Chapter 216: Inferno on Hachinosu: Heroes Clash Amid the Flames

With one person missing from their trio, the two remaining fighters were struggling to hold out. If Jeremy didn’t hurry and join the fray, they wouldn’t last much longer.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Boom!

A deafening explosion shook the battlefield, sending dirt and debris flying everywhere.

Daifuku summoned Dian Wei and Xu Chu, and together the trio tore through the battlefield like unstoppable war gods. Without mid-admiral-level opposition, they rampaged unchecked, leaving devastation in their wake.

Their power was the upper limit of Daifuku’s strength, just barely reaching the level of a Navy Vice Admiral. So Dian Wei and Xu Chu were only at the threshold of that rank themselves.

Shells screamed through the air in dense waves, whistling as they smashed every defensive structure in front of the navy base to pieces.

As the buildings collapsed, the pirates surged into the base, racing toward the heart of its defenses. Some of them set fires along the way, turning the navy barracks into blazing infernos.

The road leading into the navy base was choked with thick smoke and roaring flames. The navy didn’t even have time to fight the fires.

Perospero, Katakuri, and Oven waited quietly at the harbor, watching everything unfold with cool detachment.

With all the navy’s top fighters tied up elsewhere, their job was to guard the sea, blocking reinforcements and protecting the retreat route.

Word had it that Navy Admiral Sengoku was already on his way.

If they could ambush the navy at sea, so much the better. If not, at least they could protect their own ships and ensure a safe retreat.

“Ma ma ma ma!”

“Heaven’s Fire!” Charlotte Linlin’s voice rang out as her gaze swept the burning navy base. She hurled Prometheus straight into the center of the island.

An inferno erupted from the heart of the island, belching black smoke so thick that even Sengoku spotted it from dozens of kilometers away.

“Full speed ahead!”

Sengoku stared at the roiling smoke over Hachinosu, his heart pounding. He already guessed Charlotte Linlin had engaged Jeremy’s group.

He had to hurry to Hachinosu if he wanted to save the navy soldiers stationed there.

Meanwhile, dozens of kilometers off Sengoku’s starboard side, a navy ship with a dog-shaped prow was speeding toward Hachinosu.

Jeremy had gotten blasted away but wasn’t out of the fight yet. He raced back from the mountains and threw himself right into battle, barely keeping things balanced.

But that brief delay had cost them dearly—Luth’s right arm was already severed. That was the price the two paid for holding back Charlotte Linlin so long. Most of the remaining navy had fallen. They couldn’t last much longer.

“Fist Bone—Meteor!”

A roar thundered from above as a massive, visible shockwave punched straight at Charlotte Linlin from the direction of the harbor.

“Hmm?”

“Garp!”

Charlotte Linlin raised her longsword to block Garp’s assault. She slid back a few paces before regaining her footing.

“Emperor Sword—Blade Break!” Charlotte Linlin shouted, summoning Prometheus with her left hand.

Prometheus transformed into a torrent of blazing fire, coating the Emperor’s Blade in searing heat. The flames blazed fiercely, radiating intense energy.

Charlotte Linlin roared, launching herself at Garp like a rocket. In the blink of an eye, she was in his face.

“Bone Fist—Meteor Shower!”

Garp didn’t flinch. He met her attack head-on with his fists, and in an instant, the two clashed.

Fists and blades slammed together, unleashing tremendous power. Each collision sent shockwaves rippling through the entire island. Everyone on the island staggered under the furious vibrations.

“That’s Vice Admiral Garp!”

“Hero Garp’s here! Hang on, everyone!”

“Finally, reinforcements have arrived!”

Luth clutched his wounded right arm, excitement lighting up his face.

Meanwhile, on the shore, Perospero glanced at Oven.

The two nodded and dashed onto the battlefield, heading straight for the exhausted Jeremy and Sander. As for Luth, with his arm destroyed he was no longer a threat.

Only Katakuri remained at the harbor, doing his best to keep the navy’s main force from landing and watching over their ships.

Garp had probably sensed something was wrong, which was why he’d come alone. But even with him facing Charlotte Linlin, the overall tide of battle wouldn’t change just yet.

“Slick-Slick Hell!”

With Perospero’s interference, several Vice Admirals found their own attacks blocked.

Oven charged at Sander, red-hot fists swinging relentlessly.

Clang!

Sander stared in shock as his longsword melted, Oven’s fist burning a gaping hole through it. The blade snapped in two.

“No!”

He tried to retreat, but found his legs locked in place. Glancing down, he realized Perospero’s powers had glued his feet firmly to the ground.

Splurt!

In that moment of distraction, Oven’s fist punched right through Sander’s chest.

“Sander!” Luth’s anguished roar echoed over the battlefield.

He couldn’t believe that a Vice Admiral who had survived so long against Charlotte Linlin would fall in just a few exchanges when Perospero and Oven teamed up.

“I just can’t accept this…” Sander managed to utter before collapsing, silent forever.

“Now that was a real battle!” Oven grinned, then spotted Luth not far away.

Luth was still lost in grief over his fallen comrade.

In less than ten seconds, Oven sprinted over and swung his fist at Luth, ready to finish him off.

Clang!

Oven’s excitement froze as a blade flashed between them. He barely had time to pull back.

“Pirate, your opponent now is me.” Blocking his path was Bogart, Garp’s loyal aide, brandishing a blade.

Bogart’s glare was fierce. He couldn’t believe he had arrived just a moment too late, watching a Vice Admiral die before his eyes.

Katakuri was holding off most of the navy at the shore, but these Vice Admirals with flight abilities had bypassed him, dropping directly onto the battlefield.

Oven looked out toward the shore.

“Mochi Thrust!” Katakuri was now locked in battle with several Vice Admirals at the water’s edge.

Oven’s heart sank. He hadn’t expected reinforcements to arrive this quickly—he’d thought it would be Sengoku.

There was a world of difference between fighting Sengoku and Garp. If Sengoku had come, the pirates still might have escaped with their lives.

But now, with their opponent suddenly Garp instead, their entire battle plan had been thrown into chaos.

“Wave Slash!” Sensing Oven’s distraction, Bogart seized the moment, swinging his blade at him.

Oven, feeling the threat at his back, snapped to attention, swinging his flaming red fist to meet Bogart’s attack.

Now was not the time to hesitate. If he didn’t deal with Bogart, he’d never get away.