Little did Rowen suspect that their fierce battle at this location had turned into a spectator sport at the Marine Headquarters, akin to a ballgame.
To become a potential Admiral Candidate who can be directly promoted to the position of Admiral, in addition to high-level recommendations, it was also necessary to gain widespread recognition from the soldiers.
So, every time a candidate was challenged, it was broadcast live throughout the Marine Headquarters.
Letting the soldiers know which Admiral Candidate they might have, and it was also for them to understand the extent of Top-Level combat power, which was significant for both boosting internal morale and deterring pirates externally.
Rowen had only recently joined the Marines, so he was unaware of this regulation. After all, in the past five to six years, not only he, but anyone who joined the Marines during that time wouldn’t know.
Even if he did know, given Rowen’s personality, he wouldn’t pay it much mind.
Anticipating Momousagi’s strike, Rowen activated his Elementalization, evading the attack. He then generated electricity from his backhand, enveloping Momousagi under a Thunder Pillar.
The electrical currents overtook both vision and hearing, painting everything in blinding white light. Within this sea of electricity, one was like a tiny boat in the vast ocean, feeling utterly insignificant.
Yet, despite Rowen’s astonishing destructive electrical power, Momousagi remained calm. The scorching Thunderlight seemed like a gentle breeze for her, unable to harm her even the slightest.
“This situation… is not good!”
Cling!!!
As expected, in an instant, a sword intent emerged, as cold and persistent as a cicada’s cry in the moonlight, directly tearing through the surging and boundless Thunderlight.
Within the split Thunderlight, Momousagi, her body radiating a metallic black sheen, revealed herself. The Thunder Pillar above her head was separated by an invisible aura, and her slender fingers glistened with sharpness.
Using these two fingers, Momousagi ingeniously carved out a space for herself within the Thunder Pillar!
Throughout history, there have been legends of Swordsmen cutting rivers with their swords and reversing waterfalls. Rowen didn’t expect Momousagi to be capable of this, and…
She did it with just two fingers!
Breaking free from the confines of the Thunder Pillar, Momousagi’s clear eyes gleamed in light. She swiftly twisted her wrist to retrieve Konpira and countless sword shadows were unleashed, instantly enveloping Rowen.
In the blink of an eye, she turned defense into offense!
Chi La!
A gap appeared in Rowen’s clothes, and he barely managed to evade the sword light.
Fortunately, Thunder-Lightning Human Physique was incredibly fast. If he had utilized his full speed, not only would Momousagi’s strike have shattered his head into pieces, but…
Bang!
As Rowen let go, the thunderous lightning column directly disintegrated. At this moment, Momousagi was relentless in her attacks. With a push of her foot, she transformed into a black streak, rapidly closing in on Rowen.
‘Geppo!’
Rowen’s speed was terrifying, and he could even fly. If he were to unleash his full potential, she wouldn’t even get close. This was one of the inherent weaknesses of Swordsmen.
Neither she nor Chaton had a good way to restrict that kind of speed. Now that she had seized the opportunity to close the distance, Momousagi naturally wouldn’t let it slip.
Close-quarter combat was a Swordsman’s specialty!
As long as it wasn’t facing those peculiar Devil Fruit users, a Sword was sufficient to defeat anyone.
And Rowen happened to be outside of those peculiar abilities.
Behind her, the shattered remnants of thunder and lightning formed a long, beautiful fringe. Almost in the blink of an eye, Momousagi arrived in front of Rowen with Konpira in hand, the sword resonated, and the muscles in her arm were like a tightly wound spring. In an instant, she executed a strike!
This strike was Fast!
Incredibly fast!
Simultaneously, she also combined her strength with this strike. Rowen believed that this strike of Momousagi’s would be more than enough to cleave open the Marineford fortress.
“If only the Thunder Cloud Sword hadn’t shattered…”
At this moment, Rowen sorely missed the Thunder Cloud Sword.
Zephyr had once sternly warned Rowen not to be overly confident in his Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki), especially against a Swordsmen. No matter how high the level of Haki, it wouldn’t be enough.
In fact, in the entire sea, except for Kaido, there were almost no people who dared to face a Great Swordsman head-on with just their bodies.
And even if they did exist, they’d almost certainly be dead.
It wasn’t that the Thunder Cloud Sword’s durability could match the fortified state of his Busoshoku Haki-imbued body. It was that, at this moment, Momousagi’s eyes had completely seen through him. Regardless of how he defended himself, it was all within Momousagi’s calculations!
Listening to the breath of all things, seeing through every flaw!
This was the signature ability of a Great Swordsman!
No enemy will remain unslain in front of such people and no cut will remain unbroken!
However, breaking free from this deadly lock was quite simple. At this moment, Momousagi’s eyes were only focused on him, her mind solely thinking about how to cut him.
If there were something else blocking them, Momousagi would need to divide her attention, and this all-encompassing lock fueled by sheer determination would naturally be broken.
