Griffin's hand clamped down like iron tongs on Shamrock's face, his five fingers sinking deep.
An ice-blue aura covered his arm. Using his waist as an axis, his entire body's strength erupted.
"Crushing Blast Rush!!"
Accompanied by a roar, Shamrock was slammed violently into the ground.
Boom!!
The world seemed to crack!
The island's rock strata groaned under the unbearable weight. Centered on the point of impact, spiderweb-like cracks spread frantically!
Earth and stone churned as a giant crater dozens of meters in diameter exploded open. The fissures extended all the way to the coast of the sub-island, causing seawater to pour in!
...
On the execution platform, Kuzan quickly constructed ice supports to stabilize the high stage. Watching this strike, he felt a strange sense of familiarity.
Isn't that... Teacher Garp's move?
Griffin has quite the high level of attainment in Body Techniques. No wonder Teacher Zephyr calls him an "all-around monster!"
—
—
"The White Wolf has moved!!"
"What terrifying power! Did he just knock Shanks into the seabed with a single blow?!"
"How many more monsters are the Marines going to gather before they're satisfied?!"
...
In the outer sea, the Pirates were filled with lamentations.
Capone Bege stared fixedly at the distant execution platform.
That man had once left a profound psychological shadow on him, and he was the reason Bege had been driven to set out to sea.
A voice in his heart kept telling him:
Griffin would find him and continue the nightmare from years ago.
The person Bege admired most was Whitebeard, and by extension, he knew a great deal about the Captains of Whitebeard's various divisions.
Relying only on the shallow records in the newspapers, he was certain that the strength of the Second Division's Flame Wolf was second only to Whitebeard within that Pirate Crew.
The facts were as he predicted.
Only the root cause was wrong.
...
"In just a few short years... I am no longer qualified for you to sit down and negotiate with me."
Bege bit down on his cigar and took a deep breath. "I know that sooner or later, a day will come when you challenge the strongest. Let me see... how much longer it will take..."
—
"Borsalino, go help Griffin. Sakazuki, proceed with the execution early!"
Sengoku issued the order with a cold voice.
There was less than an hour until the official execution time. Since Shanks had appeared, there was no need to wait.
Executing the Red Hair Pirates before the world broadcast—once that goal was achieved, they would prepare to deal with Rayleigh.
Even though they hadn't appeared yet, the special scent lingering at the tip of his nose told Sengoku...
They had definitely arrived!
...
"Filthy Pirates, turn to ash right here."
Akainu swung his fist, his low shout mingling with the roar of magma. The extreme heat caused white smoke to rise from the ice Kuzan had used to reinforce the execution platform.
As the scorching wave of death rushed toward them, Yasopp stared down into the deep, dark pit.
Shanks...
...
Only when the heat began to singe his hair did Yasopp snap back to his senses.
The expected incineration did not occur.
Clang—!!
A figure so fast it bypassed sight crossed paths with Kizaru, cutting into the trajectory of the magma fist like a bolt of silver lightning.
The seemingly ordinary longsword in his hand was wrapped in black and red lightning, steadily parrying Akainu's massive magma fist.
"I'm very sorry... I can't let you kill them yet."
Rayleigh's eyes behind his lenses were sharp as knives as he spoke softly.
From the corner of his eye, he glanced toward the pit, the corner of his mouth curling with a subtle arc.
He knew...
Shanks had told him about his experiences in the Holy Land and about that Celestial Dragon brother named Shamrock.
So you chose to act...
Shanks is very important to you, after all, you are brothers...
...
Rayleigh was certain of one thing: that was Shamrock, not Shanks.
Because of Beckman!
If that were Shanks, he would have appeared together with Beckman. Shanks would never abandon Beckman.
They were just like Roger and himself used to be!
...
...
Akainu's eyes lowered, a cold sneer on his lips. "Can't hold back anymore, can you? Relic of Roger."
"Magma boy, you speak quite unpleasantly as well."
Black and red electric arcs pushed back the magma, which dripped onto the ground, burning sizzling pits.
"Mr. Rayleigh!!"
Yasopp gritted his teeth, tears and snot flowing.
This is exactly why!
This is why he didn't want to establish any connection with his wife and child.
As a Pirate, if you're defeated, you should just die. Why involve the innocent!
