Chapter 119: Light

"What the hell is going on here!!?"

"……!!"

──The Holy Land "Mary Geoise."

The stronghold of the World Government, an organization of immense power, and the very center of the world itself. Within one of the chambers of its colossal fortress, a furious roar echoed.

"Are you telling me you had no intelligence on this!? Until now!?"

"……We have no excuse……!! We were aware of the contact between 'Kaido' and 'Big Mom,' but we had no information regarding their alliance with 'Golden Lion'……!!"

"This isn’t something you can just dismiss with 'we didn’t know'……!! Where is the Inspector General!? Summon him here and make him explain……!!"

"Y-Yes…! However, for some reason, we’ve been unable to reach him……!!"

"!! Don’t tell me……"

Bowing his head in the Chamber of Authority was a man in a white suit and mask—a member of CP0, the strongest protectors of the Celestial Dragons and the world’s most elite intelligence agents. The one unleashing his wrath before him was none other than the Five Elders, the supreme leaders of the World Government.

At this moment, all of them wore pale expressions upon hearing the unforeseen developments in the Summit War taking place at Marineford. The alliance itself was bad enough, but their failure to obtain intel on it was an even greater blunder.

"……Has he betrayed us……?"

"Regardless of the truth, our inability to gather this intelligence is an inexcusable failure……!! Even if he hasn’t betrayed us, we can no longer leave things as they are."

"Indeed. But right now… the pressing issue is how we handle this crisis. Their goal is the collapse of the Marines and the world’s order… There’s no doubt they’ll target this place next."

"If 'Whitebeard' and the 'Marines' win, we won’t have to worry… but we can’t count on that. Damn 'Rocks'… Even in death, he remains a threat to us…"

"We must act… For now, have CP0 prepare for the worst."

"Understood… And what of the Celestial Dragons?"

"Summon the Holy Knights. As for the rest… leave them be."

"Yes… We’ll act immediately."

"Good."

Following the Five Elders’ orders, the CP0 agent swiftly left the Chamber of Authority. Though they served as both shield and spear for the Celestial Dragons, even their commands had a hierarchy.

The will of the Celestial Dragons came first, but above all, they answered to the true rulers—not the public face of power, but the shadowed one.

"……We may have no choice but to discard everything… save for that person and ourselves."

"Agreed. If the worst comes to pass, they will at least serve as useful decoys in the end."

"A regrettable but necessary measure… 'Big Mom,' 'Golden Lion'… and above all, 'Kaido' and 'Nue'…!! Facing them, we must prepare for the absolute worst……!!"

"We cannot allow it."

"No. We must act swiftly."

And the same went for the Five Elders.

Though they bore the duty of maintaining the world’s order, none of them believed themselves to be the true pinnacle—nor did they dare entertain the thought of usurping it.

Thus, like CP0, they existed to protect a single, supreme authority, moving solely by that figure’s will.

"This is an emergency. Has contact been made?"

"The line just connected. —Can you hear me?"

『—Yes.』

And so, they too began preparing for the worst.

After issuing orders to CP0, they immediately reached out to a certain individual via Den Den Mushi.

"I assume you’re aware of the situation… There’s something we must ask of you. Do you understand?"

『…Yes. But I cannot guarantee I can stop them. I advise you to flee while you still can.』

"Preparations for that are underway, but the best outcome would be for you to halt them. Given your position—as one of the 'Four Emperors'—your intervention would not seem unnatural."

『…………I will do my utmost.』

"We’re counting on you."

Click. The Den Den Mushi disconnected.

Simultaneously, the Five Elders rose and exited the Chamber of Authority.

This was an emergency that demanded the use of every hidden card they possessed. Their expressions, devoid of any composure, made that clear as they hastened toward their destination.

"—Imo-sama…!!"

Yes—their destination was the "Empty Throne" at the heart of Pangaea Castle.

Once, the "Original 20" who forged the world had planted their weapons before this throne and sworn an oath—a testament that this world would never have a single king.

Before the Reverie, the kings of each nation would thrust their weapons into the steps below the throne, pledging "equality" and renouncing the desire for tyranny.

Thus, it was decreed that none may sit upon that throne—officially, at least.

"The 'Five Elders'—have arrived!!!"

──Yet one figure reclined upon the "Empty Throne."

Even the Five Elders, regarded as the highest authority of the World Government, knelt on one knee and bowed their heads before this being—the one true king of the world.

Even on the brink of ruin, that fact would never change.

"Have you… resolved yourselves?"

"…………"

The sun was setting.

What thoughts crossed their minds in that moment… was something no ordinary soul could ever know.

---

Marineford – The Unthinkable Happens

"Are you seriously okay with this!? Even if we don’t save Ace now…!!"

"I don’t get it either… But this is the old man’s call!!!"

"Teaming up with pirates…!!"

"……But if we don’t, we won’t be able to protect 'justice'!!!"

Pirates and Marines alike questioned it—and for good reason. To pirates, Marines were irreconcilable enemies, and to Marines, pirates were nothing but evil, disruptors of order.

Their beliefs had never aligned. Their relationship had always been one of endless conflict—until one side was dead.

That hadn’t changed.

"Cooperate with the Whitebeard Pirates and crush the enemies around us!!!"

"Work with the Marines!! If we don’t take them down, there’s no way we’re escaping this!!!"

But—a common enemy had temporarily united them.

The enemy of my enemy is my ally.

To eliminate a shared threat—one that stood in both their ways—the Whitebeard Pirates and the Marine Headquarters now fought side by side.

"SCATTER THIS SO-CALLED 'ALLIANCE'————!!!"

"ROOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRR————!!!!"

