Sakazuki: "Die, Devil Child!" The gigantic magma fist shot straight toward Robin.
Robin had just finished using Geppo to evade the fragments of magma raining through the air. She was still suspended in midair. There was no foothold. No room to dodge. Robin's eyes widened slightly—not out of fear, but because she knew the attack was impossible to evade. She crossed her arms in front of herself, coating them with Busoshoku Haki to block Akainu's attack, even though she knew she would still be severely injured. Just as the blazing fist was only a few meters away...
CLANGGG!!
The sound of metal violently colliding shook the air. The resulting shockwave swept across the Marines aboard the warship, sending them into panic as molten magma scattered in every direction. Standing between Robin and Akainu is Arthur. He stood there with both swords crossed in front of him. Black lightning surged along the two blades, each coated in Busoshoku Haki, as they clashed head-on against Akainu's magma fist.
Robin: "...Arthur." Robin slowly turned toward him.
Arthur: "I think... this is far enough." Arthur didn't even glance back at Robin andvHis eyes remained locked solely on Akainu.
Sakazuki: "So... you've finally decided to step in." Akainu pushed his fist forward with even greater force, causing magma to erupt continuously from his arm.
Arthur: "If I didn't show up now, my wives would scold me later tonight." Arthur smiled faintly.
Arthur flicked both of his swords, instantly breaking the deadlock. The two of them leaped backward at the same time, creating some distance between each other. Akainu let out a quiet snort, yet neither of them broke eye contact. Robin, now held securely in Arthur's arms, rolled her eyes. Even in a situation like this, Arthur still had time to make jokes.
On the deck of the Athena, Hancock—who had been brought back aboard by Monet—finally let out a relieved sigh.
Arthur: "Hancock... all of you have done more than enough. I'll handle the rest." He gave a small nod and not a single one of them objected.
Although Hancock still wanted to continue fighting, She also understood exactly who stood before them. An Admiral. One of the strongest Marines on the seas. Simply managing to wound Akainu was already an extraordinary achievement. Monet immediately escorted Hancock and Robin back toward the Athena. Baby-5 vanished once again into countless glowing particles before flying away. Only a few seconds late, The four women had already returned to the Athena.
Arthur remained calmly facing Akainu. The sea breeze gently swept across the two swords already poised for battle. After landing on the Athena's deck, Monet saw little Arthoria, whom Arthur had placed on the deck before rushing off to save Robin. The little girl immediately reached both hands toward the battlefield.
Arthoria: "Papa..."
Monet: "Papa's working right now." Monet smiled gently as she picked her up.
Merlin sat quietly beside Ikaros, while Lancelot bounced excitedly as he watched his father. Nymph stood directly behind him, worried that he might accidentally fall overboard. Every pair of eyes was fixed on the Marine warship. Yet everyone aboard the Athena understood one thing. The real battle Was only just begin.
Sakazuki: "Now it's just the two of us."
Arthur: "I suppose it is." Arthur slowly spun both swords in his hands.
Without another word. The two of them moved so quickly that they seemed to vanish simultaneously. A violent explosion erupted above the sea and the Marine warship shook violently. The ocean itself split apart beneath the force of their collision.
Arthur's twin swords clashed against Akainu's magma fists again and again within mere seconds. Explosion after explosion echoed across the sea and No one could follow their movements. All anyone could see were flashes of black and flashes of crimson, followed by deafening explosions.
Akainu gradually realized something. Arthur still hadn't used the power of his Devil Fruit. He was relying solely on his body, His swords, And his Haki. Yet the pressure Arthur exerted was already overwhelming. Sakazuki frowned and deep down he understood, if Arthur were allowed to continue sailing freely, he would eventually become one of the monsters capable of throwing the entire world into chaos.
Sensing the brief lapse in Akainu's concentration, Arthur suddenly changed the trajectory of his attack. His right sword intercepted Akainu's magma fist and his left sword swung from an angle Akainu had never anticipated. A black flash streaked through the air make Akainu's eyes widened slightly.
Arthur: "Too late."
SLASH!!
The black slash flashed across the battlefield. For the first time after dozens of exchanges, Arthur's sword pierced through Akainu's Busoshoku Haki. A deep wound tore open from the left side of Akainu's neck, running diagonally across his chest. Fresh blood burst forth as the magma coating his body split apart. The Admiral was hurled dozens of meters backward. Every Marine aboard the ship froze.
Marine A: "...The Admiral..."
Marine B: "...He..."
Akainu pressed a hand against the wound on his neck as blood continued to pour from it. This was unlike any ordinary sword wound, it refused to close. In fact, it would have continued tearing open even further if Akainu hadn't constantly reinforced the area with Busoshoku Haki. Arthur calmly lowered both of his swords.
Arthur: "Don't expect that wound to heal anytime soon."
Sakazuki: "...What did you do?" Sakazuki slowly raised his head, the look in his eyes had become far more serious.
Arthur: "Just a little trick." Arthur smiled faintly.
The Haki infused into that slash had destroyed Akainu's tissues before his Logia abilities could regenerate them. On top of that, Arthur's Devil Fruit power kept Akainu's blood flowing continuously, preventing the wound from closing. That scar would remain, perhap for the rest of his life.
The battle came to an abrupt halt. Silence fell over the battlefield, even the sound of the waves seemed to disappear. Then suddenl The thunderous roar of cannons echoed across the sea. Cannonballs could be seen flying toward the Athena from the distant horizon. Bepo immediately raised a telescope, The white fur covering his body look even paler. Countless Marine warships were rapidly approaching the battlefield.
Bepo: "Captain!"