Naturally, provided the gap wasn’t too great.
Against a regular, run-of-the-mill weapon, facing a Great Swordsman, even if they hadn’t been locked by this sword intent, they wouldn’t withstand a single blow.
Understanding the breathing of all things and reaching the realm of unbroken cuts were prerequisites for comprehending the “Slashing Iron” technique. Only a Saijō Ō Wazamono like the Thunder Cloud Sword would be qualified to contend against a Great Swordsman.
Apart from the Thunder Cloud Sword, did Rowen have something that could divert Momousagi’s attention and block her attack?
The answer was no… but Chaton did!
Ding!
Just as Momousagi’s sword was about to cut through Rowen, a grinning face suddenly appeared behind her.
“Sorry, seems like I got lucky!”
In the midst of a three-way battle, surprise attacks and seizing opportunities were the name of the game. With both Momousagi and Rowen engaged, it was the perfect moment for him to strike.
The lanky Chaton extended his legs in a comical manner to maintain his Geppo levitation. His fingers stretched out, crossing and intertwining in front of his face.
‘Shigan · Cross Mangling’!
His movements were so fast that time seemed to stand still. His fingers moved imperceptibly, and suddenly, sharp blades materialized in the air.
That speed was beyond what any human could achieve. Even Rowen felt outmatched in front of such speed. It was clear that Chaton’s ability was about to make an appearance.
In the blink of an eye, Chaton launched a barrage of ten overlapping razor-sharp blades straight at Momousagi’s back!
This move was clearly aimed at taking Rowen out in one strike, securing their victory.
However, all of a sudden, Chaton noticed Rowen’s eyes slowly shifting to look at him with a mischievous grin.
That expression, Chaton had seen it many times before. Every time Rowen wore that look, someone was about to have a bad day!
As expected!
“Cha…ton!!”
A voice seemed to echo from the depths of the underworld, sending a chill down Chaton’s spine. Momousagi, her face filled with unwillingness, turned around while Konpira, resting on Rowen’s neck, was swiftly swung downward.
Clang!
With a resounding crash like shattering glass, Momousagi took a deep breath and thrust her blade forward.
“You can go die for me!!”
Swoosh!
The blade pierced Chaton’s cloak, and Momousagi, her anger unabated, continued her advance.
If it weren’t for Chaton’s sudden appearance, Rowen would’ve been in serious trouble. If the two of them had coordinated a little better during the time it took for Rowen to heal, they might have defeated him together.
Fortunately, Rowen’s savior, Chaton, arrived just in time.
How could the former Assassination Force commander change his devious and cunning fighting style? It was like asking someone to change their eating habits.
It was natural for him to attempt a double kill, but it forced Momousagi to divert her focus from Rowen.
With this strike, Rowen could easily repeat his earlier maneuver by using Elementalization to evade it.
“Trying to catch all the ladies at once, you deserve to be single!”
This was indeed “single by strength”!
Rowen grinned, watching as the two, using Geppo to ascend, gradually rose higher. He took a step forward and clenched his fist.
Thunderlight…
Penetration Cannon!
A reversal of the situation!
At Marineford, the soldiers on the square stared at the vast Thunderlight that stretched across the sky, their mouths agape in astonishment.
Their eyesight couldn’t discern the danger within the three-way battle. All they knew was that even though Vice Admiral Momousagi had the upper hand, the sudden appearance of Chaton not only disrupted her attack but also provided Rowen with a chance to counter.
Silence hung over the square for three seconds before it erupted into a clamor.
“What’s Chaton thinking, for heaven’s sake?!”
“Vice Admiral Momousagi worked so hard, and he just ruined it!”
“Elder sister, keep it up! You’re the most beautiful!”
“This is cheating! I’m going to report Vice Admiral Chaton to the Fleet Admiral; he must have been bribed! A real man wouldn’t give up, even against Momousagi!”
In contrast to the soldiers sitting on the square, on the simple stands, Garp was wide-eyed and stunned for two seconds before he spewed out a mouthful of tea with a hearty laugh.
“Haha! Chaton, you asshole, what were you thinking?!”
If it weren’t for him suddenly appearing, Rowen would have definitely been embarrassed. However, instead of admitting his mistake, Rowen was now making Chaton look foolish.
“The Assassination Force’s training motto is to achieve maximum results with minimal effort. Vice Admiral Chaton grew up with this kind of training. Trying to make him give up that opportunity… is quite difficult.” Zephyr shifted the teapot’s lid to take a look at the bottom before taking a sip of tea, his voice carrying a hint of amusement in it.
“But Momousagi is impressive too. She managed to counter the attack instantly… this level of control, where she’s in complete control and utterly confident, is commendable!”
Naturally, Rowen not making a fool of himself was what made him happiest.
However, Zephyr wouldn’t say that, as it would make him seem petty.
(End of this chapter)
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