Their morale surged as they charged toward their common foe: the Pirate Alliance.

Because they had once been enemies, they understood each other’s strength—and just how formidable they’d be as allies.

"Damn it… They’re rallying!!"

"The Marines and Whitebeard joining forces is insane!!"

"We’re in trouble!!"

The pirates, who had thought they had their foes cornered, now feared this sudden resurgence. Marine Headquarters and the Whitebeard Pirates—both had long stood as insurmountable walls before them.

If these two forces, the pillars of the world’s order, combined—how terrifying would they be?

As pirates, they understood all too well.

"Gurararara… You still got some fight left in those arms, Garp!!"

"Who’re you talkin’ to!? I’m still better than some half-dead fossil!!"

At the center of the battlefield, two legends—Edward Newgate, "Whitebeard," and "Garp the Fist"—stood back-to-back, grinning fearlessly. Nearby, "Sengoku the Buddha" loomed.

The sight of these titans, who had once dominated the seas before the Great Pirate Era, fighting together struck dread into the pirates’ hearts. Countless pirates had been broken by them—too many to name.

But—

"—DON’T YOU DARE FALTER, YOU COWARDS!!!"

"Tch!"

The monsters weren’t just on one side.

If Whitebeard and the Marines were legends who upheld the world’s order—

Then these were legends who sought to destroy it.

"A bunch of dying old men teaming up ain’t worth pissin’ your pants over!!! WE’RE the strongest now!!!"

"Mamamama!! That’s right!!! We’re crushing ‘em all anyway!! Don’t embarrass yourselves by cowering!!!"

Yes—these were the worst monsters, the ones who had defied order itself.

Two fellow Emperors of the Sea—"Kaido of the Beasts" and "Big Mom" Charlotte Linlin.

"Ahaha~ ♡ I’ll admit, this is an interesting twist… but it’s not enough to beat our terror, is it~~~?"

"Zehahaha…!! You really think you can run from US!?"

And the threats of "Nue the Phantom Beast" and "Golden Lion" Shiki still loomed.

Even with Whitebeard and the Marines united, the overwhelming advantage of the Pirate Alliance couldn’t be overturned.

"Hell yeah!! Let’s finish this!!!"

"So what if it’s Whitebeard and the Marines!? We’ve got Kaido, Big Mom, AND Golden Lion on our side!!!"

"Quit actin’ tough, you damn relics!! We’ll END you!!"

And these pirates were no weaklings—they were the elite crews of the Emperors.

The Beast Pirates’ commanders and Big Mom’s Sweet Generals fought with unshaken resolve, believing their captains would rule the world as the next Pirate Kings.

"Hah… Hah… I ain’t dyin’ yet…!! I know… what my death would mean…!!!"

"…………"

But Whitebeard refused to yield.

His lifespan was dwindling. His enemies were monstrous. The situation was dire.

And that was exactly why he couldn’t die yet.

He burned the last of his life to keep moving—to protect his family.

"…Then at the very least… I gotta live long enough to see my sons’ bright future…!!!"

Standing at the brink of despair, Whitebeard remained a monster among monsters, blocking the path of his foes.

Ace, watching from the execution platform—

His family, fighting on the battlefield—

The Marines, now his unlikely allies—

Even the enemy pirates—all saw it.

Even Kaido stared silently… before finally speaking.

"Still refusing to give up, huh…? So your resolve’s set in stone, Whitebeard…!! Watching you fight on, even as your body fails… reminds me of someone."

Whitebeard’s defiance made Kaido recall a man he had killed long ago—a man who had once been greatly significant to Whitebeard.

"The swordsman who wounded me… and showed me a magnificent death… THAT SAMURAI…!!!"

"!! Kaido…!! So you really did—"

"……!!"

At Kaido’s words, Whitebeard—and the veterans of his crew who had sailed with him for nearly 30 years—reacted.

To them, the word "samurai" could only mean one man:

The former 2nd Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates—

A man who had once rampaged across the seas before joining Gol.D. Roger, the Pirate King, on his final voyage.

Hearing of his death, they clenched their teeth—already half-expecting the truth, yet still feeling the sting of rage and grief.

But in this battle, there was no time for mourning.

And so, though the past weighed heavily, they accepted it—in silence.

"…I see. So it was you who killed Oden."

"Damn right. That bastard was strong...!! And he showed me one hell of a death...!"

Even Kaido, the one who had killed him, couldn’t help but acknowledge Oden’s worth.

A fool of a lord, perhaps—but his strength was undeniable.

For Kaido, who had long since stopped fearing death, Oden was the only one who had ever brought him close to it. And so, in his own way, Kaido respected him.

"You knew his strength better than anyone!! And even HE couldn’t kill me...!! You think an old man like you can do what he couldn’t...!?"

Back in the day, maybe. But now? A weakened Whitebeard stood no chance against a stronger Kaido.

Even Whitebeard knew it.

"Hell, you’re already on borrowed time after what your siblings did to you... But I’ll give you this—you’ve got guts to still fight!!!"

Kaido raised his kanabo, grinning.

"So I’ll finish you off MYSELF!!!"

"…!!"

"—OYAJI!!!"

Kaido’s Haki-infused club swung down, aiming to crush Whitebeard. The same weapon that had slaughtered hundreds in this war clashed against Whitebeard’s naginata, sending shockwaves ripping through the air.

Whitebeard blocked it—but the force sent him stumbling back.

His crew panicked—

But then—

"…Yeah, maybe I can’t take you alone anymore… But don’t forget. I’m NOT alone now…!!!"

"Damn right, Kaido!!!"

"Tch!"

