Chapter 39 - Victor versus Sakazuki, Part 3

While dodging, he searched, spreading his Observation Haki to the maximum — he tried to sense the incoming danger's direction,— when suddenly, the ground started shaking wildly.

*Exploding Volcano*

A great force burst rose from the ground, so powerful it shook the entire venue.

*BOOM* BOOM*, akin to volcanic eruptions, the explosive sounds echoed loud before magma surged like an apocalypse, from the ground, towards Victor.

Victor's complexion greatly changed. He was already dodging from Sakazuki's initial attacks, when this second raid-like attack, unexpectedly from beneath came and was already enveloping his body.

*BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*

The whole stadium was out of control, as huge amounts of Volcanic rock and lava fired all over, even to the walls, and towards the audience.

The many Rear-Admirals, Vice-Admirals, even Sengoku, Garp, Zephyr, Tsuru and Kong moved. They hurriedly rushed into action, and began deflecting all the dangerous lava away from the audience, which consisted not only of marine soldiers, but even civilian family members of the said soldiers.

*BOOM*

Another shock-wave came from the center, and one only saw a silhouette fired like a cannon, horizontally towards the wall.

With another *BOOM*, the said silhouette crashed and got buried into the wall.

"Heehee... That should make the bastard feel what I had felt— .... Ugh! Damn it still hurts..."

Inside a room filled with multiple medical equipments, a figure covered in plasters and bandages, like a mummy, laid showing a ridiculous smile, watching the ongoing action via a small Video Transponder Snail.

This was of course, the future Yellow Monkey Borsalino.

Back on the battle venue.

Zephyr who was also busy deflecting the aftermath attacks of Sakazuki was filled with the urge to move.

But he did not act, as he suddenly felt two eyes on him. And sure enough, when he followed the direction where it came, he saw Kong looking at him with a narrowed gaze, shaking his head, indicating not to interfere.

Of course, Zephyr could sense Victor's life aura, but his heart argued his senses. He wanted to go and see if he was ok, after all, that last attack from Sakazuki had the potential to even hurt him.

Earlier, Victor had made a gamble, the best he could think of in a moments notice, and that is to launch multiple sword slashes, slashes imbued with Haki that were made to explode upon contact, towards the bottom, at the incoming plumes of magma.

And simultaneously, to cover all his body with maximum Armament, then blocked, or try his best to tank Sakazuki's, relentless gatlings of *Meteor Volcano* from the front.

These actions had brought about the current scene, with him getting a taste of what he had done to Borsalino, three times during their first fight.

A few seconds passed. The training ground slowly started to become clear from the dense smoke and dust that had now started to dissipate and settle down.

Sakazuki stood at the center of the chaotic battlefield, panting, dripping blood from his mouth, and covering one hand on his right chest that had the large gash wound.

The entire field was now covered in magma and pits. The concrete ring was nowhere visible, now already long destroyed and crumbled into dust.

And at the north end wall of the battle ground, a three-meter hole is seen, seemingly something or someone buried inside.

Sakazuki's, and everyone's attention was now on the said hole, waiting for a movement.

The referee who now stood over the wall was hesitating, whether or not to end the battle and declare Sakazuki as the winner.

Meanwhile, Victor who had crashed into the wall laid still, eyes closed, his shirt and trenchcoat was all tattered and burned, with many burn wounds, and blood dripping down from his mouth.

*Cough*

"Fuck…" He muttered vomiting a mouth full of blood.

"This power level thing is clearly bullshit. With only a thousand units difference between us, how is this bastard overpowering me so much…

*Sigh*

I must be careful in the future. Devil-Fruit power is too much of a bug. I can't just underestimate someone just because Jaya's reading record is lower than mine.

I guess... I'll cheat… A little." Victor took a few seconds to think before opening his eyes, now with a hint of gleam, resolute and domineering.

Just as the referee was about to shout out his announcement, the entire venue started feeling a heavy suppression, as if gravity around them had doubled or even tripled.

"He's coming..." Zephyr mumbled and subsequently with a deafening, *BOOOOMMMMMM*, the rocks within the hole blasted outwards, followed by an indescribable sense of momentum, that spread giving shivers to everyone inside the venue.

