; pirates all around who recognized his identity turned and fled without a moment's hesitation.

Only Lei Li remained calmly standing in the corner, even reaching into his robe to take out his metal flask and taking a few sips of strong liquor.

Kizaru paid no heed to the fleeing pirates, even temporarily setting aside Gao Wen and Hawk Eyes, who were still locked in fierce battle; his attention was entirely focused on Lei Li.

"Dark King Lei Li..."

"To think such a great figure was hiding right under the Navy's nose?!"

"Oh my~"

The corner of Lei Li's mouth curled up slightly; there was not a trace of fear on his face, only the calm detachment belonging to the Dark King:

"I am just a useless old man."

"You have mistaken me for someone else."

"Is that so..."

Kizaru responded with a lukewarm tone.

For the Navy, the fact that the Dark King was hiding on the Sabaody Archipelago had long ceased to be any secret.

Firstly, the Luo Jie Pirates had already disbanded; although Lei Li still remained on the wanted posters, he had ultimately chosen to retire, posing a threat to the World Government far less than he once did.

Secondly, Lei Li's own strength was sufficient to match an Admiral; to capture him would require at least an Admiral to lead the operation personally, and only by sacrificing countless lives would there be any possibility of success.

In comparison, turning a blind eye, allowing him to spend his retirement here, and maintaining a tacit understanding was the approach with the lowest cost and most aligned with the Navy's interests.

Kizaru had no intention of fighting Lei Li here either; he raised a hand to adjust his glasses, returning to his usual lazy demeanor:

"Then perhaps I was mistaken."

"However—!"

Just as Kizaru was about to continue, another explosion erupted from the battlefield in the distance!

Fzzzt—!

Crack-crack-crack—!

Crimson lightning snakes danced wildly in midair, unleashing wave after wave of shockwaves in all directions, making the very earth tremble!

Two black blades clashed repeatedly in midair, churning up the sky's air currents!

Wild winds ravaged the land, and the towering giant trees all around had long since been flattened!

Even Kizaru, upon seeing this scene, could not help but fall silent:

"This fellow... has he grown to this extent? From Alabasta until now, it has been less than half a year in total, and yet..."

Previously, upon hearing that Gao Wen had defeated Jin Shizi at Water Seven, Kizaru had not felt much of a real sense of it.

After all, in his impression, Jin Shizi was still that old man with both legs severed, an old scar on his head, and who was already somewhat aged.

His combat power was far below his peak period.

Being defeated by Gao Wen, while somewhat unexpected, was still reasonable.

But now, looking at that battle, perhaps it was not so simple.

Kizaru did not know how strong Gao Wen was, but he knew clearly how strong Hawk Eyes was.

Even alone, this man's danger level within the Navy's internal assessment mechanism was on the same tier as the Four Emperors.

Serving as a reference for this was a legendary pirate from the previous era who, by his own power, stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Whitebeard and Luo Jie—

The Solitary Red, Redfield!

Peerless Haki, top-tier swordsmanship.

Plus, an Observation Haki capable of directly reading an opponent's memories, which even within the World Government's history could be called a miracle.

All of this shaped a monster that was nearly invincible!

Although this man was eventually captured, it was not in the posture of a loser; rather, after defeating the then-Navy Fleet Admiral Kong, he finally lost to Garp due to physical exhaustion during their subsequent fight.

Even legends like Whitebeard and Jin Shizi might not have been able to achieve such a record.

Hawk Eyes' combat power might not equal Redfield's, but the Navy's emphasis on him was enough to prove Hawk Eyes' might.

And at this moment, the one holding the advantage in the battlefield was not Hawk Eyes but Gao Wen; the latter had not even utilized the Crimson Dragon Fruit, relying solely on his own swordsmanship, Haki, and physique to suppress Hawk Eyes!

"Very surprised, aren't you?!"

Lei Li could not help but let out a sigh of admiration:

"I am very surprised too."

"Even in our time, no, even in Luo Jie's era, such a monster never appeared."

"Whether it was Whitebeard, Jin Shizi, Redfield, or Rocks, none of them reached such heights at such an age."

"It is this era that has nurtured him!"

"Our former peaks, our former glory, for him are merely the beginning."

Lei Li's voice suddenly rose in pitch.

The battle in the arena was also gradually moving toward its climax at this moment!

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

Amidst the increasingly fierce slaughter, Hawk Eyes' gaze also became increasingly sharp.

His Hukou had already been shaken apart; blood dyed the sword hilt red, yet this blade became even more restless!

"Gao Wen!"

Hawk Eyes roared.

He had looked forward to the day someone would challenge, or even defeat, him.

Yet now that day truly approached, even stood on the verge of arrival, he discovered his heart was filled with such unwillingness to accept it!

No one is willing to remain in second place, especially one who once stood at the pinnacle!

"Hawk Wave!"

A horizontal slash thrust forward; emerald brilliance, like a beam of light, severed everything it touched all the way to the horizon!

A tall tower standing in the dense forest was sliced in half by Hawk Eye, and his fighting spirit nearly surged forth at this moment!

"Mihawk!"

Gao Wen raised his hand and swung his blade, shattering the slash speeding toward him from Hawk Eye.

He looked down from above, his full head of golden hair dancing wildly in the wind, radiating an utterly ferocious aura!

"Now!"

"You are the challenger!"

(End of Chapter)