For a moment, everyone stood completely still.
The air itself seemed frozen as the Marines held their breath, absorbed by the implications of Kizaru's words.
The surroundings became so quiet that they could hear one another's heartbeats.
The pressure grew increasingly suffocating, as though an invisible force had compressed the very air around them.
Then a thunderous, unrestrained laugh suddenly exploded from the opposite side like lightning striking the ground.
It carried overwhelming power, instantly tearing apart the stagnant atmosphere.
"Gurararara!"
The distinctive laughter echoed across the open sea, overflowing with wild and unrestrained delight.
It came from the bow of the Moby Dick, the magnificent ship resting upon the water like a colossal whale.
Standing high above its prow was the man once hailed as the Strongest Man in the World—
Edward Newgate, Whitebeard.
He held the enormous Murakumogiri firmly in both hands, its cold blade perfectly complementing his immense, muscular frame.
Whitebeard stood like a pillar supporting the heavens, radiating an awe-inspiring presence.
He laughed freely, making no effort to conceal his delight.
His white crescent-shaped mustache trembled along with the rhythmic rise and fall of his broad chest, while open admiration and satisfaction filled his sharp eyes.
His gaze remained firmly fixed on Ron, who hovered in the sky as though Whitebeard were admiring a priceless treasure.
"That was damn satisfying, Ron!"
Whitebeard's booming voice rang like a massive bell, making everyone's ears buzz.
Every word overflowed with power and excitement.
His fiery gaze remained fixed upon Ron as he continued,
"It hasn't been long since I last saw you, yet you've already grown this much stronger!
"That magnificent slash just now had my blood boiling in my veins!"
...
Whitebeard's loud, unapologetic praise was like a fistful of salt rubbed straight into the Marines' still-open wound.
The countless soldiers already wearing grim expressions under the strain of the battle now looked even worse. Anger, humiliation, and helplessness filled their eyes, but none dared challenge the man once hailed as the strongest in the world.
Patchy sunlight filtered through the heavy clouds.
Hearing Whitebeard's voice, Ron slowly turned toward his towering figure.
The icy indifference on Ron's face gradually thawed, like winter snow melting beneath the warmth of spring. A genuine smile appeared at the corner of his lips, shining like a bright star amid the oppressive atmosphere.
Ron immediately noticed the subtle change in the way Whitebeard addressed him.
In the past, the old pirate had always called him "Ron, you brat" or simply used his name, with the easy familiarity of an elder speaking to someone younger.
Now, however, his manner carried the respect due to the ruler of a kingdom.
It was a subtle but meaningful shift.
Whitebeard was formally acknowledging everything Ron had endured to establish the Eternal Divine Kingdom, along with the immense strength and status he now possessed.
It was more than a simple change in address. It was a silent expression of trust, respect, and expectation.
"Old Captain."
Ron inclined his head toward Whitebeard at just the right angle, his steady voice carrying the respect he would show a senior he genuinely regarded as family.
Yet the words that followed overflowed with absolute confidence.
"You already know what little strength I possess. It may not be anything earth-shattering, but it's more than enough to deal with some third-rate so-called Admiral."
He spoke as casually as though discussing something completely insignificant.
That indifferent attitude cut far deeper than any vicious insult ever could.
Every word trampled upon the pride and dignity attached to the title of Marine Admiral, causing the surrounding atmosphere to tighten once again.
Then Whitebeard's wild laughter shattered the tension.
"Gurararara!"
The legendary pirate stood like a towering mountain, radiating an awe-inspiring presence as his laughter rolled across the vast ocean like thunder.
It was filled with merciless mockery toward the Marines.
"Exactly!"
Whitebeard lifted his head and swept his blazing gaze across the battle-ready fleet.
"Just look at what Marine Headquarters has become. You people have grown more pathetic with every passing year!
"Back in the old era, each of the three Admirals was a genuine powerhouse who deserved the position!
"They earned their reputations through real strength and the courage to fight. Their names spread across the sea and struck fear into countless pirates.
"But now?"
Whitebeard gave a contemptuous snort.
"You've created some ridiculous lineup of six Admirals? What a damned joke!"
He swung the legendary Murakumogiri and pointed its gleaming tip directly toward the vast Marine fleet.
Cold light flashed across the blade, as though it intended to tear through their false appearance of strength.
Whitebeard's powerful voice struck every listener like a pounding war drum.
"You think increasing the numbers and handing out the title of 'Admiral' is enough to make those people equal to the monsters who stood at the summit of the previous era?
"How naive!
"You're doing nothing but covering your ears and lying to yourselves!"
Disappointment and ridicule filled Whitebeard's eyes as he stared toward the Marines, seemingly looking straight through their fragile pride and hypocrisy.
"True power is forged through countless brushes with death! It's tempered through blood, fire, and an unbreakable will!
"You think some pathetic game of handing out titles can make up for what they lack?
"It seems the fools running Marine Headquarters have completely forgotten what it means to be truly strong on this dangerous sea!
"Pathetic! Absolutely pathetic!"
Whitebeard raised his face toward the sky and sighed, his presence continuing to swell until it seemed capable of covering the heavens.
"Mamamama!"
Big Mom's distinctive laughter rang out next.
It resembled both the shriek of a nocturnal bird and a violent wind howling through the halls of a ruined castle, carrying an unmistakable edge of madness.
Her enormous body leaned forward in excitement like a moving hill.
Her size alone was enough to overwhelm the senses, and the movement made it feel as though the surrounding space were being compressed around her.
The mysterious power of the Soul-Soul Fruit surged freely from her body in invisible waves.
Even the air seemed enchanted beneath its influence, trembling happily with a faint hum like countless tiny souls whispering among themselves.
"Well done, Ron!"
Big Mom's booming voice struck the battlefield like a hammer.
Her eyes remained fixed on him, overflowing with open admiration and feverish excitement.
"Now that was a slash with some bite!
"That vicious edge, the perfect angle, and all that monstrous power packed into it—even my soul was trembling!
"It felt like it could cut through any defense and reach straight into the deepest part of someone's life!"