As Whitebeard stepped back, Garp lunged forward, his fist cocked for a devastating blow—

"Mamamama!! Ignorin’ ME, are ya!? How rude!!!"

"Shit!! Big Mom—!!"

The other Emperor, Charlotte Linlin, swung Napoleon down at Garp—

Only for another legend to intercept.

"NOT HAPPENING!!!"

"! Hahaha… SENGOKU!! Long time no see!!"

"!? Fleet Admiral Sengoku’s using his—!?"

A golden giant, radiating light—Sengoku the Buddha, in his full Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Daibutsu form, blocked Big Mom’s strike with his palm.

A Mythical Zoan rarer than any Logia.

He had no choice but to go all-out from the start. Against these monsters, holding back meant death.

And even weakened, Garp and Sengoku were still Admiral-level or higher.

Even for Kaido and Big Mom, taking them down wouldn’t be easy—

Especially when they had backup.

"!!!"

—They could stall the monsters.

Garp’s fist slammed into Kaido’s gut, sending the Emperor skidding back meters.

Just one hit.

Kaido barely flinched—but the fact that Garp had forced him back at all sent morale skyrocketing among the Whitebeard Pirates and Marines.

"…I see…"

But the reality was still grim.

Whitebeard, Garp, Sengoku, the Admirals, the Division Commanders—everyone knew.

Kaido’s smirk said it all.

They were still outmatched.

"Sure, wiping you out won’t be quick… But the rest of your rabble? They won’t last long."

"Kh…!"

Kaido’s grin widened as he delivered the cold truth.

Even if they stalled him and Big Mom, the numbers were against them.

Golden Lion Shiki was still out there.

The All-Stars, the Sweet Commanders, the Tobiroppo, the Ministers, the traitorous Warlords—

And above all—

"Nue ain’t gonna be stopped by some flashy admiral...!! They’ll finish off Kizaru before we finish YOU!! Your whole damn army’s on borrowed time!!!"

"Mamamamama!! You and Nue always were close!! —But he’s RIGHT, Whitebeard!! Garp!! Sengoku!! If you don’t stop us, Nue’ll be here before you know it!!!"

"Better hurry up and die before that happens…!!!"

"…!!"

With that, Kaido and Big Mom charged, determined to crush the legends before them.

No one doubted Nue’s victory.

And as the monsters clashed, every fighter on the battlefield wore a different expression—

Some desperate.

Some resigned.

Some bloodthirsty.

But all of them—

Fought on.

---

The battlefield has now become hell.

The war between the Whitebeard Pirates, the Marines, and the Seven Warlords of the Sea has transformed into the true pinnacle of conflict—thanks to us.

An alliance of pirates—the Beast Pirates, the Big Mom Pirates, and the Golden Lion Pirates—clashing against the makeshift coalition of the Whitebeard Pirates and the Marine Headquarters. This is a battle to destroy the world’s order and forge a new era.

And this is our ideal.

To sow seeds of terror and war across the world, to create a world ruled by violence.

The strong alone shall stand at the summit—meaning we will reign supreme, while the weak are trampled underfoot, stripped of all rights.

This hellish battlefield is our ideal, the ultimate destination we strive for.

To master violence, to dominate everything freely, to do as we please—that is the shape of the "Pirate King" we uphold.

In that world, we kill as we like, fight as we like, eat as we like, sleep as we like, and do whatever we want. We’ll do evil things, good things, maybe even help people. Or, if the mood strikes, slaughter kind-hearted folks and oppress them. We might deceive others, shatter their dignity—or gently pat a child’s head and adore them with pure affection.

To outsiders, it may seem twisted—but this is the way of piracy I’ve learned. True freedom, unbound by morality or anything else. The true teachings of the pirate Rocks.

So I live as I please. I fight to make the man I admire the Pirate King. I shape the stage for my own desires and mass-produce corpses.

We’ll even destroy the original world and build our ideal one in its place. We’ll kill those who were never meant to die. This world, no longer a fantasy but my reality, cares nothing for the shackles of the "original story." The whims of gods mean nothing. I do as I want.

Even if it disrupts the original tale, even if the gods find it inconvenient—

"—No matter what I do… I’m strong and cute, so it’s fine, right? ♡"

"Hah… Hah… Like hell… it is…!!"

"Fufufu ♡ Well, it’s not like I need your forgiveness, Marines. The order, laws, and justice you’ve built… today’s the end of all that!!"

Borsalino, breathing heavily and covered in wounds, swings Ama no Murakumo—a sword of light forged by his powers—but I block it with my spear. Not bad swordsmanship, but sadly, he lacks the strength. This much won’t even send me flying.

"Starting today, we make the world’s rules!! —Lawless ones, of course!!!"

"I’ll never… let that happen…!!"

"A world where violence is absolute sounds fun, don’t you think? You’re strong too—you should enjoy more freedom. But since you’re our enemy, you’ll just have to die!!"

"Guh…!!"

I deflect Borsalino’s sword upward with my spear, then pivot forward and drive my foot into his gut, sending him flying. A clean hit—he groans and spits blood, but he’s still standing. At the last second, he shifted his body slightly.

"Avoiding a fatal wound again… Natural-type Logias are such a pain. Using Observation Haki to predict and fluidly evade… Coupled with the speed of light, landing a decisive blow is tricky. If it weren’t me—someone who’s mastered Observation—you might’ve lasted a bit longer~♡"

"…It’s not over yet…!!"

"Oh-ho!!"

Kizaru counterattacks. The combat speed granted by his Pika Pika no Mi is unmatched even among the Three Admirals—in fact, there’s likely nothing faster in the world. After all, he is light.

