Chapter 139: A Surprise, an Admiral!

"What? The Infinity Pirates? Didn't I tell you not to approach that area?"

"Never mind, just do your best to stay alive. Surrender if you must, as long as you survive."

"I'll send help to rescue you!"

With that, the call ended.

"Such troublesome times, the navy has returned to the New World. It's a good reason to have the navy deal with the Infinity Pirates."

"Having the Infinity Pirates so close to the Baikal Kingdom is too concerning."

King Soman of the Baikal Kingdom said helplessly.

Then, he called the navy and the World Government.

**Navy Headquarters:**

"Kong, the navy has been in the New World for some time without taking action against pirates, causing discontent among member nations."

"The Baikal Kingdom reported their territory, Sonina Island, was invaded by the Infinity Pirates, and their prince was captured. They need naval support."

"Whatever it takes, drive the Infinity Pirates out of Baikal Kingdom. If possible, capture Li Yuan and bring him to Impel Down."

The Science Defense Saint Satan instructed.

"Yes, Lord Satan, the navy will ensure member nations' safety."

Steel Bone Kong acknowledged, knowing he couldn't delay further.

Initially, he aimed to stabilize the situation and establish naval fortresses, avoiding provoking the Rocks Pirates remnants.

But with the Five Elders pressing, delaying was no longer an option.

"Hello, Sengoku, you're near Baikal Kingdom, right? The Infinity Pirates captured Baikal's prince on Sonina Island. Go rescue him."

"Remember, if you encounter Li Yuan, avoid fighting at sea. Don't get caught off guard, understand?"

After ending the call with the Five Elders, Kong contacted Admiral Sengoku.

Recalling Li Yuan's past feat of defeating a marine admiral at sea, Kong felt the need to remind Sengoku.

"Admiral Kong, I understand!"

Sengoku replied.

"Sailors, change course, head to Sonina Island at full speed."

Ending the call, Sengoku ordered.

"Other Rocks remnants are active, yet Li Yuan remains in this harsh sea. What keeps him here?"

Sengoku pondered over the map.

Having met Li Yuan, Sengoku sensed that he wasn't as unambitious as Whitebeard.

Li Yuan's ambition rivaled even that of the Golden Lion. Something in these waters must interest him.

**On Sonina Island:**

Leonard, the strongest, was overwhelmed by Kano, while others couldn't handle Barrett.

Barrett, almost effortlessly, defeated the kingdom's soldiers.

"I surrender! I'm Prince Garcia of Baikal Kingdom. Spare me, and my father will ransom me!"

Prince Garcia stammered in terror at Barrett's fierce demeanor.

"Prince of Baikal Kingdom? Interesting, you have value, so you don't need to die."

Barrett, intrigued by Garcia's words, tied him up.

After about ten minutes of fighting Leonard, Kano saw Leonard was exhausted, covered in wounds and blood.

Kano, relying on his Devil Fruit powers, remained unharmed with his blade-covered body.

"Old man, die!!"

Suddenly, Kano's speed surged, too fast for Leonard to react.

"Infinity: Meteor Stab!"

Before Leonard realized, Kano was upon him, his blade-hand piercing Leonard's heart.

"Captain, I captured someone claiming to be Baikal's prince."

Barrett reported.

"A prince? Interesting. Let's ask First Brother what to do with him."

Kano withdrew his hand from Leonard's heart, shaking off the blood, unconcerned.

"Captain, Captain, another large ship is approaching."

A subordinate anxiously pointed toward the sea.

A massive navy warship was speeding their way.

"What large ship? Let me see."

Kano nonchalantly said. With his current strength, he feared no ship in these waters.

Grabbing a telescope, he aimed to identify who dared challenge the Infinity Pirates!

"Whoa, an Admiral!!!"

Seeing the imposing figure at the ship's bow, Kano's jaw nearly dropped.

Though fearless, he knew better than to confront a navy admiral.

"Run!!!"

Kano dropped the telescope, sprinting towards another part of Sonina Island where their pirate ship awaited.

"Everyone, retreat! That's a navy admiral!"

Seeing Kano's swift escape, Barrett shouted, then followed.

Facing an admiral was beyond them. Fleeing was the best option.

"Run, it's a navy admiral!!"

Other pirates, realizing the threat, also began fleeing.

"First Brother, help! Admiral Sengoku is on Sonina Island."

As he ran, Kano frantically called Li Yuan for help.

"An Admiral? Sengoku? Why is he here?"

Li Yuan wondered, though he acted quickly, entering the mirror space to contact Shakky and locate a large mirror on Kano's ship.

"Perhaps because we captured a Baikal prince."

Kano replied while running.

"Alright, just get to safety. I'll handle Sengoku."

"Leave the rest of the navy to you."

Li Yuan instructed.

"Huh? First Brother, when did you get here? We can't hold them long."

Kano said.

"I'm already here."

Li Yuan replied.

"Really?"

Kano, mid-run, was stunned to see Li Yuan beside him, halting his escape. Just moments ago, he was on the phone; how did he arrive so fast?

"Everyone, hold your ground! Prepare for battle!!"

Li Yuan commanded loudly.

"Captain's here; we're saved!!"

"So what if he's an admiral? Our captain isn't afraid of admirals!"

