Nearly a hundred hot air balloon-like birdhouses floated in the sky, all belonging to the World Economic Journal.
From the largest birdhouse, Morgans peered through professional photographic equipment, his eyes widening as he witnessed a shocking scene unfold.
Click! Click! Click!
At his command, every reporter from the World Economic Journal scrambled to capture images of Thorne Ashveil.
With just a single burst of Conqueror's Haki, Ashveil had directly caused twenty thousand Marine elites to collapse. Such a sight could not go unrecorded.
"Although I don't know why only Ashveil from the Whitebeard Pirates came…"
"…I have to say, his strength is truly terrifying!"
"He's facing the entire Marine force by himself!"
"And with just one use of Conqueror's Haki, he knocked out twenty thousand elites!"
"In this world, how many people can achieve that?" Morgans exclaimed, trembling with excitement as he clutched the freshly developed photos.
On the battlefield below, Sengoku frowned deeply.
The young man before him was far too powerful. Against him, ordinary Marines were completely useless.
"Aokiji, Kizaru, Vice Admiral Tokikake! The three of you, go and apprehend that young man together!" Sengoku commanded gravely.
The admirals froze for a moment, surprise flickering across their faces.
Had they misheard?
That young man was indeed terrifying—his strength rivaled an Admiral's, and his Conqueror's Haki was monstrous.
But to deploy two Admirals at once, here in Marineford itself, just to subdue a single youth… this was unprecedented.
Even if Whitebeard himself appeared, he might not receive such treatment.
Beside Sengoku, Vice Admiral Tsuru wore a grim expression.
"Go. Even two Admirals may struggle to bring him down," she said.
"Apprehend him quickly. If the Whitebeard Pirates arrive and join forces with him, the Marines will be put at a severe disadvantage!"
Her gaze lingered on Ashveil with sharp focus.
Even Garp, standing nearby, had a serious look in his eyes.
"Sengoku, how about I go?" he asked, already rolling up his sleeves.
Sengoku shook his head. "You're the hero of the Marines. If you fight a mere youngster, the world will ridicule us. Besides, the Whitebeard Pirates haven't appeared yet. You and I must guard the rear—our last line of defense."
The Admirals exchanged glances. If even Garp was this concerned about Ashveil, they couldn't afford to underestimate him.
In the blink of an eye, Kizaru's body flashed in golden light as he vanished. Aokiji and Vice Admiral Tokikake followed swiftly, soaring toward Ashveil with Geppo.
---
Kizaru arrived first, his speed overwhelming thanks to the power of his Devil Fruit.
"Oh, how frightening," he said lazily, his tea-colored eyes narrowing. "To have such strength at such a young age… you must be a monster."
He raised a hand, light gathering at his fingertips.
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
Countless beams of light shot toward Ashveil, exploding with devastating force. The air filled with smoke and shockwaves.
Buzz…
Ashveil's Conqueror's Haki barrier pulsed, rippling outward as it absorbed the barrage.
The destruction was far greater than the Marine artillery he'd shrugged off earlier. This was indeed an Admiral's personal strike.
Before the smoke cleared, a chilling cry echoed across the battlefield.
A giant ice bird burst forth, freezing everything in its path as it slammed toward Ashveil.
Aokiji's right arm glowed with cold mist, his face calm but intent.
At the same time, Vice Admiral Tokikake closed in, her eyes sharp, her black blade Konpira gleaming with a sinister red aura.
"Flying Slash – Red Glow!"
Her slash cut forward, red energy piercing twenty centimeters into Ashveil's Haki barrier before finally slowing.
The Marines erupted in cheers, their morale reigniting.
"The Admirals! An Admiral has moved!"
"All three Admirals at once! We're saved!"
"With them here, we have nothing to fear!"
Above them, Morgans' feathers ruffled with excitement as he snapped photo after photo.
"Two Admirals deployed simultaneously… Are the Marines actually afraid?"
Down on the battlefield, Doflamingo's grin faltered behind his burgundy shades.
"Could it be… Ashveil intends to take on all two Admirals alone? Just to prove his strength?"
His shades reflected a dangerous glint of light.
---
At last, Ashveil's Haki barrier stabilized.
So this was the true level of Admiral power.
Even Whitebeard himself might struggle against two Admirals and one vice admiral acting together.
But instead of despair, Ashveil smiled faintly.
This was getting interesting.
If he was to be besieged by two Admirals, dragged into Impel Down, wouldn't that make for a far more thrilling stage?
The Marines were finally fighting seriously.
And in return, he would give them a performance worth remembering.
"Flame Dragon Fist!"
Ashveil's fist ignited as he launched his Devil Fruit power.
With a deafening roar, a massive dragon of fire surged forward, flames dripping from its scales and hissing into steam upon touching the sea.
The blazing beast lunged toward Kizaru.
Kizaru's eyes widened in shock.
So the rumors were true. Sakazuki—Admiral Akainu—had indeed perished at this youth's hands.
And unlike Sakazuki, his own defense was far weaker.
If that attack connected, he would be annihilated.
A flash of golden light—Kizaru dispersed into photons, vanishing in an instant.
But the fire dragon twisted, its body shifting direction midair.
It roared and surged toward Vice Admiral Tokikake instead.
His eyes widened in horror. He lacked Kizaru's speed. If this hit, he would be killed outright.
Clenching his teeth, he raised Konpira, coating the blade in Armament Haki, bracing for impact.
But before the dragon could reach him—
"Ice Block: Pheasant Beak!"
Aokiji stepped forward, unleashing another ice phoenix. The icy bird collided with the fire dragon head-on.
Sizzle… steam erupted, shrouding the battlefield in thick mist.
Through the haze, the fire dragon emerged once again, its jaws locked tightly around the ice phoenix. Steam hissed as the frozen bird melted inside its maw.
"Roar!"
With another thunderous cry, the fire dragon pressed forward, still advancing through the fog.
_____
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