Chapter 97 97: The Wind of Fate!
Heaven and earth—
Had completely become a forbidden zone of death.
At a certain moment—
BOOM!!
Luffy's hand suddenly grabbed the light blade capable of slicing through the air itself.
The scorching sword tore through Luffy's arm. Blood and flesh turned into mist, and even the bones in his hand cracked apart.
"You—!"
Kizaru's pupils shrank violently, as if he had just witnessed something terrifying. He immediately released the sword and retreated at top speed.
But…
It was already too late.
Crackle—Crackle!
Lightning from the sky converged, compressing around Luffy's arm.
Top-tier Armament Haki coated his fist, and an overwhelming killing intent surged upward!
A destructive aura shook the entire sky.
CRACK!!
The air exploded as Luffy's devastating punch erupted with monstrous shockwaves, transforming into a massive serpent that chased its prey.
"Thunder God: Gum-Gum King Cobra!"
A colossal shadow swallowed Kizaru's small figure as the attack lunged down with its jaws wide open.
BOOOOM!!!
Blinding white light instantly filled the world.
The clouds were forcibly driven away, turning the night sky back into daylight.
The immense shockwave blasted Kizaru away, sending him flying far beyond the range of Luffy's Observation Haki.
BANG!!
Luffy himself was thrown back by the violent recoil of the attack, crashing into the ruins of the Sabaody Archipelago like a rag doll.
"Haa…!"
Luffy exited Gear Fourth, and the skin across his body instantly began cracking like shattered porcelain.
However, a few minutes later—
New flesh began growing.
Broken bones started repairing themselves.
This was—
Lineage Factor regeneration!
Without such a trump card, how could Luffy dare exchange injuries with someone like Kizaru?
"My stamina's gone… I can't even move a finger…"
"…It hurts like hell!!!"
"Wait… I remember…"
"Akainu came too, didn't he?!"
Luffy lay weakly on the ground, fighting off sleep as he pushed his Observation Haki to the limit.
In an instant—
His senses covered the entire island.
Among the ruins—
Two figures, red and white, clashed violently!
BANG!!
A gigantic fist of magma carrying the aura of hell slammed into a sword wrapped in black-red lightning.
In an instant, Rayleigh was blasted backward and smashed into the ruins.
Scarlet magma flowed across Akainu's body.
The ground beneath him erupted like a volcano, splitting apart as he shot into the sky like a cannonball.
Like a ferocious mad dog, he charged forward wrapped in magma exceeding a thousand degrees.
Rayleigh's glasses reflected the blazing inferno.
Even the air itself seemed burned through.
If I take this head-on…
I will die.
The thought appeared in Rayleigh's mind and refused to fade.
"Haa—!"
Rayleigh's trembling hand tightened around his sword.
Fierce Conqueror's Haki lightning wrapped around the blade, layered with Armament Haki.
A resolute determination flashed in Rayleigh's bloodshot eyes.
This was—
A strike wagered with his life.
"Great Eruption!"
"Divine Departure!"
The entire space seemed torn apart.
Across the Lawless Zone, half the land burned with scorching magma—
While the other half was covered in black-red lightning!
BOOM!!
The powerful Conqueror's Haki-infused slash blasted Sakazuki backward like a kite with its strings cut.
He rolled across the ground for dozens of meters before crashing heavily to a stop.
Blood mixed with magma poured down.
Rayleigh, however—
Dropped to his knees.
His body was covered in blackened burns from magma, and large portions of his flesh had been vaporized.
CLANG!
His sword slipped from his hand.
His right hand desperately clutched his left shoulder—
Because his entire left arm… was gone.
Yet Rayleigh's expression remained calm.
He raised his head with difficulty.
Through his glasses, he saw Akainu's battered yet cold figure.
Rayleigh smiled faintly.
"The Marines having someone like you…"
"I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad one."
"I've lost. My skills were inferior."
"…Do it."
Rayleigh slowly closed his eyes.
Roger…
Life without you really is boring.
Roger… I've seen him.
The boy who will lead the era… and create history.
What a pity…
I won't be able to witness that history myself.
Akainu dragged his battered body forward step by step.
