One Piece: New Order

Chapter 354: Death of Gab

Sakazuki’s large, black-gloved hand shot out and caught the flying head, while Yasopp’s headless body fell limp and tumbled into the chaotic storm below, swallowed by the sea without a trace.

A core member of the so-called most balanced and well-rounded Emperor crew, the Red Hair Pirates, had died just like that.

This was Sakazuki’s greatest strength, or rather, what made him so difficult to deal with. Very few people could fight in such a way. Amid disaster-level explosions, even members of an Emperor’s crew could not hold their position steadily in the air.

Knox also could manage it, but he lacked the power to dominate like this.

Under such overwhelming force, the Red Hair Pirates could neither stabilize themselves nor shield one another effectively. And with Sakazuki’s strength, he overwhelmed each of them one by one. Only Shanks posed any real difficulty, relying on his Observation Killing ability and speed.

Slash!

A brilliant streak tore across the sky as Shanks’ furious roar followed.

"Yasopp!!!"

A vertical slash surged forward, as if splitting the world in two, tearing straight toward Sakazuki.

Facing that overwhelming strike, which seemed to carry the force of heaven and earth itself, he calmly raised his left hand, still holding Yasopp’s head.

That sight made Shanks’ eyes widen in fury. Having just stabilized himself, he rushed forward behind the slash.

"Sakazuki!!!!"

The anger from before twisted into regret, then burned even hotter.

A cold smile formed on Sakazuki’s lips as he held the head out before him. The massive slash, filling his entire field of vision, came crashing down.

The first thing it erased was Yasopp’s head, which vanished instantly before the eyes of Shanks and his crew.

Once the head was destroyed, the attack struck Sakazuki’s hand. His arm turned pitch black with Haki as he seized the enormous slash, though its force still drove him backward.

Even the island below, already covered in magma, was split apart by the attack, yet the momentum of the slash did not stop.

From a distance, Shanks closed in at incredible speed, Gryphon in his hand wrapped in crackling red lightning as he swung down at Sakazuki.

Sakazuki tightened his grip.

Crack!

The massive slash shattered, breaking into countless fragments that scattered through the air. Simultaneously, Shanks’ killing strike arrived head-on.

Although Sakazuki could clearly see the man coming, he could not sense his presence at all. That strange contradiction sparked a hint of interest in him.

He raised his hand and formed a blade of molten magma, gripping it with one hand and coating it with Haki.

Clang!

The two blades collided, and between them, Conqueror’s Haki compressed and crackled, flashing violently at the point of impact.

Sakazuki met Shanks’ gaze, his voice calm and indifferent. "Why are you angry? It’s just one death. You’ve killed far more than this, haven’t you?"

But Shanks had no interest in talking. The rage surging within him left only one thought.

Kill the man in front of him.

Sakazuki let out a low chuckle as they struggled against each other and continued, "I can’t think of any reason for your anger. Is it because he was your comrade? But if you chose to be a pirate, you should have been ready for this day.

"Or is it because you relied on your strength for so long that you’ve never suffered a loss before..."

Boom!

As they clashed, their compressed Conqueror’s Haki erupted and exploded into a mushroom cloud in midair, blasting both of them backward.

Compared to Sakazuki’s self-destruction, the power was nothing. Shanks stepped down in the air and stopped himself instantly, then charged forward again.

Sakazuki also stomped once and steadied himself.

The massive cloud of smoke was torn apart as Shanks shot through it like a streak of light, closing in fast.

Sakazuki frowned slightly. His Observation Haki could sense nothing. He could only rely on his battle instincts and swung his magma blade to one side at the last moment.

Clang!

He barely blocked Gryphon.

The suppression of Observation Haki had a tremendous impact on the fight. At this level, the eyes could not keep up at all. Only Observation Haki could truly track the battle.

Boom!

Shanks deliberately pulled back his strength and was knocked away. Then his figure flickered and vanished.

From afar, bullets and sonic attacks rushed in as the Red Hair Pirates, having recovered, unleashed their fury.

Sakazuki raised his hand and deflected several attacks. He scanned the surroundings, and suddenly his pupils shrank.

The muscles and bones in his chest shifted instantly through Life Return.

Pshk!

A long blade pierced through his chest from behind.

Sakazuki did not hesitate. His left hand seized Gryphon’s blade, locking it in place, while his right elbow drove backward in a powerful spinning strike.

Crack!

A faint sound of bones breaking echoed.

Half of Shanks’ face was shattered by the blow, yet he held his ground and refused to retreat.

Gryphon remained firmly caught in Sakazuki’s grip. If Shanks let go, it would mean losing his sword, which was a great humiliation. Sakazuki clearly understood that.

So the moment the blade pierced his skin, he gave up using Haki to defend and let it go through his chest. Then he immediately seized the blade and counterattacked with his elbow.

Locked together in a brutal stalemate, the two men began to fall.

"What an annoying ability... This is what lets you dominate the seas without restraint."

The terror of Observation Killing lay exactly in this. Once the target left sight, even Sakazuki could only react after being struck.

"Unfortunately... no one escapes consequences."

Sakazuki’s right elbow suddenly glowed red as intense heat gathered, forming a terrifying force.

"Great Eruption."

His elbow transformed into a volcanic vent, unleashing violent magma and shockwaves straight toward Shanks’ head. At the same time, he released Gryphon, and the two were blasted apart by the force.

Shanks turned into a streak of light and vanished completely.

Sakazuki frowned as his chest muscles and bones rapidly shifted back into place, restoring themselves and leaving only a small wound behind where he had been pierced.

Once Shanks disappeared, tracking him became nearly impossible. Sakazuki had not brought Enel with him either.

Bullets and sonic attacks roared in once more. Sakazuki cast a cold glance at the Red Hair Pirates as they repeated the same tactic.

He did not dodge this time, allowing his figure to be swallowed by the incoming wave of sonic attacks.

Beckman was the first to react and shouted toward Gab.

"Gab, retreat now!"

But it was already too late...

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