That said, Borsalino needs a slight delay when moving or attacking as light. His lasers are fast but predictable—with Future Sight, dodging or blocking isn’t hard.

Of course, this is Admiral "Kizaru" we’re talking about—skill and power included. An ordinary fighter wouldn’t stand a chance. They’d get pulverized.

"Well, I am having fun! You took down my clones and wrecked a good chunk of my UFOs!!"

I say this while dodging his attacks. And I mean it.

Unlike that old hag who dropped out early, Borsalino destroyed my clones, shot down roughly 500 UFOs, and kept up in close combat. Without him, the pile of Marine corpses would be much higher.

Admirals really are strong and annoying.

If the Beast Pirates had fought the Marines and the Warlords alone, it would’ve been a struggle. Even if we won, the losses would’ve been devastating.

On top of the Three Admirals, we’d have to deal with Garp and Sengoku. And while most Warlords aren’t an issue, there’s that troublesome swordsman, Mihawk.

Even if I let the All-Stars and Flying Six handle the tough ones, securing total victory would take time. Prolonged battles favor us, but the toll on my crew would be immense.

Forming this alliance was the right call. As expected of me!

"But I can’t afford to drag this out. Fighting you is fun, but I can’t keep it up forever…"

"Then how about you die and make it easy on me…?!!"

"Ahaha!! If you can kill me, go ahead!! But with your strength? Probably impossible. So I’ll wrap this up now!!!"

"!!"

Vanishing in an instant, I prepare to unleash a major technique.

It’s been a while since I’ve used this. Its scale makes it ill-suited for most fights—but a battlefield like this, where slaughter is endless, is perfect.

"Now then—let the dance begin—"

Crimson lasers form a grid around Borsalino as I announce:

" Nightmare of Heian-kyō !!!"

"!!!?"

A barrage designed for mass slaughter. The same terror once unleashed in Wano—now brought to this land.

"GYAAAAHH—!!?"

"What the hell is that monster!?"

"An animal!?"

"No beast like that exists…!!"

Marines panic as the creature slithers between lasers—a five-meter chimera with traits of multiple beasts, modeled after the Nue.

To them, this unknown abomination is pure horror, its claws and fangs rending flesh, delivering death.

But seeing it, Borsalino mutters:

"The yokai Nue…! So the Bake Bake no Mi, a Mythical Zoan, can even do this…?!"

"Could you not say that out loud? I’m trying to keep up the 'mysterious monster' act here."

Seems the Marines have some intel on my Devil Fruit—well, I did tell Joker he could share it. We needed to leak some info, and this much doesn’t compromise my enigma.

Still… fewer people knowing is better.

"Guess that means I’ll have to bury all of you who know my secrets—starting now! Showtime!!"

With that, I morph the lasers into crimson bullets and send the monsters charging at Borsalino. He manages to repel or dodge them—impressive, but—

"Handling bullets and beasts looks easy for you. So let’s add more!!"

"…!! More UFOs and clones…!?"

Marines recoil as my UFOs—their numbers recently dwindling—multiply again, reinforced by fresh clones.

"Sorry, but these aren’t made to be dodged! No matter how many you destroy, the UFOs, clones, and bullets are endless…! I’ll crush you under sheer force!!"

"…!! Huff… Not like I’ve got anywhere to run…! Before I’m done for… I’ll at least take you down…!!"

Borsalino leaps toward me in the sky. He’s planning something.

I read it with Observation Haki and brace.

How fun—a bullet-hell showdown!!

" Takamagahara !!!"

"!!!"

Borsalino unleashes a blinding radiance—bright enough to illuminate the entire battlefield. Even with my knowledge of the original world, I’ve never seen this technique before.

And it’s not just for show. The effects ripple across the ground and surroundings.

"Hot—!?"

"Shit! Lasers from the sky!!"

"The hell’s with that massive light!? A damn sun!?"

A colossal orb of light materializes above Kizaru, raining down enormous lasers that scorch the earth. Though aimed at me, dodging would just redirect the devastation below—but it’s worse. Raw light itself pours from the heavens.

"Whoa there!?"

The light condenses into lasers, targeting me, my UFOs, and the beasts. It’s as if the very concept of light has bared its fangs to erase me—a technique only a Logia master could wield, a natural disaster masquerading as power.

"Didn’t wanna use this… collateral damage and all!! But desperate times—!!"

"Ahahaha! I love it!! That’s my kinda move!!"

This must be Borsalino’s last resort, a trump card born of desperation. I can feel his resolve—to trade mutual destruction for my end.

Not bad. Glad I got to witness it before killing him.

"No time to waste on small fry!! Focus!!"

"Time to crash and burn…!!"

I redirect all UFOs, beasts, and clones—every attack—toward Borsalino. Bullets, lasers, a storm of projectiles. Yet he intercepts them with his own light-rain, triggering midair explosions where they collide.

But we’re not the type to flinch.

"Sorry, but I’m used to bright lights—idol life, you know!!"

"!"

I rocket through the explosions straight at Borsalino, spear aimed to skewer him.

"Then drown in it…!!"

"Try me!!! If you can!!"

Of course, he doesn’t just watch. Another laser downpour streaks toward me—but I weave through, left and right. Bullet hell’s my specialty. These lasers won’t touch me. Or so I thought—

"! Homing!?"

"You’re taking this… whether you like it or not…!!"

The lasers bend, chasing me after I dodge. Now that’s a surprise. Observation Haki foresaw it… but not everything. Future Sight can’t track what’s beyond sight.

"Nice one…!! But it’ll take more than this to drop me!!"

A few lasers graze me post-explosion, but I spin midair, evading the follow-up barrage, and keep charging. My spear swings at Borsalino while my own projectiles never let up.

