"You must have paid a huge price to co back from the dead. You must be very weak now!"
Akainu stared at the fully restored Caelan and spoke with certainty.
He couldn't believe soone could resurrect without consequences. Caelan had to be faking his composure. As long as they attacked again, the truth would show.
Garp and Borsalino both nodded slightly. What Akainu said made sense.
So I have side effects? Since when?
Caelan felt the power surging through his body and found it laughable.
He himself didn't know of any side effects, but Akainu sure sounded confident about them.
If anything counts as a side effect, maybe it's just increased resistance to magma and lasers.
"Haha, co on then!"
The massive sword wrapped in Armant Haki was raised high again.
He slashed fiercely at Akainu, who stood firm and ready.
"Hellhound!"
Akainu gritted his teeth, his entire right arm turning into magma.
"Light-Speed Kick!"
"Fist Impact!"
Borsalino and Garp joined in at the sa ti, launching coordinated attacks at Caelan.
The resurrected Caelan was ferocious beyond reason, wielding a giant sword capable of splitting mountains, with devastating power.
With his explosive speed and A-rank Observation Haki, Caelan blocked many of the incoming attacks.
But even under a three-way siege, though he was struck from ti to ti, he never seed in danger.
Every ti he was hit, he only paused for a mont before charging back in without hesitation.
Even when at a disadvantage, that unmatched and terrifying strength of his allowed him to deliver heavy blows to the trio again and again.
Forcing the three Admirals to stay constantly alert, never daring to let their guard down.
"Damn it, am I imagining things? Why does it feel like this brat is even stronger now?!"
After narrowly dodging Caelan's blade, Garp's face showed disbelief.
Based on his strength before death, Caelan should already be taking damage.
But now, he only had a few minor scratches.
"It's not your imagination. My and Kizaru's attacks are doing less damage now."
Akainu wiped the blood from his mouth, his tone filled with dread.
Caelan had co back from the dead, and his strength hadn't dropped at all. It was exactly the sa as before.
In fact, it even felt like he'd gained magic resistance. What was going on?!
If the fight continued like this, Caelan might lose his second life… but one of them would definitely die first.
Who would it be?
Akainu looked around and felt a chill run down his spine.
Borsalino looked tired like an old dog, but aside from so lost stamina and dirty clothes, he was otherwise unscathed.
Garp, though old and sturdy, didn't appear seriously hurt either.
Only Akainu had six broken ribs and countless other injuries.
Are these two playing ?
Akainu's heart sank.
If this went on, he would be the one to die.
For the sake of Marine justice, maybe he could accept that.
But to die for two Celestial Dragons and CP9? It didn't feel worth it.
For a brief mont, even the iron-willed Akainu hesitated.
"What do I do now? Keep fighting?"
Borsalino knocked Caelan back with a Light-Speed Kick, his expression filled with frustration.
Most of Caelan's previous injuries had been caused by him and Akainu.
Now that their attacks were doing less damage, Caelan had beco even harder to handle.
"Fight. At least until the Celestial Dragons are dead, we have to fight."
Akainu gritted his teeth and pressed forward.
Now he understood. Caelan didn't leave the Celestial Dragons alive as a way out for himself. He kept them alive on purpose—to trap them.
Borsalino and Garp exchanged glances, clearly understanding what Akainu ant.
"Ah…"
The three of them sighed, then charged in again.
But this ti, though their attacks were still powerful, the killing intent was gone.
They couldn't win, and they couldn't run. So now… they were just going through the motions.
At that mont, Akainu and Garp unexpectedly began mimicking Borsalino.
…
On Garp's warship, the Straw Hat Pirates were stunned by the battle raging on the island.
"Incredible… that's insane!"
Usopp stamred, his eyes practically bulging out of his skull.
The other Straw Hats were equally dumbfounded, each one completely shocked.
The battle playing out before them shattered everything they thought they knew about strength.
Those four on the island—every single attack they unleashed had the power to reshape the landscape.
Compared to that, their fight with Lucci back at Enies Lobby felt like child's play.
At that mont, Rayleigh, who had been pretending to be dead, stood up and locked his gaze on the island.
The Marines nearby, including Bogard, looked at Rayleigh warily, but there was nothing they could do.
"Old Man! You're okay!"
Luffy leaned happily against Rayleigh.
"Watch closely. Don't talk."
Rayleigh glanced sideways at Luffy, replying impatiently.
This kid's really sothing. Garp's grandson, yet he beca a pirate and wears the straw hat Roger passed to Shanks…
But now wasn't the ti to think about that. The fight on the island mattered more.
"What a monster…"
Rayleigh stared at Caelan, who was battling three people at once, and was utterly stunned.
Those were three Admiral-level fighters. Rayleigh would have trouble defeating even one. Yet Caelan was holding off all three.
"Why does it feel like he's way stronger than when he fought ?"
Rayleigh rubbed his chin, puzzled.
When he'd fought Caelan before, sure, the guy was strong—but it hadn't been overwhelming.
But now? Garp couldn't even block one of his sword strikes. It didn't make sense.
"Was he going easy on back then?"
Rayleigh's eyes widened as if he'd just discovered the truth.
"It's probably for the best. If he'd gone all out… I'd be dead right now."
Rayleigh laughed bitterly at the realization.
…
Above the island, a news bird with a cara kept snapping photos and transmitting them straight to Morgans' office.
"Magnificent! Absolutely magnificent!"
Morgans watched the footage fra by fra.
"One man, fighting three top-tier powerhouses… beaten to the brink of death, yet he survives and grows even stronger. Is this Caelan so kind of monster!?"
"This level of combat… I doubt even the Four Emperors could pull it off."
Morgans was truly stunned.
He had thought that Caelan's defeat of Rayleigh in the Sabaody Archipelago was already groundbreaking news. But this? This was even more explosive.
Attacking the Celestial Dragons. Fighting Borsalino, Akainu, and Garp. On the verge of death… and still alive!
Not only did he survive—he ca back stronger, forcing all three into passive defense!
This kind of headline could rival the public execution of the Pirate King.
"It's ti to publish again!"
Morgans' eyes glead with excitent.
He imdiately gave orders to his editorial team to begin producing the article.
He wondered what kind of expressions the Four Emperors would have when they read this.
(To be continued.)
***
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