76. Aokiji Is Going To Make A Move?

"Hey, young one, in a fight, if you lose focus, you risk your life.

As Vivi glanced at Tom and the crew, Marine Vice Admiral Strawberry lunged at her with a sharp blade!

Caught off guard by the sudden assault, Vivi froze for a moment.

Just as the blade nearly reached her heart, Carina swiftly summoned a barrier, shielding Vivi from the deadly strike!

Before Vivi could even utter a word of gratitude, Vice Admiral Onigumo, locked in combat with Carina, seized his opportunity."

Soru!

With those words, Onigumo materialized in front of Carina in a split second!

Witnessing this, Nami and the rest widened their eyes in alarm, rushing towards Carina in a frenzy!

But it was all over in an instant; no matter how much they strained, they couldn't keep up.

Even Robin, usually so perceptive, was too engrossed in her own battle to notice.

With a sidelong glance, Onigumo chided those attempting to use Soru to catch up, then swiftly slashed at Carina!"

"You fell for it?"

Carina smirked as she raised her hand.

In an instant, two barriers, mirroring Onigumo's form, swiftly enclosed, trapping him midair!

It was as if Onigumo found himself ensnared within a transparent sarcophagus.

"What?!"

Onigumo's eyes widened in shock, desperately attempting to break free from his confinement!

However, despite his best efforts, he couldn't break free. Even with Haki, he couldn't shatter it!

Seeing Carina unharmed, Nami and the others couldn't help but exhale in relief, refocusing on their adversaries.

"Cease your struggles."

Carina approached Onigumo with a smile, lightly tapping the barrier before speaking with a grin,

"It took me quite a while to capture you. Do you think I'd release you so easily?"

Seeing the smile on Carina's face, the trapped Onigumo, realized escape was futile and slowly eased his resistance.

The Paramecia Devil Fruit—Barrier Barrier Fruit, wielded by Carina, creates transparent barriers.

These barriers, unless confronted with overwhelming force, remain unbreakable under the control of its skilled user.

"Did it just dawn on you?"

Onigumo fixed Carina with a penetrating gaze, posing the question after much contemplation.

If she truly attained such mastery in an instant, then her combat prowess is truly fearsome!

"The answer's right, but alas, there's no prize!"

Carina grinned mischievously, manipulating the barrier to send Onigumo plummeting from the sky.

Boom—

The resounding crash instantly drew the gaze of every Marine executive in the conference room at Marine Headquarters.

"Did that woman just take down Vice Admiral Onigumo?"

Following the startling noise, another uproar echoed from the large screen.

There, Nami stood, baseball bat slung over her shoulder, beaming triumphantly and gesturing towards Carina.

Before the Marine executives could react, Yamakaji, who was grappling with Robin, was swiftly subdued due to the defeat of Onigumo and his comrades.

Yamakaji found himself ensnared by Robin's arm manifestations, firmly imprisoned.

"Being distracted in battle can be perilous."

Dos Fleur Clutch (Two Flowers)

As Robin's words echoed, the sharp sound of multiple bone fractures filled the air.

Immediately after, Yamakaji plummeted from the sky like a broken kite, landing heavily on the warship's deck.

"Damn it!"

Strawberry clenched his teeth, emitting a frustrated growl.

The consecutive defeats of his comrades sparked a hint of panic within him.

Yet, he swiftly quelled this rising panic!

Strawberry fixed Vivi with a cold stare, a resolve to kill evident in his eyes.

However, just as he prepared to strike at Vivi, he was intercepted, engaging in a fierce battle to the death with several others.

A sword energy imbued with a terrifying aura surged towards him from the warship below!

Strawberry's eyes narrowed as he swiftly employed Soru to evade the sword energy.

Though he narrowly dodged the fatal strike, Strawberry's arm bore a shallow scratch.

"Not bad, quick on your feet."

Meanwhile, Al crouched atop a mound of fallen Marine soldiers, grinning as he waved to Vivi.

Strawberry brow furrowed slightly.

The twinges of pain from his wound seemed to caution him against engaging the man before him!

Vivi took a deep breath, utilizing Soru to join Al's side, and spoke, "Sorry, Captain Al. I'm not strong enough."

Nami and Carina exchanged glances before joining Vivi, offering comfort, "It's alright, Vivi. It's been a tough fight for you until now."

"That's right, Vivi. Holding your own against a Marine Vice Admiral is quite an accomplishment." 

Upon hearing Nami and Carina's comforting words, a spark reignited in Vivi's eyes.

