Chapter 83

"Boom!"

Bai Xiong, the great general, barely managed to draw his great sword Shuishui from behind his back, clanging it horizontally across his chest.

A terrifying force surged up from his wrist; Bai Xiong was instantly flung backward, transforming once more into a bolt of lightning as he reappeared upon the earth.

Bai Xiong's face appeared expressionless. But whether the Three Great Generals, or even Warring States, or even Hawk-Eye, all furrowed their brows.

Bai Xiong had just been distracted! For a Marine Great General, this was an error he should never have made—especially against Bai Hu Zi. Had Bai Xiong not reacted quickly, that single slash would have at least severely wounded him.

At the very start of battle, a Marine Great General had already been gravely wounded by Bai Hu Zi—what consequences this would bring… just thinking about it revealed how dire it was.

"What the hell is this guy thinking?"

Even Warring States, who had previously been highly satisfied with Bai Xiong, now felt a flicker of dissatisfaction.

Though Bai Xiong now stood upon the earth, expressionless, his mind was a tangled mess.

Does Bai Hu Zi know the Raisin Fruit belongs to Aini Lu?

Bai Xiong's psyche shattered.

What's the point of playing anymore? Could Bai Hu Zi also be a transmigrator? Is the heavens just messing with him?

"Thinking back… I did receive word earlier that Blackbeard Tichi of the Bai Hu Zi Pirates had been captured on the spot by Bai Hu Zi. Originally, I thought it was the butterfly effect caused by my arrival—Tichi had been exposed. But now… Bai Hu Zi must be hiding something."

Bai Xiong took two deep breaths, his gaze flickering slightly: "But it doesn't matter… since Bai Hu Zi has come—he will die for certain."

"As long as I kill Bai Hu Zi, everything can still proceed according to my plan."

"Is that what you think?"

A cold voice suddenly sounded behind Bai Xiong, carrying a hint of amusement.

"The Raisin Fruit… a fine ability!"

Bai Xiong's pupils shrank sharply; the final punch, infused with Conqueror's Haki, pierced straight through Bai Xiong's chest.

"Spurt!"

Bai Xiong spat blood—his chest was completely pierced. His pupils contracted violently, his face filled with disbelief.

In that instant, he tried to elementize, to become a bolt of lightning and retreat swiftly—but he discovered in horror that his ability no longer worked.

"This feeling… is the Dark-Dark Fruit!"

Realizing this, Bai Xiong was filled with terror. He did not dare pause a moment; his Shuishui flashed into a cold blade, stabbing backward.

Su Han's face remained expressionless. Seeing the terrifying great sword hurtling toward him, he clicked his tongue, a trace of regret on his face.

The next moment, he vanished with a whisper, returning to Bai Hu Zi's side.

"Is this the level of a Marine Great General? That's truly disappointing!"

Su Han shook his hand, his entire palm covered in pitch-black Armament Haki; the blood of Bai Xiong clinging to it was flicked off with a few casual swipes, splattering onto the ground.

Su Han gazed meaningfully at Bai Xiong: "A pity… if you'd been just a fraction slower, I might have obtained the Raisin Fruit right now."

"Bai Xiong!"

"You bastard!"

"Damn it, Bai Xiong, you're making me look down on you!"

The three Marine Admirals seated calmly turned ashen-faced; all rose to their feet.

Huang Yuan, who always followed the principle of laziness and seemed perpetually indifferent, now wore a grave expression.

Huang Yuan studied Su Han—calm in the distance, even leisurely taking a tissue from Ma Erke behind him to wipe his hands—and felt a chill in his heart.

"In an instant… he gravely wounded a Marine Great General—and stripped him of half his combat power."

"Is this guy… a newly risen Four Emperor?"

Don't even mention Huang Yuan—who in this crowd could believe what they'd just seen?

To be blunt, even Bai Hu Zi could not have achieved Su Han's feat in such an instant.

Everything had happened too fast. Only when Bai Xiong knelt on one knee, coughing blood uncontrollably, did everyone finally snap back to reality.

"How is this possible? A Great General was gravely wounded at the very first moment?!"

"This can't be right! Bai Xiong possesses the Raisin Fruit—he's the Marine's absolute trump card! Former Admiral Kuzan once said that although Bai Xiong rose rapidly, he absolutely deserves the honor and glory of a Marine Great General."

"Did you see? That Armament Haki on his hand—that level of Armament Haki, I've only ever seen on Zefa's hands… no, the former Admiral Zefa."

"Even Admiral Karp's Armament Haki wasn't this strong—and that instant teleportation… could it be some special Devil Fruit?"

Bai Xiong slowly pushed himself up, gritting his Yaguan, veins bulging on his forehead: "Life Return!"

The massive wound on his chest rapidly healed under the torrent of his life force, restored to peak condition in mere moments.

He stared intently at Bai Hu Zi and Su Han far away, his eyes bloodshot.

"Attack! Kill them."

After a brief silence, the Marine morale, which had just dipped, surged back to life in an instant.

Members of the Bai Hu Zi Pirates once again clashed with the Marines—brutal, bloody, the earth soaked in blood.

Yet outsiders marveled at how quickly Bai Xiong had restored his peak combat power, praising the Marine Great Generals as truly extraordinary.

But those who truly understood Life Return saw this and grew solemn—not a single one showed relief.

Life Return releases life force to restore peak condition in an instant.

But that doesn't mean Bai Xiong is now safe—he can recover quickly, and if he defeats his enemy within this window and receives Marine medical aid, it's still manageable.

But if he fails…

Judging by the severity of the wounds he'd just suffered, he might very well be worn down and die right on this battlefield.