G-1 Branch.
This is the branch with the highest number among all the Grand Line branches, and it is also the most powerful branch in the New World in terms of overall strength.
Both the G-5 and G-14 branches have only two Vice Admirals at headquarters, and one must stay stationed at the base, so they could only send one Vice Admiral each this time.
And the G-1 branch?
There are a total of five Vice Admirals!
This time, three large standard warships and five medium warships were dispatched, led by three Vice Admirals, responsible for blocking the sea area due north.
The leader was the current G-1 base commander, senior and veteran Vice Admiral of the headquarters—Flying Squirrel.
At this moment—
"The vice captain of the End Pirates, 'The Wind Swordsman' Kuina?"
Flying Squirrel stood at the front of the flagship deck, hand on his sword hilt, his cold eyes sweeping over the high ponytailed girl walking in the air, and frowned.
"Even if you're a big pirate with a bounty over 700 million, do you really think you can block our G-1 fleet alone? That's way too arrogant!"
"Whether it's arrogant or not, take my sword and you'll find out," Kuina said indifferently.
She lightly flicked the hilt with her thumb. Wado Ichimonji slid slightly from its sheath, flashing a cold gleam.
"Hmph, don't underestimate us, pirate!"
Before Flying Squirrel could respond, a burly Vice Admiral with a mustache roared and drew his sword. With a loud step, he launched from the deck like a cannonball toward Kuina.
"Let me test your strength first!"
"Don't be reckless!" Flying Squirrel shouted, but it was too late.
Swish!
The sword light flashed like snow. Before the mustached Vice Admiral reached her, a blade of wind-wrapped sword energy swept across his chest—swish! Blood splattered. Though he coated his body with Armament Haki in time, his skin was still torn open. He groaned, crashed onto the deck, and knocked several marine soldiers away.
"Vice Admiral Stirres!" the surrounding sailors exclaimed, rushing to help him up.
Kuina's expression changed slightly when she heard the name.
"What did they call you?" she asked coldly, pointing her sword at the Vice Admiral. "Stirres?"
"What, you know me?" Stirres stood up clutching his chest, squinting suspiciously at Kuina. "But I don't recall meeting you."
"…"
Kuina narrowed her eyes, paused for two seconds, and then expressionlessly said, "It doesn't matter. All you need to know is—you'll die here today."
Hmm?
Suddenly sensing something, she slashed without turning around.
Buzz!
A blade of sword energy tore through the air. Another Vice Admiral from a nearby warship, who had launched a surprise attack, was forced to block with crossed arms. Though he barely stopped the strike, he was knocked onto the deck, coughing up blood.
This one was more distinct in appearance—his right arm was a modified steam-powered mechanical arm, and he had a bald head, six chins, and layers of fat on his face.
Clearly older, but now he looked up with undisguised shock.
"Wow… that's some serious strength..."
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and stared up at Kuina. "Her swordsmanship is way stronger than the intel suggested!"
"Now's not the time to be amazed, King Red!" Flying Squirrel finally drew his sword, the blade wrapped in dense black Haki. "And you, Stirres! No more solo attacks. The three of us must work together if we want a chance!"
The two Vice Admirals nodded. They leapt into the air using Moon Step, surrounding Kuina in a triangle formation.
Three against one?
Kuina remained calm, gripping her Wado Ichimonji tightly. In the wind, the fluttering white cloaks around her reminded her of the time she once struggled against Vice Admiral Dalmesia on Tor Island and had needed Nojiko's help to avoid defeat.
But now…
The Navy's senior Vice Admirals thought they needed to team up to beat her?
She chuckled.
Just as she wanted!
Swish!
Kuina's figure disappeared.
In the Vice Admirals' astonished eyes, she reappeared right in front of Flying Squirrel.
Step forward—cut!
Her sword arced in a flash, the crescent light sweeping toward all three at once.
…
Meanwhile, in the southwest—
The G-5 fleet, made up of one large warship and two small ones, was far weaker than the G-1 branch.
Amid thick artillery smoke, Smoker, in his elemental form, stepped onto the flagship's deck under a rain of Armament-infused shells.
Behind him, Robin landed, her flower wings fading into petals.
"There are a few Rear Admirals," she smiled. "I'll handle them. That Vice Admiral over there looks scary—probably the base commander. I'll leave him to you."
"Yeah, don't worry." Smoker flicked debris off his jitte and looked up at the approaching figure.
"The defected hunter Smoker... once Mr. Zephyr's prized student," the man said coldly, sunglasses reflecting the sky. "To think someone like you, who graduated as a colonel from the Headquarters training camp, would betray us. What a shame."
"What are you even saying?"
