It was a threat. A bare, naked threat.
King Yuanli's words instantly drew every eye to him. The onlookers were puzzled. This seemingly ordinary young man, where did he find the courage to confront Doflamingo?
"Very good."
Doflamingo tilted his head, halting his steps. He glanced at Sengoku and the others, noted the Marines' grim expressions, and sneered. Then, with a cold laugh, he lifted his foot and walked away.
"In the great war, we'll meet again, Sengoku. I, for one, cannot stand weaklings who lack strength."
With that, Doflamingo and his men departed, sneering as they went.
"Tomorrow, in the seas near Water Seven, I expect to see every one of you there This war carries great significance. I do not want it ignored or underestimated!"
Sengoku's gaze darkened as he swept across the room.
He had seen the tension between Doflamingo and King Yuanli, but he said nothing. To him, neither was reassuring, one a villain with deep connections, the other all words, with no one truly knowing the extent of his strength.
"Don't worry. As for that person, who has stirred chaos across the world, I'm very interested." Mihawk rose, speaking with calm precision, then turned and strode out the door.
Next was the Tyrant Bartholomew Kuma, standing silent and unmoving.
"I love war the most. I only hope that after this battle, Marshal Sengoku, you will leave me plenty of experimental materials." Moria cackled, his massive frame swaying as he led his subordinates away.
"Please rest assured, Marshal Sengoku. I will definitely be there!" Jinbe replied earnestly. For the safety of the Fishman race, he would dedicate himself fully to Marine affairs.
"Good. Then I thank you." Sengoku nodded, though his expression remained grave.
Each of the Shichibukai was unruly in their own right. Some were outright villains steeped in countless crimes, their ambitions sky-high. Yet for the Marines and the World Government, they remained useful. Both sides maintained a delicate balance, a harmony of interests neither wished to disrupt unless absolutely forced.
Now, with war sweeping across the Grand Line, Sengoku naturally thought of them. Against the threat of Qin's Nation, he placed the utmost importance on their role, unwilling to let any accidents derail the campaign.
"King Yuanli, where are your people?"
After the five Warlords had departed, Sengoku turned and asked in a low voice.
"Marshal Sengoku, I will be frank, with Ying Zheng, I must admit I am still somewhat inferior.
"He has already built channels linking two worlds. I, however, have not. That is precisely why I seek to cooperate with you. The thousand elite warriors I have brought are my offering of sincerity for this war." King Yuanli spoke solemnly.
"A thousand elite warriors, with you?" Sengoku's brow lifted in surprise.
"That's right. Rest assured, Marshal Sengoku. My warriors are one-in-a-thousand elites. Tomorrow, in battle, you will see for yourself!" King Yuanli said with firm confidence.
Sengoku's eyelid twitched. He recalled the thousand men he had glimpsed behind this man earlier, and shook his head.
After a moment, two words escaped his lips: "Empty talk!"
King Yuanli heard them clearly. His body stiffened, and his face grew awkward. But he quickly forced himself to calm. He acknowledged that the civilization rank of his world was still behind this one. Yet the people he had brought this time, were indeed elites beyond doubt.
Qin's Nation's army, after conquering the seas near Long Ring Island, allowed their vast fleet to slowly anchor upon the waters.
Amidst this grand and mighty campaign, even the most vicious pirates of the seas had long since fled far away. Faced with this terrifying fleet, not a single pirate dared to set sail.
In fact, a tense atmosphere was spreading across the entire Grand Line.
The suddenly risen Qin's Nation had, in a short time, extended its power across the entire route. By now, its influence had even reached the Long Ring Island region. The Marines' control over the Grand Line had sunk to its lowest point in history.
This was a dangerous signal!
It meant the upcoming war would be the decisive clash that determined the future.
Would the rising Qin's Nation triumph, further shrinking the Marines' space for survival and completely driving them from the Grand Line? Or would Qin's Nation prove to be nothing more than a fleeting blaze, vanishing from this world?
At this moment, even though Qin's Nation outwardly held an enormous advantage, the deep foundations the Marines had built over countless years were not to be underestimated.
The war had not yet begun, no one could know its outcome.
This day was destined to be one without sleep for the world, a day that left countless people tense, either expectant or fearful.
In the New World.
"Qin King Ying Zheng! I grow more and more curious about you!"
"Not a madman, but a man of incredible daring, you actually dare to attempt such a thing!"
"Will you come to this New World? The seas have been silent far too long. I await the arrival of an expert like you!"
"Gurararara!"
Laughing loudly, the crescent-shaped mustache above Whitebeard's lips trembled. His eyes blazed with a sky-piercing battle intent, sharp and fierce.
The members of the Whitebeard Pirates felt their hearts quake. It had been many years since they had seen their father so stirred, so exhilarated.
Indeed, that fellow named Ying Zheng was audacious to the extreme! To dare such actions, it was as though he intended to overturn the entire world!
"Boom!"
Immediately, they saw their father rise from his seat, grasp his massive naginata, and thrust it forward in a thunderous strike.
Veins bulged like coiling dragons along his thick arms, the motion sending the very air exploding with sound.
"Buzz!"
In the void before him, a massive shockwave spiraled forth, roaring as it raced across the sea into the distance.
Three breaths later, every crew member on the ship gasped in shock.
The vast, boundless ocean had been gouged open by that thrust, leaving behind a sunken rift. Even the air through which the strike had passed twisted and quaked, as if on the verge of shattering.
"I haven't grown old yet!"
"Come at me, boy!"
Whitebeard's deep voice rumbled, shaking the sea itself, as if it were boiling.
At the same time, on another island, a towering figure stepped from a massive crater. Horns jutted from his head, his upper body bare, a sacred rope tied around his waist. Like a demon god, his presence radiated waves of raging violence.
"A man should fight like a man!"
"Ying Zheng, was it? I admire you. If you come to the New World, make sure to come fight me!"
"Kill me if you can! I really don't want to live anymore!"
Twin streams of white vapor burst from his nostrils as he tilted his head back, draining an entire jar of liquor.
"Whoosh!"
"I am Kaido, and I am waiting for you!"
(End of Chapter)
You can read ahead up to 15 chapters on my Patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395