Seeing Li Yuan, the pirates' fear subsided.

"Hmm? Li Yuan, he's actually here!"

Landing on Sonina Island, Sengoku looked seriously at the island's other side.

He thought Li Yuan wasn't present and planned to rescue the prince and leave. Unexpectedly, the captain himself had captured a member nation's prince.

"Hahaha, Sengoku, long time no see!!"

Though Li Yuan hadn't arrived physically, his voice and Conqueror's Haki preceded him.

His blood-red Haki, crackling with lightning, was infused with three types of sword intent, enhancing its slashing power.

The Conqueror's Haki's passage was like death by a thousand cuts, terrifying all who witnessed it.

"Hmph!!"

Sengoku frowned, releasing his own powerful golden Conqueror's Haki to counter Li Yuan's, protecting his sailors from being knocked out.

"Hahaha, Sengoku, your Haki is a bit weak!!"

Now a hundred meters before Sengoku, Li Yuan's overwhelming Haki suppressed Sengoku's, confining it to a small area.

"His Haki is stronger than before; is it the sword intent? What a swordsmanship monster!!"

Sengoku thought gravely.

Li Yuan's pure Conqueror's Haki wasn't stronger than Sengoku's, but infused with sword intent, it evolved, even suppressing Sengoku's.

"Li Yuan, why capture Baikal's prince?"

"There's no benefit for you; it'll only anger the World Government."

Sengoku questioned.

As a strategist, he prioritized understanding Li Yuan's motives over fighting.

Otherwise, he couldn't constantly guard Baikal from Li Yuan.

"I did it because I wanted to; it's none of your business, Sengoku."

Li Yuan retorted dismissively.

"Hmph, if you won't say, I'll capture you and find out!"

Sengoku bent his legs, gathering strength, the ground cracking beneath him. Leaping up, the earth shattered under the force.

When he moved, it was like thunder. Sengoku transformed into a towering golden Buddha, accelerating rapidly.

"Buddha Impact!!"

Armament Haki, Conqueror's Haki, and Buddha's power fused perfectly in the impact wave.

As Sengoku moved, Li Yuan acted simultaneously.

Using the same technique, Shave, Li Yuan exploded forward.

The Seven Star Sword appeared in his hand, poised for a draw.

Armament Haki, Conqueror's Haki, and Infinity Sword Intent merged perfectly into the sword.

"Infinity: Domination: Sky-Splitting Draw Sword Technique!!"

In an instant, the Seven Star Sword was drawn, unleashing immense power.

Sword and fist clashed, though if observed closely, they'd never touched.

The collision's intense force emitted a terrifying shockwave, spreading Haki-infused lightning wantonly.

Even the clouds above were shattered.

"The sky... it's splitting!"

"That's the Infinity Great Swordsman Li Yuan? He blocked an admiral's impact!"

Most sailors with Sengoku were trainees.

For many, it was their first time witnessing such terrifying force.

"Attack!!!"

"Kill the sailors!!"

As Sengoku and Li Yuan clashed, Kano and Barrett led pirates against the navy.

They couldn't fight an admiral, but they could certainly handle the naval soldiers.

Both sides had around two thousand men; neither feared the other!

"Li Yuan!!!"

"Sengoku!!!"

Both men gritted their teeth, exerting all their strength to crush the other's attack.

"Bang!!!"

The compressed space between sword and palm exploded, sending both flying back hundreds of meters.

"A strong sword!!"

Sengoku glared at the blood on his palm.

"The impact wave, not bad!"

Li Yuan touched his sore chest.

With his physique, he couldn't ignore the transmitted impact wave. A direct hit would be troublesome.

"Life Return: Limb Reinforcement!!"

As he retreated, Li Yuan's muscles bulged. Mastering Life Return, he balanced enhancement effects and self-healing, avoiding harm.

It didn't affect him at all.

Li Yuan burst forward again, faster than before!!

"So fast!!"

Sengoku's pupils shrank, Observation Haki tracking Li Yuan's sword trajectory. But the lightning-fast attack was nearly impossible to dodge fully.

Unexpectedly, Li Yuan had hidden his true speed, surpassing Sengoku's!

His burst speed resembled Garp's monstrous pace.

"Vajra Staff!!"

Unable to dodge, Sengoku braced himself!

Unmoving, he radiated golden light, like an indestructible Buddha.

"Infinity: Domination: Evil Dragon Breaking Army Slash!!"

Li Yuan's dragon-like sword energy erupted, slashing at Sengoku's head.

Instinctively, Sengoku crossed his arms to block, but the immense force pushed his hands into his head.

His golden hands bore deep cuts, his body flung backward, spewing blood from the head-splitting pain.

"Buddha's Sky Kick!!"

In mid-air, Sengoku flipped, using his right foot to unleash an impact wave at Li Yuan.

"Poof!"

Li Yuan took the kick directly, spitting blood, his body kicked skyward.

"To counterattack like this—truly an admiral!"

Stabilizing himself with Moonwalk, Li Yuan accelerated downward with gravity and Moonwalk's power.

"Infinity: Domination: Mountain-Crushing Earth-Splitting Slash!"

The magnificent Infinity Sword Intent was fully unleashed, like a mountain descending to punish those below.

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