Chapter 141: The Navy is Defeated
After quickly getting back on his feet, Sengoku returned to the navy's side.
"Everyone, retreat now!"
Sengoku shouted loudly.
He had noticed the situation on the battlefield; the navy was being pushed back by the pirates, with their numbers reduced by more than half.
If the fight continued, the navy he had brought would all perish on this island. As a navy admiral, he couldn't allow that.
"Quick, retreat!!"
Hearing Sengoku's order, the surviving navy members began to withdraw.
"Sengoku, you think you can leave that easily?"
As Sengoku withdrew from the battlefield, Li Yuan dashed forward, unwilling to let Sengoku, his free opponent, escape.
"Infinity: Domination: Sky-Splitting Draw Sword Technique!!!"
A kilometer-long slash tore through the sky, heading straight for the three navy ships docked at the port.
The massive ships seemed insignificant before Li Yuan's slash.
If nothing stopped it, the three ships would be reduced to splinters and sink.
Seeing this, Sengoku couldn't just watch his ships be destroyed. He dashed to intercept the enormous slash.
"Buddha Palm!!"
He unleashed a palm strike, like an unstoppable Buddha's hand, clashing with the slash.
"Crack!!!"
However, Sengoku was too late. The sky-crossing slash cut through the Buddha's hand, striking Sengoku's palm.
"Disperse!!!"
Sengoku exerted more force, dissipating the weakened slash.
With Sengoku's retreat order, and many navy members willing to sacrifice themselves to delay the pirates, the three ships managed to leave the port and escape.
However, even with all three ships combined, there were fewer than four hundred navy members left, nearly a total wipeout.
"Call headquarters, call headquarters, this is Colonel under Admiral Sengoku."
"We were attacked by the Infinity Pirates. Admiral Sengoku is currently battling their captain, Li Yuan."
"Our navy has retreated from the battlefield, but Admiral Sengoku remains on Sonina Island, fighting Li Yuan."
"Requesting support from headquarters!!"
After retreating, a navy member contacted headquarters via Den Den Mushi.
"Li Yuan has grown to such an extent; he's only 19, and even Sengoku can't shake him or defeat him!"
"In a decade or so, will he become another Rocks?"
Steel Bone Kong marveled upon receiving the situation from Sengoku.
When Li Yuan was in his hands, he was easily defeated. Yet, in a few years, he had caught up completely.
Kong knew Sengoku's strength; Sengoku was no weaker than him.
This meant even if he faced Li Yuan again, he wouldn't gain much advantage.
"Garp went after Roger."
"Send Zephyr to support Sengoku. If possible, capture Li Yuan."
Kong said reluctantly.
The New World was in chaos, making it difficult for the navy to target the Rocks remnants specifically.
If those remnants united against the navy, it would spell disaster.
"So this is the captain's power? It's terrifying!"
Barrett, having defeated his opponent, was stunned by the intense battle in the distance.
He had grown a lot over the years, becoming much stronger, and after eating the Mythical Zoan Titan fruit, his ego swelled.
Yet, witnessing this scene, where even the aftermath could crush him, he was humbled.
He was still far from being a top-tier powerhouse!
"We're leaving, back to the ship!"
After defeating the navy, Kano shouted.
They couldn't assist in Li Yuan's battle with the admiral.
Leaving, ensuring they weren't a burden to Li Yuan, was their best choice.
Who knew if the admiral might suddenly send a shockwave their way!
The retreating navy didn't completely leave but watched Sonina Island from afar.
As a Devil Fruit user, Sengoku needed a ship to leave the island, so they had to provide him with a way back.
Following Li Yuan's orders, Kano's group didn't pursue the retreating navy.
Without assurance of restraining Sengoku, Li Yuan wouldn't risk having Kano attacked.
With no worries about his crew, Sengoku's battle with Li Yuan continued on Sonina Island.
As a Mythical Zoan user, Sengoku was strong in all areas—physical skills, strength, defense, techniques, and Haki—without any weaknesses.