"Yasakani no Magatama!!!"

"Rainbow UFO Terror Strike!!!"

He’s not holding back either.

Borsalino’s light-rain clashes with my barrage, trying to halt my advance. UFO lasers and his light collide—piercing, detonating—a chain reaction of blinding flashes.

My UFOs regenerate endlessly, spawning fresh attacks, but his light never falters. The result? A dazzling, layered explosion of radiance, making us the war’s brightest spectacle.

All to stop me.

Yet it’s not so simple. Sweat and blood streak Borsalino’s brow, his curses spat between labored breaths.

"Hah… Hah… Damn… pirate trash… just die already…!!"

"Ahahaha! Such harsh words for the world’s idol!!"

"Can’t deny it, can you…!?"

"Maybe not!! But once I rule this world… my terror and fame will eclipse everything…!! And then—I’ll be the one true idol!!!"

"…!!"

Shock—and fear—flicker in Borsalino’s eyes.

With my declaration, I raise my left arm (the one not holding the spear).

"Which means the Marines have to fall…!! Starting with their greatest shields—the Three Admirals!! And you’re first!!!"

No room for half-measures here. No hiding cards against an opponent like this.

So I transform my left arm. Not fully bestial—just the limb, swelling into a monstrous tiger’s paw while the rest of me stays cute. In an instant, it rockets toward Borsalino.

"…!! Not… yet…!!"

"Tch—!?"

Despite the brutal strike, Borsalino doesn’t fall. Coughing blood, he summons Ama no Murakumo again to meet my assault head-on.

My UFO barrages, beasts, and four copies of myself close in.

"I’d never claim the World Government’s justice is perfect…!! But if this balance shatters—the world ends…!!! Neither the Marines nor pirates… can be allowed to tilt the scales…!!!"

"…! Impressive…!!"

His blade of light deflects bullets, cleaves through beasts, and parries my clones’ strikes. The man who preached Unclear Justice now fights with a desperation I’ve never seen. Even his usual lethargy is gone—he knows what losing means.

—But.

"Thanks for the passion… but this is over."

"…!!? A fourth—no, fifth…!?"

The fourth "me" slips past his sword and seizes his wrist.

"Who said I was limited to four clones?"

"…!!"

Four copies pin Borsalino’s limbs, crucifying him midair. A makeshift execution—my own bodies as the stage for his demise.

"How lucky to die surrounded by me~♡ Consider this a reward for entertaining me this long."

Then—the fifth me. The real one. I rear back my spear and hurl it with all my strength at the immobilized admiral.

"Spear of—…Gungnir!!!"

"!!!"

The spear pierces—through clones, through him.

The copies vanish. The projectile tears another hole through Marineford’s fortress. And Borsalino’s body, now hollowed, plummets.

"A-Admiral Kizaruuuuuu—!!!"

"No way…!!?"

"This can’t…!! Not him…!!"

Marines reel in horror. The World Government’s shield—one of its three supreme powers—

"The Navy’s strongest… Admiral Kizaru—struck down."

—See ya, Borsalino.

I lick his blood from my fingers as the battlefield erupts in chaos. A moment to watch his fall, to whisper farewell in my mind—then I dive back into the war.

---

In that instant, not only Marineford but all the islands watching the broadcast—including the Sabaody Archipelago—were shaken to their core.

"She… she actually did it…!!"

"O-one of the Navy's greatest powers…!!"

"This can't be happening…!!"

Even fellow pirates trembled in fear at the act, while civilians openly despaired. Marines on the battlefield visibly paled, their faces drained of color.

"Kizaru is deeeeeeeead!!!"

"WAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"

"UOOOOOOOOOH!!! Nue-saaaaaan!!!"

Hellish screams filled the air. At the news of the death, Marines wailed in terror and grief, while the pirates allied with the Beasts Pirates roared in triumph.

Even the legendary warriors clashing at the center of the plaza couldn’t help but react.

"Tch…!! Borsalino…!!"

"HA~HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! So one of ‘em finally bit the dust, huh?! That’s our little sister for ya!! Right, Kaido!?"

"…Hmph. With her strength, it’s about damn time!!"

"…………!! (Nue…!!)"

Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Vice Admiral Garp, fellow Admirals Sakazuki and Kuzan, and countless other officers gritted their teeth, enduring the storm of rage and sorrow.

Meanwhile, Big Mom laughed and praised the deed, while her sworn sibling Kaido snorted in approval, tightening his grip on his kanabo. Even their other ex-comrade, Whitebeard, furrowed his brow at what his former apprentice had done, paling alongside the Marines as the situation worsened.

"Fuh… fuhahahaha!!! Even an Admiral’s started dropping like flies…!! Now another uncontrollable monster’s been unleashed!! So, what’s your move!?"

"…!!"

Doflamingo, fighting in the plaza, burst into uncontrollable laughter after a brief pause, exhilarated by the chaos unfolding before his eyes.

Across from him, Crocodile narrowed his eyes, silently stunned by the dire turn of events and the Admiral’s defeat. But unlike the Marines, he didn’t falter—instead, he sent a blade of sand slashing toward Doflamingo.

Yet at that very moment, another figure intervened.

"Open wide, Doflamingo!!"

"!!?"

Doflamingo barely blocked the attack from behind. The twin swords, infused with Haki, carried such power and skill that even he wouldn’t walk away unscathed. A faint sweat formed on his brow, but he still flashed a defiant grin at his attacker.

"Musashi…!! You dare come at me? Think about what your parents would say—"

"Shut it!! If I cut you down, that damn Birdcage of yours disappears, right?! I’ll worry about the rest later!!!"

