Atlas observed World, whose expression turned pale briefly and then grew more disdainful.
These remnants of the old era should've exited the historical stage long ago, leaving the current era for the younger generation.
It'd be preferable if the fools in Mariejois were dealt with before the finale, saving him the trouble of closing the net later.
However, considering such matters, let's not even delve into the national treasures the Celestial Dragons depend on. World alone might not suffice to obliterate Mariejois. It would be nearly the same if figures like Shiki, Whitebeard, and the others took charge.
Bang! ! !
An explosion occurred at Atlas's feet, creating a sizable crater on the already battered deck. Wood chips scattered in all directions, embedding deeply into the ship's side.
His entire body shot forward like an arrow released from its bowstring, leaving a series of ghostly images in the air as he charged towards World.
'This guy...'
World's eyes squinted slightly, his mind racing.
'No, the battleground can't be set on Groseade.'
Otherwise, the aftermath of their clash could be sufficient to wreck his dream ship.
Even though the materials for the hull are costly, they won't endure the rough handling of these two!
"More More Jubai Sandan (More More Tenfold Shotgun)!!"
Considering this, World swiftly drew the musket from his waist, prompting it to rapidly enlarge. The dark armament haki enveloped him, forming a barrier in front.
Boom! ! !
Before World could refine his defensive stance, Atlas's fist had already landed, the anaconda-like muscles releasing formidable power, sending World flying in an instant.
Boom! !
Leveraging the momentum, World retreated, mid-air steps causing bursts of air explosions, with layers of airwaves rippling in all directions.
Geppo!
Clearly, World shifted the battleground to the sky.
Even though he wasn't sure where this little devil originated, it seemed he managed to defeat Whitebeard simply by exploiting the latter's advanced age. As for World, he believed that, being a few years older than Whitebeard, Marine's special detention methods kept his physical functions in their prime.
In a battle of endurance, he was confident he wouldn't lose to the young Marine before him.
"Oh? You're quite sure of yourself."
Atlas clearly grasped World's intention, his expression reflecting a sense of reasoning.
According to Marine's intel, the reason World held back for so long after escaping Impel Down was largely due to the Groseade beneath his feet.
This is why the Marine dared to conclude that World's target must be Amazon Lily based on just one photo.
This ship represents his hope for revenge against the world! !
"The arrogance of old-school pirates remains so familiar, but..."
Unsurprisingly, Atlas leaped directly into the air, gradually ascending to a height half a head above World, peering down at his opponent from an elevated position.
"Carelessness can lead to death!"
"——?!!"
World's eyes twitched.
'I almost forgot, this guy possesses the same ability as Shiki. He can effortlessly fly, and it doesn't demand a considerable amount of physical energy like Geppo.'
Nevertheless, World isn't ready to throw in the towel just yet.
He lifted the musket, displaying some cracks in his hand, aimed it at Atlas with a smirk, and swiftly pulled the trigger.
"More More Hyakubai Sandan (More More Hundredfold Shotgun)!!"
As the gunfire echoed, a jet-black bullet soared through the air, rapidly expanding to a hundred times its size, slamming into Atlas with force! !
"As I mentioned, this kind of thing... is of no use to me."
Atlas moved his fingers slightly, and the massive cannonball detached from its high-speed trajectory, hovering quietly in front of him.
"Since one is ineffective, I don't believe a dozen will be useless!"
World clenched his teeth, expressing his hatred as he continuously pulled the trigger of the gun in his hand. The bullets expanded rapidly under the influence of the Devil Fruit, eventually converging into a massive rain of shells, hurtling towards Atlas.
He refused to believe it. Could there be no limit to this peculiar ability?
Although it differed from Shiki's abilities he had encountered, all powers had their constraints.
Just like his More-More Fruit, capable of increasing only a hundredfold at most.
However, Atlas conveyed a different message through his actions.
Apologies, there are exceptions that can truly defy all expectations.
Buzz—! ! !
Ripples resembling water waves suddenly manifested in the air, causing the entire world to seemingly freeze. The initially dazzling rain of shells appeared to be restrained by an invisible colossal hand for an instant.
"How is this possible…"
World's eyes widened, unable to fathom the scene before him.
The bullets, expanded hundreds of times, might not have been the largest, but they were undeniably several times larger than ordinary cannonballs.
Click——! !
World pulled the trigger again, but there was only a crisp sound.
It was evident that there were no more bullets.
A conventional flintlock gun like this could originally hold a limited number of bullets. World fired it haphazardly, and the bullets in the magazine were depleted in a matter of seconds.
"I think I'll return these to you."
With a mental command from Atlas, the cannonballs that once filled the sky reversed their course, descending toward World!
"Revert!"
Rumble——! ! !
The instant World reclaimed his fruit power, dozens of shells exploded on the spot, and a small mushroom cloud instantly shrouded his figure.
"Defeated?!"
Smoker, closely monitoring the battle, looked up, a bit uncertain.
"How is that possible? That guy won't meet his end so easily."
Enel's gaze became intense, and he shook his head in disbelief.
"Yo?! You weren't so arrogant a moment ago. When did you learn to act cool after taking a beating?" Smoker squinted at Enel, half-jokingly sarcastic.
"...damn you, Smoker!! If you've got the guts, come and face me for 300 rounds!!" Enel was momentarily stunned, then his face turned crimson from his neck to his large earlobes. Veins bulged on his forehead, and he bellowed at Smoker.
"Bring it on, I'm not scared of anyone!!" Smoker retorted in a less than convincing manner.
He was determined to reclaim the status he held on that day and make this young upstart acknowledge his Logia prowess.
"You two..."
The banter between the two immediately drew the attention of everyone around, and Kyros shook his head in exasperation.
These two are always at it all day long! !
"Fine, do as you please."
In any case, the space on board the Ryu-Sen is vast, and there's even a dedicated arena for combat. With the strength of these two, they're nowhere near capable of causing any disturbance on the Ryu-Sen.
He casually instructed a nearby soldier to handle the situation, and Kyros wholeheartedly observed the ongoing battlefield.
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Read 35 chapters in advance in Patr*on: patr*on.com/Cosmic_Kaminari