As Cheng Xiaoyu's words fell, the entire battlefield suddenly plunged into an eerie silence.
Immediately after, darkness surged like a tide, seemingly swallowing all light.
The most striking figure was that of Red Count Leidfield, dressed in a blood-red noble suit, who elegantly lifted a corner of his cloak, his cold gaze sweeping across the entire field.
"Long time no see, Sengoku, Garp," Red Count Leidfield sneered.
Bullet looked around, his gaze lingering for a moment on the deceased Whitebeard, then sweeping over the others.
Suddenly, his eyes locked onto Garp.
"Garp!"
Bullet roared, "Last time wasn't enough, let's continue!"
Beside him, a colossal figure descended with a crash: World Destroyer Valdo!
The pressure from these three brothers was undeniable!
"..."
Then, Eneru, the God of Sky Island, made an explosive appearance!
He directly transformed into a giant Thunder God, wreathed in eerie black lightning tainted by shadows, a sight that made one's scalp tingle!
Of course, there was also Gekko Moriah, who kept letting out his characteristic cackles.
Immediately after, more powerful figures flashed into view:
Kuina, the gifted swordsman wielding the famous blade Shusui, the agile Gin, the cunning and treacherous Kuro, and the terrifying Giant Race duo, the Red and Black Oni!
These individuals were all early members of the Shadow Legion!
As Cheng Xiaoyu's level and strength increased, their power also became formidable!
At the same time, the entire plaza was instantly swarmed by a dense Shadow Army!
Most of them were the shadows of the most heinous prisoners from Impel Down! And their combat power was in no way inferior to their original bodies!
Even the ruthless characters that Blackbeard was supposed to recruit, such as Evil King, Big Wine Barrel Shot, and San Juan Wolf, were among them!
Finally, the three Legion Commanders of the shared shadow storage, Ygritte, Jian Ya, and Pell, also arrived, treading on air!
Adding the shadows of the Marine elites and Whitebeard Pirates who had fallen in previous battles, the number of Shadow Soldiers was conservatively estimated to have reached 6000!
Standing at the very front was their Captain, the Shadow Monarch of this world—
Cheng! Xiaoyu!
"Now, am I still alone, Admiral Aokiji?" Cheng Xiaoyu's voice was low and full of menace.
Aokiji seemed oblivious to the gravity of the situation, slowly licking the ice pop in his hand.
"So that's it, is this your ability? Controlling the shadows of the dead?"
However, the expressions of the elderly Sengoku and Garp instantly became solemn.
They exchanged a glance, both seeing worry in each other's eyes.
Just the two super powerhouses, Bullet and Red Count Leidfield, were enough to give them a headache!
Marineford might very well disappear from the map permanently today!
At this moment, Cheng Xiaoyu's face revealed a chilling smile.
"Then, let's begin!"
As soon as the words fell, the entire battlefield plunged into chaos.
The Shadow Legion surged towards the Marine like a tide, a suffocating mass of black.
Many Marine soldiers hadn't even realized what was happening when they felt a bone-chilling coldness from behind.
They turned to see their former comrades, now transformed into pitch-black shadows, holding sharp blades and stabbing at them.
"What?!"
A Marine soldier screamed in terror, but it was too late to dodge.
A Shadow Soldier's blade slashed down, and blood splattered.
In the center of the chaotic battlefield, Bullet's gaze locked onto Garp.
He grinned, revealing a mouthful of chilling white teeth.
"Old Man Garp!" Bullet roared, "Last time wasn't enough, let's continue this time!"
Garp frowned, his fists already clenched.
"Still so impolite," he muttered under his breath, "Looks like I need to teach you a lesson about respecting your elders!"
Their fists collided in mid-air, unleashing a terrifying shockwave that instantly leveled the surrounding buildings.
Meanwhile, Red Count Leidfield elegantly walked towards Sengoku. His blood-red suit fluttered in the wind, giving off an eerie beauty.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku," Red Count Leidfield said disdainfully, "Let's see if your so-called 'justice' can stand the test."
However, the most unexpected action was Kuina's.
This young swordswoman directly approached Dracule Mihawk, holding a long blade in each hand.
"World's Greatest Swordsman Dracule Mihawk," Kuina's voice was calm and firm, "Please give me your guidance."
Hawkeye raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at the two great swords in her hands, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
"Interesting, it's rare to see girls playing with swords these days..."
The three Legion Commanders were dealing with the remaining Marine powerhouses, and several Vice Admirals had already been killed by them!
As the entire battlefield descended into chaos, Cheng Xiaoyu remained exceptionally calm.
A faint, cold smile hung on his lips, as if he were enjoying a meticulously choreographed play.
Bullet and Garp's battle had entered a heated phase, each collision shaking the earth.
Red Count Leidfield's clash with Sengoku was even more breathtaking, the shockwaves from their Haki collisions continuously destroying the surrounding buildings.
Their destructive power only added to the already battered Marineford!
And beyond the battles of these top powerhouses, his Shadow Army was consuming the Marine's forces at an astonishing rate.
"Ah!"
Another scream rang out, and a Marine soldier fell to the ground, his life rapidly draining away, while his shadow, at that moment, became exceptionally clear.
Black substance rose from the ground, gradually solidifying into a humanoid form, joining the endless slaughter.
Every fallen Marine soldier would become a new member of his Shadow Legion.
This nearly perfect cycle filled Cheng Xiaoyu with genuine pleasure.
"What a fascinating sight."
The Captains of the Whitebeard Pirates were stunned in place, unsure who this Cheng Xiaoyu truly was.
He had been hidden above the dark clouds from the very beginning, only appearing at the last moment to reap the entire field, as if every step was under his control.
Such a person was truly terrifying!
Marco clenched his fists, his eyes glinting with disbelief.
"This guy... has he been manipulating everything from the shadows all along?"
Just then, an angry roar broke the solemnity.
"Straw Hat Luffy!"
Akainu's eyes were bloodshot, and his entire body emanated scorching lava, "Today, you will surely die!"
No matter what, he would take Luffy's life today!
Akainu leaped into the air, his right arm transforming into scorching magma, and slammed it fiercely towards the already unconscious Luffy.
"Great Eruption!"
The scorching magma transformed into a massive pillar of fire in the air, distorting the very air it passed through.
This fatal blow was about to land on Luffy.
"Fire Fist!"
A black flame suddenly came head-on, colliding with Akainu's magma.
Instantly, fire splattered everywhere!
"Ace?! Even if you become a shadow, it won't change anything! I will definitely kill Straw Hat Luffy!" Akainu roared.
Ace, standing in front of Luffy, was enveloped in an eerie black shadow, even his signature flames were tainted with a shadowy hue.
As their fists collided, he slowly raised his head.
"You bastard! Luffy is my brother!"
"Even if I die again, I will protect him to the very end!"