Chapter 87: 'I Won!”

Magnus forced himself to steady his breath. He was calm. Anger didn't cloud his mind — it only made him sharper. Relying on words to shake Kong like last time was impossible. Kong had learned his lesson and was completely focused on the fight. No matter what Magnus said now, it would just be filtered out. Even if he reflected later — that would be after the battle was already over. And as for Rona — Magnus still couldn't figure out what she was thinking. Over their many clashes, Magnus knew Rona had a sense of justice, and often acted according to her own beliefs, not just Marine HQ's orders. But sometimes, she could be frighteningly extreme. Like right now. "An invader, huh? Haha... so I'm the invader?" Rona scratched her fiery red hair and laughed. "Vice Admiral Hisame, don't listen to his crap—""Kong, shut up!" Yes, she was the invader. She'd known that the moment HQ gave the order. She knew this battle would claim many lives. But so what? HQ had given the order — if she didn't come, they'd just send another admiral. There were still two left, even after Shōma's death. Since nothing could be changed — why even try to change it? And besides, the giants leaving Elbaf and disturbing the New World's order was true. This world didn't have that many 'adventurers'. Even Magnus, after all his talk of adventure — hadn't he become a pirate too? Always saying he'd change things — yet nothing ever did. If you really want to change something — then show me. She'd hunted Magnus for years, chasing just one answer. 'Do you still remember what you told me?' Wandering, defeated, disbanding his crew. When she heard the White Wolf Pirates disbanded, Rona was disappointed. In the end, Magnus accomplished nothing. And yet, just half a year later — he stood back up. Stronger than ever. So now, Rona no longer cared about whether she was an invader or not. "Magnus, can you do it?" She gave a mad grin. "If you can escape alive this time, I'll give up. From now on, I, Rona of Fumebraun, will never again take on any mission to hunt you, Norse Magnus." "Can you?" As her voice fell, her scarlet blade light stained the sky above Elbaf blood red. Kong thought her resolve had been shaken by Magnus's words — but instead she released such a ruthless declaration. And her attack's ferocity even made him shiver. Right now, Rona's combat power was definitely above his own. "Haha... little girl, then watch closely!" Facing her sharp strike, Magnus laughed. "I still have a crew waiting for me to return. I never planned to die here!" Rona thought escape was impossible — but only Magnus himself knew: all he had to do was get to Toki. Just one opening, just one moment to get close to her — and he could get away. But even such a simple thing wasn't easy. Their fight was so intense that Toki might die from the aftershocks before he even reached her. Still, Magnus couldn't understand — Why did Rona cling to him so much? Why did that obsession make her fight at her absolute peak? Even Kong didn't have that kind of fixation. Why? But no matter what questions swirled in his mind — what he had to do wouldn't change. Clang!Clang clang! Blades collided faster and faster. Magnus's stamina was fading, and Rona was at her peak. Just dealing with her took his full strength — and Kong didn't care about bushidō spirit. While Magnus focused on Rona, Kong Shigan-stepped behind him and slammed his fist down. "Meteor Crash!" Armament Haki wrapped his fist, muscles bulged, and his punch landed brutally on Magnus's shoulder. Crack! Agonizing pain shot through him, nearly making Magnus drop his sword. But he clenched his teeth, blood running from his nose and mouth, and with his other hand pressed the blade down. Clang! Metal screeched — Magnus forced Rona back with Kong's help. But neither of them panicked. Because— "Grindwin!" The third man appeared, filling the gap. Even if Magnus pushed Rona back, Grindwin was waiting. "Shigan Hayabusa Claw!" His talons wrapped in Armament Haki, the hawk-formed Grindwin dove from above to stab at Magnus's chest. "Get out of here!!" Black-red lightning erupted from Magnus's body as he roared, half-man, half-wolf, unleashing a godlike fury. Instead of dodging, he charged Grindwin head-on. Mist swirled, his limbs thickened, and a wolf's head burst through — fully transformed. "Zoan Beast Form!" His wolf's head crashed into Grindwin, who was sent flying, though his talons still left deep gouges across Magnus's muzzle. At the same time — Kong's fist slammed into his wolf belly, and Rona's blade nearly severed his foreleg. "I never planned to die with Harald!" "Ripley!" Magnus roared and scattered something around him — tiny icy-blue grains. No — "His power cores!" Rona gasped. This had all been planned — Ripley would release her Mini-Mini Fruit ability and return all the shrunken cores at once. Even if his freezing was no match for a Logia — enough of them, and quantity would become quality. "Ice Age!" Hundreds of cores activated — and the entire eastern coast of Elbaf froze over, including Kong, Rona, and Grindwin. One second. Magnus knew that was all he'd get — but it was enough. He sprinted for Toki. That one second let him widen the gap. Half a second. Kong broke free and charged after him. One second. Rona followed. Two seconds. Grindwin, as a hawk, rose into the air. They absolutely couldn't let Magnus escape — if he did now, their futures would be ruined. But— Whoosh! A gust of wind, seemingly alive, suddenly slammed down, slowing them all. Even Kong's punch only dispersed it after a delay — half a second lost. Their distance from Magnus widened again — but Kong gritted his teeth and began closing it little by little. "He can't get away," he told himself. Magnus's stamina was gone — as long as they kept up the chase, they'd catch him. Unless someone helped him! That thought sent a chill through Kong's heart. No — impossible! There was no fruit power that could escape their pursuit. They had Haki and speed — nothing could get past them! And then — At the far edge of the coast, a pink-clad woman stood, trembling in the icy mist, still focusing on her ability. Impossible! Kong bit down so hard his gums bled. Five hundred meters!Four hundred! His fist rose — he'd strike her down, whatever her ability was. But he saw Magnus reach her, scoop her into his arms — and keep running. Kong nearly vomited blood. "White Wolf Magnus!!!" He roared — but Magnus didn't even hear him. Whoosh! Grindwin, as a hawk, was almost on him. Another five seconds, and they'd have him. But there were no more seconds. They saw Magnus, bloodied and carrying Toki, turn, flash a wide smile — "I won!" No sound came — only his mouth moved. And then, in the next instant — Magnus and Toki vanished, as if they'd never been there. The battle was over. (End of Chapter) [Check Out My P@treon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][[email protected]/euridome][Thank You For Your Support!]