Similarly, Li Yuan had advanced Armament, Observation, and Conqueror's Haki.
He mastered advanced Haki techniques like Armament's internal destruction, Observation's mind-reading, and Conqueror's infusion.
Along with a physique and recovery on par with Sengoku, and three types of sword intent at the Great Swordsman level, Li Yuan's combat power was top-tier.
He used Sengoku's pressure to refine his three sword intents, aiming to merge them into a stronger one.
He had trained in three sword intents, intending to combine them into a more potent form.
But the path was difficult, and even now, he hadn't succeeded.
"They've been fighting for four days without a winner; that admiral's tenacious."
Kalu clicked his tongue.
It was his first time seeing someone withstand Li Yuan's sword for so long.
Even against an admiral, he confidently believed Li Yuan was stronger.
"It's hard to say; at the captain's level, sometimes it takes ten days and nights to decide a winner."
Kano said.
He had participated in the Rocks Pirates' battles against the New World navy and was more experienced than Kalu.
Many strong fighters had minimal strength differences, often needing a long time to determine the victor.
"Sengoku, let's fight another day!!"
After forcing Sengoku back with a sword strike, Li Yuan retreated rapidly, using Moonwalk to leave Sonina Island and head to his pirate ship.
Sengoku didn't pursue; he dared not battle Li Yuan at sea.
The tragic fate of Marine Admiral Baryonyx Carve remained vivid in memory.
"Captain!!"
"First Brother!!"
"Boss!!"
"..."
When Li Yuan returned to the pirate ship, the pirates cheered enthusiastically.
During the five-day battle, nearly all of Li Yuan's subordinates had arrived.
For many, it was their first time seeing Li Yuan fight at full power. The earth-shaking battle left them in awe.
"Hahaha, an admiral's nothing special. Men, set sail, we're heading back!"
Back on the ship, Li Yuan laughed heartily.
"An admiral's nothing special!!!"
With Li Yuan's words, the pirates cheered again.
"Too bad, the navy's reinforcements arrived."
Li Yuan said regretfully.
Four days were far from his limit; he wanted to keep fighting Sengoku.
Opportunities to battle an admiral were rare.
But unfortunately, his Observation Haki sensed a powerful individual approaching from the sea—a navy admiral.
He wouldn't be like the Golden Lion, recklessly fighting two admirals head-on.
"Zephyr, thanks for coming to support me."
Seeing Zephyr arrive, Sengoku said.
"Li Yuan's that strong? Even you're so heavily injured."
Zephyr frowned, noting Sengoku's deep sword wounds.
"Very strong and as crazy as Garp."
Sengoku said seriously.
Li Yuan's fighting style reminded him of Garp.
Garp fought with the same madness as Li Yuan, fighting like a mad dog, biting no matter what, even if bitten back.
"Let's go. He sensed your arrival and avoided us. He's long gone."
Sengoku said.
Back on Venus Island, Li Yuan stood on a high platform, overlooking over ten thousand subordinates.
Most of his crew, excluding those in Wano, had gathered here.
Though numbering over ten thousand, most were cannon fodder, not elites.
Most pirates below looked at Li Yuan with fiery eyes.
"Men, most of our Infinity Pirates are here."
"So I announce, the Infinity Pirates will now have a hierarchy. The higher the rank, the better the treatment!"
"Beneath me, the Infinity Pirates will have four ranks: Squad Leader, Captain, Officer, and Core Officer."
"Squad Leaders will receive a monthly contribution of one million Berries from our treasury."
"Similarly, Captains get two million, Officers four million, Core Officers eight million each month!"
"Only Squad Leaders and Officers can have subordinates, commanding my pirates!"
"Now, tell me, do you want to be a Squad Leader or Officer in the Infinity Pirates?"
Li Yuan announced loudly.
As the crew grew, a hierarchy was necessary to prevent chaos.
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