It's worth noting that Vivi's training time in the Marine Rokushiki is much shorter than that of Nami and the others.

Furthermore, Vivi has never utilized fitness equipment to enhance her strength, so being able to contend with a Marine Vice Admiral is a significant achievement.

As they conversed, something caught their attention.

The Marine Vice Admiral Momonga, previously subdued by Al, emerged from the cabin, locking eyes with Strawberry in midair.

Without hesitation, they both raised their weapons, launching a fierce assault on Al!

The sequence unfolded so swiftly that Nami and the others barely registered what was happening.

Only the clashing of metal reverberated behind them.

Nami and the others, gripped by tension, gasped in shock, mechanically turning their heads to see.

Behind them, Al stood firm, wielding a sword in one hand as he intercepted both the Momonga and Strawberry.

In a swift motion, Al nonchalantly unleashed two sword auras, sending them hurtling into the air!

However, what astonished Nami and the rest was that despite being struck by the sword energy, the two Vice Admirals were merely launched away.

There was no bloodshed!

Even more bewildering, the faces of the Marine soldiers struck down by Al were completely absent!

The keen-eyed Carina swiftly fixated on the sword in Al's hand.

"The back?"

As Carina's surprised voice echoed, a phrase Al had once uttered flashed through his mind.

"The back of the sword is for the weak!"

As the doors of Marine Headquarters swung open and the scene played out on the large screen, an eerie silence enveloped the entire conference room in an instant!

The only audible sound, besides the creak of the door, was the rapid intake of breath.

"Five Marine Vice Admirals... defeated in battle!"

"What in the world happened?!"

"How could someone who put out a bounty of 100 Baileys effortlessly fend off the attacks of two Vice Admirals?"

"And dispatch two Vice Admirals?"

"Could it be the one who consumed the Barrier Barrier Fruit?"

For a moment, the entire conference room was gripped by sheer panic!

A person with a bounty of 100, facing the assaults of two Vice Admirals, not only managed to deflect their attacks but also sent them flying?

How could they possibly comprehend such an outcome?

Yet, many still clung to the belief that it wasn't Al's doing, but rather Carina beside him who had consumed the Barrier Barrier Fruit.

After all, the events had unfolded so rapidly that they barely had time to react.

The meeting room erupted into a cacophony of arguments and speculation.

A person with a bounty of 100 defeating two Marine Vice Admirals is truly unbelievable!

Most people refuse to accept that this is Al's true strength.

Many even speculate that it was Carina's doing, and Al simply played along to inflate his bounty.

However, the issue remains: Al and the others were unaware that they were being observed.

Yet, to these Marine executives, this detail is no longer of importance.

What truly matters is that no one wants to believe it.

Even Sengoku, usually outspoken, was rendered silent, seemingly hesitant to accept what had transpired.

As Akainu pushed open the conference room door and beheld the scene, he remained wordless, taking his seat with a grunt.

Meanwhile, amidst the heated arguments among the Marine executives over the spectacle, a voice suddenly cried out, "Look at the screen, monster!!!"

All attention immediately refocused on the large screen once more.

Three lightning-fast figures streaked across the warship, leaving a trail of flames in their wake on the big screen!

The powerful shockwaves from the massive explosion could even be felt through the screen!

Al gazed at the distant explosion with a grin, raising his arms and shouting, "Hey you three, be careful not to mess with this boat!"

However...

Before Al could finish speaking...

The three lightning-like figures, upon piercing the warship, split into individual bolts and dispersed!

One of the blue bolts hurtled directly towards Al and their ship!

"Damn it, Tom, you idiot!!!" Al cursed, an unusual expletive escaping his lips.

In a split-second decision, Al activated Soru, swiftly gathering Nami and the others into his arms before deftly evading and disappearing into the air.

That's how he managed to avoid being caught off guard by the antics of Tom, that fool!

Boom—

Watching the warship erupt into a sudden explosion beneath them, Nami and the others couldn't help but gasp in shock.

Even with an Tekkai, they couldn't withstand this kind of attack!

Upon hearing Al's furious shouts, the demonic horns adorning Tom's head vanished in an instant.

Reacting swiftly, Tom violently shook his head, slamming on the brakes in a desperate attempt to halt his momentum!

Yet, the speed he had previously attained was so immense that Tom skidded across the sea for a considerable distance before finally coming to a stop!

As Tom gazed at the Marine ship looming dangerously close before him, he felt as though he'd been jolted by an electric shock, his entire body tensing up!

