The immense power directly destroyed more than half of the port.
All combatants, awestruck by the battle between the four, retreated far from the port, daring not to approach.
As the dust settled, everyone was horrified to discover that Kuzan, Sakazuki, and Borsalino had all fallen to the ground.
Looking at the locations where the three were situated, one could see numerous deep craters.
Facing wave after wave of continuous shockwaves, Kuzan and the other two found themselves in extreme discomfort.
After being unable to evade damage through elementalization, the three were forced to reveal their true forms and withstand the attacks with their own strength.
The outcome was self-evident.
The three were defeated!
Lü Bu grabbed his Fangtian Huaji, his gaze no longer lingering on the fallen Kuzan and the other two. Instead, his attention turned to the five figures on the Marine warships.
Clad in black suits and wearing masks, these five were from CP0 of the World Government.
This operation, with Akainu as a test, was planned such that if a battle ensued, Kuzan and the other two would lead the Marines and fight on the front lines, while the five from the World Government would act as a last resort to salvage the situation.
Now that Kuzan and the other two were defeated, CP0 also shifted from covert to overt.
"On the sea, such a terrifying individual has appeared."
"First, defeating Vice Admiral Akainu, and then single-handedly defeating the three Vice Admirals. This person's strength has reached the Admiral level; he is a threat."
"The strength hidden on Gourmet Island is not as simple as we perceive."
"Gourmet Island cannot be allowed to exist!"
"Then let's initiate a Buster Call."
One person after another, their words quickly set the tone.
Then, one of them took out a silver Den Den Mushi. Upon answering, he stated, "Sakazuki and the other three were all defeated by a youth. The island owner did not participate. It is recommended to initiate a Buster Call."
Marine Headquarters.
The Fleet Admiral's Office.
Kong Gekikoku looked at the golden Den Den Mushi and fell silent upon hearing this.
With the strength of Akainu and Kuzan, encircling an Admiral might be challenging, but for them to be defeated was not easy.
Yet, to be defeated by a youth was quite shocking.
"Who is that youth?" Kong Gekikoku inquired with curiosity.
"Unknown. The opponent's appearance has not yet been seen on the seas, but he possesses the strength of an Admiral."
While responding to Kong Gekikoku, another Den Den Mushi on the desk produced a photograph.
The photograph displayed Lü Bu in his berserk state.
Kong Gekikoku heard this, took the photograph, and began to examine it intently.
A person not in the Marine database or on any wanted posters.
"Granted."
A Buster Call had been initiated twice before, but the previous two attempts had not yielded the expected results.
In fact, they had even turned the Buster Call into a laughingstock for a time.
What should have been a powerful deterrent for the Marines had become a joke; how could this be tolerated?
With Kong Gekikoku's permission, CP0 revealed smiles.
Fifteen warships simultaneously aimed their cannons and targeted Gourmet Island.
"Damn it, are these guys ignoring my abilities?"
Awakened by someone, Bartolomeo, despite being intimidated by Lü Bu's immense combat power, became displeased when he saw the Marines preparing to use cannon fire at this moment.
"Barrier!"
*Boom!*
A colossal barrier, nearly a hundred meters high, rapidly expanded, covering almost the entire port.
This was Bartolomeo's current limit.
"The ability of the Barrier-Barrier Fruit is indeed quite good."
"However, what it can protect is merely a small area."
"Have the fleet pull back!"
A CP0 member, looking at the erected barrier, scoffed dismissively.
A Rear Admiral hesitated before stepping forward and stated solemnly, "A Buster Call cannot be initiated yet; the three Vice Admirals are still on board."
"Defeated Vice Admirals have no value," a CP0 member stated indifferently.
"You should not disobey our orders, Rear Admiral!" A slender longsword was, at some unknown time, placed against the Rear Admiral's neck, and said coldly.
The Rear Admiral immediately began to sweat profusely.
No one dared to defy the order any further, and the warships began to retreat.
"Hey! Hey!"
"Are they scared?"
"Are they planning to leave already?"
"Hahahaha, a bunch of cowards."
"They're actually fleeing, abandoning the lives of these three Admirals? How pathetic."
...
The withdrawal of the warships caused the pirates, who had been feeling fearful, to erupt in cheers.
Those were fifteen warships; if they simultaneously launched long-range artillery fire, the pirates truly couldn't evade it for a while and would eventually perish on the island, with Gourmet Island also being destroyed.
But now?
The Marines lost and fled in fear.
Lü Bu, watching the departing warships, thought the same.
However, Lü Bu's expression quickly turned grim.
The warships pulled back a hundred meters from the port and then stopped.
That position was precisely where they could conduct a wider range of cannon fire on Gourmet Island.
Not only Lü Bu but also the pirates realized this.
"Quick!"
"Quick, get out of here, they are still going to initiate a Buster Call."
"That cock-comb kid's barrier cannot cover the entire island."
"Damn Marines!"
"Cunning Marines."
...
The pirates, realizing the situation, instantly descended into chaos.
Under a Buster Call, Gourmet Island would inevitably be annihilated.
The patrol teams stationed on Gourmet Island had already dispersed to their positions, ready to face any incoming cannonballs.
At the center of Gourmet Island, on the top floor of the Gourmet Hotel.
The island owner, Tengu Kiyokaze, looked at the distant warships. With a flap of his wings, he transformed into a gale and instantly flew out.
His speed was astonishing, and wherever he passed, strong winds raged. The ocean centered on Gourmet Island, within a radius of ten li, also surged due to the winds.
The pirates were blown about chaotically by the gales.
However, the patrol team members knew that their island owner, Tengu Kiyokaze, had taken action.
At the same time, Tengu Kiyokaze arrived above the port in a matter of breaths, holding a fan, his eyes narrowed as he gazed at the five CP0 agents on the warships.
Seeing Tengu Kiyokaze appear and feeling the turbulent waves caused by the raging winds, although their expressions were hidden by masks, their trembling pupils still revealed a look of solemnity.
A bad premonition lingered in their hearts.
Tengu Kiyokaze raised his fan and suddenly swung it.
The gales became even more violent.
Numerous waterspouts rapidly shot into the sky before everyone's eyes and surged towards the Marine warships.
Witnessing this scene, the five CP0 members were utterly horrified and quickly exclaimed, "Retreat, full speed retreat!"
There was no need for CP0 to issue orders; the officers on each warship had already grasped the severity of the situation and issued commands immediately.
No matter how powerful you are, on the sea, encountering such terrifying and numerous waterspouts, once caught within them, you would inevitably succumb to the overwhelming power of the ocean.
Thus, survival was left to fate.
The Buster Call, once again, failed to be initiated.