Like a falling meteor, Kong crashed onto a distant island.
Dust billowed into the sky as he slowly emerged from the crater, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His expression was grim, his eyes filled with seriousness.
"This brat's technique must have a time limit," Kong thought coldly.
"If I can endure long enough and wait for it to end, he will be the one who loses."
The idea itself was sound.
Unfortunately for him, he did not know that Kaito's Eight Inner Gates were not bound by a strict time limit. He did not need to seal them beforehand or fear backlash in the way others did.
This time, Kaito had opened them for a single purpose.
To suppress the Commander in Chief of the World Government with absolute force, in front of the entire world.
To crush the Marines' pride and claim the New World openly.
Whoosh!
Before Kong could finish his thoughts, the sound of air tearing apart rang out.
His expression did not change as he stepped forward and threw a punch at the incoming red blur.
His fist shot forward like a blazing meteor, tearing through the atmosphere.
Blood red energy flooded the air.
Kaito's lips curled in disdain.
He clenched his fist, terrifying power condensing instantly. The space around him twisted faintly under the pressure.
Without hesitation, he charged straight ahead.
Boom!
A deep, muffled explosion erupted as the two collided.
Invisible shockwaves expanded outward from their point of impact, ripping across the battlefield.
The ground beneath them shattered inch by inch, collapsing like fragile paper. Dust engulfed the area as a figure was launched out violently, like a cannonball fired at full force.
The moment the Marines saw the coat of justice on that figure, their faces darkened.
"Commander in Chief Kong is being overwhelmed!"
"How strong is Kaito exactly?"
"He doesn't even have room to fight back!"
The Marine officers whispered in disbelief.
Crack. Crack.
Kong skidded across the frozen sea, leaving behind deep gouges in the ice. Just as he was about to disappear from sight, golden light erupted behind him.
A massive hand of light formed and caught him from behind, stopping his momentum.
"Commander in Chief, you look miserable," Kizaru said with a teasing smile.
But when he noticed Kong's arm bent at an unnatural angle, Kizaru's pupils shrank, and his tone immediately turned serious.
"Commander in Chief… your arm."
"That brat is extremely strong," Kong replied grimly.
"This injury is the result of a direct clash."
Nearby, Katakuri noticed Kizaru disengage from the fight. He did not pursue.
With Kizaru's light based ability, stopping him was pointless.
Instead, Katakuri calmly searched for another opponent.
His gaze settled on a man pressing Jozu back with ruthless precision.
Former Red Hair Pirates vice captain.
Benn Beckman.
Katakuri shifted targets without hesitation.
On the ice, Kizaru spoke in a low voice.
"This is bad. Even you can't suppress him."
Bending the Commander in Chief's arm with a single blow meant one thing.
Kaito's strength was unquestionably above Kong's.
Before either of them could say more, a voice sounded behind them, calm and mocking.
"What, one person isn't enough?"
Kaito appeared behind them instantly.
"So you brought backup. But this changes nothing."
He exhaled slowly.
"One kick."
His leg snapped upward.
Destructive power erupted instantly, tearing the air apart. A terrifying shockwave exploded outward, distorting the atmosphere itself.
For the first time, danger surged through both Kong and Kizaru.
Without hesitation, Kizaru grabbed Kong and flashed away in a burst of golden light.
Boom!
The shockwave scraped across the ice and sea, carving a massive path before vanishing beyond the horizon.
"Two kicks."
Before they could stabilize themselves, Kaito's voice echoed beside them again, cold and merciless.
Two enormous shockwaves descended from above and below, like divine pillars crashing down.
They ignored Kizaru entirely and locked onto Kong alone.
Kizaru's face darkened.
Was he being ignored?
Did Kaito truly consider him irrelevant?
In a flash of light, Kizaru pulled Kong away once more.
The twin shockwaves did not dissipate.
Instead, they began to glow.
Under countless shocked gazes, the two shockwaves fused together.
Every expert present understood what that meant.
This was not a simple addition of power.
Whoosh!
Space distorted violently as the merged shockwave surged forward, carrying world destroying force.
Its path led directly toward another battlefield.
Ace and Blackbeard.
The two had been locked in brutal combat, but both were keenly aware that they were not the center of today's war.
The moment they saw the incoming shockwave, their expressions changed drastically.
A ripple formed beside Ace as a spatial vortex opened.
Without hesitation, Ace leapt forward and vanished into it.
The vortex closed instantly.
Blackbeard froze in place.
The white beam reached him in the next instant.
Boom!
A deafening explosion shook the entire battlefield.
The frozen sea shattered violently, cracks spreading endlessly as a destructive storm swept outward.
Marines nearby grimaced in pain as the shockwave tore through them. Cloaks of justice were riddled with countless holes.
"Ace!" Marco shouted, his face changing drastically.
The storm slowly faded.
The scene it revealed left everyone silent.
The ice within hundreds of meters had completely vanished, exposing the dark blue sea beneath.
Blackbeard was gone.
Nothing remained except spreading blood on the water's surface.
He was dead.
A spatial vortex opened once more.
Ace stepped out, breathing heavily, cold sweat soaking his body.
"That was close," he muttered, pressing a hand to his chest.
"I really thought I was dead."
He looked toward the sky and shouted.
"Boss Kaito, next time at least give a warning!"
Kaito hovered in midair and scratched his head lightly.
"Alright, alright. I'll pay attention next time."
Shanks stared at the scene in disbelief.
"Blackbeard… is dead?"
Poison Q whispered in shock.
"The captain… is gone?"
No one answered.
All eyes were drawn upward.
In the sky, Kaito stood surrounded by blood red energy, his presence overwhelming.
Like a god.
Like a demon.
His calm eyes looked down on the battlefield, filled with absolute contempt for all living beings.
_____
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