Magma dripped from his fist, sizzling against the ground.
"Dark King Rayleigh…"
"You've lived far too long."
"Filthy pirate."
He raised his massive magma fist, looking down at Rayleigh with overwhelming killing intent.
Just then—
Something unexpected happened.
CRACKLE!!!
A hardened fist wrapped in destructive black lightning smashed violently into Akainu!
BOOM!!
The devastating shockwave blasted Akainu away.
The sound of bones cracking echoed through the ruins.
A man wearing a straw hat, his body wrapped in black lightning and radiating an aura like a demon god, appeared before Rayleigh.
"Ro… Roger?!"
Rayleigh's body trembled.
Tears gathered in his old eyes but refused to fall.
…No.
It wasn't Roger.
Luffy turned back and looked at Rayleigh—and froze.
Was this really the same Dark King Rayleigh who once carried himself with elegance and calm authority?
Now—
He looked worse than a beggar.
Suddenly, Luffy snapped his head around.
His Observation Haki had detected an overwhelming danger.
BOOM!!
Scorching magma swallowed the ruins as Akainu stood within the blazing heat.
Dense sword wounds covered his chest in horrifying detail.
"Tch… what a pain."
Akainu slowly removed his black leather gloves.
He lit a cigar and exhaled a plume of smoke.
The harsh burn dulled the pain in his nerves.
"Kill one… another shows up."
"Never-ending."
"…A bunch of trash from the seas!"
Magma erupted violently.
Half his body transformed into molten lava.
His blood-stained Justice coat fluttered as he charged forward like a volcanic eruption.
CRACKLE!!
Luffy showed no fear.
Black lightning wrapped around him as he threw a punch with destructive force.
Lightning collided with magma.
For a brief moment—
They were evenly matched.
But only for an instant.
"You're not my opponent anymore!"
Luffy's punch blasted Akainu away.
Magma scattered as lightning exploded.
After hours of brutal combat—and using a strategy of trading injuries—
Akainu's current condition meant he could barely use half of his strength.
Meanwhile, Luffy's Life Return — Ultimate: Flash of Rejuvenation was no mere decoration.
Looking at his mangled hand, Luffy couldn't help but sigh at the terrifying destructive power of the Mag-Mag Fruit.
Just as Luffy was about to say something—
His brows suddenly tightened.
Armament Haki instantly coated his arm.
He reached out and grabbed—
BOOM!
The air exploded as a light sword was caught firmly in Luffy's palm.
Lightning wrapped around his right leg as he kicked out.
A streak of golden light was sent flying, crashing into the ruins.
"Borsalino?!"
Akainu stared at the fallen Kizaru in disbelief.
Kizaru's yellow shirt had been dyed blood-red, just like Akainu's.
Even when facing a Yonko, Kizaru had never looked this miserable.
"Cough… cough…"
Seeing his old friend's shocked expression, Kizaru felt a little embarrassed.
After all—
It was the first time someone had matched him in speed.
The battlefield fell into an uneasy stalemate.
On one side—
One Admiral-level fighter still at full strength.
On the other—
Two severely wounded Admirals.
"Sakazuki…"
"Are we still fighting?"
Kizaru glanced at the watch on his wrist.
It was almost time for him to clock out.
Because of three worthless Celestial Dragons, the entire Lawless Zone had been reduced to ruins.
Countless Marine soldiers had died.
If the fight continued—
Even Kizaru wasn't confident he could keep Akainu alive.
"Pirates… must be eradicated!!"
Akainu forced himself to stand.
His eyes burned with unshakable hatred.
Luffy steadied himself and raised his fighting stance.
But suddenly—
The sky changed.
Clear skies were swallowed by massive clouds as dark as spilled ink.
Lightning flashed constantly within the clouds, roaring with thunder.
Above the Sabaody Archipelago, countless storm clouds twisted together into a massive vortex.
A turquoise wind descended from the heavens.
Rain began pouring down.
The wind of the blue sky surged across the sea, dragging endless ocean water upward into towering waterspouts.
A figure appeared beside Luffy.
"Follow the guidance of the Wind of Fate."
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