"Don't move now."
Kizaru's voice sounded right beside Beckman's ear.
A finger glowing with golden light pressed firmly against his temple.
Beckman's body stiffened instantly. Slowly, he raised both hands.
Marine Headquarters Admiral, Kizaru.
This man always looked like a laid-back office worker just killing time, but no one could deny that his strength stood at the very peak of the world.
Moments ago, Aokiji had instantly ended Jinbe.
Now… was Kizaru planning to do the same to him?
That thought alone was terrifying.
Whoosh!
The instant Beckman was restrained by Kizaru, a figure shot forward toward the Red Force.
Hawk moved without hesitation.
The earlier fighting had been intense, and he had not paid much attention to the balance of his Justice Points.
But the system notifications in his mind had never stopped.
[Ding. Host's subordinates have slain members of the Whitebeard Pirates. Justice Points +10,000.]
[Ding. Justice Points +15,000.]
[Ding. Justice Points +20,000.]
The destruction of the Whitebeard Pirates was only a matter of time.
And now, the second Yonko crew had arrived.
The Red-Haired Pirates.
Cold numbers flashed through Hawk's eyes.
Captain Red-Hair Shanks. Bounty: 4,048,900,000 Berries.
That number alone represented at least four hundred thousand Justice Points.
And his crew, known as the most well-balanced Yonko crew, the Iron Wall Pirates, were all famous monsters of the New World.
Vice Captain Benn Beckman. Sniper Yasopp. Executive Lucky Roux.
Taken together, the entire Red-Haired Pirates would easily contribute another million Justice Points.
That meant that by the time this war truly ended, he would reap more than two million Justice Points.
Two million.
Beyond upgrading his already prepared top-tier physique, he could elevate one more ability from fist techniques, Observation Haki, or Armament Haki from top-tier to ceiling-level.
That was power beyond the admirals, power that truly stood at the summit of the world.
"..."
At that thought, Hawk's eyes burned with heat.
Shanks, there is no need to hesitate anymore.
For the sake of purging this sea, offer up your head.
"Red-Hair!"
Hawk drove a punch straight toward Shanks.
Shanks did not hesitate for even a second. Gryphon swept upward, carving a sharp arc.
"Divine Departure!"
Boom!
Fist and blade collided violently in midair.
At that moment, crack.
A freezing sound echoed from the far side of the bay.
Aokiji had appeared at the water's edge without anyone noticing.
His hands were in his pockets, his gaze utterly cold.
"Kahahahaha…"
From him outward, deep blue ice spread at a visible speed, surging straight toward the Red Force.
In the blink of an eye, the Yonko's flagship, along with hundreds of meters of surrounding sea, was completely frozen.
Aokiji made his stance clear through action alone.
Since you came, do not even think about leaving.
On the deck of the Red Force, Yasopp raised his sniper rifle, the crosshair locking onto Hawk.
Before he could pull the trigger, a blinding streak of lightning grazed his cheek and slammed into the deck behind him, leaving a charred bullet hole.
Yasopp snapped his head up toward the execution platform.
A marine girl wearing headphones was there, holding a sniper rifle.
Lightning crackled around the barrel.
Click.
Yasopp tried to realign his aim on Hawk.
Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat!
Dense lightning fire poured down like a storm.
Every shot struck the deck around him with terrifying precision, blasting hole after hole through the hardened planks.
Violent lightning formed an impenetrable barrage that forced him to keep his head down.
A massive question mark popped up in Yasopp's mind.
This is a sniper?
You call this sniping?
This is a walking machine-gun turret!
Boom!
With Hawk's ferocious advance,
the war erupted once more.
...
Calm Belt. Amazon Lily.
Before the vast palace plaza, thousands of Kuja warriors held their breath, staring upward at the massive projection cast by a visual Den Den Mushi.
What filled the screen was hell itself.
Marineford, the fortress that symbolized the Navy's ultimate justice, had become a flesh grinder soaked in pirate blood.
At the highest point of the palace.
On a lavish throne sat the empress of Amazon Lily, Boa Hancock, resting her chin on one hand as she looked down at the broadcast.
"Sigh…"
"Newgate… so even you are leaving…"
An aged sigh sounded beside her.
The former empress of Amazon Lily, a former member of the Rocks Pirates, known as Elder Nyon, Gloriosa.
Her clouded eyes were filled with anxiety and dread.
"Hancock…"
"The Navy is no longer the Navy we once knew."
Her gaze fixed on the figure clashing head-on with Shanks on the screen.
"This is not a war."
"This is a purge. A purge of all pirates by the Navy."
"Hancock! You refused the compulsory summons!"
"The title of Warlord will be stripped away!"
"Once this war ends, the Navy will settle accounts."
"They will trample this island, just like they trampled Mock Town."
Her voice grew more frantic with every word. "Amazon Lily will be destroyed because of your refusal!"
Hancock slowly turned her head and glanced down at Elder Nyon from above.
There was not the slightest trace of panic on her face.
"Elder Nyon."
"It is nothing more than a group of crude men engaging in an ugly slaughter."
"What is there to be so alarmed about?"
Elder Nyon was so furious she nearly lost her breath.
"Do you have no concern at all for this country?"
Hancock let out a soft snort and slowly rose to her feet.
"You truly are growing more muddled with age."
"They are men."
"And I…"
She leaned back dramatically, pointing at Elder Nyon with one finger, striking a pose of absolute disdain for the world.
"Am the most beautiful woman in the world."
"No matter what mistakes I make…"
"The whole world will forgive me."
Her voice rang with unquestionable confidence.
"I am simply too beautiful."
Elder Nyon opened her mouth, but no words came out.
She stared at the hopelessly narcissistic woman before her.
A deep sense of powerlessness washed over her.
It was over.
This country was going to be destroyed by its current empress.
"That marine called Hawk…"
"When he comes to Amazon Lily and sees my beauty with his own eyes, he will naturally kneel before me, repent, and beg for mercy."
"..."
Elder Nyon closed her eyes in despair.
"Then…"
"Then we will wait."