"Shanks!"
On another warship, Mihawk was stunned when he witnessed Shanks head being thrown across the battlefield.
At the same time, it felt as though something inside his spirit collapsed.
"Shanks… you… how could this be…"
"Elior…"
Shanks was Mihawk's only friend — the one person he truly cherished in his life.
And now, not only was Shanks dead, but his head had been severed.
It was too tragic.
How could Mihawk possibly accept this?
By now, all the warships had been frozen by the massive wave of ice released by Elior. Right after that, crimson explosive magic burst forth from Elior's body, surging outward at incredible speed.
The air distorted, and the frozen sea in its path shattered.
Eyes filled with tears, grief, and fury, Mihawk — usually cold and composed — rushed out first. At the same moment, Sengoku had already transformed into his Golden Buddha form, preparing to intercept Elior's next strike.
Mihawk launched forward.
His speed was terrifying.
"Hawk Eyes?"
"He actually charged ahead?"
"What a strange man…"
Mihawk's sudden movement startled even Sengoku and the others.
"Red-Hair and Hawk Eyes have been friends for many years," Tsuru commented behind Sengoku. "It's normal that he's the first Shichibukai to act."
Ryokugyu nodded. "Isn't this great? The world's greatest swordsman, fighting at full strength out of rage — that only benefits us."
But Akainu shook his head. "He's not the world's greatest swordsman. That title belongs to the monster standing across from us. But yes — Hawk Eyes fighting with all he has is still a good thing. As for the other Shichibukai… I doubt they'll go all-out."
BOOM!
Mihawk drew Yoru and brought it down against Elior's massive wave of explosive magic. The two forces collided violently, releasing a shockwave like a tsunami ripping across the frozen sea.
"What overwhelming power…"
Mihawk's expression changed as the impact continued. Now that he had truly clashed with Elior's unknown explosive magic, he clearly understood how terrifying it was.
Yoru trembled in his grip, and even Hawkeye's hands shook.
Their powers were locked in a stalemate — and clearly, Elior's explosive magic was more ferocious.
"Damn it! Shanks! I was a step too late… but I will avenge you!"
The brutal death of his only friend filled Hawkeye with despair. Nothing else in the world mattered. Even if it cost him his life, he would avenge Shanks.
With a roar, Mihawk gathered his strength — just as Jozu had once done during the Marineford war — using sheer force to push the massive energy upward.
Mihawk's method now was similar.
Finally, he forced the explosive magic skyward, where it tore through the clouds and detonated. Three drops of sweat slid down Mihawk's forehead, falling onto the frozen surface below.
"Mihawk…"
Seeing him, Elior immediately understood why he was the first to attack: for his friend, Shanks.
"What a pity. Such a powerful warrior… but he won't serve me. A shame. Still… that black blade belongs to me."
In Elior's eyes, Yoru was a treasure that stirred every man's ambitions.
And now that Mihawk had come seeking revenge, Elior had no intention of letting him leave alive. Once Mihawk fell, Elior would claim one of the supreme grade swords.
"Let the war begin!"
Elior raised his right hand. Everyone's attention locked onto him instantly.
They knew this was the signal.
As Elior lowered his hand, Big Mom and Kaido charged out first, leaping directly onto the frozen sea.
The entire sea had turned to ice — including the Marine fleet.
In an instant, Big Mom and Kaido acted as the vanguard, rushing across the frozen battlefield. Immediately after them, tens of thousands pirates surged forward. Even those who had not fought previously now joined the charge.
War was coming.
"Captain! Leave Hawk Eyes to me!"
Shiryu appeared beside Elior. To challenge — and defeat — the former "world's greatest swordsman" was a swordsman's instinctual desire.
Of course, in Shiryu's eyes, the strongest swordsman alive was Elior.
Even though Elior had never crossed blades with Mihawk.
Elior said calmly, "You want to face Mihawk? Fine. But a man who could rival Shanks won't be far beneath him in strength. Be careful."
"Understood! Leave it to me, Captain!"
Shiryu's eyes burned. Unlike in the original timeline, he and Blackbeard had only been reluctant allies. But here, Shiryu wholeheartedly served Elior. Elior's overwhelming power had crushed any hesitation he once had.
Swoosh!
A violent gust ripped through the air as Shiryu blurred into an afterimage and vanished.
His target: Mihawk.
Behind Elior, Reiju stood ready, holding Elior's sword.
"My lord, your blade."
Reiju stepped forward. Out here, she could only address Elior as "my lord".
"No need for the sword yet, Reiju. Protect yourself — and face Gion when the time comes."
Gion would not harm them, and they would not harm Gion.
Because Gion still had an important mission for Elior, she needed to remain undercover.
The moment he finished speaking, Elior vanished.
Tens of thousands of fighters rushed across the frozen sea. Big Mom, Kaido, and the elite combatants acted as the vanguard, charging toward Marineford.
Under the weight of so many warriors, the ice trembled. The roars of the pirates and soldiers shook the sky.
Nearly 80,000 Marines stormed forward under Akainu's command.
More than 100,000 combatants stepped onto the ice in an instant — a deafening, earth-shaking chorus of battle cries.
Garp, already moving at blinding speed, had found his target.
Elior — the one who killed Ace and Dragon.
No matter what, Garp would make Elior pay.
The war had begun.