"Pirates—what exactly is your goal!?"
In midair, a fist wrapped in Armament Haki radiated a terrifying chill, clamping tightly around Sanji's neck.
Aokiji, gripping Sanji, furrowed his brow.
With his powerful Observation Haki, he had already noticed the Straw Hats attacking the Marine fleet—and he had also sensed the movements on the battlefield where Akainu and Zoro were fighting.
At this moment, his heart was filled with complicated emotions.
From the current situation, the defeat of the World Government and the Marines was already inevitable.
Even with the Five Elders present, Aokiji did not believe they still had any chance of victory.
And this wasn't because their opponents were three Yonko crews…
It was simply because—
Their enemy was the Straw Hat crew!
"Want to know our goal?!"
Even while being restrained, Sanji showed not the slightest trace of pain. Facing Aokiji's interrogation, he grinned instead.
The next second, under Aokiji's shocked gaze, Sanji suddenly twisted his neck with explosive force.
Using the rotational momentum—and the compression of his neck—Sanji actually slipped free of Aokiji's grip with ease.
Then, with his head nearly rotated a full circle, Sanji placed both hands on his twisted neck and forcefully snapped it back into place right in front of Aokiji.
Crack!!!
With a crisp, bone-chilling sound, Sanji's distorted head was forcibly straightened.
He slowly raised his head, revealing a smile that sent a chill down the spine of even a Chill-Chill Fruit user like Aokiji.
"Once you defeat us, you'll naturally find out."
"What a bunch of monsters…"
Looking at his hand still frozen in its original gripping posture, Aokiji couldn't help but sigh.
Though he knew continuing this battle would be meaningless, he still had no choice but to condense another sharp ice spear.
"Since reason no longer works, then I'll just take things one step at a time!"
"Let me see just how absurd your regeneration really is!"
Whoosh!
Aokiji kicked off violently in midair, detonating the air beneath him as his body shot forward. The ice spear in his hand traced a brilliant blue arc through the sky.
Having already realized that his own actions could no longer change the outcome, he abandoned all other thoughts and entrusted everything to the battle before him—almost recklessly.
Opposite him, Sanji once again ignited blazing flames, as if dyeing the entire space red, forming a distorted halo around himself.
"As long as I beat you!"
Sanji suddenly roared.
He already knew exactly how things were progressing on Zoro's side.
That guy had been the first to use MEGA Evolution—which was basically him admitting defeat.
Next, as long as Sanji defeated this Marine Admiral…
Then a whole year's worth of underwear and socks—
Zoro would be washing them all!!!
At that thought, a mysterious surge of power erupted from Sanji's body, despite him believing moments earlier that he couldn't match Aokiji.
The battle of fire and ice continued!
Unfortunately…
Even though Sanji—boosted by Pokémon moves—held the advantage in raw flame power,
Aokiji's physical combat ability completely made up the difference, firmly suppressing Sanji.
If not for the "immortal body" granted by his Lineage Factor, this battle would never have lasted this long.
"Top-tier Marine Admirals… really are terrifying…"
Watching Sanji get suppressed once more, Red, who had just teleported near the battlefield, couldn't help but sigh.
Even though Sanji's current strength already surpassed his original-timeline self, he was still being beaten nearly helpless in front of Aokiji.
The power of the Lineage Factor was indeed formidable—
Enough to elevate Sanji from an elite Marine Vice Admiral level straight to top-tier Yonko commander.
But…
That was also its limit.
Unless the Vinsmoke Family could further refine the Lineage Factor within Sanji's body, this long-anticipated power—from as far back as the East Blue—had already graduated.
"Level… and Devil Fruit awakening, huh…"
Red murmured softly, clearly seeing Sanji's future path.
Still, in his view, unless Sanji suddenly awakened the Speed-Speed Fruit during this battle…
The wager between him and Zoro would most likely end in a draw.
After all, while Sanji and Aokiji were trading blows—
Zoro's battlefield was already nearing its conclusion.
…
…
"Nine Sword Style—Asura—Dragon's Cry—Sever!"
Clang!
A slash that seemed calm yet cut everything apart on another plane flashed across the sky.
The next instant, the towering magma giant was split cleanly down the middle, collapsing into two rivers of molten lava that poured toward the sea below.
"Cough…"
As the magma dispersed, Akainu's true form was revealed.
At this moment, his former domineering presence was completely gone.
His Fleet Admiral uniform was in tatters, and countless wounds left scorched black marks under the heat of magma.
At his waist was a deep, perfectly smooth cut, magma dripping like blood.
Who could have imagined that the mighty Marine Fleet Admiral would be beaten into such a state by a mere combatant of the Straw Hat Pirates?
If this scene were published, it would cause a worldwide uproar—
And the Marines' authority would suffer an unprecedented collapse.
Akainu's face twisted as he roared hoarsely from deep in his throat:
"Damn pirates!!!"
"That's all you've got? The same line over and over—no new dialogue?"
"Still refusing to face reality, Fleet Admiral?!"
Whoosh!
Zoro's figure flickered like a ghost, instantly appearing before Akainu. They locked eyes.
The nine swords around Zoro each radiated a different killing intent, completely sealing Akainu's movement.
But when Akainu saw the contemptuous grin aimed at his head, his expression darkened.
"What do you know!?"
He growled deeply:
"We Marines bear the justice of this world!"
"You can't escape it!"
"Give up resisting, you bastards!!!"
Magma writhed and slowly repaired Akainu's wounds.
In the blink of an eye, his body was restored.
But perhaps lacking the strength to maintain the colossal magma giant, he dispersed it, revealing his true form once again.
"Huff… huff…"
The repeated clashes had left Akainu exhausted.
