70. Battle Against Jozu

"Whitebeard! Are you prepared to meet your end today? Ryusei Kazan (Meteor Volcano)!"

Akainu's arms swiftly transformed into immense lava, unleashing a barrage of fiery fists toward the pirates on the Moby Dick.

Whitebeard remained standing proudly at the bow of the ship, holding the Murakumogiri, his expression unwavering.

Phoenix Brand

Abruptly, Marco, donned in the guise of a daring young lad, soared into action. In his hands, myriad phoenix tail feathers condensed, transforming into a multitude of fiery fists that clashed with Sakazuki's Ryusei Kazan. Splendid red and blue fireworks erupted in the crystal-clear sky. Unfolding, Marco turned to address all the Marines with a smile playing on his lips.

"How dare you... interrupt our king the moment you set foot here!"

"Gurararara... Little one toying with lava, are you in the mood to add some candles to the birthday cake?"

"Hmph!" Sakazuki snorted, offering no response.

"Hahahaha, Whitebeard, picking on the younger ones isn't a good habit!"

Garp utilized Geppo, lifting his iron fist into the air, poised to strike Whitebeard.

"Grrrr... that concludes the warm-up, Garp!"

Whitebeard swung the massive cloud cutter in his hand, activated his fruit ability, and clashed with Garp's iron fist!

Boom! Boom!

Terrifying roars echoed ceaselessly across the chaotic battlefield. The rolling waves and violent crashes attested to the intensity of the ongoing battle. Whitebeard and Garp continued their collisions, their force almost rending the sky asunder, creating an atmosphere so charged that onlookers dared not approach.

On the other front, Sakazuki faced off against Marco and Vista simultaneously. While it might be tempting to dismiss Marco's ability as a mere copy, the powers bestowed upon him by the mythical beast Phoenix granted him the resilience to persist in battle. Despite his strength not having reached a level where he could challenge an Admiral for a short period, he fought on.

In reality, there exists a considerable disparity in the combat prowess among the Whitebeard Pirates. While Marco and others haven't reached their zenith, Whitebeard is already exhibiting signs of decline. Only Jozu and Marco stand at a comparable level; the strength of the other captains still varies significantly.

It can be argued that the strength of the Marines and Whitebeard Pirates on the battlefield is relatively balanced, with neither side gaining a significant advantage. If Gion and Tokikake join the fray later, the dynamics could shift.

Atlas continued to roam the battlefield, claiming the heads of pirates one after another. Suddenly, his attention was drawn to a portly black man engaged in a back-and-forth skirmish with an ordinary Marine major.

Atlas' eyes immediately sparked with interest, and he strode in the direction of Blackbeard.

"Hey! Marine lad! I had my eye on you for quite a while!"

At that very moment, a dark-skinned, eyebrowless man clad in armor, baring his chest, positioned himself in front of Atlas. It was none other than 'Diamond' Jozu, the captain of the third division of the Whitebeard Pirates and a user of the Twinkle-Twinkle Fruit!

Atlas gazed at the robust man before him, a sense of solemnity crossing his features. Although he acknowledged being somewhat inferior to Jozi in sheer physical strength at the moment, the talisman around him reassured him, and he felt no fear.

Continuing to harness the power of the talisman, Atlas realized his understanding of it was still rather shallow. With each stride in strength, the true terror of the talisman gradually unveiled itself. Reflecting on it, in the hands of the Holy Master and others, the talisman exhibited no expressive power. His current state resembled the talisman's potency continually resurrecting within his body.

Shain Kurasshu(Shine Crash)

Observing Atlas's silence, Jozi's arm swiftly became coated in a sheen of gleaming diamonds, radiating brightly under the sunlight. He then charged directly toward Atlas's body!

Tekkai Gorira (Iron body Gorilla)

'Danger!'

A resounding impact reverberated through the air. Atlas massaged his throbbing chest. While he sustained an injury, it wasn't severe. Thanks to the potent healing ability of the Horse Talisman, he could easily disregard this wound.

"He truly is a man bold enough to challenge father. He does have a couple of tricks up his sleeve!"

Jozu scrutinized the unscathed Atlas and couldn't help but narrow his eyes, speaking in a deep voice.

"Diamond Jozi, they say you're a sullen person. Why so chatty today?"

Upon hearing this, Jozu nearly stumbled to the ground. What? He's Diamond Jozu, and he's sullen? Are you kidding me? He just doesn't like to talk much!

"What the hell are you blabbering about, you little brat!"

Furious, Jozi encased his substantial diamond arm in a layer of armor and unleashed a sudden punch at Atlas. "Asshole! Time to savor the taste of my fist, Diamond Jozu!"

Tekkai Kudaku (Iron body Shatter)

The blood surged through Atlas's entire body, Armament Haki solidifying as it clashed with Jozu's massive fist!

"Not bad! Its like a gentle massage?"

The two fists abruptly reached a deadlock, leading Atlas and Jozi to engage in a wrestling match right on the spot!

"Heh"

Atlas smirked with disdain, the muscles in his arms bulging as a potent force surged, venting towards Jozu.

Ox Talisman Super Strength.

Boom!

Jozi's imposing figure was sent hurtling, crashing into the deck of the Moby Dick! A cloud of dust billowed, but Atlas didn't anticipate Jozi being genuinely harmed, knowing well that where there's smoke, there's not necessarily fire.(T/N: Anime logic rulz)

"No way? Captain Jozu..."

"Hey hey hey! Are you kidding me, you little brat!"

The Whitebeard Pirates' crew members were somewhat shocked. Captain Jozu was defeated in just two rounds—this was too astonishing!

"Hey! What nonsense are you spouting there! I haven't been defeated!"

Jozi emerged from the dissipating smoke with a stern expression. Well, his face might have been dark to begin with, but the diamonds on his body remained unscathed, gleaming without a scratch. This brought a sigh of relief from the pirates.

Shain Kurasshu(Shine Crash)

Tekkai 

Boom!

Jozu's Shining Fruit grants him a body resembling diamond, allowing for exceptionally high defense without the need for Armament Haki. If Atlas didn't possess an extraordinary amount of Armament Haki, he might have been overpowered and met his demise under Jozu's grip.

Bang bang bang!

Atlas and Jozu engaged in a wild brawl, exchanging a flurry of fists resembling rain. Jozu's straightforward defense proved impenetrable for Atlas, and despite facing the relentless onslaught of Atlas's formidable Armament Haki and regeneration abilities, Jozu found himself helpless. The two clashed relentlessly, creating a chaotic spectacle.

They almost abandoned their defense, relying solely on their own robust defenses, engaging in a fierce exchange of punches and kicks.

"Gurarara... What an impressive lad! He can actually hold his own against Jozu like this!"

Whitebeard noticed Jozu's predicament and remarked with some surprise.

Genkotsu Meteor (Fist Meteor)

Garp punched him, saying, "Hahahaha, Whitebeard, you should not get distracted during a fight!"

Boom!

Whitebeard promptly blocked Murakumogiri in front of him, narrowly stopping Garp's iron fist.

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SURPRISE! This bonus chapter is to thank all of you for your support, as we have reached more than 100 power stones for the first time. Thank you for reading and stay tuned for more updates! 😊

3 more power stones for a bonus chapter.

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