106 A Complicated Situation
A/N: If you want to see more chapters and support my work, go to my Patre@n to see more chapters ahead.
You can see more chapters ahead of everyone on my Patre@n:
WWW.patre@n.com/RK98
------------------------------
Even the formidable Big Mom could notice Kaido's influence in Brontes, much like Whitebeard, who had long recognized the peculiar traits of Brontes's physique.
Brontes's ability to heal quickly, paired with strength that tops even the greatest fighters, made him almost a mirror image of Kaido.
This raised alarms for Whitebeard, making him wary and suspicious.
Their clash was intense, turning the surrounding island into rubble.
A victor was not in sight anytime soon, as neither Whitebeard nor Brontes were ones to back down due to injury or fatigue.
The fight seemed odd to onlookers, but Whitebeard was provoked by Brontes's blatant threat, leaving him with no choice but to retaliate with full force.
Despite the ferocity of their battle, the Five Elders in Mariejois chose not to send the marine forces waiting in the New World.
They understood Brontes's strategy clearly.
"What a beast?! But he's still not going all out..." Commented one of the Five Elders, observing the fight closely.
"He's holding back his large scale attacks, which indicates he's not planning to unleash his full power against Whitebeard." Added another Elder, distinguished by his bald head and sword.
"Therefore, sending troops is unnecessary. He's confident in his approach. As long as he doesn't take down the Whitebeard Pirates entirely, the situation is manageable." The elder with black hat said.
"Now, the key lies in how he handles Whitebeard. But the real issue remains with Edward Weevil." The blonde hair elder said.
The Elders had a clear understanding of the situation. Brontes wasn't aiming for a full-blown fight with Whitebeard.
If that were the case, he would target other members of the Whitebeard Pirates to weaken them, instead of engaging in a one-on-one duel with Whitebeard himself.
Despite the overwhelming challenge, bypassing Whitebeard to target his crew would be feasible for Brontes if he chose to.
"Boom! Rumble!"
The battle's intensity escalated, leaving the island fractured and scarce with safe footing.
Thunderclouds vanished as Brontes harnessed the lightning, launching relentless strikes on Whitebeard from above, resembling an endless bombardment on a vast target.
With the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit at his disposal, Whitebeard countered fiercely, making it a spectacle of power.
Brontes, on the other hand, saw no reason to hold back his lightning assaults.
"ZliZli!!"
The air crackled, the sky blanketed with lightning, deterring any approach by ordinary means. Even the formidable Whitebeard Pirates found themselves retreating, the seismic tsunamis triggered by their leader's power leaving them no choice.
...
"Boom!! Rumble!"
As dawn broke, signaling the battle's continuation, both warriors remained indomitable, their clash dragging on with no clear victor, each blow delivered with the ferocity of one fighting for their life.
Amidst the chaos, Brontes found an opening, pushing Whitebeard back with a formidable punch as he called out, "Whitebeard, what's your relationship with Edward Weevil?"
"Boom!"
"Brat, how do you think you are to meddle in my affairs?" Whitebeard shouted back, throwing a punch through the air, the force of which shattered upper half of Brontes's body.
Yet, Brontes recovered swiftly almost immediately, armed himself with an alloy spear, and resumed his aggressive onslaught.
"It seems you're not willing to tell me. Honestly, are you really prepared to sacrifice the entire Whitebeard Pirates for Edward Weevil?" Brontes asked with a sneer.
"Your schemes hold no sway over me, brat. But your words have indeed infuriated me!" Whitebeard's response was swift and decisive, a swing of his naginata that quelled Brontes's aggression.
"Boom! Rumble!"
"So, you really won't tell, huh? Well then, I won't hold back anymore." Brontes said.
Brontes, unfazed, signaled his refusal to hold back any longer. The stakes were clear; neither warrior was willing to yield, their tactics as personal as their enmity.
"Gurararara! Come and let me see what you can do!"
