Chapter 115

Carl agreed immediately after hearing the plan. He asked Sengoku the Buddha for the coordinates, then hung up the Den Den Mushi and said to Lucia,

"Let's go, Lucia. Inform Uncle Garling first, and then we'll set off right away."

Lucia nodded and quickly adjusted herself. She went to the room to fetch Carl's Navy cloak, and after he put it on, they headed to Garling's quarters.

When Garling heard Redfield's name, his face grew grim, and he said in a deep voice,

"Go, but you must be cautious. Redfield is extremely dangerous. If things go wrong, prioritize your life."

Carl nodded. He was fully aware of Redfield's power. Known as the Red the Aloof, he was on par with legends like Whitebeard and Roger. His strength even surpassed that of Kong.

If it hadn't been for Garp seizing the opportunity, Kong might have met his end at Redfield's hands.

Nevertheless, that battle was still a Navy victory, with Kong leading the charge. Carl felt this mission could significantly bolster his military achievements. While it might not immediately elevate him to the rank of Fleet Admiral, it would certainly boost his reputation within the Navy, making it easier for him to seize control of the entire organization in the future.

Moreover, Carl didn't want to miss the chance to fight someone as formidable as the Red the Aloof. After all, combat was the best way to grow stronger.

With that in mind, Carl bid farewell to Garling, took Lucia back to the warship docked near the Red Line, and ordered it to set sail toward the coordinates Sengoku had provided.

On the Grand Line, on an unnamed island, the air crackled with the red and black lightning of Conqueror's Haki. A tall, slender figure clashed with a massive, powerful one in midair. The ground below them continued to crumble under the pressure of their battle.

Navy soldiers lay strewn across the ground, eyes rolled back and unconscious from the sheer intensity of the Haki.

The two combatants were none other than Redfield, and Kong.

They had been fighting for over a day and night. The Navy soldiers who had accompanied Kong were rendered unconscious by Redfield's Conqueror's Haki almost immediately, unable even to participate in the fight.

The higher-ranking officers, those with more strength, had been easily defeated by Redfield as well. Some were dead, others gravely injured, but none had managed to inflict any significant damage on him. In fact, Kong had been forced to divert his attention several times to protect them.

In the end, they were more of a burden than a help.

Redfield landed gracefully on the crumbling ground. He wore a crimson cloak, holding an umbrella that matched the blue rose pinned to his chest. He exuded elegance even in battle.

He glanced at Kong, who stood shirtless and grim-faced across from him, and smiled.

"Kong, you didn't disappoint me. I'm glad I waited for you here."

Kong's expression remained severe as he snorted, "Redfield, this ends today. I will capture you."

Redfield chuckled, his golden eyes narrowing as a cold gleam flickered in them.

"Just you? I think I'll savor the thrill of killing you."

In an instant, Redfield turned into a streak of red light, appearing in front of Kong in the blink of an eye. Known for his incredible speed, even Kong, a physical powerhouse, struggled to keep up.

Kong's strength, however, lay in his durability. He could endure a barrage of attacks, which is precisely what he did. He withstood Redfield's assault, roared, and suddenly seized him by the waist, slamming him into the ground.

Redfield swiftly opened his umbrella to block Kong's follow-up strike. With a flick of his metallic, gold-heeled boots, he kicked Kong, sending him staggering backward.

As Kong regained his senses, Redfield's umbrella was already plunging toward him like a sword. Kong caught the umbrella's tip with a hand coated in Armament Haki and pulled back.

Redfield smirked and released his weapon. His nails turned pitch black as they slashed across Kong's chest, leaving ten deep, bloody gashes.

Blood splattered, but Kong did not retreat. To Redfield's surprise, he raised his fists and slammed them into Redfield, driving him into the ground.

Redfield disappeared into a crater as Kong fell to one knee, clutching his chest. The damage from the previous blow was far worse than it appeared—if not for his powerful Armament Haki, his organs would have been shredded.

Even so, Kong had suffered significant internal injuries.

Swish!

Redfield flashed out of the crater, landing gracefully a short distance away. He winced, hand resting on his lower back.

He hadn't expected Kong's tenacity, fighting back so fiercely despite his wounds.

The pain in his back caused a brief flicker of frustration to pass across his face, but Kong was also struggling. A trickle of blood ran down his chin, and his heart sank. In a fight between warriors of their caliber, exhaustion was a dangerous enemy.

Redfield noticed Kong's condition and smirked. Looking at the unconscious marines scattered around, he sneered,

"What's the point of bringing so many? They're just dead weight."

Without waiting for a reply, he launched himself at Kong once more, grabbing his discarded umbrella as he sped toward him.

Neither of them noticed the dark vortex forming in the air not far away.

Before Carl's warship could even dock, he had sensed the fierce battle between Kong and Redfield and immediately leaped toward the battlefield with his Kamui ability.

In his eyes, aside from Lucia, none of the Navy soldiers on his ship could withstand the overwhelming pressure of the Conqueror's Haki. Bringing them would have been pointless.

The Marines lying unconscious around the battlefield were proof enough.

Fixing his gaze on Redfield, Carl spread his jet-black wings, vanishing from sight with a powerful flap.

Redfield, locked in battle with Kong, felt a chill run down his spine. His Observation Haki was honed to perfection, allowing him to dodge just in time. Still, Kong's punch landed, sending him reeling.

But it was worth it. In the instant Redfield dodged, a black blade sliced through the air, cutting a piece of his crimson cloak.

Redfield's face darkened as he quickly retreated. His eyes locked onto Carl, now hovering in the air.

"Admiral Black Dragon?"

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