At that moment, Elior used his left hand's Imagine Breaker ability to nullify Tsuru's powers. Without hesitation, his left hand clenched into a fist — and he drove it directly into her chest.
Completely ignoring the fact that she was an elderly woman, Elior struck with immense force. The punch, carrying terrifying power, sent Tsuru flying. Despite her frail appearance, her body was hurled dozens of meters across the ice.
Before she could react, Kizaru launched another kick. Elior blocked it and, unsurprised, saw yet another kick come his way.
Boom!
The air around them shook violently, and the icy surface shattered beneath them.
"Kizaru! Take this slash!"
Elior gripped his sword with both hands and brought it down hard from midair. Kizaru, seeing the blade enveloped in steam-like dark red aura, instinctively blocked it with his Ama no Murakumo Sword.
CRACK!
To Kizaru's shock, his sword was split in two by Elior's slash!
"What?!"
His face twisted in alarm. Elior didn't stop — the blade tore downward after cleaving the sword. With no room to dodge or defend, Kizaru could only brace for impact as the overwhelming pressure of danger closed in. He couldn't avoid it. Couldn't defend.
The sword slashed through his uniform and across his chest, tearing both wide open.
RIP!
The sound rang out loud and clear. Kizaru's chest had been cleaved. It wasn't a fatal wound, but it was serious enough to leave him reeling.
Elior's slash had carved a gash more than half a meter long, blood gushing out in a torrent.
His sword was coated in Armament Haki, after all.
Elior then flipped midair and followed up with a brutal kick aimed straight at Kizaru's head. The admiral, dazed and in agony from the slash, failed to raise his defenses in time. The Haki-infused kick slammed into his skull.
"Borsalino!"
Tsuru cried out, horrified. But the next instant, Kizaru was smashed into the ice below. A shockwave burst outward, and the ground collapsed into a massive crater. The entire battlefield trembled.
Witnessing Kizaru's state, many felt their scalps tingle. Elior's power was simply monstrous.
And he wasn't finished.
With a swing of his right hand, Elior launched a massive ice sphere—roughly fifty meters in diameter—from midair. Like a meteor, it plummeted straight into the crater where Kizaru lay.
BOOM!
A thunderous impact. The ice sphere slammed down with enough force to crack the entire ice field, burying Kizaru beneath it.
"Borsalino!"
"Admiral Kizaru!"
The shocked cries of Sengoku and numerous Marines rang out. They had witnessed Kizaru injured, his chest torn open—and now crushed under an enormous ice boulder.
Elior's strength was beyond terrifying.
"Is Kizaru… actually getting overwhelmed?"
"Is this a real beatdown? Or is Kizaru holding back?"
"That guy—he's the one who took down Kaido, one of the Yonko, in the New World at Hachinosu!"
"He's not just strong. Elior is a monster!"
The Revolutionary Army, Whitebeard Pirates, and audiences watching from Sabaody Archipelago were all left in shock, horrified by Elior's power.
That ice sphere that appeared out of nowhere… it made everyone shiver.
"This sword of ice… can't handle it anymore."
Elior landed on top of the ice boulder, gazing at the sword, which had begun to crack. Even with Armament Haki, it couldn't withstand the full weight of his swordsmanship. In truth, he hadn't even used his full strength against Kizaru — this sword simply couldn't contain his maximum power.
The moment he struck that blow, the blade had already begun to break.
"I really need a proper sword" Elior muttered. "A Supreme Grade one, ideally. The Ame no Habakiri or Enma from Wano would do — those blades even wounded Kaido."
He turned his gaze downward.
"Vice Admiral Tsuru… do you want to keep going?"
Elior looked down at her from atop the ice boulder. Kizaru was buried beneath it—but Elior didn't believe the admiral was dead. A Marine Admiral wouldn't fall that easily. Not yet. Elior wasn't strong enough to kill one outright.
"You!"
Tsuru seethed with fury, but her concern for Kizaru outweighed her anger.
"I rather like your friend, Vice Admiral Momousagi. Think you could introduce us?"
Elior grinned mischievously. He knew Gion was close to Tsuru, like sisters though not by blood.
"You're just a pirate. Don't tarnish justice."
Tsuru spat coldly. She was aware that Gion was still at Hachinosu — Elior's stronghold — and knowing his power, she feared for her.
"Funny, I like tarnishing justice."
Elior's grin turned wicked. In fact, he had a small ambition—he wanted to abduct all the beautiful female Marines.
Like Tashigi. Like Ain.
If Tsuru knew what Elior was thinking, she'd cough blood on the spot. And if she discovered he'd already laid hands on Gion — who knew how she'd react?
"Pirate! Get out of Marineford!"
Suddenly, a thunderous voice roared from above. While Elior had let down his guard slightly, a powerful blow struck him and sent him flying several dozen meters.
He had been hit squarely in the right shoulder. Pain flared — but Elior endured. His body was absurdly durable.
"So, we're resorting to sneak attacks now?"
He turned and saw his assailant.
