The waves surged, and the Oro Jackson rocked violently.
On the deck, the Roger Pirates crew had not yet recovered from the shock of Bullet being sent flying by a single punch when a nimble figure leaped into the sea.
It was the Fishman crewmate, Sanbell, holding a trident.
He used the Fishman's natural affinity for water to cut through the surface like an arrow, rapidly diving into the deep sea, and soon dragged the blood-soaked Bullet up from the seabed rocks.
“Cough cough…” Bullet was thrown back onto the deck, coughing violently, seawater mixed with blood foam overflowing from his mouth.
His chest was caved in, his muscles torn, and combined with the Devil Fruit user's fear of water, this short period of deep-sea immersion had clearly left him completely incapacitated.
Buggy, along with Crocus, ran over in a flurry, trying to help him up, but Bullet pushed him away.
“Get lost…” Bullet gritted his teeth and growled, his eyes filled with unwillingness.
His gaze was fixed on the sky, his fists clenching so hard they audibly cracked.
Just now, it was…it was…truly embarrassing, extremely embarrassing!
.......
On the warship deck, the soldiers had already tacitly retreated to the rear, leaving enough space for Gern.
This was their unspoken understanding.
Tesoro initially looked puzzled, and the Sergeant patted his shoulder, explaining, “Gern would rather we observe quietly from here than get in the way.”
Looking at Gern's tall back, a fervent light ignited in Tesoro's eyes.
He seemed to see his future self also wearing the cloak of justice, standing shoulder to shoulder with this man!
Especially since Gern had recently taken to calling him 'Golden Emperor'.
“Golden Emperor, huh? That title doesn't seem bad either…”
On the other side, Gern stood at the bow, coldly observing the scene, his heart stirring slightly: “After entering the Admiral rank, my strength has indeed increased significantly…
Bullet, who has not yet reached his peak, is still a bit lacking.”
(After all, he could later fight Crocodile to a draw, which allowed Crocodile to truly make a name for himself in the New World.)
“In that case!” Just then, on the Oro Jackson, Roger stepped forward and slowly drew Ace.
The blade glowed with a black-red Armament Haki, and the surrounding air seemed to twist as if ignited.
“Sorry, Roger.” However, before he could make a move, Rayleigh's figure had already shot out like lightning!
“You are a patient after all, and…”
“Clang!” A clear sword cry echoed across the sea.
Rayleigh's sword light swept past like a black flash, so fast that even the air was cut open, leaving a dark crack!
“You want our Captain to make a move? Honestly, you're still too early!” Rayleigh's voice was as cold as a blade, his eyes behind his glasses as sharp as an eagle's.
His rapier was wrapped in deep Armament Haki, and before its edge even arrived, the terrifying pressure already stung Gern's skin.
“Pluton: Flash!”
Gern's pupils constricted, and he instinctively raised black blade eight desolations, its blade instantly covered in dark Armament Haki, blocking it in front of him!
“Clang!!!” The deafening clash of metal exploded, and a terrifying shockwave spread in a ring!
“Peak Rayleigh, huh!?” Gern felt an irresistible immense force assault him, his arms shaking violently.
Before he could adjust his stance, Rayleigh's sword pressure suddenly erupted, and Gern was sent flying backward like a cannonball, crashing hard into the sea!
The powerful impact caused Gern to slide directly across the sea surface, splashing waves!
Rayleigh stood where Gern had been, his gaze behind his glasses cold and calm: “Devil Fruit users have a hard time at sea, don't they!”
With that, he exerted force again and charged forward!
“Damn it…it's seawater!” Gern, sliding on the sea surface, also felt his heart sink.
On the Oro Jackson, Buggy suddenly poked his head over the ship's side, laughing with his hands on his hips.
“Hey, hey, hey! You guys can't really think that Heaven Quake can beat Mr. Rayleigh in the sea, can you?”
He exaggeratedly waved his detached arms, his red nose wiggling with his laughter: “That guy is a Devil Fruit user!”
“Mr. Rayleigh just needs a gentle push…” Buggy imitated a sword swing, “and he'll sink like a lead weight!”
“Buggy, when Bullet was knocked into the sea just now…” Shanks rubbed his forehead helplessly: “You were trembling!”
“Shut up! Shanks.” Buggy stamped his foot in exasperation, then pointed proudly at the sea.
“Watch closely! Mr. Rayleigh can chase and slash while stepping on the waves! And that Heaven Quake…” He deliberately drew out his words.
“As a Devil Fruit user, facing seawater, he probably can't even hold his blade steady right now, can he?”
He even imitated Gern possibly choking on water, rolling his eyes, “Cough cough cough…Justice? Learn to swim first!”
Laughter erupted on the deck.
Jabba also teased, “Buggy, you seem to know a lot; have you tried it?”
“Sh-shut up!” Buggy's face instantly turned red, clearly recalling some unbearable experiences of falling into the water.
However, just as the Roger Pirates thought Gern was about to suffer in the vast sea, a water pillar dozens of meters high suddenly erupted from the sea surface.
Rayleigh was launched high into the air, coughing up a mouthful of blood!!!
“Garp's martial arts?” Rayleigh clearly fell into a cognitive trap as well.
He thought that Gern, holding one of the Supreme Grade Swords - Twelve Supreme Blades, would follow the path of a swordsman.
But he didn't expect that Gern was purely specialized in martial arts!
“Give me…tremble!!!” At this moment, a low voice came from beneath the rippling sea surface.
Immediately after, the entire sea area where Gern was located suddenly exploded.
Gern's figure floated in mid-air, his left palm facing down, then he suddenly raised it, letting out a low shout: “Heaven Quake: Return to the Ruins!”
“Boom!!!” The moment his palm touched the sea surface, a terrifying vibration wave erupted.
The sea surface for several thousand meters around suddenly collapsed, the seawater pushed away in all directions as if pressed by an invisible giant hand, revealing the seabed rocks below!
Immediately after, Gern violently raised his left hand, and the power of vibration swept through the seabed.
He used the vibration to trigger a crustal effect, tearing apart huge seabed rocks and forcibly pulling them up to the sea surface with his movements!
“Rumble!” The sea rocks and the power of vibration intertwined, instantly forming a small reef island, and Gern and Rayleigh landed steadily on the reef.
For a moment, everyone on the Oro Jackson was too stunned to speak by this scene.
“What the hell…this guy can create land out of thin air?!” Jabba and Buggy had almost identical expressions, their eyes wide.
“Can this really be done?!” The young Shanks stared intently at the suddenly appearing rocky island, his heart also filled with confusion.
“Gern…” Roger's lips slowly curved into a smile; in just this short exchange, he had already seen all of Gern's abilities.
“Haki, martial arts, and Devil Fruit: a trinity, all mastered. Rayleigh might be in trouble.”
On the reef island,
Rayleigh raised a hand to wipe away the blood seeping from the corner of his lips, his gaze behind his glasses still sharp as a blade.
“Land creation at sea.” He chuckled softly, his voice carrying a hint of admiration: “What a terrifying Devil Fruit ability.”
“You are also living up to your reputation!” Gern's black blade eight desolations pointed diagonally at the sea.
The Armament Haki wrapped around the blade had not yet dispersed, its cold gleam reflecting the surging waves.
Then he slowly raised it, pointing at Rayleigh, and said coldly: “Right?”
“'Pluton' Silvers Rayleigh.”