Yet after drawing in a deep breath—
His eyes suddenly burned with fierce resolve, flames blazing within.
Akainu's life was burning!
"Come on!"
"Before I die, I will never let a single pirate escape justice!!!"
Boom!!!
Extreme heat erupted from Akainu's body, followed by a thick layer of Armament Haki enveloping him.
Though he wasn't as obsessively devoted to physical combat as Aokiji—
Having defeated Aokiji in the Fleet Admiral duel, how could he not understand hand-to-hand combat?!
"Great Eruption!"
Roar!
Scorching magma surged from Akainu's body once more.
This time, however, it didn't break through the Armament Haki. Instead, it swelled his upper body, forming massive fists that slammed toward Zoro.
Magma flowed beneath the black Haki like glowing muscle fibers, radiating crimson light.
The air warped under the assault.
Fear spread outward with the crushing pressure.
"Still this stubborn, huh? Marines are tough!"
Seeing Akainu still capable of unleashing such power, Asura-form Zoro grinned widely.
"But that's perfect!"
"Only a monster like you can make me want to swing my swords!!!"
"Nine Sword Style—Asura—Rending the World, Great Dragon Twister!!!"
Boom!!!
Zoro spun violently, conjuring a massive tornado out of thin air that charged straight at Akainu.
In an instant—
The crimson giant's fist smashed into the storm wall.
As the hurricane spun at extreme speed, the magma's heat was rapidly carried away, transforming into scorching wind that blasted outward on both sides.
"Damn it!!!"
Akainu's eyes went bloodshot.
He couldn't understand—why had this man suddenly become so strong!?
Then suddenly, a realization struck him.
Right!
From the very beginning…
He had overlooked one person!
Someone who wasn't truly on the battlefield, yet whose presence was everywhere—shaping every front.
The Straw Hat Pirates' vice-captain—Red!
That man… was the true key to everything!
Everything had started changing the moment he appeared.
There was absolutely something terrifying hidden within him!
Akainu resolved that once this was over, he would investigate that pirate thoroughly—
But at that moment…
A cold, hellish voice suddenly whispered behind him.
"What are you thinking about, Marine?"
Akainu: !?
His pupils shrank in shock.
"When did you—?!"
He tried to turn—
But a wave of weakness surged through him.
Then the voice continued:
"You were careless, Marine!"
"You didn't seriously think I'd charge in like that perverted cook, did you?!"
"You gave me such a massive shadow to work with—did you forget how you were attacked the first time?!"
"Hidden Blade Style—Phantom Ambush—Dragon Fang!"
Slash!
Zoro burst forth from Akainu's shadow, his nine swords splitting into two rows like the fangs of a massive dragon, thrusting forward simultaneously.
Shrrk!!!
Despite Akainu's Logia magma body, twin fountains of blood erupted the instant the blades pierced him.
The fusion of Steel-type power and Armament Haki allowed Zoro's swords to effortlessly pierce Akainu's Haki armor.
Ghostly demonic aura—imbued with Ghost-type energy—flooded Akainu's body, spreading rapidly.
Beneath it, Conqueror's Haki, fused with Dragon-type energy, erupted violently within him, destroying everything in its path!
What looked like a simple strike was in fact the culmination of Zoro's complete mastery over Pokémon power!
"AAAAAH—!!!"
Akainu screamed in agony.
This was the most painful blow he had suffered in the entire battle.
Compared to this, all previous injuries were nothing more than scratches.
Under the pressure of Haki, Akainu's Logia form rapidly shrank, reverting to his normal body.
Behind him, Zoro ripped his blades free, drawing another arc of blood that evaporated instantly in the superheated air.
"It's over."
A sharp gleam flashed in Zoro's eyes.
Before Akainu could fully turn around, Zoro retreated in a flash, putting great distance between them.
Only then did Akainu manage to turn, still reeling from the internal sword intent and Haki tearing him apart.
"Damn it…"
Struggling under the effects of Pokémon techniques, he forced his battered body to move once more.
"Inugami Guren!!!"
Whoosh—
A massive, fanged magma hound burst forth, charging straight at Zoro.
But now, six-armed Zoro calmly sheathed Sandai Kitetsu and Narukami, gripping Wado Ichimonji in his mouth while holding both the sword and its scabbard in his hands.
"Nine mountains and eight seas as one realm—Gathering a thousand worlds becomes a minor world."
"Mountains as force, seas as breath!"
"Three Thousand Worlds—at my command!"
Zoro lifted his head, eyes reflecting the blazing magma rushing toward him—his expression utterly calm.
As each word left his mouth, the phantom arms behind him rotated in slow motion, one by one merging their swords into Wado Ichimonji, sliding them back into the scabbard.
In an instant, Zoro's aura vanished completely, leaving him standing in midair like nothingness itself.
His body returned to its original form, as if MEGA Evolution and Pokémon-ization had never happened.
"Ha…"
Zoro exhaled softly.
The next moment, he drew his blade and spoke quietly:
"Realm Return—One Sword Style—Iaijutsu…"
"Lion Song!!!"
Slash!!!
A thin beam of light flashed across the sky, as though slicing the entire world in two.
When the scene returned to the battlefield, Zoro was already behind Akainu, kneeling on one knee in midair, Wado Ichimonji pointing diagonally upward.
"…No… impossible…"
Crack—
The massive magma hound split cleanly in half, collapsing into lifeless stone that plunged into the sea below.
Akainu slowly turned, disbelief and unwillingness filling his eyes.
He stretched out a trembling finger toward Zoro—
But at that moment…
A clear black line appeared across his body.
Blood erupted violently, tearing him apart.
Akainu's body was cleaved cleanly into two halves by the radiant slash.
They fell straight toward the sea below.
(End of Chapter)