"…!! You really are your parents’ wild little mutt…!!"

His taunts fell on deaf ears. Doflamingo’s smirk twisted in irritation, but before he could retaliate (without killing her, of course), another attack came from the side.

"…!! Fifth Division Commander… Vista the Flower Sword…!!"

"Doflamingo…!! You’re taking that cage down!!"

Faced with a slash from Vista, a renowned swordsman and commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, even Doflamingo had no choice but to retreat.

But the assault didn’t stop there.

"Desert Spada!!"

"…!! Tch… goddamn pests…!!"

"Don’t you ignore me, you flamingo bastard…!!"

Crocodile’s sand blade came flying, forcing Doflamingo to block with his strings. Surrounded by enemies all gunning for him, he clicked his tongue in frustration.

But it was only natural. Both the Marines and the Whitebeard Pirates had their top brass issuing orders to break through the stalemate.

"Take down the Heavenly Yaksha!!! That cage should vanish once he’s down!!"

"No matter the ability, anything conjured by a Devil Fruit disappears if the user’s knocked out…!! That’s the ironclad rule for most ability users…!!"

Having ruled the seas for decades, the leaders of these two factions knew the universal rules of Devil Fruit abilities. Even without knowing the specifics of Doflamingo’s Ito Ito no Mi, their experience told them the countermeasures.

Paramecia-created constructs usually vanish if the user is incapacitated or killed—unlike body-altering abilities that persist regardless of consciousness. The odds were in their favor.

"Drop dead, Doflamingo…!!"

With the Birdcage still enclosing Marineford, retreat was near impossible.

That’s why everyone—pirates and Marines alike—targeted Doflamingo.

"…!! Hey, Doflamingo!!!"

"!"

Of course, Kaido understood that too. Which was why he issued a warning.

"If you drop that Birdcage, I’ll kill you…!!!"

"…!!?"

The moment those words hit, Doflamingo’s face paled, his grin vanishing.

And he realized—in this battlefield, he wasn’t safe. Far from it. Surrounded by enemies, one misstep meant death by execution.

"……Ahh…!! I know…!!"

Thus, Doflamingo steeled his resolve once more. There was no room for holding back or concealing his hand now. Facing multiple enemies attacking him, Doflamingo unleashed his string powers.

"White Grand Spider Web!!!"

"!!"

"Uwaaaaahhhh~~!!"

"!? What the hell is that…!! Strings are coming out of the ground!!"

His strings swept through the marines and some pirates who mistakenly thought the threads emerged from the ground. But on this battlefield of the strongest, those who didn't recognize this ability were rare.

"Awakening…!!"

"Fufufufu…!! Don't go stating the obvious, Crocodile…!!"

Devil Fruit Awakening. Crocodile, who knew the characteristics of Paramecia-type awakenings, immediately recognized it when he saw the surroundings transforming into strings. The awakening's power to affect the environment made it ideal for fighting multiple opponents.

"Don't think this is enough to stop me!!"

"!!"

Yet many warriors pushed through and closed in on Doflamingo. Musashi also transformed, taking the form of a mythical tiger as he swung his claws down at Doflamingo.

"Hmph!?"

But just before impact—someone intercepted Musashi mid-leap and slammed him into the ground.

"Musashi!!"

"…!! These guys are…!!"

As this new opponent joined the fray, the Beast Pirates' combatants moved with organized precision, confronting the Whitebeard Pirates—including Crocodile and Musashi—and even "Flower Sword" Vista.

"—Musashi, Crocodile, and Vista… Quite the gathering. Drawn in by Doflamingo, huh? With this many, there'll be no shortage of achievements to claim."

"…!! What the hell are these guys… They all look like cats…!!"

"Are they all Zoan-type users…?!"

The Whitebeard Pirates and marines exclaimed. The newly arrived fighters all bore feline characteristics. At the center of this pack stood the Beast Pirates' executive who had just knocked Musashi down—a figure one or two sizes larger than Musashi's transformed state, with long, sharp fangs protruding from his mouth. His appearance clearly marked him as an Ancient Zoan user, proof of his high rank among the Beast Pirates.

[Beast Pirates "Tobi Roppo" Who's-Who: Neko Neko no Mi (Ancient Model: "Saber-Tiger")]

"Too bad, but I won't let a single one of you escape… You're all dead."

"! You bastard…!!"

Crocodile glared at Who's-Who with a furrowed brow. Who's-Who responded with a twisted smirk.

"Hey… Crocodile. Heard the news. You… lost to that Straw Hat brat, didn't you?"

"…………"

"The man who once challenged Whitebeard in the New World and fought evenly with "Demon's Heir"… How far you've fallen."

"…Shut your mouth, freakshow cat. You wanna die?"

"Heh… Try me if you can."

"Fufufufu…!! Seems like there are too many obstacles in the way of killing me…!!"

"Tch… We need to clear an escape path, fast…!!"

As Crocodile and Who's-Who exchanged murderous glares, Vista gritted his teeth—with the Beast Pirates interfering, taking down Doflamingo had just gotten harder. Meanwhile, Musashi picked himself up and roared.

"…Who's-Who…!! No, Papa…!! If you stand in my way, even you won't be spared!!"

"I ain't your Papa!! Damn it… You're as batshit crazy as ever, Musashi…!! If you don't calm down and step back, I'll have to teach you a painful lesson…!!"

Growling at each other, they bared their claws and fangs. Ancient Zoan versus Mythical Zoan—both monstrous feline beasts whose mere standoff was enough to instill fear in onlookers. Their clash marked the beginning of an all-out brawl.

──And the chaos wasn't limited to just that area.

