"H-h-he's alive..."
Morgans stared, his avian beak agape in shock, at the sight of Alucard on the Kuja ship, leisurely swirling a wine glass, looking as relaxed as if he were on vacation. The reason for this war suddenly became crystal clear in his mind.
No wonder the members of the Immortal Pirates had been so confident throughout the journey. Since Alucard had returned, they naturally possessed the strength to challenge the World Government once again.
But even if Alucard didn't die, he still lost that battle a year ago, didn't he? Morgans thought. It's still impossible to say who will emerge victorious in this war.
"Alucard-san, is this alright? Aren't you still in the middle of a fight with the Gorosei?"
Having been among the first to arrive, Jinbe couldn't help but ask.
To be in an active state of war with the Gorosei and then just casually withdraw midway to enjoy some red wine... this was a far cry from the suffocating tension of the Summit War at Marineford.
Alucard set his wine glass down and asked, "How much time has passed?"
Beside him, Koala checked her wristwatch and replied, "Uh... it's been over fifteen minutes of rest."
Alucard vanished from the spot, and the wine glass in his hand vanished along with him.
Morgans and the rest of the World Economy Newspaper staff blinked in confusion. They wondered why, after all this time, the pirates hadn't launched an all-out assault. However, sensing the heavy atmosphere, they wisely kept their mouths shut and waited for the outcome.
Could it be like the battle a year ago? Morgans speculated inwardly. A lone raid? No, that's impossible. Why leave such a massive force of subordinates unused?
Yet, Morgans didn't realize that the very theory he had just dismissed was exactly what was happening.
…
At the docks, Kong, who had led the entire Government army in a retreat, looked up toward the summit of the Holy Land, which was now reduced to a speck the size of a sesame seed. He wondered what was happening; fifteen minutes had passed, yet there was no sound of combat.
"Commander-in-Chief, should we send someone to investigate?" a Government officer walked up and whispered in Kong's ear. The eerie silence made them feel incredibly uneasy.
"No. That is not a battlefield you can interfere in."
Kong noted the blue mist-like substance swirling around the Holy Land, representing the power of the National Treasure. He said in a low voice, "We wait until the National Treasure is deactivated."
If the Gorosei and the three Celestial Dragon patriarchs won, there was no need to go. If they lost, then even if the army went, they wouldn't be able to help. As frustrating as it was, they could only stand by and watch.
…
At the very peak of the Holy Land, the Gorosei and the three patriarchs were still maintaining their Mantra-infused state. Despite their power, having failed to see Alucard for fifteen minutes meant they had wasted a significant portion of the National Treasure's stored energy.
"Still haven't deactivated the National Treasure?"
Alucard's voice rang out unexpectedly. All eight of them spun around instantly.
They found Alucard sitting on a rock only ten-odd meters away. He was swirling his wine glass and took another sip after speaking.
While they were risking the depletion of their precious National Treasure reserves by waiting in high-alert, their enemy was leisurely tasting red wine.
Such humiliation, such disgrace… it was a blatant insult. Even the most composed among them, the curly-haired Gorosei with the cane, felt the veins at his temples throb beneath his hat.
This was too much!
"Alucard, you bastard!"
Although Nedseo had used the Mantra to heal his wounds, Oseinofica's rage had not subsided. He pointed Oodenta Mitsuyo forward. "How dare you insult our final battle like this!"
Alucard smacked his lips, then glanced up at Oseinofica. He said flatly, "I'll agree to 'insult,' but 'final battle' is where you're wrong."
"Are you even worthy of a final battle with me?"
If his opponents were anyone else, Kaido or Garp, for instance, Alucard wouldn't bother with such psychological tactics. Though he had temporarily lost access to the myriad of experts within his River of Death, Alucard's raw power as a vampire already surpassed the Yonko. He could easily have faced these eight in a head-on clash.
But he chose not to. He wanted to disgust them, to spit on this fight.
The reason was simple: he held them in such contempt that he felt they were beneath the dignity of a true "final battle."
These eight men had stood at the apex of world power for decades. They could no longer endure Alucard's repeated insults. Oseinofica was the first to move, swinging his blade to unleash a violent, explosive shockwave of sword energy.
BOOM!!!
The sword energy slammed into the red rock, sending dust and debris flying. The violent aftershocks made it difficult to even keep one's eyes open.
As the dust settled, the eight men focused intently on their own minds, terrified that Alucard would play the same trick again and simply sit inside their consciousness the moment the fight began.
Suddenly, Oseinofica felt a grip tighten around his right arm. He turned his head sharply to find Alucard standing right beside him, one hand twisting his wrist.
Impossible! None of us sensed his presence!
Oseinofica was struck with horror. How was this possible? He was right next to them, yet not one of the eight had detected him!
"I exist here, yet I do not."
Alucard grinned, his expression twisting into a manic, broken smile of pure ecstasy. "Now, howl! Howl like a pig!!"
With that, Alucard buried a kick into Oseinofica's abdomen while simultaneously yanking the man's wrist toward himself.
CRACK! SNAP!
The sound of bones shattering under extreme tension echoed. Panicking, Oseinofica used the last of his strength in his right hand to toss his sword to his left. He swung the blade down toward the arm Alucard was using to grip him.
SHINK!!
The full-power strike severed Alucard's arm, while the residual force split more than half of the Mariejois palace wide open.
But Oseinofica had no time to celebrate. In less than a second, Alucard's arm had regenerated completely, faster than the man could even swing his blade!
"Ahahahaha!!"
Alucard laughed with delight and violently ripped Oseinofica's entire arm off. As the limb was torn away, the shattered bone and frayed tendons were visible for a fleeting, gruesome moment.