Akainu and the other Marine Admirals each landed on separate chunks of floating ice. They looked up at the dark green afterglow lingering in the night sky, grave expressions forming on their faces.
In the distance, Joy Boy stood at the prow of the Pluton, gazing down at the black cannon barrel protruding from beneath the ship's bow. A faint emerald light shimmered within it.
That previous blast had clearly come from this Pluton, and its power hadn't diminished in the slightest from the legends.
A brief silence swept over the battlefield. Everyone subconsciously swallowed hard, their hearts shaken by the sheer might of Pluton.
Aokiji furrowed his brows and muttered gravely,
"That kind of firepower is insane… if it's allowed to fire freely..."
Not far away, Borsalino had both hands in his coat pockets. A glint passed beneath his tea-colored lenses, and the corners of his mouth lifted.
"Pluton doesn't belong to Joy Boy alone."
As he spoke, the sound of cracking ice approached from afar. Everyone turned to look—sailing in was the Marine fleet, led by a brand-new Pluton developed by Vegapunk: the Second Generation Pluton.
Seeing the new Pluton, Joy Boy's face showed a flicker of disbelief. Before he could recover, the second Pluton suddenly opened fire—an even thicker emerald beam burst out, aimed directly at the original Pluton where Joy Boy stood.
His pupils contracted. He immediately activated the original Pluton's defense system, and a spherical green energy shield enveloped the ship in an instant.
Under everyone's gaze, the green beam smashed into the shield, driving the original Pluton rapidly backward.
The glow of the shield flickered erratically. It was clear even the ship's original designer never imagined that, eight hundred years later, another Pluton would exist—let alone that the two would face off from opposing sides.
Seeing the performance of their Pluton, morale on the Marine side soared. They charged at the stunned Minks and Giants.
...
Naturally, the Admirals wouldn't just stand by and watch. Now that Joy Boy had revealed himself, their top priority was to eliminate this massive threat.
The five Admirals exchanged glances. Years of camaraderie made words unnecessary—next moment, all five leapt into the air.
"Hellhound Crimson Lotus!""ICE – Violent Pheasant Beak!""Yasakani no Magatama!""Deep Forest Burial!""Shockwave!"
In an instant, their combined attacks came crashing down on the original Pluton like a raging tsunami. Pedro, who had been exchanging blows with a Marine Vice Admiral, turned and saw the barrage—his heart clenched in panic.
"Joy Boy!!!"
He wasn't alone. The other Minks and the remaining Giants also started to panic. Especially the Giants—having already clashed with the Marines as the vanguard, they knew: if Joy Boy fell, their end would come swiftly.
Crack!
The five Admirals landed steadily, emotionless faces staring at the thick smoke ahead. The green beam from the second Pluton had dissipated into flickering particles, vanishing into the night.
Suddenly, a blinding white light burst from the smoke—and the original Pluton reappeared.
The green shield that had protected it was gone, and fine cracks had formed along the hull.
Even a ship as sturdy as the Pluton couldn't emerge unscathed from a full-scale assault by the second Pluton and five Admirals.
Joy Boy still stood at the bow, his straw hat gleaming in the dark.
He glanced at the second Pluton that had joined the battle and murmured,
"So there really is a second Pluton in this world..."
With that, he leapt from the bow and landed on the elastic ice below.
...
Pedro's eyes lit up with joy.
"That's Joy Boy for you—he's fine!"
Joy Boy grinned wide, adjusted the straw hat atop his head, and shouted,
"My Mink comrades—it's time for the World Government to witness your true power!"
Hearing this, Pedro's face flushed with excitement. He raised a fist and shouted,
"Transform, my brothers!!"
The moment the words left his mouth, Pedro's eyes turned blood-red. His body, already soaked in moonlight, had been waiting for Joy Boy's command.
Beastly roars erupted in unison as the Minks transformed, white fur erupting amidst crackling lightning.
Some of the younger Marines looked on, dumbfounded. But the veterans acted immediately, shouting at the stunned recruits:
"Don't just stand there! The Minks gain incredible strength during a full moon—attack now before their transformation is complete!"
Even as they yelled, their blades had already begun to swing. Blood sprayed across the ice as several Mink warriors, still mid-transformation, were struck down—expressions twisted in feral rage frozen on their decapitated faces.
Pedro, already in full Sulong form, was livid. Seeing his brethren slaughtered before they could fight back, he roared,
"Despicable Marines!!!"
Consumed by fury, he led the transformed Minks into the Marine lines. Surging with lightning, claws tearing through ice, their charge was devastating.
...
Aramaki simply chuckled at the sight.
"What is this? A zoo outbreak?"
With a smirk, he stomped the ice beneath him. Vines exploded upward, piercing through the chests of the front line of charging Minks—draining their bodies into husks.
Blood dyed the ice red. Pedro's eyes nearly burst from his skull as he screamed,
"Bastard! Bastard! Bastard!!"
Empowered by his transformation, he believed he could now match an Admiral. He turned and shot forward like a streak of silver lightning, charging at Aramaki who remained laughing casually.
Aramaki didn't even move his hands from his pockets. He simply raised a leg and swept it sideways, catching Pedro square in the gut.
Pedro's eyes bulged in pain—he flew backward like a bolt of light.
Suddenly, a white figure dashed in from behind and caught Pedro just before he could be impaled by a spike rising from the ice.
Pedro, clutching his gut in agony, looked up through blurred vision—Joy Boy's caring face came into view.
"Pedro, these aren't your opponents," Joy Boy said gently. "Go help your people."
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+160 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg