The originally invincible kingly aura emanating from Roger and Rayleigh was abruptly halted, unable to advance further, as Berlos's sinister, death-laden oppressive presence forcefully inserted itself into the fray.
Witnessing this scene, Gaban, a burly crew member standing behind Rayleigh and wielding a massive axe, could no longer remain idle.
This powerhouse, known to the world as the "Copper" pillar of the Roger Pirates, understood upon Berlos's entry that this battle of auras was no longer solely the captain and vice-captain's affair. Striding forward, each step he took pulverized the stones beneath his feet into dust under the immense pressure of his own aura.
Gaban did not rush to add his aura to the clash above. Instead, his gaze shot toward the Fire Rat Girl Agni not far away.
In his perception, this seemingly petite woman possessed strength that was in no way inferior to his own.
Even the Centaur Girl behind Fire Rat Girl displayed remarkable power, which weighed heavily on Gaban's mind. Given the current situation, he could only set that concern aside for now.
Gaban spoke in a deep, resonant voice directly to Agni, "A powerful warrior under the Beasts' banner, one not yet publicized by the newspapers. I have sensed the aura of a true fighter upon you. This is a duel between the strong. Dare you join in, like a true warrior?"
Agni licked her lips. The Netherflame instantly receded inward, her entire skin flushing red from the intense heat, like a piece of white-hot branding iron.
"I need no provocation from you, scum of the Roger Pirates. Destruction is my pleasure!" she roared, erupting with her aura. That violent, fiery pressure shot skyward like the inferno at the sun's core, forcibly merging into the vortex of Haki!
Agni was not one to foolishly engage in reasoning or talk of one-on-one duels. Seeing her side already holding the advantage above, she directly poured her own aura into the mix.
Gaban's expression instantly turned grave. He knew he could wait no longer.
He did not possess Conqueror's Haki, but his Armament Haki and the formidable pressure from his own powerful physique were unleashed without reservation at this moment.
"Hah~!"
With a furious roar, Gaban poured his own aura into this heart-stopping confrontation, attempting to suppress Agni's violent flames.
He succeeded in holding back Agni's violent flames, but the Cloud Soil beneath his feet had already been vaporized into gas by the extreme heat.
Three versus three!!!
Brian, Berlos, and Agni, facing off against Roger, Rayleigh, and Gaban!
The auras of both sides clashed fiercely in the air. The extent of the Sky Island's fracturing reached an unprecedented level; the cloud-covered land resembled shattered glass, on the verge of complete collapse at any moment. The Historical Text Stone Tablet within the ruins also began to tremble under the shockwaves, as if it would be crushed the next second.
Amidst this extreme stalemate, yet another force from Brian's ranks erupted silently!
It was the Mythical Zoan Centaur Girl, Leona!
Leona took a light, graceful step forward, her gaze like that of the proudest king of the grasslands.
Her aura carried a pure, unstoppable primal force, like a hurricane sweeping across the land.
It lacked the malevolence of Berlos or the ferocity of Agni, instead possessing an unrivaled wildness, speed, and elegance. This power perfectly aligned with Brian's will of "domination."
Her aura erupted like ten thousand horses galloping across the plains, carrying earth-shaking force as it ruthlessly surged into the vortex of Haki!
BOOM!!!
Leona's entry became the final straw that broke the camel's back!
The delicate balance created by the auras of three top-tier Conqueror's Haki users, two peak Mythical Zoan pressures, and the formidable presence of Gaban—who was no weaker than a top-tier Mythical Zoan—was instantly shattered.
Brian's side now wielded four powerful auras, like four indestructible blades, viciously piercing through the Roger Pirates' defensive line of presence!
Roger, Rayleigh, and Gaban were drenched in sweat. The "Gold, Silver, and Bronze" defensive line they had strained to maintain completely collapsed under the addition of Leona's wild pressure.
Gaban's eyes widened in disbelief as he roared, "How is this possible? This power... is this the force of the man currently making the biggest waves in the New World?"
The Haki of Roger and Rayleigh let out a mournful cry in the air, scattering like torn canvas!
Both men grunted simultaneously, blood once again trickling from the corners of their mouths, their faces pale.
The cloud ground beneath their feet completely crumbled, forcing them to leap onto a relatively intact stone pillar.
The clash of Conqueror's Haki auras ended in a complete victory for Brian's side!
Roger and Rayleigh, two of the New World's most elite powerhouses, had actually lost a battle of presence to a young man and his Beast Girl Legion!
If word of this spread, it would undoubtedly become another world-shaking headline.
Unfortunately, their current location was a Sky Island. Aside from the two parties, there were virtually no other people present—not even spectators.
This Sky Island was an ancient, uninhabited one.
With the conclusion of the clash between the top-tier combatants' auras, the three-versus-four situation dealt a heavy blow to the morale of the Roger Pirates.
Though Roger, Rayleigh, and Gaban remained unyielding, faced with the overwhelming, incomprehensible force unleashed by Brian's legion, they had to admit their utter defeat in this clash without physical conflict.
In other words, even before the battle had truly begun with blades and guns, the Roger Pirates had already completely lost the initiative.
And in a top-tier battle, seizing the initiative was critically important.
The renowned "Gold, Silver, and Bronze" trio of the New World was forced to retreat, each on guard, their eyes filled with anger and vigilance as they stared fixedly at the four Admiral-level combatants opposite them—some hovering mid-air, others standing on the cloud layer.
The cloud ground of the Sky Island was now riddled with countless massive fissures, and the surrounding ancient ruins had been reduced to rubble.
Brian gave them no chance to catch their breath. He knew that dealing with the Roger Pirates required precision and speed like a surgeon's scalpel—first cutting off their wings, then concentrating force against the core.
Under the furious gazes of Roger and his companions, he suddenly raised his hand and pointed toward the formation of the Roger Pirates' crew members.
There stood a few elite crew members skilled in martial arts and swordsmanship. Though their numbers were small—only about a dozen—their strength was not to be underestimated.
As members of the Roger Pirates, quality had always been prioritized over quantity. While these members were not monsters like Roger or Rayleigh, they were formidable figures capable of holding their own in the New World.
"Mia, Aola, Ella, Feixue, Tuan Rong, Coco—the six of you, clean up this rabble from the Roger Pirates." Brian's voice was cold and concise, carrying an unquestionable command.
"Yes, Master!"
At his command, six figures shot forward, marking the beginning of this top-tier battle.