Chapter 16: Kizaru!!

The light faded, and a man wearing a yellow pinstriped suit and sunglasses appeared before everyone. He had his hands in his pockets, lazily scanning his surroundings.

"Ara, looks like I'm not too late, just caught it right on time." The newcomer spoke unhurriedly, his tone carrying a hint of teasing.

The moment the pirates got a clear look at the newcomer, their originally excited faces instantly turned ashen, their eyes filled with disbelief and panic.

They even forgot to breathe, just staring blankly at that uninvited guest, their bodies trembling slightly from fear.

"Ki-, Kizaru!"

"It's Admiral Kizaru!"

Someone stammered out that spine-chilling name, their voice full of despair.

Crocodile's expression instantly turned grave. "Big trouble," he muttered to himself, "looks like we won't be getting away this time."

As a former Seven Warlords of the Sea, he knew all too well the terrifying strength of a Marine Admiral. They were existences standing at the very peak of the Sea; even at his peak condition he would have difficulty escaping from their clutches, let alone himself who had just broken out of prison.

Kizaru said with a smile: "Looks like your journey is going to end ahead of schedule."

Crocodile let out a cold snort and said: "Cut the crap, if you're coming then come."

Kizaru didn't seem to take Crocodile's words to heart at all. He slowly turned his head, his gaze landing on Orochimaru, a trace of interest flashing in his eyes.

"You're the mastermind behind this prison break?" he asked, his voice carrying an air of nonchalance.

"An Admiral, huh." Orochimaru repeated thoughtfully, the corner of his mouth hooking into a meaningful smile. "How interesting, didn't expect to run into a powerhouse like this here."

The moment he spoke those words, the Main God's voice suddenly rang out in his mind.

【Main Mission Changed: Survive】

【Difficulty: S】

【Mission Requirement: Under Admiral Kizaru's pursuit, successfully pass through the Gate of Justice】

【Mission Reward: 3000 Reward Points】

【Time Limit: None】

"What?!"

Orochimaru's pupils abruptly contracted, the Main God's warning still echoing in his mind.

Next second, Kizaru's figure suddenly turned into a blinding flash of light, crossing dozens of meters in the blink of an eye to appear before Orochimaru.

"Ever been hit by a Light Speed Kick?"

Kizaru's voice sounded, and before Orochimaru could even react, he heard the other man chuckle lightly: "Light Speed Kick!"

"Bang!" With a loud boom, Orochimaru only felt a heavy blow to his abdomen, his whole person instantly sent flying backward, crashing hard into the bulkhead behind him.

"Cough cough."

Orochimaru spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his face deathly pale. He looked down, only to see a bloody hole had appeared in his abdomen, fresh blood gushing out.

"This guy's speed is terrifying!" Orochimaru gritted his teeth, thinking to himself, in just an instant one strike sent him flying, he completely had no time to react at all.

Next second, his hands rapidly formed Hand Seals, green chakra light blooming in his palm, covering the wound. And at this moment Crocodile, seeing this, also had his expression turn exceptionally grave. He let out a cold snort, his right hand turning into a spinning sharp blade, sweeping toward Kizaru.

However, facing the incoming Sand Blade, Kizaru seemed completely unconcerned. His figure once again turned into light, easily dodging the attack.

"Scary weapon, would be bad if I touched it." Kizaru said unhurriedly, not a trace of tension in his tone. The next moment, his right hand suddenly bloomed with a dazzling light, a sharp blade composed of light appearing in his hand.

"Yasakani no Magatama." Kizaru recited softly, his wrist shaking, the light blade instantly slashing toward Crocodile.

"Shhla!"

A sharp sound of breaking air rang out, the light blade cutting through the air at an unbelievable speed, arriving before Crocodile in the blink of an eye.

Crocodile's pupils contracted, he abruptly raised his left arm to block with his Gold Hook in front of him.

"Clang!" Gold Hook and light blade heavily collided, emitting a piercing metallic clash. The powerful impact instantly traveled through Crocodile's entire arm, forcing him to retreat several steps.

However, just as Crocodile barely blocked this strike, Kizaru's figure once again turned into a streak of light, already arriving behind Crocodile.

Crocodile abruptly looked up, only to see Kizaru's right leg already raised high, shining with dazzling light.

"Light Speed Kick!"

Kizaru's voice rang out again, his right foot descending heavily onto Crocodile's back at a speed the naked eye could barely capture.

"Bang!" With a loud boom, Crocodile only felt a heavy blow to his back, his whole person instantly sent flying backward, smashing through the bulkhead behind him and falling into the sea.

"This should buy some time for now." As Orochimaru performed Medical Ninjutsu, the bleeding from his wound gradually slowed, finally stopping completely.

Kizaru slowly turned around, glancing at Orochimaru, his tone carrying a hint of surprise: "Oh, didn't expect you still have healing ability? A bit interesting."

Orochimaru struggled to his feet, a trace of pain still lingering on his face. He raised his head, his gaze passing over Kizaru to land on the distant horizon.

Suddenly, his pupils sharply contracted. Only to see a giant gate appear on the sea surface ahead, fully a kilometer high, completely blocking off this entire stretch of sea.

"So this is the Gate of Justice?" Orochimaru murmured to himself, excitement instantly blazing in his eyes. As long as he could successfully pass through this gate, perhaps there was still a chance! Orochimaru abruptly formed Hand Seals, his hands rapidly changing gestures, roaring low: "Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!"

The moment his words fell, the deck suddenly rippled with mire, in the blink of an eye turning into a large expanse of swamp. Mud churned, emitting a rotting stench, as if to devour everything.

However Kizaru seemed to have anticipated this, his figure flashing, nimbly leaping into the air, hovering mid-air, looking down at the swamp below.

"Oh? Want to use this move to trap me?" He said unhurriedly, his tone carrying a trace of mockery.

In that split second, Orochimaru's hand seals changed again, immediately followed by a shout: "Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld Chaos!"

"Shhla shhla!" With a series of sharp air-tearing sounds, countless sharp earth spikes erupted from the swamp, dense as rain, like hidden weapons rushing straight at Kizaru's position.

Pfft! Kizaru's body was pierced by the sharp earth cones, but the wounds emitted a yellow fluorescence, clearly having caused no damage at all.

At the same time, a large amount of mud splashed into mid-air, instantly obscuring everyone's vision. The deck was filled with mist, mud and sand flying, for a moment directions couldn't be distinguished at all.

Kizaru frowned slightly, seeming a bit displeased by this sudden change.

"Hum!" Accompanied by a low hum, an invisible force rapidly spread out with Kizaru as the center, instantly shattering all the surrounding mud into dust filling the sky.

(Chapter End)