Chapter 316: The Strongest Man in the World

Bai Huzi stood atop the giant bird, guiding it into the sky, charging straight toward the execution platform where Ace was held.

"Stop him!"

Seeing Bai Huzi hurtling toward him, Admiral Sengoku was stunned.

If Bai Huzi personally breached the execution platform, even he had no confidence in holding Ace securely.

"That won't do, Bai Huzi."

Huang Yuan instantly appeared in Bai Huzi's path, crossing his arms and activating Hachishaku Kongo Tama.

His target was not Bai Huzi, but the bird beneath him.

"I've finally seen a chance for success—I won't let you ruin it," the Phoenix Ma Erke charged at Huang Yuan again, using the Phoenix's nature to block the attack.

Meanwhile, Admirals Akainu and Aokiji simultaneously dropped Luffy and leapt into the air, preparing to intercept Bai Huzi.

"Shining Strike!"

"Rose Waltz!"

Two figures—Diamond Jozu and Hannyabal Bista—leapt from beside Bai Huzi, blocking Akainu and Aokiji to give their old man an opening.

Neither of them could match the Admirals, but they could still buy precious time by fighting desperately.

All those engaged in battle—Eagle Eye, Crocodile, Boa Hancock, Emporio Ivankov, Doflamingo, Jinbe—halted, watching the scene before them.

Only Luffy ignored everything, continuing to charge toward the execution platform from the ground with Hawkins and the others.

Seeing his three sons temporarily hold off the three Admirals, Bai Huzi urged the giant bird onward toward Ace's execution platform.

Then he pulled several syringes from his bag and injected them into his body.

These were the composite hormone serum he had just obtained from Emporio Ivankov—sacrificing his body's potential to gain about an hour of peak condition.

Once the effect wore off, death awaited him.

Yet to rescue Ace, Bai Huzi had clearly already made his peace with dying here.

As Ivankov's hormone serum coursed through him, Bai Huzi's aura surged higher and higher, radiating terrifying pressure.

"Guraguraguragura! The feeling of power returning—how wonderful!"

Bai Huzi clenched his fist tightly and laughed heartily.

Though his lifespan now lasted only one hour, it was enough for him!

"The strongest man in the world has returned!"

Sensing the terrifying aura radiating from Bai Huzi, Sengoku's face darkened; his body rapidly swelled and expanded as he activated the Great Buddha Body, preparing for a full-scale confrontation.

"Oyaji!"

Ace, watching Bai Huzi fly directly toward him atop the giant bird, murmured softly.

He could feel—his old man had returned to his former state.

"Bai Huzi..."

Capitan, seated beside Ace, clenched his fists tightly, his heart torn apart as he watched Bai Huzi approach.

On one side was family; on the other, his duty.

He could not easily abandon either.

On the ground.

Seeing Admiral Sengoku glowing golden and Bai Huzi radiating terrifying aura, Hawkins grabbed Luffy's arm and stopped him:

"Don't go—going now is certain death."

Even a ripple from a clash between top-tier experts could drown newcomers like us.

"Let me go—I'm saving Ace!" Luffy pushed forward regardless.

Hawkins released Luffy's stretched face and said calmly:

"Fortune-telling shows that going now will lower the chance of rescuing Ace—if you want that outcome, then go ahead."

Released, Luffy bounced off the ground due to his rubber elasticity.

After the impact to his head, he actually listened to Hawkins's warning and turned to ask:

"Then what do we do now?"

Luffy still had great trust in Hawkins's fortune-telling ability.

Hawkins glanced at everyone whose attention was now fixed on Bai Huzi in the sky and said calmly: "Disappear from the battlefield."