Facing an extremely dire situation, Rayleigh decisively shouted, “Break through and retreat immediately! Leave Luffy to me; I will bring him back to you!”
The Straw Hat crew gritted their teeth, exchanging glances. With no other options, they had to follow Rayleigh’s advice and prepared to flee.
The remaining members of the Kid Pirates, already dispirited, sought a glimmer of hope and ran to join the Straw Hats in their attempt to break through.
“Nyeh-oh-oh, I can’t let you succeed, ‘Dark King’ Rayleigh,” Kizaru said, transforming into a beam of light and appearing above the Straw Hat crew. “If the combined forces of an Admiral and a Warlord still let these kids escape, we won’t be able to explain ourselves to Mariejois!”
Seeing Kizaru about to strike the Straw Hats, Rayleigh felt a surge of urgency and was about to rush to their aid but was blocked by a giant blade falling from above.
Rayleigh jumped back, looking up to see Nagato atop the Great Tengu. He didn’t say a word, but his intentions were clear.
“Raijin General!” At the crucial moment, Franky stepped up!
Electric sparks enveloped Franky as he transformed into a five-meter-tall lightning figure, reminiscent of Enel’s ultimate move, Raigo, but in a robot form. The flashing lightning clashed with Kizaru’s light-speed kick, managing to hold off the Admiral’s attack!
Franky stared tensely at Kizaru, shouting to his companions, “This old man is right. He won’t let us go easily! If we all try to escape, he’ll just catch us one by one. I’ll hold him off and catch up with you later!”
“Franky!” The others cried out in anxiety, knowing full well that facing an Admiral alone was nearly certain death. But this might be their best shot.
Forced by the urgency of the situation, they continued their escape, tears streaming from their eyes.
“Trust in SUPER me!” Franky shouted, leaving his comrades with a final image of his back. Then he focused entirely on Kizaru, not daring to blink.
“Nyeh? ‘Lightning Iron Man’ Franky,” Kizaru tilted his head, speaking leisurely, “Standing here alone. If I let you believe you can handle me and save your friends, it would be a real headache.”
In a flash of golden light, Kizaru kicked Franky, sending him flying. The speed was so fast that the fleeing Straw Hats saw it all.
Kizaru held his kicking stance, saying, “After all, I am an Admiral. I have to consider my reputation.”
Previously, Kizaru was just being casual, and the clash between light and lightning neutralized each other. But now, with Haki added, Franky stood no chance.
“Damn it!” Sanji, who had run away, couldn’t hold back anymore. He handed Zoro to Usopp and leapt into the air, his burning right foot aiming at Kizaru, “I won’t forgive you for hurting my comrade!”
However, Kizaru didn’t take him seriously; instead, he mocked him, “Nyeh, ‘Black Leg’ Sanji, why come back to die after escaping?”
Kizaru’s Logia body absorbed Sanji’s kick, and he aimed two golden beams at Sanji’s head!
Meanwhile, Rayleigh finally broke free from the Great Tengu. He managed to escape Nagato’s attacks by continuously dodging with incredible speed.
But now, Sentomaru and “Kuma” stood in his way.
“Bartholomew Kuma? Two Warlords, this is troublesome,” Rayleigh murmured, slashing Sentomaru away and dodging a laser from the Pacifista, “I thought his ability was different?”
Rayleigh was once again caught in the Great Tengu’s assault.
Even Rayleigh couldn’t escape quickly while being entangled with Nagato, Sentomaru, and the Pacifista. Seeing Sanji about to be pierced by Kizaru’s lasers, Rayleigh couldn’t help but look away, closing his eyes in despair: Can’t protect both ends?
But when he reopened his eyes, he didn’t see Sanji’s head getting pierced and blood spurting.
Another Bartholomew Kuma had appeared before Kizaru, and Sanji had vanished!
Kizaru, puzzled by Kuma sending Sanji away, asked, “Bartholomew Kuma, why did you send that boy away? Aren’t you also a Warlord summoned here? Your actions are quite different from the King of Dressrosa. Should we say pirates can’t be trusted?”
“Beyond the tasks given by the World Government, I don’t need to explain my actions to you,” Kuma replied, standing straight with a Bible pressed to his chest.
Rayleigh felt a bit relieved seeing this. Regardless, Kuma’s intervention saved Sanji. This gave him the idea to entangle Nagato and create opportunities for Kuma.
But as Rayleigh thought this, the Great Tengu suddenly vanished, and Nagato dived towards Kuma!
“Is Kuma his target? What does this mean?” Rayleigh was confused but was interrupted by Sentomaru and the Pacifista attacking again.
Over with the Straw Hats.
Kizaru didn’t waste more words with Kuma and quickly transformed into light. He appeared above the bloodied, unconscious Franky and aimed another two golden beams at his head.
But the golden light scattered as Kuma’s paw sent out a shockwave, dispersing Kizaru. Then Kuma moved to Franky and sent him away with another paw strike.
“Bartholomew Kuma,” Kizaru reformed, seemingly annoyed, “Are you challenging me to a speed contest?”
Without waiting for a response, Kizaru sent two lasers towards the distant Straw Hats.
Kuma tried to block Kizaru’s beams with another shockwave, but an invisible force stopped him, allowing Kizaru’s lasers to hit their target, causing two huge explosions.
Seeing his attack succeed, Kizaru seemed slightly surprised, pausing momentarily.
By some luck, the distant Straw Hats were blown away but miraculously survived the deadly attack.
Naturally, it was Nagato who intervened.
Seeing Nagato assist, Kizaru immediately said, “Indeed, unlike a pirate. Thank you, King Nagato.”
If it were an ordinary Warlord, Kizaru might address them by name or even command or reprimand them. But Nagato’s title as a Warlord was the result of negotiations with the Gorosei, and more importantly, he was the King of Dressrosa. So even Kizaru, an Admiral, had to show respect.
For Nagato, titles like Admiral or soldier were meaningless. In front of the King of Dressrosa, they were all just soldiers funded by the World Government member nations.
So, contrary to the usual dynamic, it was the Warlord who commanded the Admiral, “Leave the pirates to you; I’ll handle Kuma.”
Kizaru was taken aback but had nothing to say, transforming into light and flying towards the Straw Hats.
Perhaps due to caution or seeing Luffy in Nagato’s hand, Kuma didn’t pursue Kizaru but stood firmly in front of Nagato.
“I’ve been on the Sabaody Archipelago for half a month waiting for you, Kuma,” Nagato said to the giant man before him. “I need a connection to Dragon!”
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