High above the raging storm, unnoticed by anyone, a swirling hurricane roared.

The winds formed an invisible barrier, tamed like a docile sheep in the hands of a middle-aged man clad in a blue robe.

A group of over a dozen people stood effortlessly upon the intangible tempest as if on transparent glass—both eerie and natural.

"Luffy, becoming stronger now won't be so simple," the middle-aged man said, his face marked with tattoos, exuding an authority as he spoke to the much shorter Luffy beside him.

"Father, I know. Back when I was weak, getting stronger just meant developing new techniques. But now, pushing beyond my limits is far harder. Looking back, when i defeat Kaido last time... there was a lot of luck involved."

Luffy, still wearing his straw hat, no longer carried his usual carefree expression.

A faint beard now lined his lips, and his face bore a newfound maturity.

"On Onigashima, I did defeat Kaido. But before that, he had already fought Kin'emon and the others, then Yamato, followed by Zoro, Killer, Kid, and Torao. We took turns wearing him down. Even though we won in the end ... it doesn't feel like a fair victory. One-on-one, I might not be able to beat Kaido again."

Beside Luffy, Robin's eyes held a deep tenderness.

"Well, if you ask me, why not let me enhance you with male hormones? I can make your body even stronger, Mugiwara-boy" Ivankov, the towering and Drag Queen of the Kamabakka Kingdom, grinned mischievously.

Next to him, Sabo twitched. "Iva, don't you dare mess with Luffy. Your powers are too unpredictable—you turned that Admiral into a woman! If you turn Luffy into one, Dragon will skin you alive."

Behind them stood several others: the massive Bartholomew Kuma, the Revolutionary Army's four commanders, including Koala and even Law and Kid were present.

Suddenly, Dragon, who had been speaking to Luffy, stiffened and swiftly raised his hand.

A fierce gale erupted out of thin air, enveloping everyone within its grasp.

It was as if they had vanished into thin air, disappearing without a trace.

"Father, what's happening?" Luffy frowned and asked.

Dragon's expression was grave as he slowly spoke, "He's here."

"Who's here?" Sabo asked, puzzled.

Before anyone else could say anything, a piercing bird's cry tore through the skies, resounding across the entire sky!

"Screech!!"

The high-altitude winds suddenly surged violently.

Dragon hurriedly stabilized the surrounding storm to prevent everyone from being thrown off balance.

The entire world seemed to tremble violently.

As everyone on the sea looked up in shock at the sky above—

The skies churned with rolling clouds, surging like tidal waves in all directions.

A terrifying hurricane connected the sky to the sea, forming massive waterspouts that spiraled upward.

"What is that? Sky Island?" a pirate exclaimed in shock.

Clang!

On the pirate ships, countless weapons slipped from the hands of the crew, their eyes bulging in disbelief as they stared at the sky.

On his coffin-shaped boat, Mihawk stood up slowly, his sharp golden eyes gleaming with intensity as he gazed at the sky.

"Screech!!"

A colossal golden bird, its wings blotting out the sky, parted the clouds with an overwhelming presence, descending into the view of all below.

Its massive form, covering a vast expanse of the sky, shimmered with golden scales under the sunlight.

Its talons is as large as a mountains, radiated a life force as boundless as the ocean.

In the distance, on a Marine warship, Admiral Ryokugyu trembled, her sexy body was shaking nonstop.

Her peach-blossom eyes were bloodshot, filled with burning hatred as she glared at the giant bird hovering in the sky.

"Caesar! I won't let you get away! Bring the warship closer!"

On Banana Island, Redfield let out a furious roar.

His rapier coiled with deep red Conqueror's Haki as he slashed backward, forcing Shiryu to retreat before turning his blade towards Blackbeard.

"Dance of the Crescent Moon!"

The cold gleam of his rapier resembled the silvery moonlight of a full moon.

In an instant, countless sword beams erupted, shooting toward Blackbeard.

"Zehahaha! You old bastard, truly a legend of the old era! Even though we've had the upper hand for a while now, we still can't finish you off!"

Blackbeard's face was drenched in sweat, but he still looked far better than the aged Redfield.

"Dark Vortex!!"

Blackbeard extended his left hand again, a black vortex swirling in his palm, unleashing a powerful suction force.

"Damn this weird ability again!"

Redfield gritted his teeth in frustration.

He'd rather fight Newgate than face Blackbeard with his Dark-Dark Fruit.

The Dark-Dark Fruit's ability to nullify Devil Fruit powers was an unnaturally strong counter.

"Air Tremor!!"

Seeing Redfield's sword beams closing in, Blackbeard hastily swung his right fist, striking the air before him.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Countless fissures appeared in midair, as if space itself had been split apart, shattering the atmosphere.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The silvery sword beams struck the fractured air but could advance no further, blocked by the fragmented space.

As Blackbeard swung his fist, the shattered atmosphere followed his movement and the ground beneath their feet trembled violently once more.

The entire Banana Island shook uncontrollably.

"Teach! Ease up a little—you'll sink the island!" Shiryu coldly shouted.

"Zehahaha! Shiryu, I can't hold back now! My opponent is the Red Count! Zehahaha! Dark Vortex!"

Redfield gritted his teeth in fury, but once again, Blackbeard seized his body.

The signs of aging on him deepened further, and his combat power had already begun to decline.

The truth was, the little Lifeblood remaining in his body had been significantly depleted during his battle against Blackbeard and his crew.

Moreover, Shiryu had drained a considerable amount of his blood.

Every time Redfield desperately repelled Shiryu and Blackbeard, attempting to seize Lafitte or Van Augur, the latter—whose sniping skills were unparalleled—would repeatedly strike his vital balance points, causing him to miss every opportunity.

Thus, Redfield's hatred for Van Augur, the sniper, even surpassed his resentment towards Shiryu and Blackbeard!

Just as Blackbeard raised his right hand high, preparing to deliver another devastating blow to Redfield, a piercing, earth-shattering bird cry resounded across the sky, freezing his movements in an instant.

Redfield, still trapped by Blackbeard's pull, suddenly felt his throat involuntarily tighten.

An overwhelming, primal craving surged from the depths of his heart.

His eyes snapped towards the sky, glowing with a sinister crimson light.

"This… what an immense Life Force!!!"

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