This world…
No one truly believed that Whitebeard still had the ability to maintain his current dominance. As his condition worsened over the coming years, it was entirely possible that he would eventually withdraw from the ranks of the great powers ruling the seas.
People grow old one day—and Whitebeard is no exception.
And compared to Whitebeard, Kronos—stronger, younger, and with far more years ahead of him—is undoubtedly an even more dangerous opponent.
In other words, Kronos has the strength and potential to contend with the Marines for decades to come.
How could the Marines not see him as a threat?
"This time," Akainu growled to the gathered officers, "we're going to kill Kronos—no matter what!
"We cannot allow him to continue developing his power.
"If we do… then once his strength grows any further, the Marines will be finished. Completely finished!"
What the Marines didn't realize, however, was that on the back of their warship, several strange talismans had been affixed—each one occasionally flashing with an eerie light.
The battle on Hive Island was reaching a level of ferocity beyond imagination. The entire island had been turned into a vast battlefield, scarred and shattered in every direction.
Corpses littered the ground.
Uchiha Madara, Senju Hashirama, and Gojo Satoru—currently clashing with Marco—were moving through the battlefield as if in Musou mode, cutting down enemy after enemy without pause.
Despite the Whitebeard Pirates' overwhelming numerical advantage—over 20,000 strong—they were still powerless to stop just two of these warriors.
It was as if Senju Hashirama and Gojo Satoru each possessed the strength of ten thousand men.
Even the captains of the Whitebeard Pirates' divisions, one after another, had fallen before them.
It was terrifying.
Could anyone really be that strong?
At this moment, one man could stand by no longer. He decided to step forward and change the course of the battle.
That man…
Was the famous "Diamond" Joz of the Whitebeard Pirates.
"Senju Hashirama! Gojo Satoru!" Joz roared.
"You two are going to die here!"
Without hesitation, Joz charged toward Senju Hashirama, intending to take him down first and stabilize the crumbling situation.
But before he could close the distance, a figure stepped in from the side, blocking his path.
"Why not have a match with this old man instead?"
Bang (Silver Fang) stroked his beard—his weathered face marked with the traces of countless battles—yet his eyes gleamed with fighting spirit.
The moment Joz saw him, his fury faded… replaced by an involuntary chill of fear.
Because as a fellow warrior, Joz could sense instantly that the man before him possessed power equal to—or perhaps greater than—his own.
A few pirates attempted to rush in and assist Joz, but he stopped them with a sharp command.
"You are not his opponents! If you try, you'll only die for nothing at this man's hands!"
Joz's expression remained grim and unyielding.
The surrounding pirates couldn't understand his reasoning. They didn't believe this elderly-looking man could be as dangerous as Joz claimed.
But they were wrong—and Joz was right.
Just a moment ago, Bang looked frail and slow.
The next instant, his body erupted with explosive speed and strength, like that of a wild leopard—moving with a force that even the young could not match—lunging straight at Joz.
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