As the war raged on, the Beasts Pirates continued to lose more and more soldiers. The difference in numbers between both sides was simply too massive. Even with the Shichibukai holding back during the battle, the Marines still maintained overwhelming superiority.
With a thunderous explosion, under the relentless assault of Marine Vice Admiral Momousagi, Jack the Drought finally reached his limit. His enormous body crashed heavily onto the battlefield, the impact shaking the ground beneath him.
This time, he did not rise again.
Even so, Momousagi remained cautious. She had already witnessed Jack recover repeatedly throughout the battle. His endurance was monstrous, almost inhuman. Fighting him for this long had nearly dulled her blade.
A full minute passed.
Only after confirming that Jack was no longer moving did Momousagi slowly approach him. She stepped on his head while observing him carefully.
"He finally lost consciousness."
Even then, her Observation Haki could still sense his faint heartbeat.
"What terrifying vitality..."
Despite suffering countless fatal injuries, Jack still clung to life. His durability had long surpassed the limits of ordinary Zoan users or even Fish-Men. He truly was a born monster.
"In this condition, there is no need to arrest him," Momousagi said coldly.
After speaking, she turned her attention toward another battlefield.
Not far away, Fleet Admiral Sengoku continued overwhelming King with devastating shockwaves from his Buddha form. Against Zephyr, King had managed to rely on his Lunarian durability to endure the attacks. However, Sengoku's power was on an entirely different level.
Each shockwave carried terrifying force, far beyond ordinary punches.
King coughed up blood as another attack struck him directly.
He was being completely suppressed.
Sengoku stared at him coldly.
"You are the last survivor of the Lunarian Tribe. Your people should have been erased by the World Government long ago. More than thirty years ago, you escaped from Punk Hazard, and now you've become a threat to the World Government once again."
His gaze sharpened.
"But today, this old man will eliminate you personally."
King's expression darkened.
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and clenched his fists tightly.
"Eliminated by the World Government?" King growled. "The Lunarians were the original inhabitants of the Red Line. Those damned Celestial Dragons stole our homeland."
Flames burned violently behind him.
"You Marines claim to uphold justice, but you're nothing more than lapdogs serving the Dragons."
Sengoku naturally knew parts of the truth behind the Lunarians. At his position, there were many secrets hidden from ordinary people that he had already learned long ago.
But regardless of the truth, his identity remained the same.
He was the Fleet Admiral of the Marines.
"Hmph," Sengoku snorted coldly. "Pirates have no right to lecture the Marines about justice."
He had no intention of continuing the conversation.
Step by step, Sengoku advanced toward King.
Although King was powerful, Sengoku did not consider him an opponent capable of stopping him for long. He needed to finish this battle quickly before returning to support the others against Kaido.
At that moment, Momousagi arrived alongside several Marines.
"Gion?" Sengoku glanced toward her. "Looks like your battle is finished."
"Yes."
Momousagi nodded before drawing her blade, Kinpira.
She looked directly at King.
"The Beasts Pirates only have you and Kaido left as their true fighting forces. Once we defeat you, we will join forces against Kaido as well."
Her voice became colder.
"Surrender. You can still survive and spend the rest of your life in Impel Down."
"Jack lost too..." King muttered quietly.
A trace of sadness appeared in his eyes.
But it disappeared almost instantly.
In its place came fury.
He thought about Kaido.
Then he thought about Marco.
With those two still alive, King could already see the future clearly. The possibility of overthrowing the World Government no longer felt impossible.
No, it felt inevitable.
Kaido was the man he respected above all others, a warrior possessing monstrous strength capable of shaking the world itself.
And Marco...
King firmly believed Marco was the one destined to change everything.
Whether Marco truly was Joy Boy or not no longer mattered to him.
As long as Kaido and Marco stood together, the world would eventually be overturned.
A new era would come.
He had not yet seen the Celestial Dragons fall.
He had not yet witnessed the destruction of the Holy Land.
He had not yet avenged the slaughter of his people.
How could he possibly fall here?
A violent rage exploded within King.
At that moment, something deep inside his body shattered.
Boom!
An overwhelming wave of Conqueror's Haki burst out from King's body like a storm.
Several weaker Marines instantly collapsed unconscious.
King roared toward the heavens.
"This is only the darkness before dawn!"
Flames erupted wildly around him.
"I still have people I want to follow. I will not fall here!"
The battlefield trembled under the violent pressure.
Momousagi's eyes widened in disbelief.
"He awakened Conqueror's Haki?"
Even Sengoku looked shocked.
"He actually awakened Conqueror's Haki in the middle of battle..."
But the shock quickly turned into killing intent.
King had already been dangerous enough before this awakening. Allowing a survivor of the Lunarian Tribe to continue growing would only create greater threats for the World Government in the future.
Such a man had to die here.
In the distance, Kaido laughed loudly while battling Fujitora and Ryokugyu simultaneously.
"Worororo!"
Kaido grinned proudly.
"So you've finally awakened Conqueror's Haki, King! That's how one of my All-Stars should be!"
His eyes burned with excitement.
"Only men like this are worthy of turning the world upside down beside me!"
King slowly stood upright despite the blood covering his body.
His eyes were completely different now.
The hesitation he once carried had vanished.
"Kaido..." King said firmly. "I won't run anymore."
Flames blazed fiercely behind him.
"I will go to the Holy Land myself."
"I will avenge the Lunarian Tribe."
"And I will slaughter every Dragon responsible for our destruction."
Sengoku's face darkened.
"Hmph. Do you really think awakening Conqueror's Haki is enough to challenge this old man?"
Momousagi tightened her grip on Kinpira.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, allow me to assist you."
Although her stamina had been heavily drained after defeating Jack, she understood that King was also nearing his limit. Everyone on the battlefield had been fighting continuously for a long time.
Sengoku nodded.
"Very well."
If it had been another Vice Admiral, Sengoku would have rejected the idea immediately. King was a pirate with strength approaching the level of an Emperor's right hand man. Ordinary Marines would only get in the way.
But Gion was different.
Sengoku knew her capabilities well.
With her assistance, defeating King would become much easier.
After all, nobody knew how much longer Fujitora and Ryokugyu could continue holding back Kaido alone.
===
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