"..."
Ice shards exploded into the air, dazzling and brilliant.
Yet that crystalline beauty plunged everyone watching into a suffocating silence.
Was this what the Navy had become now?
Powerful. Cold. Terrifying to the bone.
One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, a name famous across the oceans, had been erased on the spot.
And the one who struck was Aokiji, an admiral who had not seemed particularly eye-catching throughout most of the war.
The Navy now…
Was simply too frightening.
"Jinbe…"
The light in Whitebeard's eyes finally dimmed.
The Whitebeard Pirates' last hope of retreat shattered along with the ice crystals filling the sky.
The Navy was too resolute.
In all his years ruling the seas, he had never seen such an iron-blooded, decisive Navy.
Today, the Whitebeard Pirates might truly be wiped out here.
"..."
Whitebeard slowly turned his head, looking at Akainu standing before him.
"Magma brat!"
His voice was hoarse, carrying the madness of a life being burned away. "Gurarararara…"
"My final counterattack before death is going to be terrifying."
"Tell me, do you fear death?"
Akainu bared his teeth in a grin, molten heat and ruthless resolve blazing in his smile.
His magma fist slammed out once more.
Boom!
The war continued under merciless suppression.
After witnessing Jinbe's fate, the remaining pirates completely lost their will to fight.
The pace of death accelerated sharply.
On another side of the battlefield.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Rapid clashes of steel rang out like a torrential storm.
Vista gasped for breath, his twin blades swinging desperately as he blocked the ghostlike green figure before him.
This green-haired young marine wielded his sword with lethal precision, every strike aimed to kill.
Even more frightening was the blood-soaked killing aura surrounding him, sending chills through Vista's spine.
And yet, his own focus had been wavering.
Old man… Ace…
On a battlefield, how could one afford distraction?
A sharp blade grazed his neck, drawing a thin spray of blood.
Vista broke out in cold sweat and hurriedly retreated to widen the distance.
Zoro came to a halt amid flashing steel. On Wado Ichimonji, pitch-black Armament Haki intertwined with a blood-red aura, radiating an ominous presence.
He looked at Vista calmly and spoke.
"Your swordsmanship is strong."
"But I can feel it. Your conviction isn't here."
"..."
Vista's fingers tightened violently around his hilt.
"Though we serve different sides," Zoro's gaze sharpened, "I will send you off with my strongest strike. That is my respect to you as a swordsman."
He slowly raised Wado Ichimonji across his chest.
In an instant, an indescribable stench of blood exploded outward from him.
Zoro closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, his black pupils had transformed into crimson vertical slits, no longer human.
Savage killing intent surged from the depths of his soul.
"Rakshasa opens the gate…"
he murmured.
"Yellow Springs guide the way!"
"Blood Qi. One Sword Style. Rakshasa. Road to the Underworld!"
A single slash flashed past.
So fast that even Vista's dynamic vision could only capture a vague afterimage.
In Vista's perception, the entire world drained into black and white.
The only color left was the blood-red slash that tore through heaven and earth.
When it finally vanished, sound and color returned to the world.
Crack!
A crisp shattering sound rang out.
Vista looked down.
The two famed swords in his hands fell to the ground.
Then, a thin line of blood surfaced on his chest, spreading rapidly, cutting straight through his body.
Blood gushed from his mouth like a fountain.
His life force drained away at terrifying speed.
What a fast sword…
So this is the road to the underworld…
So this is the new generation of Navy swordsmen…
Vista's body slowly toppled backward, slamming heavily onto the frozen ground, falling completely silent.
Zoro sheathed his blade and turned to look into the distance.
Sanji's battle had already ended as well.
He lit a cigarette with elegant ease, took a deep drag, then slowly exhaled.
At his feet, the dual-gun marksman lay twisted on the ground, every bone in his body shattered, utterly lifeless.
Their gazes met in midair.
Zoro gave a slight nod.
Sanji blew out a smoke ring in response.
No words were needed.
Together, they looked toward the figure calmly lighting a cigar.
Big brother was finally about to move.
"..."
Shanks watched the war that still raged on, falling silent.
Seriously, not even giving him face?
His mind raced.
Whitebeard was still alive, but clearly at the end of his rope.
The Navy held overwhelming victory, morale soaring.
Should he stay, or should he leave?
As Shanks hesitated.
Hawk's figure vanished without warning.
In the next instant, he appeared at the very front of the plaza.
A trace of excitement curved his lips.
He had commanded the entire war, watching his young monsters grow one by one. The feeling was undeniably satisfying.
But now, the outcome was decided.
It was time for him to stretch his own muscles.
"Red-Hair!"
Hawk looked at the Red-Haired Pirates and threw a punch.
Black fist force roared toward the Red Force at terrifying speed.
Shanks' pupils shrank sharply.
Without hesitation, Gryphon was drawn in a flash, raised horizontally to block.
Boom!
Fist and blade collided violently.
A visible shockwave rippled outward like a tidal ring.
Shanks felt numbness spread through the arm gripping his sword.
He stared in disbelief.
"Blood Eagle," Rear Admiral Renn Hawk!
He was absolutely at admiral-level combat strength!
The Navy had been hiding a top-tier Conqueror's Haki user, a true admiral-level powerhouse, all this time.
Cold sweat seeped down Shanks' back.
He suddenly realized the situation was far worse than he had imagined.
If Akainu finished off Whitebeard, and the three admirals joined forces…
Today, the Red-Haired Pirates might truly be finished.
The Red-Haired Pirates' vice captain, Benn Beckman, reacted instantly.
He raised his long rifle at once, preparing to support Shanks.
A golden light suddenly gathered before his eyes without any warning.
A lazy voice sounded beside his ear.
Kizaru's figure appeared out of thin air next to Beckman. Golden light flickered on his raised index finger, aimed directly at Beckman's temple.
"Don't move now, Benn Beckman."