Redfield, however, remained perfectly calm.
He held the dreaded cursed blade Grimm in one hand, yet the sword had not even been fully drawn. Instead, he blocked with the seemingly ordinary sheath while his body drifted across the battlefield like a crimson phantom.
Every subtle movement was impossibly precise, following an otherworldly rhythm as though he had already seen everything that was about to happen.
His Observation Haki had been refined to its absolute limit.
In those split seconds before Mihawk attacked, Redfield had already read the path of his blade and identified every possible opening.
"Your sword pursues the ultimate expression of sharpness."
Redfield calmly offered his assessment amid the blinding exchange of sword light.
His deep voice remained completely steady, without the slightest trace of tension.
"But true strength lies in control."
He lifted his head slightly, his distant gaze revealing an understanding of power that reached far beyond brute force.
Before the final word had faded, Redfield gave Grimm the lightest movement.
It was little more than a gentle tap.
A vast wave of Haki erupted from him, but instead of meeting Mihawk's supreme slash head-on, Redfield guided it aside with exquisite precision, as effortlessly as a musician plucking a string.
The unstoppable sword energy veered harmlessly away and crashed into the distant sea.
The ocean split apart instantly, opening into an enormous chasm whose bottom could not be seen. Seawater surged violently into the gap, creating wave after wave of towering swells as though the earth itself were trembling.
Just as the breathtaking duel approached its climax, Redfield placed his sheath against Yoru's guard at the perfect angle.
A flexible yet irresistible force flowed through the black blade.
Mihawk and the small coffin-shaped vessel beneath him were pushed several hundred meters backward together, the boat rocking violently and throwing great sprays of water into the air.
Mihawk quickly steadied himself and smoothly returned Yoru to its sheath.
There was no frustration in his eyes after being driven back.
Instead, excitement and satisfaction shone within them. The battle had granted him a deeper glimpse of the realm that lay beyond his current swordsmanship.
He gave Redfield one long, meaningful look filled with respect and gratitude.
Then his small vessel quietly disappeared into the thickening mist, leaving only the faintest trail behind.
"Jihahahaha!"
Shiki, who had witnessed the entire duel, shouted excitedly, his face flushed red.
His booming voice echoed across the empty sea.
"You're still the stronger one, you old bat! You sent back even a sword-crazed bastard like Hawkeye without breaking a sweat!
"I'd say you're far more powerful now than you ever were at God Valley!"
His eyes were wide with admiration.
Redfield merely brushed a nonexistent speck of dust from his cloak with elegant composure.
Grimm slid quietly back into its sheath, as though everything he had just done had been a trivial matter requiring no effort at all.
He raised his head and looked toward the distant horizon.
His dark-red eyes were perfectly calm.
"The obstacle has been removed, Shiki."
His quiet voice carried unquestionable certainty.
"Continue your work. The Divine Kingdom's sky still needs more islands to decorate it."
Anticipation and resolve flickered in his gaze.
Ignoring Shiki's endless praise, Redfield transformed once more into a brilliant crimson streak and shot toward the next region that required "clearing."
To him, driving back Mihawk had merely been one necessary step in ensuring that the magnificent landscape they envisioned could be completed without interruption.
What Redfield truly awaited was the far grander spectacle still to come.
...
In the waters surrounding the Eternal Divine Kingdom along the Grand Line, an enormous and fantastical sea stretched beneath the sky.
In the past, the ocean had looked like one of nature's greatest works of art.
Powerful waves collided and threw sprays of water high into the air, proudly displaying the sea's endless strength. Salty winds raced over the surface, stirring countless ripples that glittered beneath the sunlight like stars dancing upon the water.
Now, however, the once-wild and open sea had undergone a complete transformation.
Steel warships covered the entire surface as far as the eye could see.
They were packed so densely that hardly a single gap remained, forming an immense metal net that sealed off the surrounding waters.
Every vessel belonged to a Buster Call fleet built to the Marines' highest specifications.
The warships sailed side by side in perfect formation, resembling moving ranges of steel mountains as they slowly advanced toward the dreamlike Kingdom of God suspended in the heavens.
Each ship radiated cold authority.
Their massive armored hulls reflected blinding sunlight, silently declaring the fleet's unstoppable determination.
At the very front of this colossal armada, six Admiral-level figures stood atop the towering bow of the flagship like statues.
Each possessed an extraordinary presence, resembling six gods of justice descending into the mortal world.
Kizaru—Borsalino—stood casually upon the railing with both hands in his pockets.
