"Second."
The Navy officers finally reacted, frantically ordering to open fire.
Hundreds of cannons roared simultaneously, the barrage enveloping Whitebeard's location in a storm of steel and fire.
When the smoke cleared, Whitebeard didn't even have a torn corner of his clothing.
He revealed an expression of almost bored enjoyment.
"Not even worthy of scratching an itch..."
RUMBLE!
Akainu's Magma Giant Fist suddenly erupted from underground, aiming to catch the Emperor off guard!
Without even looking, Whitebeard raised his foot and stomped—
"Skyquake: Earth's Roar!"
CRACK!
The ground within a kilometer radius churned like ocean waves, forcibly shaking Akainu out from the subterranean ambush.
Countless cracks appeared on his magma-fied body from the vibration impact.
"Got you, little pup."
Whitebeard's large hand clamped around Akainu's throat.
Before the Dark-Dark Fruit's ability from the green blood potion could activate, Whitebeard coated his arm in supreme Armament Haki.
"Impossible... my defenses..."
"Gurararara!"
Whitebeard slammed Akainu heavily onto the ground.
BOOM!
The shockwave sent all surrounding Navy soldiers flying.
"Did you think... the same trick would work on me twice?"
The White Fire "Phoenix" aura let out a clear, melodious cry, the Divine Halo shining brightly.
Whitebeard felt the surging power within his body—the regeneration of the Eight-Faced God Form, the destructive power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, and the sheer vitality of his awakened Mythical Zoan.
"Candle-lighting brat..."
He looked down at the struggling Navy Admiral beneath his feet, his voice suddenly becoming extremely calm.
"Let me show you... what true despair looks like."
"GURARARARA..."
Whitebeard's laughter shook the entire island.
His majestic figure stood tall on the shattered battlefield, Murakumogiri deeply embedded in the ground next to him.
Those eyes burning with rage locked firmly onto Akainu, Conqueror's Haki swirling around him like materialized crimson lightning.
"I spared your life last time..."
Whitebeard slowly raised his left fist.
The power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit gathered at his knuckles, forming a sphere of spiderweb cracks.
"...and now you dare threaten my family..."
The air trembled.
Akainu's magma body continuously dripped scalding lava, but the Marine Admiral instinctively took half a step back.
He had never seen Whitebeard like this before.
The man who always called them "sons" now had nothing but pure killing intent in his eyes.
"Without your Magma Fruit..."
Whitebeard stomped hard, shattering the ground as tremor power transformed into a towering tsunami.
"...YOU ARE NOTHING BUT ASH!!!"
Just as this world-shattering punch was about to be unleashed—
ZOOM! ZOOM! ZOOM! ZOOM!
Four dark figures descended from the sky like falling stars!
Seeing the new arrivals, Akainu curled his lips into a cold smile.
"Seraphim! Hear my command! Kill Whitebeard at all costs!"
Upon receiving the order via the Authority Chip, the four Seraphim identified their target and locked onto Whitebeard.
"Seraphim S-Hawk, commencing elimination."
The blond youth with hawk-like eyes wielded a massive black blade.
The Lunarian flames on his back burned brightly as his sword targeted Whitebeard's heart.
"Seraphim S-Snake, joining the fray~"
The petite figure tossed her black hair, the Love-Love Fruit ability bursting from her fingertips in the form of pink arrows.
"Seraphim S-Shark, tearing target apart."
The Fishman youth's arms transformed into serrated blades, his entire body covered in sharp edges, coldly carrying out his mission!
"Seraphim S-Bear, Ursus Shock."
The largest figure raised its paw-like hands, firing an air cannon compressed to its limits.
Four attacks comparable to Warlord-level power struck simultaneously!
Whitebeard roared angrily, the Tremor-Tremor Fruit's power forming a distorted barrier before him.
"GET LOST!"
BOOM——!!!
In the earth-shattering explosion, the entire island shook violently.
A massive mushroom cloud rose into the sky, the shockwave flattening all buildings within a kilometer radius.
When the sky-obscuring dust finally cleared, the scene revealed made everyone's hearts tremble with fear—
Four figures radiating icy killing intent had completely surrounded Whitebeard!
S-Hawk, wielding a pitch-black long sword wrapped in green energy fluctuations, clashed fiercely with Murakumogiri.
CLANG!
Every exchange produced blinding sparks, the metallic clanging sounds making nearby Marines' eardrums bleed.
It was clearly mimicking Mihawk's swordplay, executed with mechanical precision.
S-Snake stood on a nearby giant rock.
Her slender fingers lightly flicked as pink heart-shaped light waves poured down like rain.
"Perfume Femur!"
These beams containing Love-Love Fruit energy actually attempted to petrify Whitebeard's body directly, but were forcefully blocked by surging Conqueror's Haki just before reaching his skin, exploding into a series of dazzling fireworks.
S-Shark, his arms already transformed into ferocious serrated long blades allowing him to move through the ground, slashed at Whitebeard's legs with mountain-splitting force.
Every strike carried the Fishman race's unique monstrous strength, making even Whitebeard's stance shift slightly.
Most terrifying was S-Bear's attack—those seemingly cute paw-like hands compressed air to its limits.
"Ursus Shock!"
BOOM!
One direct hit tore a shocking crack in the tremor barrier surrounding Whitebeard!
"Cough..."
Whitebeard's majestic frame trembled slightly for the first time, dull pain spreading through his chest.
The coordination between the four Seraphim was seamless.
Each possessed combat prowess surpassing the original Seven Warlords in terms of durability.
Even more terrifying was the fact that they felt no fatigue or pain!
"Vegapunk..."
Whitebeard's gaze was as cold and sharp as a blade, sweeping across the four humanoid weapons.
S-Hawk's indifferent golden vertical pupils. S-Snake's enchanting eyes.
S-Shark's bloodthirsty crimson glare. S-Bear's inorganic mechanical eyes.
These killing machines, bearing the appearances of the Seven Warlords, were now entangling him with flawless tactical coordination.
"You've created quite the remarkable toys..."
Whitebeard's voice remained steady, but anyone could hear the gravity in his tone.
The Marines observing from afar were trembling with excitement—this was the first time the "World's Strongest Man" had been suppressed in a head-on confrontation!
Akainu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his magma fists reigniting.
"See this, Whitebeard? This is the power of the New Era!"
"Gurarararara..."
Surprisingly, Whitebeard suddenly threw his head back and laughed uproariously.
With one hand, he tore off his already tattered captain's coat, revealing his scar-covered, powerfully built chest—yet his back was perfectly smooth!
Just as he had said: A real man never turns his back to the enemy!
Then, the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit began to vibrate at an unprecedented frequency, distorting even the space around him and causing the surrounding trees and rocks to resonate!
"Then let this old man teach you... what true wrath from the Old Era means!!!"
Whitebeard violently plunged his blade into the ground, causing the entire island's foundation to crack.
Under the horrified gazes of everyone, his muscles visibly swelled, and his Conqueror's Haki materialized into crimson lightning that shot straight into the sky!
Wave after wave of vibrations silently spread out, merging with and guiding the resonant frequencies of everything around them.
"SHIMA YURASHI!"