It was a technique reminiscent of Fujitora's own—yet the difference was staggering. Fujitora's gravitational pressure had no effect on Ashveil, while a single effortless strike from Ashveil sent the Marine crashing into the sea below.
Unbelievable.
Fujitora, wielder of the Gravity-Gravity Fruit, should have been immune to any form of external pressure. Yet here he was—defeated in an instant. The conclusion was obvious: the man standing before them, seemingly casual and disheveled, possessed power beyond imagination. He had the strength to annihilate an Admiral-level powerhouse with a single move.
On the battlefield's other side, the ice encasing Whitebeard began to crack. The shards splintered one after another, echoing across the war-torn sea. High above, Aokiji watched intently, his gaze sharp as he spoke.
"So this is the might of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit... troublesome as ever."
With a thunderous roar, Whitebeard shattered the ice completely, fragments scattering under the force of his tremors.
"Gurarararara! Little brat playing with ice, you're still too early!" Whitebeard bellowed, his voice booming like thunder as waves crashed beneath his feet. His aura flared, fierce and proud.
Turning his head toward Ashveil, the old pirate grinned broadly.
"Ashveil, this time, we'll have a real fight! Even someone like you will need to show some effort!"
Ashveil chuckled, his tone sharp and dismissive.
"Heh, you think too little of me, old man. I'm more than enough to deal with these small fries."
As those words fell, a surge of overwhelming pressure spread from him, his Conqueror's Haki shaking the battlefield. Marines, pirates, and onlookers alike froze as the golden aura rippled outward. Ashveil stood unmoved, a faint smirk curling on his lips. In his eyes, the war's end had already been decided. With his Golden Conqueror's Haki, failure wasn't even a possibility.
Across the world, the battle was being broadcast live. Reporters from every nation crowded around massive screens, cameras flashing as Ashveil's image filled the world.
"That's him... Ashveil!"
"He's insane—one man challenging the entire World Conscription?!"
"Even the Pirate King Roger would have turned back from this madness!"
"He destroyed Marineford once! Could he really do it again?"
"Don't be ridiculous! This United Army is far stronger than the Marines were back then!"
"Two of the Four Emperors' crews, the new Shichibukai, Marine forces, and even the Gorosei themselves are here!"
"And yet that man stands there alone?!"
Every corner of the world buzzed with disbelief. Ashveil's appearance had turned this already monumental war into a legend in motion.
Kid stood among the chaos, sweat beading on his brow despite his own Conqueror's Haki.
"Ashveil... his arrogance is terrifying...." Kid muttered.
He hadn't been part of the Marineford War, but he'd heard the tales—how Ashveil single-handedly crushed the Marines' might. He'd dismissed them as exaggerated rumors. But now, feeling that suffocating aura through the screen, he realized every word had been true.
Beside him, Killer trembled slightly. To stand alone before such overwhelming forces—it wasn't just strength; it was unbreakable resolve. Whether Ashveil was truly as powerful as the legends claimed didn't matter. Just the courage to face this war alone was enough to command respect.
"This is what a real Pirate King should be," Killer whispered.
Elsewhere, on the deck of the Red Force, the Red Hair Pirates watched the live broadcast in tense silence.
"Ashveil... that man is about to move," Lucky Roux said, his voice shaking slightly. Many of them had witnessed Ashveil's duel with their captain. None doubted his power.
"Oi, Shanks, do you think Ashveil can win this?" Benn Beckman asked, exhaling smoke, his expression grim.
Shanks's eyes remained fixed on the screen, his tone low and thoughtful.
"His Conqueror's Haki... it might already be the strongest in the world. Even Rocks's back then wouldn't have surpassed his."
But he knew the other side's power too well. The Gorosei were not to be underestimated.
After a long pause, Shanks sighed.
"This battle... it's impossible to predict. If the Gorosei weren't involved, I'd bet on Whitebeard's side. But with them here... I can't be sure. My instincts say the World Government still has the upper hand."
The Red Hair Pirates looked stunned. Few among them truly understood the might of the Gorosei.
"Are they really that powerful?" Benn Beckman asked.
Shanks didn't answer directly. His gaze grew distant.
"How strong do you think Garp is?" he asked instead.
"Garp?" Benn Beckman frowned, thinking. "He's a legend. He captured Golden Lion, Roger, Bullet, even Rocks. He's old, but he's still the Marines' mightiest fighter—stronger even than Sengoku."
"Why ask that?"
Shanks gave a faint smile.
"Because Garp is the strongest man you've ever seen... and even he can't compare to them."
"Each one of the Gorosei," he said quietly, "is stronger than Garp."
Silence consumed the deck. Jaws dropped. Lucky Roux's drumstick slipped from his hand and hit the floor.
"Stronger than Garp... every one of them?!" he stammered.
Shanks nodded solemnly. "That's right."
And across the world, the stage for the greatest war in history continued to shake beneath the weight of monsters.
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