Whitebeard's booming laughter echoed through the island, as he firmly gripped his naginata, unleashing a mighty sweep towards Brontes.
"Crarkk!!"
"Booom!!"
The force generated a devastating cyclone, his weapon channeling earthquake energies that tore the atmosphere asunder.
Brontes's body was shattered into fragments, yet he reconstituted himself from lightning, persisting in the relentless assault against Whitebeard.
...
As time stretched on— one and a half days, two days— the battle raged without a victor.
Both combatants, now gasping for air, showed an unyielding spirit, their bodies worn but their resolve unbroken.
Despite two days of fierce combat, Whitebeard's connection with Weevil remained a mystery, leaving onlookers nearly spent from the tension.
Morgans, stationed at the seaside, his eyes now bloodshot from days without sleep, marveled at the tenacity of the two monsters.
"Monsters! How much longer can they keep this up?!" He exclaimed, overwhelmed by their endurance.
"Boom!"
"Rumble!!"
The battle's toll was evident; the island was nearly swallowed by the sea, leaving behind a mere patch of land amidst what now looked like a reef after the tide.
At Marineford, Sengoku and the upper echelons of the marines remained vigilant, following the conflict without rest.
By the third day, news of the titanic struggle between Whitebeard and Fleet-Admiral Ragnarok, Brontes's assumed name, had permeated the New World.
The intensity of their confrontation, set on an island battleground, became legendary.
Yet, the severity of the situation deterred any potential intervention.
The daily newspapers were saturated with updates on the skirmish— reports of Whitebeard's injuries, Brontes being propelled through the air, and the cataclysmic nature of their fight, illustrated by the sea bifurcating and the sky alight with lightning.
The imagery alone conveyed the ferocity of their clash, dissuading even the most curious from venturing too close to the battlefield.
Moreover, the seismic aftermath of their confrontation triggered massive tsunamis, affecting nearby islands for two consecutive days.
The ecological and societal impacts were profound, altering the lives of countless beings and reshaping the geography of the affected areas.
...
In the Fleet-Admiral's office at Marineford, the atmosphere was tense, reflecting the global attention captivated by the ongoing battle.
Sengoku, feeling the weight of his years more acutely in moments like these, grappled with the relentless nature of the conflict.
"Has it not ended yet?" He asked Kuzun, who had just entered the office.
"Not yet. It looks to be prolonged. They are equally matched, making the outcome somewhat uncertain." Kuzun responded with a shake of his head, embodying the uncertainty of the situation.
Sengoku, still grappling with disbelief, acknowledged Brontes's staggering strength, which allowed him to stand toe-to-toe with Whitebeard.
"Brontes's strength has increased so much over the years. To think he could fight Whitebeard to this extent." He said, a mix of shock and awe coloring his voice.
"Isn't that already known? But as it stands, picking a winner soon seems unlikely. Sakazuki's growing impatient, seeing this as an opportune moment. He plans to intervene, hoping to eliminate Whitebeard with a combined strike from Borsalino and himself, in tandem with Brontes." Kuzun explained slowly.
Sengoku's response, a blend of resignation and realism, highlighted the impossibility of such an endeavor—not due to the feasibility of killing Whitebeard, but rather the political implications and the restraint imposed by the Five Elders, who would likely oppose such a drastic measure.
Shifting the topic, Sengoku asked: "What about Red-Hair and Kaido?"
The mention of these formidable pirates introduced another layer of complexity to the unfolding scenario.
Kuzun's sigh revealed the delicacy of the situation: "It's precisely because of Kaido and Red-Hair that Sakazuki is currently holding back."
"What are those two pirates up to?" Sengoku asked seriously.
...
Meanwhile, in a remote sector of the New World, an imposing standoff unfolded between two ships.
The flags of the Beast Pirates and the Red-Hair Pirates fluttered in the wind, signaling a tense encounter that had persisted for two days.
