The rapier, coated in powerful Haki and crackling with lightning-like energy, tore through the air and shot straight toward Rolan's face.
The violent sword energy caused the surrounding air to explode with sharp bursts.
Rolan slightly raised his eyebrows, a trace of surprise appearing on his face.
He realized that his Observation Haki, the ability that allowed him to glimpse the future, was not working against this old man.
"Observation Haki Killer."
Rolan immediately understood what was happening.
It was the same ability possessed by Shanks.
Against someone with Observation Haki Killer, opponents with slightly weaker strength could not even use ordinary Observation Haki properly.
Even Rolan's future sight was being heavily restricted.
Figarland Garling's sword energy was unbelievably fast and reached Rolan's face in an instant.
Rolan instantly coated his right fist with Armament Haki. A deep black layer of Haki wrapped around his entire fist.
At the same time, black lightning flickered around it, the clear sign of Conqueror's Haki being infused into the attack.
He raised his fist and struck forward, meeting Garling's blade head on.
Just as the sword and fist were about to collide, Garling suddenly changed the direction of his blade and swung upward from below.
Seeing this, Rolan leaned his head back and narrowly avoided the strike.
The blade, carrying a violent gust of wind, brushed past the tip of his nose.
The terrifying sword energy turned into a flying slash that shot straight into the sky behind him.
Boom.
The slash exploded in the distance, splitting the clouds apart.
Fragments of shattered sword energy scattered through the air like glowing petals.
Rolan's punch missed as well.
It would be rude not to return the favor.
Rolan twisted his body and spun in place. His leg whipped around in a sweeping kick aimed directly at Garling's temple.
The flip flop on his foot, enhanced by electromagnetic acceleration, moved at a terrifying speed.
It had already surpassed the speed of sound.
The air tore apart under the pressure, producing explosive sounds.
In the blink of an eye, the kick reached Garling's head.
Garling was momentarily shocked. He had not expected Rolan's counterattack to be so fast.
There was no time to dodge.
He raised his left arm to block.
Bang.
Rolan's size forty five flip flop slammed violently into Garling's forearm.
Crack.
The immense force instantly broke the bone in Garling's arm. His own arm smashed into the side of his head and his entire body was sent flying sideways.
Garling shot across the sky for more than two thousand meters before finally stopping himself with Moonwalk.
He shook his fractured left arm as a burning pain spread through it.
His skin had been scorched by Rolan's electromagnetic force.
Garling lifted his head and looked at Rolan with a serious expression.
That kick had been unbelievably powerful. His skull still throbbed as if it might split open.
At the same time, he noticed something even more troubling.
He could not see the future.
His Observation Haki was being strongly suppressed.
Garling knew this feeling very well.
Observation Haki Killer.
He had not expected this pirate Rolan to possess the same ability.
Powerful Conqueror's Haki.
Extremely sharp Observation Haki.
A terrifying physical body and close combat ability.
Unbelievable speed.
At this moment, Garling could not find a single weakness in Rolan.
When had such a monster appeared in this world?
It seemed the World Government had severely underestimated the strength of the man known as the strongest in the world.
After their previous failed attempt to surround and eliminate Rolan together with Kaido and Big Mom, someone had once suggested placing Rolan at the very top of the World Government's enemy list.
But the suggestion had not been taken seriously.
During the past eight hundred years, the World Government had faced countless challengers.
None of them had ever truly threatened its rule.
The most dangerous individual in history had been Rocks D. Xebec, who once tried to become the king of the world.
Even so, Rocks had been defeated without the Five Elders or Imu personally intervening.
Garling himself had participated in the battle against the Rocks Pirates.
Because of that, he clearly understood something.
The current Rolan was far more terrifying than Rocks had ever been.
The difference between them was obvious.
Rocks had always acted with extreme arrogance. He never hid his intentions or concealed the strength of himself or his crew.
Rolan was the complete opposite.
His rise was mysterious.
According to Marine records, before going to sea Rolan had only been an unknown chore boy aboard a pirate ship.
After being abandoned on an island in the East Blue, he slowly began to rise.
Together with Luffy and Ace, he eventually became one of the most famous bounty hunters in the East Blue.
But almost every time Rolan appeared, he displayed overwhelming strength.
No one had ever truly seen his full power.
The Marines first encountered him after he killed two Celestial Dragons. Admiral Kizaru had been dispatched immediately.
But the report Kizaru sent back shocked everyone.
The two had fought to a draw.
After that incident, Rolan disappeared from the seas.
When he appeared again, he was already in the New World, beyond the easy reach of the Marines and the World Government.
What made the situation even more terrifying was Rolan's age.
He was more than twenty years younger than Rocks had been.
Yet his strength had already reached the very peak of the world.
For the first time, Garling felt a faint unease about the future of the World Government.
But the thought quickly vanished.
As long as that project was successfully completed, and with Imu and the Five Elders being immortal, the World Government would remain eternal.
There would never be anyone capable of destroying it.
"What are you thinking about, old man?"
Rolan's voice suddenly echoed beside him.
Garling's thoughts were instantly interrupted.
Rolan was already standing directly in front of him.
"For someone like you who blindly worships the World Government, living in this world must be pretty tragic."
Garling's eyes hardened.
"This world was created by the World Government."
"How dare someone like you attack it?"
"Even if I must sacrifice my life today, I will stop you."
Rolan's expression remained indifferent.
"Then go to hell first and scout the road for me."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Rolan stretched out his palm and pressed it downward.
In an instant, Garling felt an unimaginable weight crush down on his body.
His body suddenly became dozens of times heavier.
He could no longer remain in the air.
His body plunged straight toward the ocean.
Boom.
Garling smashed into the sea, sending waves hundreds of meters high into the sky.
Rolan slowly descended after him and calmly stood on the surface of the water.
"Electromagnetic Furnace."
As Rolan spoke, a terrifying electromagnetic current spread from beneath his feet and rushed into the sea below.
Sizzle. Sizzle. Sizzle.
Garling instantly felt the temperature of his body rising rapidly.
Fifty degrees.
Sixty degrees.
Eighty degrees.
One hundred degrees.
Two hundred degrees.
The heat continued to climb until every cell in his body began to carbonize under the extreme temperature.
Soon his entire body turned black like burned charcoal.
A human shaped lump slowly floated to the surface of the ocean.
Rolan glanced at the charred remains of Saint Garling.
"It has been a while since I used that move."
"The effect isn't bad."
He immediately lost interest in the corpse.
With a burst of electromagnetic acceleration, his body vanished from the spot and shot toward Marineford.
Only a few breaths later, everyone saw Rolan appear above the ruined battlefield once again.
He stretched out his hand.
Faint lightning gathered in his palm.
A video Den Den Mushi suddenly flew into his grasp.
The snail's eyes were spinning wildly, foam leaking from its mouth.
Rolan shook his head.
"It must have fainted from the Conqueror's Haki."
He released a small electromagnetic pulse.
The Den Den Mushi slowly regained consciousness.
Moments later, the live broadcast resumed.
Across the seas, people throughout the pirate world could once again see the battlefield of Marineford.
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