"MUNDO!!"
A furious roar erupted from the deck.
A white figure shot into the sky and closed the distance in an instant, driving a thunderous punch straight toward Fenric. The strike was so fast that it seemed to cut through time itself.
Naturally, with Fenric's speed, dodging posed no problem.
Yet—when he clearly saw who the attacker was, his eyes narrowed. Rather than evade, he summoned his Armament Haki, coating his fist in black steel and meeting the strike head-on.
"BOOM—!!"
Two fists, hardened by haki, collided with devastating force. The clash sent a violent gale howling outward, shaking the very air.
Fenric's body was blasted backward like a cannonball.
"Crash!!"
He slammed into a massive boulder on the shore, shattering it into rubble before cratering into the earth.
For a moment, his blood surged wildly within his chest, his right arm numb from the impact.
"As expected of the Iron Fist… Garp's punch is no weaker than Akainu. What's more if he's in his prime…" Fenric muttered in surprise.
That blow had revealed the truth: Garp's Armament Haki was at the absolute peak, equal to his own. In terms of sheer brute force, however, the old veteran vastly outclassed him.
Fenric's attributes had long since surpassed human limits, his raw strength more than forty times that of an ordinary man. His punches carried explosive power—dozens of tons of force at minimum. Yet, against Garp, his power was crushed outright.
The legendary "Hero of the Navy" was nothing short of monstrous. Perhaps only Whitebeard, the "Strongest Man in the World," could rival him in strength.
In fact, during the original War of the Best, when Ace died at Akainu's hands, Garp had warned Sengoku: "Hold me down, or I'll kill Sakazuki!" Whether bluff or truth, such words proved Garp's might was not beneath the magma admiral's.
"Gravity Suppression!!"
A deep growl rumbled.
Fujitora's voice.
In the blink of an eye, crushing gravity descended like a mountain, locking Fenric in place. His body refused to move, as if pinned by the heavens themselves.
"Die, Mundo!!"
"Heavenly Dog!!!"
Akainu roared, his body erupting into molten crimson. A giant fist of seething magma hurtled toward Fenric, burning through the air with unstoppable fury.
The three titans attacked in perfect rhythm, leaving Fenric no room to breathe, no chance to resist. Their intent was clear: kill him here and now.
As the magma fist drew near, lightning suddenly flared in Fenric's eyes.
"Zzzzt!!"
Bolts as thick as tree trunks erupted from his body, striking directly at Akainu.
This was the lightning Fenric had stored within his ring, unleashed at the critical moment.
Instinctively, mankind fears lightning—and so did Akainu. Unsure whether his magma body could endure the raw energy, he immediately shifted into full lava form, weakening the effect of his "Heavenly Dog" strike.
"Crackle—Boom—!"
The molten fist and lightning clashed, sparks hissing and sizzling. Energy and magma merged into a storm of fire and thunder.
Though Akainu avoided total electrocution, the current still surged into his body, forcing him back. At the same time, fragments of the magma fist broke through and crashed against Fenric, detonating in flame and smoke.
"Bang!!"
The crater erupted, flames rising high.
But before the haze cleared, Fujitora's blade swept upward.
"Zhing!"
Purple light coiled from his staff-sword and spiraled into the sky.
Moments later, the heavens split.
"Hwooooosh!!"
The sound of tearing air echoed, followed by a shadow blotting out the sun.
A meteorite—massive beyond comprehension—descended from the void, streaking toward the Sabaody Archipelago.
"Summoning a meteorite again?!"
The sight of the three admirals' combined assault left the surrounding navy soldiers pale with terror.
"This is insane!"
"A meteorite?! Run! Everyone run!!"
"It's hopeless—Coby, we shouldn't even be here!"
Far out at sea, aboard the Nine Snakes' flagship, Boa Hancock's heart clenched. Watching Fenric bound by gravity, battered by magma, and threatened by a falling star, her flawless face turned stricken.
"Full sail! We must support Lord Mundo!" she cried, her voice trembling with urgency.
"No need."
The calm reply came from directly behind her.
Hancock spun, stunned, her eyes widening in disbelief.
"L-Lord Mundo?!"
The rest of the Nine Snakes' crew froze, equally shocked.
How could the man fighting three top admirals suddenly stand here aboard their ship?
Fenric smiled faintly. "No need for doubts. This is one of my teleportation abilities."
When Fujitora summoned the meteorite, Fenric had activated the bracelet's teleportation—an artifact he'd acquired from the Mountain Village Old Corpse dungeon. Staying in place would have meant certain death. Facing three monsters at once, even he dared not test fate.
The only path was survival.
And now, survival meant using the Trident's true strength—the sea itself.
"I didn't expect you'd come to my aid," Fenric said, glancing at Hancock with curiosity. "Boa Hancock… why?"
Though his body was scorched by magma, his clothes tattered, his presence radiated unshakable dominance.
The sound of her own name spoken in his voice struck Hancock like Cupid's arrow. Her heart stuttered, breath catching.
"Lord Mundo… I… I…"
Her words dissolved into flustered stammers, her poise utterly abandoned.
It was her sister who explained, voice steady where the Empress faltered: "Ten years ago, the Celestial Dragon you killed was the one who enslaved us. Because of you, my sister and I regained our freedom. You are our savior."
Fenric blinked, momentarily surprised, but quickly pushed sentiment aside.
"Understood. But you don't need to fight for me. Leave now."
With that, he turned away, leapt from the ship, and hovered above the sea once more, his gaze fixed on the shore where the meteorite now plunged.
His indifference only deepened Hancock's infatuation. All her life, men had groveled before her beauty. Fenric, however, ignored her utterly—his focus set only on battle.
That difference made him shine all the brighter in her eyes.
On land, the meteorite struck at last.
"BOOOOOOOM!!!"
The impact shook the heavens and split the earth, a cataclysm marking the battlefield in fire and ruin.