The mushroom cloud rising into the sky gradually dissipated. Apart from Sage, there was no trace of anyone else left in the sky, but far off, a tiny white dot could be seen falling down like a star.
That star dimmed in an instant, and just as it was about to fall into the water outside, a smaller blue dot quickly followed, retreating to a tiny black dot at the edge of the water that seemed to be a ship.
Upon arrival, the ship manifested as a small dot that noticeably took off, descending beneath the waterfall and disappearing without a trace.
"Marco..."
Sage squinted slightly, his figure flashing like lightning, darting through the sky with several leaps, creating waves beneath his feet as he shot toward the edge of the waterfall, gazing at the boundless sea.
From an aerial view, nothing was visible; it was impossible to tell where they had run off to.
"Quick escape."
He sneered coldly, raised his hand to the sky, "Tenma Daijizaitenjin!"
Boom!
The sky was once again filled with dark clouds, unleashing bolts of lightning, engulfing the area ahead in a curtain of thunder.
The thunderbolts maintained for nearly five minutes before gradually dissipating, with the ocean teeming with visible electric sparks and numerous carp flipping their bellies.
"Damn it, you can't catch a single fish, just a shock and they all come out!"
Sage rolled his eyes, turning back toward the borders of Wano Country.
The people ran too fast to catch, and if he couldn't catch them, so be it; his plan was completed.
Inside the Flower Capital, the smoke ceased, and the samurai and pirates who were battling had already fled due to Ghost Island's demise and the sudden surge in battle. Now that everything had calmed down, they were somewhat unaccustomed, looking around.
Until a man with a head like white flames flew from afar, standing high in the sky, everyone looked up and gazed over.
"I won!"
The voice thundered from above, echoing through every corner of the Flower Capital.
The man in the sky spread his five fingers, clenched heavily, "From now on, the Beast Pirates will be under my, Norton Sage's, control! Wano Country will be my territory!"
No need for fancy tricks, victory is just victory; he defeated Kaido and the supposed Nika. Now he is truly...
"The first of the sea."
Around the damaged keep, Guernica climbed from the ruins, dusted off his clothes, looked at Sage emanating recklessly above, and sighed, "Not sure if it's a good or a bad thing..."
Kaido is gone...
But someone harsher than Kaido has come!
Beyond Wano's territorial waters, outside the thunder curtain, several Navy warships anchored there and then turned around, heading the opposite direction.
"Received the order, let's leave!"
Ryokugyu put down the handset on the warship, clenched his fists as he looked at the towering rocks in the ocean, then glanced at the waterfall outline within the stone columns, clicking his tongue:
"Damned Sage, we won't end like this!"
Already receiving orders, he had been driving the warship over here. If Kaido and Sage were mutually injured, he'd seize the chance to take over Wano, but now the information was clearly different.
Sage won, and the reports indicate he is in very good condition, so there's no need for that anymore.
Now is not the time to clash with the Four Emperors, still the most powerful among them.
As for the Straw Hat...
Although the report mentioned he fought back and forth with Sage, Ryokugyu didn't take it seriously.
Even if it wasn't Sage, if the winner was this so-called Sun God Nika, he'd still dare to approach Wano.
Reputation and prestige, Straw Hat, Sage, and Kaido, are clearly not on the same level.
On the other side of Wano, a pirate ship also anchored there, its sails bearing a skull marked with red scars.
The Red Hair Pirates, Red Fos.
"Seems unnecessary now."
Red Hair looked at the ship that unleashed power to swiftly retreat, shaking his head with a smile, waving the ragged cloak behind him, saying, "Forget it, let's go."
"Boss, Luffy failed."
Lucky took a bite of the perfectly roasted meat leg in his hand, asking, "Should we meet up?"
"No, it's not the time yet."
Red Hair shook his head with a smile, "There's no real win or loss on the sea... It will come, eventually, we will meet."
"Hahahaha, boss, afraid of the disaster?"
The remaining crew burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha, he is indeed troublesome, last time we were beaten and had to flee." Red Hair laughed heartily, not bothered at all.
And at this moment, the ship also turned around, sailing toward the distance.
...
Mary Geoise, Pangu Palace, between powers.
"The victor is decided..."
Shepherd Ju Peter put down the handset, his eyes wandered over the two wanted orders on the table and finally fixed on Sage's wanted order.
"Nika is not absolutely terrifying."
"Shocking."
Topman Warcury crossed his arms over his lips, lowered his head slightly, and said in a deep tone, "After defeating Kaido, he also defeated the awakened Nika's Straw Hat? This guy is already more formidable than Kaido."
"Should have realized it when he defeated Big Mom."
Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro clicked his tongue, glanced at Sage's wanted order, "Anyway, his victory is a good thing, Wano's order won't collapse, and our transactions can continue."
Though Saturn had a slight disagreement with him, it doesn't affect the transactions. They're not foolish, and neither is Sage. Battles are battles, and business is business; if neither can eliminate the other, maintaining the status quo is best.
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