72. The End

Jozu brimmed with energy, eager to impart a lesson to Atlas. His colossal diamond-infused form closed in on Atlas, aiming to deliver a hearty embrace – a rather "warm" one, at that.

Atlas, on the other hand, had no interest in such interactions. He used haki on his head and wielded the dragon talisman.

Tekkai Bakuhatsu

Atlas, with his armored and hardened head, he struck Jozi directly in the abdomen. The potent explosive force left Jozu grimacing in pain, yet he persevered and forcefully restrained Atlas despite the agony.

Observing the situation, Thatch on the sidelines realized that the opportune moment had arrived. Swiftly grabbing the two swords in his hands, he unleashed a series of slashes aimed at Atlas!

Tekkai Tetsu(Iron body steel)

Atlas hesitated to confront the sharp blade directly with his physical body. Despite the robust healing ability of the Horse Talisman supporting him, he remained vulnerable to the pain inflicted by the attack.

Clang!

The clash of gold and iron resonated, and a cascade of electrified sparks illuminated Thatch's blade!

"How's it going? Is dealing with me a challenge?" Atlas gazed at the astonished Thatch and grinned, "Bakuhatsu!"

Boom!

The explosive flames abruptly struck Thatch, the colossal impact nearly rendering him unconscious. He not only lost his ability to fight but also suffered extensive burns covering large areas of his body.

"Thatch!!"

Jozu felt a mix of fear and anger at the sight. His arm muscles bulged as he attempted to squeeze Atlas, but he couldn't ignore the evident gap in raw strength between himself and Atlas.

In an instant, Atlas effortlessly broke free from the restraints, swiftly retreated, turned around, and unleashed a powerful punch. His explosive fist connected with Jozu's face, sending him flying through the air like a kite, unable to resist the force.

Boom!

Another violent crash echoed, swirling dust in its wake. Blood seeped from the corner of Jozu's mouth, and fragments of diamond clung to one side of his face, presenting a pitiable sight.

"Commodore Atlas is indeed our rising star in the Marine Corps! He is truly formidable..."

"Hey, hey, hey! And what about the Whitebeard Pirates? Commodore Atlas is truly dependable..."

"It appears that our Marine has another prodigy emerging after the three monsters..."(T/N: The logia trio)

"Pirates! Witness the justice of our Marine!"

The Marine's morale soared at the sight, sparking numerous discussions. Meanwhile, an unsettling feeling crept into the hearts of the Whitebeard Pirates.

You should be aware that they are two commanders of the division. Atlas is actually capable of achieving a near-instant kill against Thatch, and 'Diamond' Jozu, which is even more impressive.

They have been exploring the sea under Whitebeard's guidance since childhood, and now they find themselves in such a disheveled state after being defeated by this young Marine.

"What a terrifying rate of improvement..."

Sakazuki, observing from a distance, also took note of the battle on Atlas' side. Having recently clashed with Atlas, he was in the best position to comment on Atlas's strength.

If Atlas was slightly more powerful than the average Vice Admiral during his time in the headquarters.

The current strength of Atlas is comparable to the elite Vice Admiral of the headquarters, or perhaps even superior, especially with his explosive fire abilities, leaving Sakazuki somewhat perplexed.

Sakazuki wasn't certain if Atlas was a Devil Fruit user or perhaps not even a pure human. However, Marines refrained from delving into the personal secrets of their soldiers, and Sakazuki wasn't inclined to inquire too deeply. As long as Atlas upheld justice, Sakazuki wasn't concerned about the details.

"Gurararara... let's cease the battle, Garp!" Whitebeard suggested, acknowledging the disadvantage his side was facing.

While the conflict between Sakazuki , Marco, and Vista raged on, it posed considerable challenges for the young Marine manipulating lava. Dealing with one opponent in close combat while being harassed from a distance by another irritated Sakazuki .

Even though Vista hasn't reached the pinnacle of a master swordsman's power, his current swordsmanship rivals that of the top-tier swordsmen. Combined with Marco's resilience due to his Devil Fruit ability, Sakazuki felt as though a 'Meigo (Dark Hound)' had struck air.

"Hahahaha, Whitebeard, you can't stop the war just because you wish to!"

Garp isn't foolish. With a wildcard like Atlas on the battlefield, it's the optimal moment to launch an attack on the Whitebeard Pirates. Their initial objective today was to diminish the strength of the Whitebeard Pirates. Retreating now is out of the question.

"Gurararara... then there's nothing to be done!"

Upon hearing Garp's response, Whitebeard decisively withdrew. Just as Garp was pondering the intentions of the man before him.

Whitebeard stood tall, his right arm raised high and bent, as a radiant white light emanated from his fist.

Kaishin (Seaquake)

The space abruptly transformed into a seamless mirror, with innumerable cracks gradually emerging. Terrifying vibrations resonated through the air. In an instant, a colossal wave, hundreds of meters higher than before, thundered towards the Marine forces!

"Gurarara... I suppose you don't desire the annihilation of all Marines here, Garp!"

Whitebeard resorts to this method only to compel a halt to the battle. He is determined to prevent any harm befalling his beloved sons in this confrontation!

"Shit! Sakazuki, stop this wave!"

Upon witnessing this, Garp had no option but to order Sakazuki to withdraw from the battle. Sakazuki displayed some reluctance. In his perspective, if the might of the Whitebeard Pirates could be diminished, these soldiers would have sacrificed their lives for the cause of justice.

Yet in this battle, Garp is the commander, bound by duty to obey the orders from his superiors.

"What a terrifying power..." Blackbeard, concealed within the crowd, felt a tinge of envy, a greedy glint in his eyes.

"Of course, Dad's abilities are on par with natural disasters!" Thatch declared proudly, unaware of Blackbeard's gaze from the side. Even with the recent injury inflicted by Atlas, his expression remained unwavering.

...

Not long after, Garp led the Marines back to the G-5 base. Although they didn't inflict particularly severe damage on the Whitebeard Pirates, they hadn't anticipated achieving their goal immediately. After all... it still takes time.

Aboard Moby Dick.

"Gurarara, Marco, let's have a party!"

Whitebeard, having just escaped from the clutches of the Marines, laughed as if he had just achieved a great victory.

"Dad, do you want to drink again..."

Marco felt a bit helpless. Although he enjoyed hosting banquets, his pockets were emptier than his face lately.

"Jozu, are you okay?"

Whitebeard smiled wryly upon hearing this, then inquired about Jozu's injury. He had witnessed the recent skirmish, where Jozu had taken a severe beating from that Marine youngster.

"I'm fine. That Marine youngster is truly formidable, be it in physical prowess or Devil Fruit abilities," Jozu remarked with a somber expression, then added, "No wonder Crocodile was defeated by him."

"Is this the Marine who defeated the kid playing with the sand earlier?" Whitebeard inquired.

"Well, this guy's name is Canos Atlas. According to the Marines, his rank is Commodore," Thatch explained.

Marco took over. He was the first person among the Whitebeard Pirates to notice this guy in the newspaper.

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Bonus chapter for reaching 120 power stones.

As the no.of power stones is increasing, the goal is changed to 50 power stones. Meaning 1 bonus chapter for 50 power stones.

I have to do it or I think you guys would make me publish all my stock through bonus chapter.😊

Read 20 chapters in advance in Patr*on: patr*on.com/Cosmic_Kaminari