Ron's figure advanced like a phantom.
Deep purple-black Armament Haki surged forth like raging waves, causing the air within dozens of meters to tremble violently.
The White Moon longsword in his hand was completely saturated with profound, high-grade Haki.
The space around the blade began to distort, as if even light itself would be severed by its edge.
"Heaven-Severing..."
Ron held his blade horizontally in a virtual draw stance.
The terrifying potential energy accumulated within the scabbard caused the surrounding ground to crack and cave in.
This opening stance was his rarely used ultimate technique—the pinnacle of swordsmanship designed to cut through anything in existence.
"...Drawing Sword Technique!"
Akainu's pupils abruptly contracted, his Observation Haki screaming warnings of imminent death.
Without hesitation, he threw a rapid succession of punches, sending dozens of blazing magma fists raining down on Ron like a meteor shower.
"Great Eruption: Meteor Volcano!"
Yet, those magma bullets capable of melting steel were shredded to pieces by the suddenly appearing purple-black sword energy when they came within ten meters of Ron, scattering into a sky full of harmless sparks.
"Useless."
Ron's voice was piercingly cold.
The next instant, White Moon left its scabbard!
"—Severing Mountains!"
SHING!
A purple-black blade of light spanning heaven and earth abruptly bloomed across the battlefield!
Akainu roared, covering both arms with maximum Armament Haki.
Black-purple Haki intertwined with magma as he boldly met the slash head-on.
"MAGMA HOUND!"
BOOM—!!!
The shockwave from the collision of two top-tier Haki users instantly overturned the ground within a hundred-meter radius.
Watching Marines and pirates were sent flying by the blast, while even the officers fighting in the distance had to temporarily retreat from the sheer force of the impact.
The stalemate lasted only an instant.
CRACK... CRUNCH...
Akainu stared in disbelief as his Armament Haki was breached.
That violet-black blade light resembled a bone-corrosive venomous snake, inch by inch breaking through his defenses until—
SQUELCH!
Blood sprayed!
White Moon's blade swept across Akainu's chest, sending a shower of scalding blood into the air.
The Admiral's Justice coat was cleanly sliced open, revealing a deep, bone-exposing wound beneath.
"Impossible...!"
Akainu violently retreated dozens of meters, his magma-covered left hand desperately clamping over the injury to cauterize it.
His Armament Haki had actually been broken through?
This realization sent violent tremors through his heart.
Ron slowly sheathed his blade.
The bloodstains on White Moon were actually absorbed by the sword itself, making the violet-black glow even more intense.
He coldly stared at Akainu.
"Retreating already? The backbone of a Marine is nothing more than this eh."
The entire battlefield fell into an eerie silence at this moment.
Everyone's gaze was fixed intently on that figure standing with his blade.
The tip of Ron's White Moon was still dripping with Akainu's blood, violet-black Armament Haki swirling around him like a tangible substance.
This scene left countless pirates and Marines gaping, their faces filled with utter disbelief.
"What... what kind of joke is this?!"
A pirate captain with a bounty over a hundred million directly smashed the telescope in his hand.
"Isn't he just a scientist from the Whitebeard Pirates?!"
"Scientist my ass!" his first mate's voice trembled as he shouted. "Since when can a scientist slash and injure a Navy Admiral?!"
The Marine ranks grew even more restless.
Many soldiers dropped their weapons with loud clatters, several officers' faces turning as pale as paper.
"That Intelligence Department... full of useless fools!" a Marine Vice Admiral trembled with rage.
"They call this a 'non-combatant'?!"
Douglas Bullet stood at a high point, arms crossed, letting out an earth-shaking laugh.
"Hahaha! Well done!" He excitedly pounded his chest. "Now this is worthy of being my employer! Though it's a pity Whitebeard died, at least I've found my next challenge—Ron!"
Shiki didn't even notice his second cigar dropping onto his golden boot.
He narrowed his eyes, the scar on his face twitching slightly.
"Jihahaha... Interesting, truly interesting!" He turned to look at Bullet. "Fusion Brat, it seems we've both misjudged him!"
Doflamingo's sunglasses slid to the tip of his nose, a rare look of genuine shock on his face.
"Fufufu... This is truly... too amusing..."
His fingers twitched uncontrollably, his String-String Fruit abilities chaotically swirling in his palm.
"The Youngest Great Swordsman? A Scientist? All just covers... This guy is simply a monster!"
Gecko Moria's chubby face was profusely sweating. Indeed, his choice had been correct; he now felt nothing but relief.
"Kishishishi... Good thing I was clever... coming directly to pledge allegiance!"
Across the battlefield, countless pirates were whispering amongst themselves.
"Damn it! I always thought his Captain-level subordinates were the threats..."
"Who said a scientist can't fight?!"
"This level of strength... isn't this definitely Yonko-level?!"
Ron slowly sheathed his sword, the violet-black Armament Haki gradually receding. He scanned his surroundings, taking in everyone's shock.
A faint, almost imperceptible cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
Then he looked towards the deceased Whitebeard, somewhat puzzled.
'It should be about time, right?'
'Doesn't the Captain have eight lives thanks to the Yamata no Orochi fruit? Why isn't he moving at all?'
Just at that moment.
BZZZT...
The Naval communications were abruptly cut off.
The Den Den Mushi signals were disrupted by an unknown frequency, rendering all visuals inoperable.
Then, a terrified shriek echoed across the battlefield.
"Look at Whitebeard's corpse!!"
All eyes snapped toward the charred remains.
The carbonized shell suddenly trembled violently, cracking with countless fine fissures.
KRA-KOOM!
Blazing white flames shone through the cracks, illuminating a hundred-meter radius as bright as day.
CRACK—
With a crisp shattering sound, the charred shell exploded!
Amid a shower of sparks and ash, a burly figure slowly rose.
Whitebeard was enveloped in sacred white flames.
Every inch of his skin glowed with renewed vitality; even the scars from years of battle had vanished without a trace.
He looked younger, stronger—reborn.
"Gurararara..."
His familiar laughter shook the heavens.
"You little candle-lighter... Did you really think that could kill me?"
Just as he had envisioned, only true 'death' could grant insight into immortality!
This was the fastest way to awaken his ability! But it was also the deadliest.
'Not everyone has eight lives like me' Whitebeard thought.
'Though... perhaps if I have my sons die once in the future... could they awaken too?'
He thought of Marco.
'No, I can't say it aloud. If they know death is the trigger, they will be mentally prepared, and that profound fear and understanding of death might fade. Failure would not only mean defeat but also waste a life.'
These thoughts flashed through Whitebeard's mind, and he formed a preliminary plan for what to do next.
The Awakening continued!
Even more astonishing—behind him, the white flames coalesced into a massive, spectral shape.
It looked like a multi-headed serpent composed of fire, yet rising with the majesty of a phoenix.
Pure immortal flames condensed into a Divine Halo floating behind Whitebeard's shoulders, radiating suffocating pressure!
The Divine Halo!
The mark of an Awakened Zoan!