"One-Sword Style Secret Art · Black Blade Rokushiki!"
"Puuhhh—!!!"
The jet-black spear of light, infused with every ounce of Zoro's will and Haki, streaked past Moria's ankle in a single flash.
There was no explosion, no deafening roar.
It was as if… a gentle breeze had passed by.
"…Eh?"
Moria's massive head lowered slowly, confusion flickering in his eyes.
The Shadow-Shadow Fruit user's consciousness staggered for a moment.
Had he been pierced?
He didn't feel anything.
The next second—
"!!!"
At the point where his ankle had been struck, a pin-sized black dot suddenly appeared.
In an instant, spiderweb-like jet-black cracks exploded from that tiny spot, spreading across his entire ankle at terrifying speed!
"BOOM—!!!"
A horrifying shockwave erupted violently from Moria's ankle!
Hundreds of distorted shadows surged out, spilling like an endless black flood from the exploding wound, desperately trying to escape.
"GIIYAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!"
The delayed, searing pain finally consumed Moria's senses, tearing a soul-crushing scream from his throat.
Gritting his teeth, he bent down instinctively, trying to press his palm over the wound to stop the shadows from escaping.
But just then, a figure wreathed in blazing orange flames soared through the air, using Geppo to appear above Moria's head like a phantom.
"Stupid moss-head bastard!"
Sanji's voice carried biting jealousy and rage.
His body spun rapidly midair, generating visible heatwaves sharp as scythes that rippled outward.
Sanji transformed into a blazing whirlwind, descending onto Moria's enormous skull!
THUD—!!!
Moria's massive body finally lost balance and toppled, collapsing toward the ground like a falling mountain!
The earth trembled violently.
"We're not done yet!"
Zoro had already circled to the other side.
"Go to hell!"
Sanji came from the opposite direction at the same time, his burning right leg crashing down like a meteor aimed straight at Moria's chest.
"Knight Kick!"
SLASH—!
BOOM—!!!
The slash and the kick landed almost simultaneously.
Moria's enormous head was severed by a jet-black blade, soaring into the sky.
Meanwhile, his chest was blasted open by Sanji's fiery kick, leaving a massive burning hole.
"Gii… hee… hee…"
Moria's fading consciousness released one last bitter, venomous laugh.
And then, his colossal body formed from thousands of shadows...collapsed entirely.
Thousands of shadows erupted skyward like black meteors, their cries of release shattering the dense mist that shrouded the Devil's Triangle.
A single beam of golden sunlight pierced the clouds and bathed the battlefield.
Then came a second ray. A third…
The thick fog enveloping the sea began to dissipate rapidly, clearing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Warm sunlight poured over the Thriller Bark.
The freed shadows danced joyfully under the light, before transforming into streaks of brilliance and returning to their rightful owners.
The entire Thriller Bark Pirate Crew had been wiped out—only a few terrified survivors remained, trembling and collapsing to the ground.
Step—
Hawke descended from the skies, his polished boots landing firmly on the war-torn earth.
He glanced at the shivering survivors, then waved his hand lightly.
"Leave no one alive."
His cold voice was a death sentence.
"YES, SIR!"
The Marine soldiers behind him roared as one, pulling their triggers without hesitation.
Gunfire and screams mingled, forming the final requiem for this land that had just been reclaimed by sunlight.
[Ding!]
[Defeated one of the Shichibukai: Gecko Moria.]
[Gained 32,000 Justice Points.]
[Annihilated the Thriller Bark Pirate Crew.]
[Gained 20,000 Justice Points.]
[Current Justice Points Remaining: 54,164.]
"Hmm…"
Hawke nodded slightly in satisfaction.
Not bad. Moria was supposed to be just a training exercise for his troops, yet earning over fifty thousand Justice Points was an unexpected bonus.
"..."
Soon, the battlefield was completely cleared.
Thousands of Marine soldiers quickly regrouped in the plaza, forming ranks.
Their bodies bore wounds, and their faces carried exhaustion...but not a single one uttered a word.
Their eyes were like unsheathed blades, flashing with cold brilliance under the sunlight.
Clap… Clap… Clap…
Crisp applause rang across the plaza, each sharp note reaching the ears of every Marine present.
