One Piece: A Warlord's Path

Chapter 713: Bivins Kingdom - The War of National Extinction (14)

"Being young is a wonderful thing."

"The future of this world belongs to the youth."

A sudden voice drifted from behind Sabo and his group, carrying a light, casual amusement.

Startled, the group spun around. Standing just a dozen meters behind them was a man draped in a heavy coat patterned with white waves against a black backdrop. A sunny, radiant smile sat on his youthful face.

When did he get here? How did I not sense him at all? Sabo was inwardly horrified. Someone had managed to close the distance and infiltrate their perimeter without making a single sound.

"Golden Ring Aeridar!!!"

Koala’s face went pale, and she couldn’t stop herself from gasping for air.

"This time... we’re likely finished," Hack said grimly, instinctively taking a step back.

One was "Golden Ring" Aeridar, the other was "Thunder God" Enel, both were infamous Great Pirates of the New World. The former, in particular, was a monster whose overwhelming strength allowed him to rival Navy Admirals or even the Yonko.

"I’m certainly seeing the sights today. So many legendary figures all at once," Sabo muttered, gritting his teeth. He glared at Aeridar before casting a resentful look at Enel.

"To be the Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army at such a young age... why not join the Chris Pirates? I can offer you a seat as an Executive," Aeridar said, extending a hand with a smile.

"An Executive position?!" Sabo was genuinely taken aback by the recruitment offer.

"That’s right. Think about it," Aeridar nodded, his tone playful. "Follow me, and the world is yours. You can walk openly under the sun anywhere on the globe. Why stay behind Dragon, skulk in the shadows, and be hunted by World Government agents?"

"It’s an offer that’s hard to refuse... but I refuse nonetheless."

"Our paths are different!"

Sabo sighed with momentary appreciation for the offer, but his expression hardened instantly into one of decisive rejection.

"Tsk, tsk. Truly a shame," Aeridar shook his head, looking genuinely disappointed.

Honestly, recruiting someone of Sabo’s caliber would have been a massive gain. But as the boy said, different paths lead to different ends.

"In that case, let’s see what you’re made of!"

"Iron Fist!!"

Aeridar’s expression turned fierce as he struck without warning, a punch whistling toward Sabo.

"Ryusoken: Dragon’s Claw!!!"

Sabo had anticipated a sudden move. He met the strike head-on with his signature ’Dragon Claw’ stance.

BAM!

Fist and claw collided with lightning speed. A sharp shockwave erupted from the point of impact, turning into a violent gale that swept outward in repetitive ripples.

"What an incredible collision... and that was just the opening exchange!"

"Sabo!"

Hack, Koala, and the others shielded their eyes from the flying grit and sand, crying out in alarm.

"Yah-ha-ha! Seems he’s actually got some skill!" Enel grinned, casually resting his golden staff across his shoulders.

With that one clash, both Aeridar and Sabo had measured the baseline of the other’s strength.

"Rokushiki: Rankyaku!"

Aeridar retracted his fist, twisted his hips, and whipped his right leg out in a horizontal sweep.

"Look out!"

Sabo’s scalp tingled with danger. He leaped aside frantically.

SHING—! BOOM!!!

A massive, blue-white compressed air blade tore through the air, slamming into the earth dozens of meters away. It sliced the ground open like a hot knife through butter, leaving a deep fissure nearly thirty meters long.

"Rankyaku... from the Rokushiki!"

Having dealt with Cipher Pol agents frequently, Sabo recognized the technique instantly.

By then, Aeridar had already taken to the skies, swooping down on Sabo like a hawk diving for its prey.

"Armament Hardening: Iron Fist!"

Aeridar gave a predatory grin. His fist clenched, coated in obsidian Armament Haki, and smashed downward with savage intent.

"Flight?!"

Seeing Aeridar descending with the added momentum of his flight, Sabo didn’t dare block. He leaped once more, dodging to the side.

KABOOM—!

The earth shattered and caved in, forming a massive crater over ten meters in diameter. A terrifying shockwave kicked up a localized dust storm.

"Ryusoken: Dragon’s Claw!!!"

Seeing Aeridar’s arm buried in the earth, Sabo dropped into his stance and lunged, aiming a strike directly at his opponent’s head.

"Hmm?"

Sensing the incoming gale, Aeridar looked up just as the blackened ’Dragon Claw’ closed in.

A cold smirk played on Aeridar’s lips. He yanked his arm free and clapped his hands together. A powerful concussive force erupted from him as the epicenter, exploding outward in all directions with no blind spots, much like a repulsive field.

"Shinra Tensei!"

BAM!

The moment Sabo got within ten meters, he felt an invisible, irresistible force halting his advance. It sought to repel him, and the range of the repulsion was expanding rapidly.

"Is this his ability?!"

Sabo’s face turned crimson as he poured every ounce of strength into resisting the force. His feet dug deep furrows into the ground as he tried to hold his position.

Aeridar frowned slightly. "At this level of power, it seems I can’t stop a top-tier martial artist indefinitely."

In the next heartbeat, an even more violent surge of impact force erupted. The ground beneath them disintegrated, and the original crater expanded as massive chunks of rock were sent flying.

POW—! RUMBLE...

Sabo could no longer hold his ground. He was sent flying nearly a hundred meters by the sudden spike in pressure, smashing through several boulders before rolling to a stop along the riverbank.

VROOOM—

Aeridar followed up immediately, punching the air. The terrifying impact was transmitted through the atmosphere, creating a blinding white halo. A visible shockwave, looking like a rolling wall of air, surged toward Sabo, shattering the earth inch by inch.

KABOOM!!!

A section of the riverbank was pulverized. Earth and stone were hurled in every direction as the air rippled. Even the surface of the Red River was blasted into a massive depression dozens of meters wide that refused to settle for several seconds.

"Sabo!"

Koala screamed, her legs moving to dash toward the riverbank.

ZZZT-ZZZT!

A flash of lightning flickered, and Enel instantly blocked her path.

"Thunder God Enel!" Koala stared warily at the man, stumbling back several steps.

"Yahahaha! That’s their fight. If you want to get past, you’ll have to go through me first. Otherwise, stay put!" Enel tilted his head, his teeth bared in a wide grin.

"Damn it!" Koala glared at him with resentment but didn’t dare make a move.

CRASH—!

Suddenly, amidst the wreckage of the riverbank, a massive slab of earth was flipped over. Sabo burst out from the debris, reappearing before the crowd.

"Sabo!"

"Thank goodness! The Chief of Staff is okay!"

Koala cried out in relief, and the other Revolutionary officers shared her joy.

"High-Frequency Vibration Black Blade!"

But at that exact moment, a spectral figure appeared like a ghost directly behind Sabo. A jet-black blade with a cold, metallic sheen thrust violently toward his back...

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