The former Fleet Admiral.
Kong.
"You're still not retired? Interesting."
Elior's excitement spiked.
Kong — older than every other Marine present — still radiated immense power. The battlefield trembled under his presence.
"Fleet Admiral Kong has arrived!"
Cheers erupted from the execution platform. The Marines' reinforcements had arrived.
"Fleet Admiral Kong!"
Even Garp was surprised to see him here.
Kong was legendary. Many younger Marines had only heard of him in stories.
Sengoku seized the moment and shouted into the transponder snail:"All Marines! Reinforcements have arrived! Former Fleet Admiral Kong has returned to Marineford! We now have the power to win this war! Do not give up—fight on!"
"Justice will prevail!"Those last words boomed with full force—meant to inspire all the Marines.
"Fleet Admiral Kong?"
"From the era of Pirate King Roger? That Kong?"
"Kill them!"
"Justice will prevail! Wipe out the pirates!"
"That old man looks terrifying! He's over ninety and still that powerful?!"
The appearance of Kong sent shockwaves through both Marine supporters and civilians watching from Sabaody Archipelago.
The Marines felt a rush of hope.
"Kong… so you came at last."
A raspy voice called out behind him. Kong turned — and saw an old man.
He knew that face. How could he forget?
Patrick Redfield, Red the Aloof.
"Stay here this time, Red"
Kong roared and charged toward him. Redfield leapt to meet him.
Both were masters of hand-to-hand combat—and swordsmanship.
In the old era, the top fighters were always physically overwhelming.
BOOM!
In front of countless shocked eyes, two legends clashed. The ice beneath them shattered in a massive blast spanning thirty meters.
"Red the Aloof… he really escaped Impel Down."
Whitebeard looked at them grimly. He knew Redfield — one of the most arrogant yet powerful warriors of their time.
Gifted with an extraordinary sense of Observation Haki from a young age, Redfield had seen too much of the world's evil — and chose solitude, scorning all companionship.
But his strength was undeniable.
"Hey, hey… who is that old guy? I know Kong—but who dares speak to him like that? And they seem evenly matched?! Am I seeing things?"
"Who is he?!"
"They're clashing again — oh god, the power…!"
"The ground's cracking!"
People watching from Sabaody were stunned. They didn't know Redfield, but his sheer power was unmistakable.
A man from a forgotten era — buried in history.
Back at Marineford, both pirates and Marines watched, just as shaken.
The clash was too intense.
"Red, have you gone soft?"
"If that's all you've got, leave your life here."
Kong roared, launching a flurry of punches. Redfield defended, seemingly on the back foot — but not truly struggling.
"Kong, you lost to me back then, remember? Tsk tsk… don't think you can beat me now!"
Redfield grinned and countered with a punch, forcing the steel-bodied Kong back.
"You…!"
Hearing that reminder stung a little. Kong didn't like revisiting the past — especially not that particular memory. After all, it was true. He had been defeated by Redfield. Had it not been for Garp capturing him afterward — thanks to Redfield's physical exhaustion — Redfield might never have fallen.
BOOM!
The two old legends clashed again. Their sheer power—brute force mixed with masterful combat technique—shocked everyone watching.
It was a brutal reminder of an old truth:
An old lion is still a lion.
"Red the Aloof's made his move!"
Sengoku frowned. He had assumed Redfield would stay out of the fight — but the moment Kong appeared, Redfield leapt into action.
"And he's this strong even after spending over twenty years in Impel Down?"
Redfield's strength remained jaw-dropping. Aside from some gray hair and wrinkles, it was like time hadn't touched him.
He hadn't lost much of anything.
"Redfield's finally joined the battle…"
Elior was a little surprised. So that was the trigger: Kong's arrival. That's what finally got the old man involved.
But Elior hadn't expected Kong to show up either.
Still — he wasn't the only threat now.
Elior's sharp Observation Haki had already picked up on someone else—someone in a white suit and mask.
CP0.
The masked agent leading the group radiated strength. Elior could feel it.
And that man was staring directly at him.
It was clear.
He intended to make a move.
"Weevil!"
Elior shouted suddenly. Not far off, Weevil had just sliced off the arm of a Revolutionary Army commander, who was now writhing and screaming in pain.
It was Karasu — the commander of the Northern Army — known for his ability to turn into a flock of crows. And now he'd lost a hand.
Weevil turned immediately.
"Brother, I'm here!"
The simple-minded but brutally strong Weibull ran over, massive blade in hand.
"See those masked guys?"
Elior pointed toward the CP0 agents.
"I see 'em, brother! What do you want me to do?"
"Kill everyone behind the one in front."
"You got it! I'll handle them right now! I won't let you down!"
The CP0 agents froze for a second — and then rage flared in their eyes.
They were CP0 — the World Government's elite. The Celestial Dragons' personal shield. Assassins, enforcers, monsters in human skin.
To be dismissed like that? Ordered to die by a pirate?
Unthinkable.
Insulting.
Unforgivable.
"Ridiculous…"