Bent over, hands on his thighs, Tom attempted to manually brake, but despite the force he exerted, he couldn't halt his momentum!

Letting out another frustrated meow, Tom found himself mere inches away from colliding with the Marine ship...

With a resigned shrug and a helpless gesture, Tom deftly retrieved a white silk scarf from behind and expertly covered his eyes.

Then, with a calm demeanor, he retrieved a cigarette from behind and lit it.

Boom...

Boom...

Boom...

Successive explosions reverberated as Tom's impact continued to wreak havoc!

With each Marine ship destroyed, Tom's body diminished, disappearing bit by bit.

After obliterating five warships in succession, only a pair of legs remained of Tom's body.

However, the cigarette that Tom had lit remained miraculously suspended in the air!

Bump...

With the final impact, Tom's legs became embedded directly into the side of the warship!

And the cigarette was also wedged into the warship.

Yet, what baffled Nami and the others was this:

Though only Tom's legs had collided with the side of the warship,

The silhouette that emerged on the broadside appeared to be Tom's entire body!

What's even more peculiar is the image left behind after Tom's collision with the side of the warship.

It's as if the Tom depicted in that pattern suddenly springs to life!

On the pattern, Tom appears just like the real Tom, calmly taking a deep drag from his cigarette.

"Can you blow smoke rings???" he seems to ask.

And as the smoke rings form in the air, they gradually coalesce into a written message:

'Basic Exercises, Don't Worry'

Upon reading the text, a twitch tugged at the corner of Al's mouth. "Tom, this guy is really something," he muttered.

Nami chimed in, "Captain Al, I think I need some rest. I must be hallucinating."

Carina added, "Hallucinations are normal, but why am I seeing them too?"

Vivi expressed her doubts, "Captain Al, is Tom really just a cat, or is he some sort of monster in disguise?"

Meanwhile, Robin, still incredulous, cast a scrutinizing gaze at Tom, who continued to puff away on the pattern, and swiftly activated her abilities to investigate.

Beside Tom's pattern, a pair of arms extended from the side of the board, gently poking at Tom's image.

The next moment...

Nami, Robin, their comprehension of this world shattered once more!

The Tom pattern on the side board, upon being touched by those arms, appeared to spring to life.

Not only could it dodge, but its reactions mirrored exactly how the real Tom would respond when threatened!

Nami and the others were so frightened by this bizarre spectacle that they instinctively covered their mouths in shock!

In both the Marine Headquarters meeting room and the World Government Five Elders meeting room, nearly everyone's eyes widened in disbelief upon witnessing the scene.

They couldn't fathom that such an event was unfolding before them!

However, what astonished them even more was that, beneath the remaining two lightning bolts, the Marine ships were being decimated one after another!

Mushroom clouds bloomed brilliantly on the sea!

"Damn it, what manner of monster is this! Can't even a Buster Call wipe out these creatures?"

"We can't allow this group of monsters to flourish any further!"

"Where's Kuzan? Why isn't he on the battlefield?"

"Could it be that he's once again engaged in some meaningless endeavor?!"

In the World Government meeting room, tensions rose as the situation unfolded.

The Five Elders seethed with fury as they witnessed the destruction of all the warships dispatched for the Buster Call!

"Pere~Pere~Pere~Pere~ "

Aokiji retrieved the Den Den Mushi from his side and inquired, "What's the matter?"

In response, a voice erupted from the Den Den Mushi in an angry roar:

"Kuzan, as the Admiral who ordered the Buster Call, what are you idly doing now?!"

Aokiji glanced at the retreating crowd behind him, not bothering to offer any explanations, and simply inquired about the situation.

The Five Elders listened to Aokiji's indifferent voice.

Fuming with anger, they relayed the news that all the warships dispatched for the Buster Call had been annihilated by the Al Pirates.

They urged Aokiji to act swiftly and eliminate this pirate group without delay!

After ending the call, Aokiji cast a complex gaze at Merlin, who was extending the ice.

"Sorry, Merlin, I'll need you to stay here," Aokiji's voice resonated.

With that, a surge of absolute cold emanated from Aokiji's body, freezing the surrounding air.

In an instant, he transformed into a soldier of ice with just a breath's effort.

Merlin's expression remained unchanged.

"Well, then I have work to do."

And with those words, he abruptly turned into a heap of ice shards, vanishing from his position!

When he reappeared, he was already on the forefront of the battlefield.

"Marine Admiral!"

"Aokiji!"

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