Chapter 34: The Powerful and Utterly Frustrated Patrick Redfield!

In Diarmuid's mind, top-tier battles in this world often lasted for three days and three nights, or even ten.

For example, the fight between Kuzan and Sakazuki for the Fleet Admiral position on Punk Hazard. Or the battle between the Roger Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates on that one island. It was as if they couldn't get a satisfying fight in unless it lasted for days.

These things were true, but the situation wasn't as simple as Diarmuid thought.

In the past two years, he'd asked his sensei, Zephyr, about these matters and gotten some definitive answers. There weren't many top-tier powerhouses in the world, but there weren't few either. And at their level, it was truly difficult to decide a winner. After all, they were all on the same playing field, and anyone who became a top-tier fighter had been famous for years. Their abilities and tactics were known throughout the world, and there was no hiding them.

So, when they fought, it was hard to gain a clear advantage and end the battle quickly. Fighting for three days and three nights was completely normal. According to Zephyr, if a fight lasted that long, the first two days were usually spent on mutual probing, constantly thinking of countermeasures. The real all-out fight would often only happen on the final day. To put it simply, they were all holding back their full strength for the first two days.

Zephyr also explained that these kinds of battles always had one crucial element: they were evenly matched.

Whether it was a one-on-one duel or a group fight, if both sides were on the same level, a drawn-out battle would happen. Once the balance was broken, the advantage would quickly grow, and the fight would end much faster.

Comparing this to the events he knew, Diarmuid realized it was true. In his memory, Kong and Redfield had also fought for days. Now, as he calmed down and thought about it, the situation then was probably a true one-on-one duel.

With that in mind, Diarmuid looked at Kuzan and guessed, That means Garp wasn't there, and neither was Kuzan or me. I don't know why the Fleet Admiral went out there alone, but that must have been the case. From the looks of it, because of the changes I've brought about, the Fleet Admiral has the upper hand. Maybe it won't take days to finish the fight. As long as Kuzan and I can break the balance and quickly expand the Fleet Admiral's advantage, Redfield won't even have time to run.

"Clear your mind, Diarmuid. That guy can hear your thoughts," Kuzan suddenly said. He hadn't even looked up, but he seemed to sense what Diarmuid was thinking.

Diarmuid was taken aback and quickly replied, "Right."

Redfield has the ability to hear hearts. As long as he wants to, he can hear whatever you're thinking. He must have heard someone praying for Fleet Admiral Kong to arrive when he was attacking the G-1 Base.

His ability was insane. When you fought him, he could hear any tactic you had in mind. The best way to fight him was to empty your mind and only think about winning, not about tactics. Just go with the flow. Redfield's own strength was already great, and in that state, few people could beat him in a one-on-one duel.

Diarmuid used to think that Kong was a bit weak for losing to him, but now he realized, It's not that our army was incompetent, it's that the enemy was too cunning!

After hearing Kuzan's advice, Diarmuid stopped trying to think of how to deal with Redfield. It was useless to think. But it was hard to control a person's mind, and he was afraid that if he thought too much, he would expose all sorts of secrets. So, he began to intentionally recall some filthy things, like scenes from romantic action movies. Unknowingly, he even felt a bit of a thrill…

Redfield was fighting Kong, and Kong wasn't fighting him for the first time. He had no other thoughts, only pure rage, which Redfield could hear as a stream of curses directed at him. So, he knew that with Kong's level of control, he could completely control his thoughts. He stopped listening to the Fleet Admiral and instead turned his attention to Kuzan and that unknown kid.

He tried to listen to Kuzan's thoughts and felt nothing but a blank, frozen expanse like a glacier. But when an ice spike jutted out, he was able to dodge it perfectly. This told him that while Kuzan knew how to deal with him, he couldn't completely shut off his thoughts like Kong. He could handle Kuzan with ease.

He then turned to that annoying kid, who had his hand on the blade at his waist, his power shimmering, clearly waiting for an opportunity to ambush him.

A look of disdain appeared on Redfield's face. He covered Diarmuid with his Observation Haki, wanting to know what filthy tricks the kid had in mind so he could be prepared.

