Chapter 242: Race Against Time (part 2)
“By the way… Obei, are we heading straight back to Fenrir Island?”
On the western side of the Fenrir Sea Area, Aoxi, who was estimating they were almost home, finally remembered to ask this question.
“Not sure. You heard it too earlier—Big Sister didn’t make it clear on the Den Den Mushi.”
“Besides, we were delayed by that troublesome Navy guy, so Kaido and the others have probably already set off by now.”
Obei still had some understanding of Kaido’s personality; he definitely wouldn’t wait for everyone to gather before starting the battle.
“Eh— you mean they aren’t even waiting for us?”
“Without you and me, how are they supposed to stand against that Wald Pirate Crew?”
Aoxi said matter-of-factly.
“Simple, I become the law… cough!”
Her brain slipped and she almost went along with the other’s words; Obei quickly pulled the topic back on track.
“He’s called Wald, not Walter. And though they have some fame on the sea, they’re just a Pirate Crew with one ship—they shouldn’t be a match for our fleet.”
“Plus, with Big Sister there, even if there’s some accident, she’ll cover it.”
“But since they might have already set off, my suggestion is…”
Obei was analyzing when she noticed Aoxi beside her suddenly looking dead serious in a certain direction.
“Hm? What’s wrong?”
“Go that way.”
“That way… southeast. I remember that direction should be… eh?! Wait!”
Before Obei could find anything on the sea chart in her mind, Aoxi had already turned sideways, flapped her wings, and shot through the air toward somewhere in the southeast of the Fenrir Sea Area.
Seeing this, Obei could only accelerate to catch up.
“So you sensed something?”
It took some time to catch up to Aoxi again, and Obei asked puzzledly.
“No.”
“Ah?”
“Then why—”
“Intuition.”
“Intu—”
Obei shut up… Aoxi’s intuition—was there anything more trustworthy than that?
Aoxi didn’t say anything more either, just expressionlessly accelerating, accelerating further.
The so-called intuition was just an offhand excuse; just now, she had clearly sensed a familiar soul appearing at the periphery of the Underworld!
How could this be?!
Impossible!
Why the hell was that bastard wandering around outside the Underworld!
Taking a stroll?
Idiot!
Is that a place you should be!
Get your ass back there right now!!!
“Hey, Aoxi, slow down a bit. I can’t keep up.”
“Sorry, I have some urgent business to handle.”
“Urgent business?”
“Yeah, I need to hurry back and kick that brat who wandered off the path right in front of my model display case back where he belongs!”
That was indeed urgent.
Whoosh—
Crimson wings flickered with golden thunder, the core in her body emitting blinding light, and surging divine power was being expended without regard for cost.
Gradually, Aoxi’s body was enveloped by white particles.
“Super·Meteoric Burst（Hyper Meteoric Burst）!”
Crack!
Brushing all the obstructing light ahead behind her, Aoxi’s figure vanished grandly under Obei’s gaze, leaving only scattered silver-white stardust.
“…”
Extending her left hand, watching the silver-white particles dissipating from between her fingers, Obei’s gaze was somewhat indescribable.
『Beyond light, huh… impressive, Second Sister.』
…
Bang!
“Get out of the way, Navy!”
Watching his attack shattered effortlessly by the opponent’s fist, Ember couldn’t help but grow agitated.
His speed wasn’t as fast as Aoxi’s; facing several Navy officers who could use Moonwalk plus a Navy Admiral, it was really hard for him to break free.
“Sorry, young man.”
“Not to mention you’re a Beasts Pirates executive, just based on your Lunarian Clan identity, World Government rules require us to arrest you.”
Sengoku said, hovering in midair with Moonwalk, his tone showing no intent to let the other go.
As a Navy Admiral, he naturally knew some World Government secrets; the importance of this race internally to the government was higher than some country kings.
Hearing the other directly state his race, Ember no longer wasted time debating meaningless racial survival with him.
He tilted his head up, directly spreading his pitch-black membrane wings, trying to shake off this group of Navy by gaining altitude.
Whoosh~
The several-meter wingspan rapidly flapped, stirring up irregular air turbulence that sent several nearby officers tumbling.
But just as Ember felt he had enough lift and planned to climb, Sengoku’s figure suddenly appeared above him.
Swish—
This was the sound of a body quickly passing through the air.
For a Navy Admiral proficient in Rokushiki and Observation Haki, Ember’s movements were still too slow.
“You won’t escape!”
Bang!
A fist wrapped in Armament Haki fell without mercy, smashing viciously onto Ember’s head and slamming him toward the sea surface.
Fortunately, the Lunarian Clan’s tough body let him halt his momentum at the last moment, without falling into the sea.
But the crisis wasn’t over; before Ember could catch his breath, several flying slashes came at him… There were swordmasters among the Navy officers.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Taking all the slashes head-on, Ember couldn’t afford to counterattack, only seeking to break out of this Navy encirclement at the fastest speed and reach Skipgate’s side.
Similarly, Sengoku didn’t plan to spend too much time on Ember; his main goal had always been the Beasts Pirates fleet and the missing Kaido.
“Admiral, leave this guy to me. You lead the fleet and continue onward.”
A young Vice Admiral suggested; he had the highest military rank in this operation besides Sengoku.
And this strategy of splitting forces again was indeed a good counter to the current situation—after all, the entire fleet couldn’t be held up by one person forever.
But unexpectedly, Sengoku refused.
“No, with his mobility, you can’t catch him.”
“While we have the numbers advantage now, surround him and take him out quickly.”
“But…”
The young Vice Admiral wanted to say more, but was stopped with a wave, then Sengoku asked seriously:
“Hold him for one second—can you do it?”
“…”
“I can!”
The Vice Admiral drew the other long sword from his waist, then twisted his wrist into a strange crossed-sword stance.
“Two-Sword Style·Sword Web!”
Swish swish swish swish swish!
In an instant, countless sword lights wove into a dense net of slashes, trapping Ember within and momentarily halting his flight.
“Admiral Sengoku!”
“Well done!”
Golden light pierced the sky, Sengoku’s entire right arm turning gold in an instant, then he slapped down.
“Buddha Impact!”
Ember, who had broken through the sword web at top speed wanting to flee, saw only a golden impact wave smashing down on him!