However, that sense of catastrophe disappeared as soon as it came, before the audience saw the outline of a dark shadow, within the dense smoke and dust coming out of the crater in the wall.

Gradually, this silhouette began to become clear. It slowly walked out, jumped, then landed three meters in front of Sakazuki, who had subconsciously taken a step back simultaneously.

Victor motioned his head left and right, *Crack* *Crack* and was followed by the sounds of breaking knuckles, before finally the familiar voice, "that hurt…"

While Victor's voice rang throughout the silent stadium, his bruised, bare upper body also became visible, then a loud cheer erupted from the audience, as well as near the many projection screens around the world.

"Gulalala, it seems the Marines have gotten their hands on another Garp..."

Somewhere in the second half of the Grand-Line, a large battleship with a cachalot figurehead moved slowly, and on the deck of this said ship, sat an unusually large, majestic figure with a more unusual, white moustache.

His words aroused the interests of many younger looking men who sat scattered all over the deck. They were all watching the thrilling battle which was happening many miles away, on the other side of the Grand-Line.

"Father, are you saying this kid is as powerful as Garp?..."

A young man with curly blond hair shaped like a pineapple head asked looking at the big man, apparently his father. His tone spoke of how troubled he was, as one could see many beads of sweat forming on his face.

"Gulalala, Marco, why do you look scared... Even if the kid has the potential to become another Garp, who do you think I am?" The man spoke arrogantly. "I am... WHITEBEARD!!! Even if Garp him self comes, you don't need to fear... I'll sink anyone who comes to hurt my sons, to the bottom of the sea..."

The man who dubbed himself a name after facial hair finished his outrageous declaration.

It was so arrogant that one would think he actually had some supernatural beard, but no. The man only had a crescent moon moustache yet his chin was as smooth as a woman's butt cheek.

However, he did have the audacity to make people never question it. No doubt about it. After all, he is to be crowned the strongest man in the world in the near future.

The words full of power gave relief to nearly everyone on the deck, however, Whitebeard himself knew very well, that he won't be omnipotent forever like he had made his, seemingly subordinates, or rather, sons, believe.

After all, his Haki proficient eyes could see what his amateur sons could not. He knows, when a person like the boy shown on the projection grows up, he would undoubtedly become a powerhouse comparable to the people who stand at the pinnacle of the sea.

Back of the battle venue.

*Huff* … *Huff*

Sakazuki panted while narrowing his eyes. He did not respond but was visibly shocked due to the site in front of him.

Victor had numerous wounds — burns and gashes all over his body — however, the thing that had shocked him, as well as the many Haki proficient eyes was not this.

It was his overwhelming appearance. The entire body was covered in a thick, black coat of Armament Haki — like an indestructible shell — looking like the grim reaper here to reap people's souls.

"Troublesome…" Victor groaned, before crossing eyes once again with his opponent.

"One move..." He said before pausing momentarily, "lets decide the better of us."

Of course, he was bullshitting. He could replenish the missing stamina by tapping into the pure energy any time.

But.

He wanted to improve his physique, and there's nothing better than wearing it out in actual combat.

Sakazuki did not respond, however, his action spoke his words.

His right hand started turning red before his poster got ready for his signature *Major Eruption* technique.

The air surrounding started heating up following the hand that had now turned into magma. Even his figure started to become distorted to the eyes of everyone around him, due to the powerful heat that was emitting from it.

Simultaneously, Victor also got ready. He sheathed the 'Rain', half squatted, stretched the right hand while holding the said hand's elbow with the left hand, much like a support for whatever was about to follow.

Meanwhile, up in the stands, Kong and the others now had once again gathered in one place.

"What's Victor about to do, sheathing his sword?" Sengoku spoke in doubt.

Victor's posture now looked like he was about to launch something out of his hand, but the problem was, his sword was already sheathed back into the scabbard. He had no weapon, and neither was a Devil-Fruit ability user.

"I don't know…" Zephyr responded.

"Let's just wait and watch…" Kong said.