Smoker puffed smoke and glared. "If you're gonna lecture me from some moral high ground, at least take the damn sashimi out of your mouth! Is the Navy full of people like you now?"
"Ah, thanks," Vergo said calmly, wiping food from his lips. "You've still got some manners. But I can't let you go. I'm a Marine."
He pulled out a bamboo stick—and suddenly swung it at Smoker's face.
Clang!
Smoker blocked with his jitte. The two glared at each other through the rising smoke.
"Hmph."
Smoker snorted. He didn't know why…
…but seeing this guy just pissed him off.
Like he'd been bullied in a dream or something.
Well, it didn't matter.
Since this guy's the commander of G-5—
He's not getting through!
…
On the molten battlefield—
After sliding for thousands of meters, Akainu finally stopped.
Half-kneeling on lava, he panted heavily, searing pain pulsing from his chest.
Looking down, a crater-sized wound was gouged into his left pec.
It used to be adorned with a tattoo of black clouds and cherry blossoms—a meaningful symbol for him.
Now…
Akainu clenched his fists and tried to use Life Return.
No effect.
Another permanent scar—his biggest and most obvious one yet.
The tattoo was ruined.
Akainu's expression darkened further.
Opposite him—
Shano, who had taken Akainu's Hell Dog head-on, had also been knocked back hundreds of meters before regaining balance.
His chest was torn, scorched, and bleeding—but the wound healed rapidly.
With barely a glance, he looked up with a grin.
Akainu's furious eyes met his own.
"Why so mad? Oh—your tattoo's gone."
Shano snickered. "Honestly, that thing made you look like a gangster. This suits you better. A cleaner image for the Navy's justice."
That scar was huge! Big enough to stuff a Chopper in!
Back on Tor Island, he had used Elbaf's Spear: Weiguo to surprise Akainu after healing with a Senzu Bean. It only caused a minor injury.
Now, his power had vastly grown, enhanced by Conqueror's Haki.
"No more nonsense! A pirate like you has no right to talk about justice!" Akainu growled.
He stood up, magma flaring once more, and shouted:
"Think you've beaten me? You're dreaming!"
Swish!
Akainu vanished and reappeared above Shano, slamming down with a giant magma fist.
"Great Eruption!"
Power and speed—undiminished.
"Still this strong after all that?" Shano looked up, grinned, and punched back—his Conqueror's Haki bursting with black and red lightning.
"Then let's see whose fists are tougher!"
Boom!
Their fists collided—shockwaves rippled, lava splashed, clouds burst.
Rumble!
Both were blown backward—then charged at each other again.
"Shano, you brat!!!"
"Sakazuki!!!"
They roared at the same time!
——
Marineford, Navy Headquarters.
Morning.
Sunlight poured in, breeze blowing gently.
It should've been a peaceful day.
But in the office labeled Justice Reigns Over the World, Sengoku slammed his fist onto the desk.
Boom!
Ink bottles, documents, and pens flew everywhere. Only the goat remained calm, chewing paper.
"What did you say?!"
Sengoku's face was pale with fury.
"That guy Sakazuki didn't even inform HQ and mobilized three branches to encircle Shano?!"
"Y-Yes, Marshal."
The adjutant wiped sweat. "It was an urgent matter. Mr. Sakazuki had no choice. But the forces deployed include five Vice Admirals and five large warships—practically the scale of a Buster Call, so—"
"Shut it!"
Sengoku barely resisted the urge to throw a chair. He paced back and forth, fists clenched.
"What do you mean 'no choice'?! Couldn't spare the time to inform HQ? That bastard Sakazuki—why's he so arrogant?!"
"Doesn't he realize the current Shano and his crew are far beyond what a single admiral can handle?!"
The adjutant was stunned. Was Shano really that dangerous?
He admired Akainu deeply. Outside of the Four Emperors, who could possibly match him?
"Of course he's that dangerous."
On the sofa, Chief of Staff Tsuru looked up calmly.
"I know many of you young folks underestimate these 'retired legends'—like Rayleigh, whom Shano defeated."
"But don't forget—Borsalino tried to capture Shano twice… and failed both times."
"But Admiral Kizaru isn't as strong as Akainu, right?" the adjutant thought, but didn't say aloud.
Tsuru continued, "After the latest bounty adjustment, we've been discussing whether Shano deserves to be treated as a Four Emperors-level threat."
"In other words, from now on, unless there's an order from the Holy Land, even admirals cannot act against the End Pirates without HQ approval."
"Because if they fail, it damages the Navy's reputation!"
"Kuzan, are you listening?"
She glanced at the Den Den Mushi.
"Of the three, only you haven't fought Shano yet. You'd better be careful."
The Den Den Mushi narrowed its eyes, scratched its head, and silently nodded.