This...
Is far too unsightly!!
...
"Are you the first to come seeking death, Rayleigh?!"
Sengoku roared. In the process of growing his body to a massive size, he swung a golden fist toward Rayleigh.
At the same time, cold frost extended from beneath Kuzan's feet, looking ready to crawl up Rayleigh's legs.
The Marines never had the concept of fighting one-on-one.
To end a battle in the shortest amount of time, even the Fleet Admiral and the Admirals would join forces without any hesitation.
Akainu increased the power of his fist. Under the three-way assault, even the Right Hand of the Pirate King had no hope of survival!
...
"Hey, hey! Don't be in such a hurry for a three-on-one! He's not the only relic of Roger!"
The voice arrived with the person.
A full moon arc of light slashed in violently. An axe wind howled, forcing Sengoku and Kuzan to temporarily cease their momentum and retreat.
Gaban held his dual axes, grinning. "Long time no see, Sengoku!!"
...
Swish, swish, swish—
Figures appeared one after another. A short, stout old man wearing a strange hat shattered Yasopp's handcuffs with a single shot.
"So you're the kid Shanks' sniper? Very impressive eyes!"
The Roger Pirates' Cannoneer, Pittam!
Followed by...
The interrogator known as the Ghost of the North Blue, Millet Pine.
Information Officer Spencer.
Doringo, Rangram...
Sengoku's gaze swept over the crowd, his voice cold. "Every single one of you... none of you cherish the amnesty Roger traded his life for!"
...
"Don't say that... shouldn't a meeting between old friends be a bit moving, Sengoku?"
Rayleigh retreated into the crowd, speaking with a light smile.
A brief balance.
The sound of Haki friction in the air sizzled.
The former Roger Pirates versus the current highest combat power of Marine Headquarters.
The narrow execution platform carried the weight of two eras, groaning under the burden.
...
...
"That's... Mountain-Swallower Gaban!! The Pirate King's Left Arm!!"
"They really came! The Roger Pirates who sparked the Great Pirate Era!!"
"Every single one... they're all legendary Great Pirates!!"
"Being able to see such a grand event makes it worth our trip back from the New World!!"
"Will the tide of the old era drown Marine Headquarters, or will the invincible Marines obliterate the old era..."
"Just watch!!"
...
In a corner of the outer sea...
Buggy looked at those familiar faces, his face covered in tears.
Only...
His gaze was fixed below the execution platform.
That is definitely not Shanks!!
Even if my eyes can't see the difference, my soul tells me that is definitely not Shanks!!
Who exactly is that!!
—
—
Crack—
The brief balance was shattered. A terrifying black and red slash erupted from the deep pit, cutting both the island and the execution platform in two!!
Both sides on the execution platform were forced to evade. Sengoku grabbed several executioners who had long since fainted and flew back.
The black and red crescent slash flew all the way, continuing until it cut through the clouds!
...
Shamrock stood upon the broken island rock, finger marks still visible on his face, his expression grim.
"Lowly creature... how dare you!!"
"How dare you do that to me—"
Griffin, who had sidestepped to avoid the slash, gave a light laugh. "Don't like that greeting? How about this one?"
The moment he finished speaking.
Griffin flicked two fingers.
A massive fireball, incredibly condensed and filled with terrifying heat, descended.
Dark purple electric arcs spread out from the center of the fireball, tearing through the broken island as an aura of destruction surged frantically.
"Conqueror's Haki Entanglement - Day of Destruction!"
...
It's that move!!
Yasopp screamed hoarsely, "Spread out, quickly!! That thing will explode!!"
Rayleigh and the others didn't need his warning to know.
This level of fusion and intertwining of flames and Haki...
"Is this the monster brat who defeated Shanks?! The new era is way too reckless!!"
Gaban grabbed several members of the Red Hair Pirates who were exhausted from hunger. These people had only been fed enough food to sustain life over the past two months and were incapable of forming any combat power.
...
Kizaru, who was the closest and intended to help, was also the fastest to run away.
He now seriously suspected...
Griffin, you chose to fight here because you were afraid you'd sink Marineford yourself, weren't you?!
—
—
The fireball fell.
Riotous crimson instantly submerged the island.
Rising up...
A Cruel Blazing Sun!