His trademark yellow-striped suit snapped loudly in the sea wind, its edges fluttering around him.
His sunglasses sat firmly across his nose, concealing his eyes and making his true thoughts impossible to read.
Only the faint curve of his lips and his lightly teasing voice suggested his usual indifference.
"Ooh… Everyone's been deployed this time. How frightening~"
His voice drifted across the fleet on the sea breeze, carrying equal parts confidence and mockery.
Aokiji—Kuzan—lounged lazily in a chair carefully sculpted from ice.
...
Bitter cold continuously rolled off Aokiji, making the air around him seem to freeze solid.
Thin strands of white mist curled around his body, lending him an even more mysterious presence.
Although he lounged casually in his chair, his eyes were as sharp as twin blades of ice, piercing through the haze and fixing on the distant target.
"It's time to settle the score for Sakazuki."
His voice was low and resolute, every word carrying immense weight.
Magellan's enormous figure was equally striking.
Several hideous poison dragons coiled around his body, their sinister forms twisting restlessly.
As the former Chief Warden seeking redemption after Impel Down's fall, Magellan carried fury and humiliation deep within him.
Rage burned in his eyes, fierce enough to consume everything in sight.
"The disgrace of Impel Down must be washed away with blood!"
His fists clenched until his knuckles turned white, every muscle in his massive frame tightening in preparation to unleash its devastating strength.
Momousagi stood with the famed blade Konpira in hand, lightly tapping its tip against the deck.
Her beautiful face had become as cold as frost, while unwavering resolve filled her gaze.
"For the purity of justice."
Her eyes were focused and profound, as if the world had narrowed to herself, the sword in her hand, and the distant goal she was determined to accomplish.
Fujitora struck the deck heavily with his cane sword, producing a deep thud.
Although his eyes could not see, it felt as though his perception penetrated all things.
He tilted his head toward the sky and murmured,
"So many islands suspended above the sea… Disturbing gravity also disrupts the balance of the world."
Concern and contemplation filled his voice, revealing that his thoughts extended far beyond the coming battle.
Plants continuously sprouted from Ryokugyu's body.
Fresh green branches and leaves curled around his frame like living armor, clothing him in the vitality of nature.
He bared his white teeth in an eager grin.
"Finally, I can do some serious 'greening'!"
His expression overflowed with anticipation for the destruction soon to come.
Behind the six stood a formidable line of Marine Vice Admirals.
Fifteen veterans in total, each famous and hardened by countless battles.
Onigumo's sharply carved face was as cold as steel, and his entire body radiated a chilling presence.
Doberman stood as straight as a pine, courage and determination shining in his eyes.
Strawberry remained calm and imposing, resembling an immovable mountain.
Every one of them was fully armed.
Their armor reflected a cold metallic gleam beneath the sunlight as they stood solemnly behind the front line.
Their gazes burned with grim determination.
They all understood that this would be no ordinary battle. The fate and very survival of the Marines rested upon its outcome, leaving no room for carelessness.
Nearby, six Seraphim stood motionless like statues.
Their faces showed no emotion, as though every trace of feeling had been frozen away and replaced by mechanical calm.
Their electronic eyes operated at tremendous speed, scanning the mysterious floating islands in the distance like precision instruments.
A bone-chilling killing intent could be felt within those crimson gazes.
Every life signal on the islands had already been locked onto. At the slightest disturbance, the Seraphim would unleash a devastating strike without hesitation.
Across the vast sea, fifty thousand elite Marines stood in immaculate formation on the decks of their respective warships.
They wore spotless white uniforms, transforming the turbulent ocean into a rolling expanse of white like countless waves in bloom.
Every soldier stood tall, their eyes bright and resolute.
Their voices merged into a battle cry as powerful as a tsunami.
"JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL!"
The roar pierced the heavens and passed through the thick clouds, declaring their conviction and determination to emerge victorious.
Though Akainu had already died in battle, the flag symbolizing his honor and courage still flew proudly above the flagship.
It snapped fiercely in the wind, recounting the glory of his past and inspiring every Marine soldier to charge forward.
Marine Headquarters had now committed everything it possessed.
This was its ultimate fighting force, assembled for a battle in which only one side would survive.
Kizaru slowly adjusted his trademark sunglasses one final time.
He raised his head and stared solemnly toward the dreamlike yet deadly chain of floating islands.
The usual laziness and mockery had vanished from his voice, replaced by rare seriousness.
"Then… let us begin the final encirclement of the 'Kingdom of God.'"
---------
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