Over the past two years, apart from advancing her medical expertise, Ann had been painstakingly developing her combat capabilities.
She had always been deeply fascinated by the sheer wonder of acupoint-sealing techniques, but what truly awed her was this dangerous art of meridian disruption.
This specific technique demanded a profound mastery of medicine, requiring the practitioner to understand every single pathway of the human meridian system like the back of their hand. Consequently, it carried an immense level of risk; a single slip-on could trigger a severe backlash. At best, the user would sustain crippling injuries; at worst, it would prove fatal on the spot.
A person whose meridians were completely severed would lose more than just the ability to fight—they would likely find themselves unable to handle even basic self-care. That was the true horror of this art.
If successful, the technique was completely unpredictable, allowing Ann to cleanly incapacitate even capable combatants like the Tobi Roppo when they least expected it.
However, Ann's capacity had its limits. Severing the meridians of two individuals simultaneously—especially two exceptionally powerful fighters—had pushed her body far past its breaking point. For the time being, she could not even lift her hands.
While severing the meridians of ordinary individuals was an effortless task for Ann, she had secretly lacked confidence when it came to powerhouse fighters of the Tobi Roppo's caliber. Yet, the results proved that she could achieve it!
Even with the intervention of the three white-cloaked agents—or rather, the remaining two—there was no halting the total collapse of the Beast Pirates.
Rumble...
The ground shuddered violently as the entirety of Onigashima grew increasingly unstable. As the tremors intensified, a heavy weight settled over everyone's hearts, as though some primordial beast was about to break free.
BOOM!
With a sudden explosion, a massive silhouette vaulted straight into the sky. It was Kaido!
He had already shifted into his Hybrid form, evidently intending to put everything he had into this clash.
"Worororororo! Anyone who thinks they can take me down, step right up!"
High above, the lightning crackling around Kaido's mace flared with blinding intensity. The sheer majesty of a Yonko flooded the entire battlefield.
Whir...
Ace's flames burned brighter, sending the surrounding temperature climbing rapidly to a scorching heat. Yamato and Luffy were likewise giving it their all, drawing upon every ounce of their strength as arcs of dark red lightning surged continuously around their bodies.
Advanced Conqueror's Haki!
An elite power that was normally a once-in-a-decade sight was now being unleashed by four individuals simultaneously. And these four were the very combatants driving the climax of this war!
"Hah!"
Ace, Luffy, and Yamato leaped up in unison, lunging toward Kaido.
"Thunder Bagua!" Kaido roared, his face contorting into a ferocious snarl as he swung his iron club with staggering force.
Above them, the wind and clouds fractured. A clash of Emperor-caliber power was shaking the heavens!
At this point, the situation for the Beast Pirates had become awkward in the extreme. Kaido knew this full well. Only his absolute victory could offer a turning point for his forces. Therefore, he could not afford to lose!
"Yamato!" Kaido's eyes burned with furious indignation as he glared at the three charging at him with reckless abandon. His gaze was especially venomous when it landed on Yamato.
"If you insist on going through with this, then our bonds are severed this day! You had better remember that this isn't some childish game of house!"
"I am giving you one final chance! Must you truly side with these outsiders to turn your weapon against your own father?!" Kaido roared, his grip tightening around his mace, ready to swing at any moment.
Kaido's booming declaration sent a shockwave through the forces below.
Young Master Yamato... is fighting Lord Kaido? Why?!
In that instant, every eye turned to look at Yamato, who was flying toward Kaido with her head lowered.
Suddenly, she snapped her head up, her teeth clenched in defiance. "You have never once treated me as your own child! What is wrong with wanting to become the person I want to be?!"
The bleak memories of being imprisoned by Kaido flooded her mind—the unbearable loneliness she had endured throughout her entire life...
"There are no outsiders here! Ace... is my friend! Luffy is Ace's brother! I am going to defeat you right here and finally set sail to see the world outside!"
"Kaido, you're absolutely right! From the moment I chose to become Kozuki Oden, we were destined to be enemies! This is no game of house!"
With those words, Yamato struck forward, her mace coated in a heavy shroud of Advanced Conqueror's Haki.
Kaido's eyes flared as he poured the entirety of his strength into his counterattack. Since they were now enemies, he would show absolutely no mercy!
The two forces of Advanced Conqueror's Haki slammed together, filling the sky with a dense web of dark red lightning.
BANG!
"Aaargh..."
Just as Yamato's stance began to buckle under the strain, Luffy charged in, unleashing a strike fueled by Gear 4 and Advanced Conqueror's Haki.
BOOM!
The one-on-one duel instantly transformed into a two-on-one struggle!
With her footing stabilized, Yamato joined forces with Luffy to press the offensive. Violent ripples of pure energy continuously detonated across the sky.
"Kaido! Wano can't be left in the hands of a dangerous monster like you any longer!" Luffy bellowed at the top of his lungs.
The opposing forces actually locked into a fragile, grinding stalemate.
Whir...
As the roaring sound of blazing flames rushed into the sky, the fighters below gradually ceased their attacks. It was clear to everyone that this clash would decide the final outcome of the war.
Only if their supreme commander emerged victorious would they have any hope remaining; this was a truth acknowledged by both sides. If Kaido fell, the ultimate conclusion was obvious to anyone.
Amidst this agonizing tension, a small vessel suddenly appeared on the distant waters.
Aboard the boat stood three figures dressed in the exact same white cloaks as the agents currently on Onigashima. While two of them wore masks, the third was none other than the former CP9 assassin, Rob Lucci!
He was now an elite agent of the World Government's highest intelligence organization, CP0.
Lucci stood with his arms crossed, his cold gaze fixed on the fierce battle unfolding high in the distance.
"Our timing is perfect. It's a good thing we took that detour to avoid Charlotte Linlin and her clash," one of the masked men behind Lucci remarked.
"Indeed. This time, we must secure Nico Robin!" the other nodded in agreement.
Lucci narrowed his eyes. He could easily discern the figures tearing through the sky: the Emperor of the Sea, "Flame Emperor" Ace, and Kaido of the Beasts! Along with them were Monkey D. Luffy of the Straw Hats and the young master of the Beast Pirates...
The strength of these individuals was nothing short of terrifying.
However...
If you all end up crippling each other, it will provide the perfect opening for us to strike!
"Listen well, you two. This mission cannot be allowed to fail."
"Understood! Boss, you can rest easy. Even if they weren't on the verge of exhausting themselves, we would still have full confidence in taking them down." The two masked agents waved their hands dismissively.
A faint smirk played upon Lucci's lips. Clearly, he shared their sentiment.
"Still, that 'Legendary Four Brothers' group poses a massive threat," one of the masked men muttered, as if suddenly remembering something.
The other agent's expression turned grave as he watched Luffy and Ace. Anyone with eyes could see the profound threat that those four brothers posed to the world order.
"During this operation, we will eliminate 'Flame Emperor' Ace of the Legendary Four Brothers and Straw Hat Luffy as well," Lucci commanded coldly.
"Understood!" The two masked agents locked eyes and answered in unison.
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