"──Taking down Admiral "Kizaru"… As expected of Nue-san… If we dawdle, all the glory'll be snatched away…!!"

"! Look out, Jinbe-boy!!"

"…! I know…!!"

Ivanov of the Revolutionary Army, who had allied with Luffy to rescue Ace, shouted a warning to Jinbe as another Beast Pirate stepped forward. At the front of their ranks, a man began transforming, emboldened by Nue's victory yet eager to claim achievements of his own.

His armored hide and exoskeleton, along with three horns and a quadrupedal form, resembled a mighty ancient creature—one whose very presence intimidated his foes.

[Beast Pirates "Tobi Roppo" Sasaki: Ryu Ryu no Mi (Ancient Model: "Triceratops")]

"You're all gonna be my stepping stones to glory…!!"

"An Ancient Zoan…!!"

"…! I ain't gonna be anyone's achievement!! Move aside, Sasaki!!"

"Give up. What stands before you is the 'Strongest Creature' that once walked this earth…!!"

Sasaki smirked defiantly at Jinbe. Neither side had any intention of backing down. Their collision sent shockwaves rippling outward, causing widespread destruction—yet even greater shockwaves erupted across the battlefield, striking bystanders like stray bullets.

"Protect Luffy!!"

"Of course!! Leave it to me, Jinbe-boy!!"

Though pushed back by Sasaki's charge, Jinbe managed to hold his ground and entrusted Luffy to Ivanov. Understanding the danger, Ivanov immediately rushed to Luffy's aid. The distance wasn't far—just a few seconds' sprint.

But in this warzone, even visible distances were fraught with obstacles.

"──Sorry, but you'll be staying down too."

"!? Vanata… one of the Calamities, "Joker"!!"

Suddenly, a masked beauty in a red dress, holding a parasol, appeared to intercept Ivanov with a kick. To Ivanov's recollection, this was "Calamity Joker," an enemy with deep ties to the Revolutionary Army.

"Today's truly a wonderful day. Both "Tyrant" Kuma and Ivanov… Two Revolutionary commanders who've been thorns in my business, both ripe for the taking here. ♡"

"!!? Vanata… even Kuma…!!"

"Fufu… Why that shocked face? ──Not that it matters. You won't live to use that information anyway. You, your comrades, and "Straw Hat Luffy"… You'll all die here. ♡"

"! Straw Hat-boy!!"

Hearing Joker's words and sensing the enemy reinforcements, Ivankov called out to Luffy—but his voice never reached him.

Because he, too—was facing a formidable foe with no room to spare.

"Hah... hah... Move it, you damn rooster-head!! I gotta save Ace!!"

"If ya wanna pass, then make me move with your own strength!! Don't get cocky just 'cause you're survivin' off a woman's help, brat!!"

"Tch!"

Shiki caught Luffy's fist with his right hand and swung his leg-blade to sever the arm.

Luffy was struggling against the legendary pirate, unable to advance even a step further. But the only reason he could still hold his ground was, as Shiki said, because of outside help. Even now, as Shiki's slash came down, a Haki-infused kick intercepted it.

"Not happening!!"

"!"

"Hancock!! Sorry... I owe you again!!"

"Worry not...!! Leave this one to me...!! Go, hurry to the execution platform...!!"

"Right...!! Thanks, Hancock!!"

Boa Hancock, former Warlord of the Sea and Empress of Amazon Lily, known as the "Pirate Empress."

Though she had betrayed the World Government to side with the pirate alliance, she was now locked in a fierce duel with Shiki—all to protect Luffy.

"You too... Quit gettin' in my damn way...!! You that eager to die!?"

"Fufu... If you can kill me, then try...!!"

Shiki's veins bulged as he glared at Hancock. Even she, who had just been overjoyed at hearing Luffy call her by name, couldn't ignore the murderous aura of a legendary pirate. A faint sweat formed on her brow—yet her fearless smirk never faltered.

Compared to the rampaging Kaido, Big Mom, and Nue at the plaza's center, Shiki was still manageable. Hancock even dared to think that defying him wouldn't bring too severe a punishment.

But no one would save her if she lost here. If she fell, she'd be cut down without mercy. So she fought Shiki with the intent to win—all for the sake of the man she loved.

"Even if ya stop me, you ain't gettin' away. We got plenty more soldiers where I came from...!!"

"!"

But the obstacles were far too many.

Suddenly, a massive figure sent marines and Whitebeard Pirates flying as he appeared, startling Luffy and making Hancock grit her teeth.

"Huff... Move it, you bastards~~~!!"

"...! No, Luffy!! That one is...!!"

"GEAR THIRD!!"

"!"

Luffy, seeing the giant blocking his path, decided to blast through him—and everyone else in the way—with his strongest attack. Though not the sharpest thinker, in battle, his instincts were razor-sharp. This was the right call. To reach Ace, he couldn't afford to waste time or stamina on every single enemy.

"GUM-GUM... OOOOOOOOHHH—!!"

Combining Gear Second with Gear Third, his attack merged speed and power—a strike worthy of a 300-million-berry bounty, one that had taken down Warlords and CP9 agents even in the direst situations.

"GIANT GIGANT JET DRILL RIFLE!!!"

"!!!"

The blow landed squarely on the giant's face, sending his massive body flying.

"Whoa!!? The hell was that!?"

"That's Straw Hat Luffy!!"

Even the Beast Pirates' grunts were genuinely shocked.

Landing a hit—let alone sending him flying—wasn't something just any low-tier pirate could do.

"Hah... hah...!! Alright... Now—"

"—JACK-SAMA!!"

"!!?"

