Chapter 163: Chapter 163: Devastating Strike!
Rumble—
At this very moment…
Amazon Lily's territorial waters!
While Sandersonia and Marigold were captured by Lafitte, the skies thundered ominously!
Suddenly, a giant lightning dragon roared down from the sky.
It moved so fast that it instantly obliterated the CP0 agent blocking their escape!
"What the hell!? Weren't you supposed to be causing trouble for the Navy on the first half of the Grand Line, Enel?!"
In that moment…
Blackbeard Pirates' officer, Demon Sheriff Lafitte, was visibly shaken.
According to the "accurate" intel provided by the World Government, several powerful figures had taken advantage of the recruitment campaign's failure, seizing Navy branch bases on the first half of the Grand Line. Among them was the notorious Enel, who had caused a stir in the Navy during the World Military Draft.
But why was he here, now?
And behind him… were the infamous Seven robots, warriors of immense strength.
Could it be that their assault on Amazon Lily and the Central Authority's base had already been discovered? If that were true, then surely that man must have already received word…
"Yahahaha! You worthless fools! Did you seriously think you could sneak attack Amazon Lily? Now this is going to be entertaining!"
Hovering in the air, Enel looked down at Lafitte with a mocking grin, as if he were staring at an idiot.
Don't these fools realize where they are? This is Amazon Lily—territory of the Central Authority! And they dare to launch an attack here?
Did they really believe that Shiro, their boss, and the Central Authority's leaders were unprepared, sending all their top fighters away without any defenses?
Just before the World Military Draft, Shiro had set up an advanced defense system in this very sea. That's why he could return so quickly after receiving the intel!
"Enel, I don't know why you're here, but don't do anything rash. Otherwise, I'll kill her!" Lafitte threatened, his tone tense as he held Marigold captive.
Though Lafitte was a key figure of the Blackbeard Pirates, Enel had earned his fearsome reputation by battling Admirals during the World Military Draft. Lafitte knew that any misstep could lead to his instant defeat.
But he needed to return and report to his captain, Blackbeard. Otherwise, the Blackbeard Pirates might be in grave danger today.
As Lafitte used Marigold as a hostage, Enel's eerie smile widened.
Lafitte's heart sank, his nerves on edge.
He knew Enel controlled the powers of lightning, an ability that gave him speed rivaling that of Admiral Borsalino and Shiro himself.
Yet strangely, Enel didn't attack immediately. Instead, he seemed to be mocking Lafitte, as if savoring the moment.
But then, a chilling presence engulfed Lafitte, and before he could react, it was too late.
"Ahh... I made it just in time!"
Whoosh—
A gust of freezing wind howled, and in the blink of an eye, Lafitte was encased in ice.
Boom—
Without hesitation, Marigold smashed Lafitte's frozen body into fragments, sending icy shards into the sea.
"Thank you, Kuzan, Enel! You both finally made it back!" Marigold's relief was palpable as she addressed the two.
With these two back, it was clear: Shiro must have received the news as well. He was undoubtedly on his way.
Their enemies' days were numbered.
"Ah, relax, Marigold," Kuzan said with his usual calm demeanor.
"Shiro already had defenses set up here long ago. If the World Government and Blackbeard want to attack, they better be ready to lose everything."
"And Shiro? Is he already—?"
"He's probably already inside Amazon Lily by now. He'd never allow Hancock to come to harm," Kuzan replied coolly.
"Let's move, Enel. Lock down the coast. No one gets out alive. Those are our orders from the top."
…
Meanwhile…
Blackbeard Marshall D. Teach, along with his subordinates Pizarro and Doc Q, had made their way deep into Amazon Lily, relentlessly pursuing Boa Hancock.
Blackbeard's goal this time was simple: capture the Pirate Empress.
But what he didn't expect was just how formidable the former Seven Warlords of the Sea member, and now a central figure in the Central Authority, Boa Hancock, had become.
In a battle that had initially seemed evenly matched, Hancock's presence had turned the tide almost immediately. Most of Blackbeard's crew had been turned to stone by her power, leaving him furious.
After all, his crew was precious to him. But capturing Hancock was the key to saving them. So, as soon as she fled the battlefield, Blackbeard and his subordinates gave chase.
"Zehahahaha! Why aren't you running anymore, world's most beautiful woman, Pirate Empress Boa Hancock!?" Blackbeard called out mockingly.
In the heart of a treacherous jungle, Blackbeard had finally caught up to her, flanked by Pizarro and Doc Q.
"This place… should be fitting for your final resting place, don't you think?" Hancock's voice dripped with sarcasm as she taunted the trio, not a hint of fear in her eyes.
Her calm and confident demeanor only unnerved Blackbeard further. But he quickly steeled himself. Surely, she was bluffing.
There was no way she could win this time.
This operation was a secret joint effort between the Blackbeard Pirates and the World Government. At this very moment, the Central Authority's base was under siege by elite forces from the World Government. There was no one left to save her.
Today, Boa Hancock would fall, and she would be his!
"Zehahaha! Stop bluffing, Hancock! Your man—Shiro—is probably tearing up Impel Down right now. There's no way he'll be able to save you!" Blackbeard jeered, his voice filled with malicious glee.
But despite his confidence, Hancock's haughty and mocking expression didn't waver, unsettling him.
"Don't act so high and mighty, Hancock!" Blackbeard growled, his face darkening as he stepped forward.
But just as he was about to reveal her secret…
Boom—
A blinding flash of lightning struck, sending Blackbeard flying, his body crashing hard into the ground, burying him deep within the earth.
Before Pizarro and Doc Q could even react, they found themselves seized by powerful hands, their necks gripped with an iron-like force. A terrifying Haki overwhelmed them, rendering them powerless in mere seconds.
In a single instant, the Blackbeard Pirates' three crew members had been thoroughly beaten.
As Blackbeard painfully dragged himself out of the ground, cold sweat drenched his entire body.
Because standing beside him was none other than the world's greatest swordsman—Hawk Eyes Mihawk!
And before him…
The man who had effortlessly subdued his officers—the man with a bounty of 5.36 billion Belly—was none other than his mortal enemy.
Shiro.
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The fanfic is finished on p@treon/tambeerg