"Saint Howard!!!"
On Franca Island, Steelbone Kong, who was being relentlessly held down by Linlin, suddenly turned around. He saw Saint Howard being mercilessly slammed into the ocean by the imposing figure of El, and his expression shifted dramatically, his eyes widening with fury. "Fallen Angel El, you bastard—"
He hadn't anticipated that the Supreme Commander of the Holy Knights would be so quickly overpowered by El and hurled into the sea. In an instant, his rage mixed with a chilling realization. Both the World Government and the Navy Headquarters had gravely underestimated this Lunarian monstrosity. Even with their numbers, it seemed they would struggle to contain him.
"Defy me, and this is your fate!" El's cold gaze fell on Steelbone Kong as he spoke, his tone icy.
They had prepared meticulously in advance. Fish-men Jien was waiting in the depths with several large, modified sea creatures, each containing giant bubble Homies, and they even had a pair of seastone handcuffs ready. If Saint Howard, the CP0 agents, or anyone else survived their fall into the ocean, they would be swiftly captured.
"Well done, El-oniichan…" Linlin smirked, her eyes fixed on Steelbone Kong with a predatory gleam. "Ma ma ma~ now it's your turn!!"
Without another word, she swung Napoleon down in a fierce arc. "Mighty Nation!!!"
'Rip!' The air tore open as a terrifying shockwave surged forward, tearing through the atmosphere and hurtling towards the formidable admiral.
'Whoosh!' Steelbone Kong stamped down hard, his figure flashing out of the way just in time to dodge the fierce attack.
'Boom! Boom!' The terrifying shockwave collided with the churning sea, carving a massive trench into the ocean's surface before it slowly filled back in.
Steelbone Kong showed no relief, however. Seeing El dive toward him from above, radiating sheer killing intent, he couldn't help but feel a chill down his spine.
"Damn it—" Just then, Linlin, looking monstrous and ghostly, surged forward with a deadly gleam in her eyes, swinging her massive sword down.
'Clang!' Sparks erupted as his Haki-covered fist clashed with her blade. Steelbone Kong pushed her back with all his might, never taking his eyes off El, who was rapidly closing in from above.
'Whoosh—'
In a matter of seconds, El reached the coastline. His form grew before their eyes, restoring its full height and power.
'Boom...'
A green shoot suddenly burst from the ground, rapidly growing into a massive vine. In moments, it wrapped around the enormous Halberd that had been thrown aside during Linlin and Steelbone Kong's earlier fight, flinging it straight toward El.
"Tch…"
The Great Halberd landed smoothly in El's hands. In his fearsome half-beast form, with golden horns on his head and blazing flames at his back, El radiated an overwhelming, oppressive presence. Gripping the gleaming, massive Halberd, he sneered coldly, looking directly at Steelbone Kong, the Navy Admiral.
"Let's test your luck," El grinned menacingly, "Let's see if you, a Navy Admiral, can last until Hammons William and the others arrive."
"Don't get cocky, Fallen Angel El!" Steelbone Kong roared defiantly, charging straight toward El. "I am a Navy Admiral!"
In his beast-human form, fur bristling and surrounded by crackling electric energy, Steelbone Kong's massive right fist, taut with muscle, was cloaked in powerful Armament and Conqueror's Haki. The force it emitted was enough to make anyone's pulse race as it crushed the air and thundered forward.
"A Navy Admiral?" El's laughter was icy as he swung his enormous, lightning-wreathed Halberd, electric black and red currents arcing from it. Raising the heavy weapon, El's towering figure slashed downward, tearing through the air. "It's not like I haven't killed one before!"
'CLANG!!!'
The deafening sound of metal clashing echoed across the sea, as the razor-sharp Halberd head met Steelbone Kong's massive, blackened fist. The force of their clash didn't even fully meet, halted inches apart as the shockwaves from their power expanded outward.
'BOOM…BOOM…'
The light flashed brightly, the island itself trembled, and waves of shock exploded from the impact, causing the coastline to crumble and rocks and debris to fly into the air. Black and red lightning snaked and writhed like dragons across the sky, crackling as the fierce shockwaves churned the surrounding sea.
Above them, the clouds swirled and collided, drawn in by the extreme forces emanating from the battle below, squeezing together as if the sky itself might tear open—a sight both terrifying and awe-inspiring.
"Wow, now that's intense…" Linlin looked up, marveling at the spectacle. "The sky's splitting, huh?"
"He's strong," she acknowledged, eyes on the hulking figure locked in a fierce standoff with El. But a malicious grin spread across her face as she hefted her massive, gleaming sword. "But he can still die here!"
"Mighty Nation!"
With that, she unleashed a deadly shockwave with her blade, sending it hurling towards Steelbone Kong, who instantly sensed the danger, his hair standing on end. Without hesitation, he leaped back to evade the ferocious attack.
'BOOM…BOOM…'
The battered island shook as the vicious attack left a massive gouge along the coast, deep enough to send shivers down anyone's spine.
'BOOM!!'
At that moment, the flames on El's back extinguished. In a flash, his massive figure charged forward. Why fight one-on-one? They were pirates, after all. No need to play fair with these marines, who relied so heavily on their own advantages.
"Elbaf's Spear!"
The colossal Halberd, wrapped in crackling black-and-red lightning, swung mercilessly toward the still-unsteady, horrified Steelbone Kong. El didn't hesitate, bringing the Halberd down with full force.
"Mighty Nation!"
"King Kong Chariot!"
'Boom! Boom!'