Hawke clapped slowly, his gaze sweeping over the tired but unyielding figures before him. A satisfied smile curled his lips.
"An exceptionally executed annihilation."
"You've proven through your actions that the G-3 Branch soldiers are the finest warriors across these seas."
"Discipline, courage, and the hunger for victory—you lack none of them."
Then Hawke's tone shifted slightly.
"And now… it's time to honor my promise."
"For this mission, the greatest merits go to…"
His eyes landed on Zoro and Sanji.
"Roronoa Zoro!"
"As Commander of G-3 Branch, I hereby announce that Zoro, with accumulated battle merits, is promoted to Marine Headquarters Commodore!"
"Heh-heh!"
Zoro grinned broadly, his sharp teeth showing.
Victory.
Sweet and clean.
"…"
Hawke's gaze turned to Sanji.
"Sanji, with accumulated battle merits, is hereby promoted to Marine Headquarters Commander!"
"As for the rest of the soldiers who participated in this mission, accumulated merits and bonuses will be distributed upon return to the branch by Commodore Dane!"
"YES, SIR!"
...
Off to the side, Sanji spat out the end of his cigarette viciously and crushed it under his heel. "Tch!"
Damn moss-head! Using such a lowly lie to fool him!
How could a knight ignore a lady's plea for help?!
Unforgivable!
Sanji turned to glare at Zoro, only to see the swordsman gazing back at him triumphantly, his expression saying loud and clear:
"Commander Curly-Brow, don't forget to salute your Commodore!"
"!!!"
A vein popped on Sanji's forehead.
"Haaah—!"
Hawke ignored the silent duel between the two idiots and turned his gaze to the silent figure standing nearby—Kuma.
One look was enough.
Kuma gave a faint nod.
Fwoosh—!
His towering frame vanished instantly, reappearing beside Zoro and Sanji the very next second.
His massive paw-like hands gently tapped both of their shoulders.
"Huh?"
Zoro and Sanji froze for a moment.
A strange, indescribable sensation spread from the point of contact.
The fatigue, soreness, and battle wounds...all seemed to be extracted from their bodies by an invisible force.
A profound lightness flooded their entire beings.
The two exchanged bewildered glances.
Hovering in the air beside them were two faintly glowing, semi-transparent bubbles shaped like Kuma's paws—the physical manifestation of all their pain and exhaustion.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—!
Before they could react, Kuma blurred into dozens of afterimages, darting through the ranks of thousands of Marine soldiers.
With every flicker of his massive form came a soft tap.
With every tap, another transparent paw-shaped bubble floated up from the Marines' bodies.
Soon, the plaza's sky was filled with thousands of floating bubbles, varying in size but all shimmering faintly in the sunlight.
Thunk—
Under an unseen gravitational pull, the thousands of paw-shaped bubbles began to converge.
They merged, collided, and finally condensed into an enormous, semi-transparent paw that almost blotted out the sky.
Inside that gigantic bubble was the collective pain, fatigue, and mental strain endured by the thousands of G-3 Branch soldiers during this brutal battle.
Step—
Hawke strode forward slowly toward the massive bubble.
Behind him, Kuma stood silent and unmoving, his towering figure like an unshakable mountain.
"..."
"!!!"
Zoro and Sanji exchanged looks.
They didn't need words—both could read the same emotions in each other's eyes.
Shock. Admiration. And… an irresistible impulse.
No way.
They couldn't let their Hawke shoulder all this burden alone!
They were the G-3 Branch's first squad—the strongest under Hawke's command!
How could they just stand by and watch their leader carry everything by himself?!
No words were needed. In an instant, the two reached an unspoken agreement.
Fwoosh—!
Fwoosh—!
Two streaks—one green, one gold—shot forward like arrows loosed from a bow, rushing toward the massive bubble of pain.
They were going to share the burden, no matter what.
Just as they were about to pass Hawke—
He raised both hands and lightly swung them downward.
BOP—!
BOP—!
Two sharp, precise knuckle flicks landed squarely on Zoro and Sanji's skulls.
Both froze mid-charge.
Then Hawke's deep, commanding voice, tinged with mockery, echoed in their ears.
"Brats… trying to steal my spotlight?!"