But as soon as he heard Diarmuid's mind, all he heard was a string of "umms" and "ahhs." This immediately confused Redfield. What the hell? This righteous-looking Marine is actually this filthy on the inside? What kind of thoughts are these? He's in the middle of a battle! Honestly, in all his years roaming the seas, Redfield had never met anyone so shameless!

Because he was so shocked and confused, his movements slowed for a moment, and his blade scraped past Kong's fist, failing to block it.

In the next second, Kong was also stunned. What happened? Why did he miss? But he didn't hold back and landed a full-powered punch directly to Redfield's chest.

"Pfft…" Redfield spit out a mouthful of blood from the punch, his feet slid, and he went flying backward.

This sudden turn of events also confused Kuzan, and he missed his chance to land a strike. But Diarmuid, who had been lost in his thoughts, was jolted awake. With his Iron Will, his reaction speed was incredibly fast, much more reliable than Kuzan's.

As soon as Redfield was sent flying, the Nagasone Kotetsu on Diarmuid's waist was already drawn!

"Gravity Blade: Tiger Slayer!" Diarmuid roared. He sent a slash forward like a charging tiger, and his surging power, along with a powerful shockwave, crashed into Redfield's body.

Redfield was still a top-tier powerhouse. As he was sent flying by Kong's punch, he sensed Diarmuid's attack and swung his cane-blade, barely managing to break the gravity slash before it could fully unleash its power.

But at that moment, he seemed to hear something. He landed, ignored his injuries, and charged back toward Kong.

As soon as he moved, Diarmuid roared again, "Hell's Journey!" The area where Redfield had been standing instantly collapsed, and the glacier shattered. At the same time, Redfield was already fighting Kong again.

Diarmuid's face sank as he muttered, "His ability to hear hearts is truly terrifying." There was no doubt that Redfield had dodged so quickly and with such precision because he had heard Diarmuid's thoughts, even if only for a second.

Diarmuid tried to imagine what it would be like to fight Redfield alone. The answer was simple: he would be completely crushed.

After realizing this, Diarmuid was filled with a killing intent toward Redfield. He didn't even dare to think about why he felt that way, afraid the bastard would hear him.

While fighting Kong, Redfield suddenly forced him back with a slash, then looked at Diarmuid in surprise. He couldn't figure out what was happening. Why was the kid's mind filled with so much murderous intent toward him? That feeling of a fight to the death?

Diarmuid wasn't from this world. He had too many secrets, and if they were exposed, he'd be finished. So, he had to get rid of this ability to hear hearts.

Unlike Roger and Luffy, who could hear the Voice of All Things, a power unrelated to Observation Haki, they couldn't hear human thoughts unless they actively communicated. So, they didn't have to worry.

But Redfield was born with this ability, awakening his Observation Haki from a young age, so he knew the darkness of people's hearts and chose to be a lone wolf.

This kind of guy has to be taken out! Forget about sending him to Impel Down; killing him right here was the right way to go!

Since his last attack didn't land, Diarmuid didn't dare to get any closer. If he did, he would only get in the Fleet Admiral's way. So, he could only use his abilities from a distance to annoy Redfield and wait for an opportune moment to strike.

But his power wasn't precise enough to lock onto Redfield in the middle of a chaotic battle. This meant as long as Redfield was fighting close to Kong, it would be hard for Diarmuid to do anything.

So, while Kong and Redfield were fighting fiercely and Kuzan was supporting from the side, Diarmuid could only stand there and watch. He couldn't even think of a plan, which was incredibly frustrating. But he didn't know that Redfield was even more frustrated.

He was fighting Kong with Kuzan constantly trying to trip him up, and now he had to worry about this kid filled with murderous intent. He couldn't fight freely. This wasn't what he had expected at all! The more he fought, the angrier he got!

He had underestimated Kuzan and Diarmuid at first, and now they wouldn't even come closer. They were just annoying him from a distance, which greatly limited his attacks.

He was being forced to fight at Kong's pace. What should have been a world-shattering duel was completely one-sided because of Kuzan and Diarmuid. Redfield was at a complete disadvantage.

Diarmuid himself never expected to gain such a huge advantage for the Fleet Admiral in this way!