One Piece: Alucard the Immortal

Chapter 704: Chapter 703: An Unexpected Development

Author’s Note: My apologies, there was a mistake previously. Shirokitsune used a pseudonym in the military, much like Nico Robin used aliases to evade the Government. Her registered name in the army should be "Aliya" rather than "Alessia." I’ve written it wrong several times before. Sorry about that!

...

The violent shockwave from the collision between Alucard and Garp sent the weaker Marines flying. Although Baskerville was caught in the aftershock, it wasn’t enough to force a release, and Vice Admirals Onigumo and Strawberry remained trapped within its maws.

Sengoku transformed into a towering golden Buddha. He thrust his right palm forward, striking toward Baskerville’s front left leg. "Buddha Impact!"

Hit by another Admiral-level attack, a flash of feral rage crossed Baskerville’s eyes. As a True Ancestor’s familiar, it possessed its own bloody pride.

Enraged, the beast ignored the searing pain in its leg. Disregarding the continued assault from Sengoku and the surrounding forces, it threw every ounce of its strength into a final, bone-crushing snap of its jaws.

CRUNCH!!

Before the horrified eyes of the onlookers, the bodies of Strawberry and Onigumo were reduced to mangled remains in an instant. With a slight bulge in Baskerville’s throat, they slid down into the beast’s stomach.

Two seconds later, their twin swords fell to the ground.

The metallic clang of the blades hitting the earth echoed like a death knell in the hearts of every soldier present.

"VICE ADMIRAL!!"

The Marines wailed in grief. Those serving directly under the two commanders broke down instantly, clutching their heads in despair.

Sengoku roared over the din, "This is war! We have no time for tears!!"

At his command, the weeping soldiers hurriedly wiped their faces with their sleeves, forcing themselves back into a fighting stance.

Garp, having finished his clash with Alucard, landed heavily on the ground. "Sorry," he said, his voice low and raspy. "I didn’t stop him in time."

Sengoku noticed Garp’s right hand was a bloody mess. "Your hand is badly injured," he noted grimly. "Even now, you should at least get an emergency bandage."

Garp grinned, slamming his fists together. The impact caused the blood to spray even more violently. "Bwahaha! This scratch? Compared to fighting Roger, it’s nothing! Like you just said, this is war!"

His bravado acted like a shot of adrenaline for the demoralized troops. Marines raised their weapons and began to chant:

"Fight the Immortal Pirates to the death!"

"Avenge the Vice Admirals!"

"Everyone, follow Vice Admiral Garp!"

Watching the morale surge back from his perch on the wall, Doflamingo sneered. "A bunch of easily manipulated fools. They can’t even tell Garp is just playing the part."

"Jarararara~"

Beside him, Treasure, a leader of the Donquixote Alliance, watched the battle below. "But are we just going to keep watching? If Alucard truly goes berserk, we might get caught in the crossfire even if we don’t act."

"If we leave now, we’ll likely be stripped of our Warlord titles," Doflamingo replied, crossing his legs as he sat on the edge of the wall. "But it’s true that once Alucard loses control, he doesn’t distinguish between friend and foe. That’s probably why he didn’t bring his crew. This is a difficult choice... and we’re running out of time—"

WHOOOOOOSH!!!

"Hmm?"

Doflamingo’s thoughts were interrupted by a shrill whistling sound from the sky. As he looked up, a second and then a third wave of the sound followed.

"What’s happening?"

Even the Marines, who were bracing for a second round against Alucard, stopped and looked toward the heavens.

What they saw left them paralyzed with shock.

Countless meteors were streaking through the clouds, crashing down like a rain of fire, not onto the battlefield, but directly into the interior of St. Poplar.

"That’s... Issho’s..."

Borsalino’s brow furrowed behind his tinted sunglasses. That was indeed Fujitora’s ultimate technique, "Meteoric Fire Rite."

However, it was different from usual. Each meteor was encased in a layer of dense white clouds, causing the destructive power to multiply. It had transcended the level of an Admiral’s attack, reaching the devastating tier of a Yonko.

"A combination move of the Cloud-Cloud Fruit and the Press-Press Fruit."

The experienced Tsuru immediately identified the source of the technique. This was an attack that could only be executed by the combined efforts of Marine Admiral Fujitora and the now-Government Vice Admiral, Aliya (Shirokitsune)!

But Tsuru was baffled. Why wasn’t the attack aimed at Alucard outside the walls? Why was it targeting the city?

Did they not know the World Government’s garrison was stationed there?

Alucard himself ceased his attack. His body dissolved into a swarm of bats that dispersed and then reformed atop Baskerville’s massive head. From that vantage point, he could just barely see over the walls into the city.

The primary target of the meteors was the tallest building in the city center. Alucard didn’t know it, but that was the main headquarters of the Government garrison.

"Hey, hey, what the hell is this? Those meteors are definitely Fujitora’s, right?" Doflamingo muttered. "So why is he hitting the Government’s base?"

Seconds later, Alucard and the Warlords saw Issho controlling a massive slab of stone, flying it toward the battlefield.

He wasn’t alone. Standing on the slab was a woman in a Marine greatcoat and a battered, blood-soaked old man.

"Is that Shirokitsune?" Doflamingo mused. Among the Warlords, he was the only one who knew her name, thanks to his undercover agents in the Navy.

"The King of Alabasta?"

Alucard’s eyes locked onto the disheveled old man Issho had placed on the side of the stone slab. It was indeed Nefertari Cobra, Princess Vivi’s father, whom he had met in Alabasta.

As confusion gripped the crowd, Issho steered the stone slab over the walls, bringing the scene into full view of the Marines below.

"It’s Admiral Issho!"

"Where have you been, sir?"

"Why are you covered in wounds?!"

Shirokitsune stood by Issho’s side, her voice laced with concern. "Issho-san, are you alright?"

Judging by the severity of his injuries, Issho was clearly hanging by a thread. He didn’t even have the strength to spare for words as he focused on lowering the stone slab.

"Don’t think you’re getting away, Fujitora!"

Suddenly, a colossal arc of sword energy flashed through the air, aimed directly at the Admiral. Just as it was about to hit, someone intercepted the blade.

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