—But... actually defeating him? That was beyond the reach of a mere rookie worth a few hundred million.

A pirate who had survived the first half of the Grand Line, one of the "Worst Generation" Supernovas—even his strongest attack hadn't left a single scratch.

"What the...!? Hah... hah... Damn it... Didn't even work...!!?"

"…………You."

The giant rose effortlessly, glaring down at the one who had struck him. It didn't take him long to recognize Straw Hat Luffy.

And with a grin, Shiki called out the name of this monster—issuing a command.

"Zehahahaha!! Perfect timing!! Hey, you—you're Kaido's Jack, right!? Lend me a hand here!!"

"..."

(...!! What the hell is this guy...!!)

"Luffy!! That's Jack the Drought!! One of the Beast Pirates' top executives!! You can't fight him!!"

Hancock's desperate warning rang out—she knew the terror and strength of this man, and she feared Luffy would be crushed in an instant.

Luffy, too, could sense the overwhelming toughness radiating from the giant, while Shiki grinned maliciously and barked his order.

The "Calamities"—the highest-ranking executives of the Beast Pirates. Known as Kaido and Nue's most trusted blades, they were monsters whose bounties soared far beyond one billion berries, infamous throughout the New World.

Of course, Luffy stood no chance. Even Hancock would struggle against him. If Jack joined the fray, things would turn disastrous.

But Jack himself remained silent, his eyes flicking briefly over Shiki, Hancock (who was interfering with Shiki), and Luffy—who had just punched him. Instead of responding to any of them, he looked up toward the sky, as if seeking judgment.

His gaze landed on a young girl floating above, fresh from her own brutal battle.

"...Hmm~... Kaido said to ignore them, but... sure, Jack. It's an order from an ally, right? Straw Hat Luffy, Hancock... rough 'em up a little. I know Hancock’s got her own thing going on, but... you got hit first, yeah? Gotta pay 'em back for that. Can’t let 'em disrespect you."

"—YES!!"

Like a loyal hound, the monstrous Jack gave a sharp, obedient reply.

Feared by enemies, civilians, and even his own subordinates—a man so vicious and ruthless that none would ever imagine him bowing to another—yet there were five people whose orders he followed without question.

His fellow Calamities (his "big sis" and "big bros"), and above them, Kaido and Nue.

Though the situation was ambiguous, Nue's permission was all he needed. Without hesitation, he unleashed his power, his form twisting into something far more terrifying.

[Beast Pirates, Calamity "Jack the Drought" — Zou Zou no Mi (Ancient Model: "Mammoth")]

"UOOOOOHHHH!!! JACK-SAMAAAAA!!!"

"Tch... Jack...!!"

"Zehahaha!! Told ya!! No one's gettin' outta here alive!! It's a massacre now!!!"

(............)

Shiki stood beside Jack, now fully transformed into a mammoth, while the Beast Pirates' combatants fanned out around them. The situation grew even more hopeless for Luffy and his allies.

Jack briefly glanced at Shiki, who was laughing triumphantly with his arms spread wide—but he remained silent, his focus shifting back to Luffy, waiting calmly for the fight to begin.

"You and your brother!! You'll never be free!! All you can do is kneel before our flawless plan and overwhelming power!!!"

"Guh... damn it...!!"

Shiki's voice boomed with absolute confidence in his victory.

Everything was going according to plan. The Marines and Whitebeard Pirates would be annihilated, and he would gain Ace as a new subordinate, further strengthening his forces. Not a single thing had gone wrong.

"ZEHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! NOW, PREPARE YOURSELF!!!"

"Dammit... Luffy...!!"

Still bound atop the execution platform, Ace could only watch in anguish as Luffy and his friends were cornered.

(...Hm? What’s that...?)

(—Eh?)

But—that was when everything changed.

The first to notice were Nue (who had just killed Kizaru and was flying toward Kaido for her next target) and Ace himself.

A single executioner had quietly climbed the platform. Now, with no one else around, the man—

"……………………Huh?"

—click.

He unlocked Ace’s shackles.

Time froze across the battlefield.

For a single, breathless moment, everyone stood stunned, their eyes locked onto the execution platform.

The man who had freed Ace—his hair styled into a floating "3"—leaned in urgently and hissed:

"H-H-Hurry up!! I unlocked 'em, so get the hell outta here, gané!!"

—That man was none other than Mr. 3 (Galdino), former Officer Agent of Baroque Works.

But his bizarre appearance was the last thing on anyone’s mind.

The entire battlefield erupted.

"WH-WHAT THE HEEEEEEEEEEEELL—!!??"

"FIRE FIST ACE... HAS BEEN FREEEEEEEED—!!!"

"BROTHER 3!!? WHY ARE YOU UP THERE!!?"

"EH!? MR. 3!! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?"

"...You... why’d you...?"

Marines, pirates, prisoners—every single person was in shock.

Luffy gaped at the man who had saved Ace. Ace himself, bewildered, demanded answers from someone who had no obvious reason to help him.

Trembling, Mr. 3 answered—his voice shaking, but his resolve firm.

"...D-Don’t get it twisted, gané!!"

In his mind flashed the final words of his fallen comrades.

"I’m only here... because if I ran away now... I’d never be able to face them in the afterlife!! THAT’S ALL, gané!!!"

(...!!)

"If you get it... then MOVE!! I’ve had enough of this hell, gané!!!"

Remembering the faces of those left behind in Impel Down’s depths, Mr. 3 had chosen to act.

And with that—

The second major miscalculation of the war had just been made.

(First: The Marines and Whitebeard Pirates joining forces.)

(Now: The unshackling of Portgas D. Ace.)

The tides of battle—had shifted.