Chapter 116

A solemn look appeared in the eyes of Redfield. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't take a newly promoted Admiral seriously. But now, the appearance of a fighter like Carl would play a decisive role in the outcome of the battle.

Kong was also stunned for a moment, as he saw the flames and wings behind Carl.

But now wasn't the time to care about those details. He just needed to know that the person coming was on his side.

Finally, it was Kong's turn to laugh. He looked at the grim-faced Redfield and smiled.

"Redfield, do you realize the disadvantage of fighting alone this time?"

Redfield remained silent, but his figure began to blur. Seeing this, Kong's pupils shrank, and he hurriedly tried to alert Carl in the air.

However, Redfield was too fast. Before Kong could shout, Redfield had already rushed in front of Carl, slashing the umbrella in his hand across Carl's waist.

"What?"

Like many before him who had encountered Kamui, Redfield was equally perplexed.

Kong, below, breathed a sigh of relief before grumbling to himself about Carl's shameless move!

Redfield waved his blue umbrella, armed with Haki, at incredible speed, leaving afterimages. Yet all his strikes hit only air.

Realizing the futility of his attacks, Redfield chose to stop and land. His physical strength couldn't afford further waste. As soon as he landed, Kong rushed over like a heavy chariot, slamming into Redfield and knocking him backward.

Before Redfield could regain his stance, a thick pillar of fire fell from the sky, instantly engulfing him in blazing flames.

Kong could no longer contain his disbelief. With flames of this magnitude, he would've sworn Carl was a user of the Flame-Flame Fruit, but Carl wasn't!

Whoosh!

A burst of energy exploded from the center of the flames, creating a void.

Redfield emerged, flames flickering around him, with black smoke seeping from his nostrils.

His previous elegance was long gone. His once-flashy red cloak had turned to ashes, and his upper body was riddled with scorched holes, revealing blackened skin beneath.

He frowned, thinking to himself, "Flames? Isn't this black dragon a user of the Dark-Dark Fruit?"

Soon, Carl helped him confirm.

Carl spread his arms in the air, and endless darkness flowed from him, forming a black waterfall crashing down.

Redfield, fresh from the flames' baptism, was now swallowed by overwhelming darkness. But compared to the power of the flames, the darkness was far more terrifying.

When Redfield emerged from the darkness, his body was drenched in blood, and his eyes were filled with fear.

Unlike common elements like fire, few knew the true extent of the darkness's power. Even if Carl's fruit ability was public knowledge, experiencing it firsthand revealed its sheer terror.

For a warrior like Redfield, normal elemental attacks could barely scratch him, but in the darkness, he had nearly perished.

Darkness possessed the ability to devour everything, a force far beyond human capabilities. If the Redfield had been in his prime, his Haki and the flames might have sustained him for a while longer. But once engulfed in darkness, there was no escape—he would eventually be torn apart.

Now, Redfield felt his body disintegrating, and regret crept into his heart.

He had indeed been too arrogant, underestimating the power of the behemoth that was the Navy.

Just battling Kong had left him in this pitiful state, not to mention dealing with Carl.

Redfield, who had always operated alone, was now truly feeling the isolation and helplessness of his situation. He was cornered.

Yet, even in this dire moment, Redfield harbored no thoughts of escape. His powerful Haki and unyielding will dictated that retreat was never an option.

Redfield straightened himself, exuding black and red lightning. Dusting off his tattered body, he murmured softly,

"Even if I die, I'll take someone with me."

With that, he set his sights on Kong.

Compared to Carl, who was in peak condition, Kong would be far easier to defeat.

Kong also noticed Redfield's determination for a final showdown. He forced himself upright, once again condensing his Haki into a terrifying fist.

Just as they were about to clash, Carl suddenly descended in front of Kong. He stared down the Redfield without turning his head and calmly said,

"Fleet Admiral Kong, you should rest for now."

With that, the flames behind Carl's neck extinguished in a whoosh, and at that moment, Redfield lunged forward.

Redfield prided himself on his speed, but this time, before he could reach Carl, he was intercepted mid-air. His eyes widened in disbelief as he exclaimed,

"How is this possible!? How can you be so fast!?"

Even Kong was shocked. He knew well the speed of Redfield—that was why fighting him had been so arduous. All Kong could do was endure the hits.

But now, Carl had displayed a speed that rivaled, if not surpassed, Redfield's. Even if Redfield was weakened, it was still an astonishing feat.

Kong's mind raced, connecting Carl's black wings and extinguished flames to a long-forgotten race—the Lunarian.

As a Navy Fleet Admiral, Kong was privy to many secrets, including records of the Lunarian. When their innate flame was extinguished, their speed increased exponentially.

In Kong's eyes, the Lunarian were nature's favorites, possessing talents comparable to those granted by a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit.

But Redfield knew nothing of this. With his attacks blocked, he tried to distance himself, seeking an opening. Yet no matter where he appeared, Carl followed closely. The two figures, one red and one black, flickered and clashed repeatedly in the air. The more Redfield fought, the more his fear grew. He couldn't believe a monster like Carl could exist.

And Carl was only nineteen!

Redfield couldn't help but wonder—what would've happened if he had faced Carl at nineteen? He feared that not even ten of him could defeat Carl!

Carl, too, admired Redfield's strength. After all, Redfield had just endured a brutal battle, yet he still had half the strength of his prime.

It was no surprise Redfield had once stood shoulder to shoulder with Roger and Whitebeard. Had he not insisted on operating alone, forming an emperor-level pirate crew wouldn't have been difficult for someone of his caliber.

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