A massive fireball—about the size of all of Loguetown—blazed high above their heads, radiating like a second sun. And with it came a wild, ecstatic voice.
"Hahaha... How could anyone not be excited in times like this?!"
"Prepare to set sail, everyone! Let me give you a proper send-off!"
"There's no reason to stop a man from venturing out to sea!"
As his words echoed, everyone standing on the frozen sea looked up at the sky, their faces lit with excitement as they gazed at the man shining like the sun itself.
"What are you fools waiting for?! Raise the sails... now!"
"We can't turn down a gift like this from Captain Yemu of the Sky Pirates!"
"Yeah... there's no reason to stop a man from setting out to sea...!"
Seeing the pirates' morale reignite and soar, Admiral Sengoku could no longer stay still.
From the direction of the Marine base in Loguetown, a golden light burst forth. A towering golden Buddha appeared before everyone's eyes, raising its fists—each one clearly visible to the naked eye.
"Damn you, Yemu of the Sky Pirates... Do you even realize what you're doing?! If these vile pirates are allowed to escape, how many families will be torn apart?!"
"Hahahahaha!"
Yemu's booming laughter echoed in the sky as he continued pouring flames into the massive fireball above, raising its temperature even further.
"You're not wrong, Admiral Sengoku. Pirates might be evil—might commit unforgivable crimes—but as an admiral of the Marines, you should know better than anyone... what the real evil in this world is."
His words froze Sengoku in place. But what came next made his face go pale—his body locked in shock, forgetting even to strike.
"It's the Celestial Dragons... It's the World Government."
"Pirates may destroy families... but the Celestial Dragons—and the World Government—they destroy entire nations."
"If this world is truly as peaceful as you claim... then why do so many pirates exist?"
"Where do these so-called evil pirates come from?"
"Tell me, Sengoku. As a Marine who serves the World Government, a dog of the Celestial Dragons—how many countries have you razed? How many islands? How many families have you crushed under the name of justice?"
"If you really stand for justice, then start the same way I did—kill a Celestial Dragon first. Then you can come talk to me."
Yemu's bold declaration—one that openly challenged the World Government—stunned everyone. The entire sea and even the streets of Loguetown fell into stunned silence. Even the fighting between Marines and pirates ceased as all eyes turned toward the sky.
"Big news... Big news! You idiots, tell me you're recording this!"
Morgans was practically shaking with excitement.
"Bastards... How dare they provoke the World Government?! No, we can't let these criminals get away with this! We have to inform the Five Elders—have them send in CP0 immediately!"
Spandine's face had gone ghostly pale.
"Fufufufu... What a terrifying proclamation... This era is about to explode..."
"Kishishishi... Dammit... That guy's blindingly bright..."
"Captain Roger... Is this why you took a liking to him...?"
"Looks like I wasn't wrong after all. Captain Yemu and I share the same dream. And if that's the case... then old man, I'll stop you here—even if it kills me."
By now, Yemu was fully prepared.
"Enel, come back. Tiger, get ready—we're pulling out."
"Oh... Got it."
Enel, still locked in a standoff with Kizaru, vanished in a flash of lightning. But Kizaru didn't pursue. He sensed it—a chillingly dangerous aura.
The moment Yemu spoke, the massive fireball above his head—once the size of half of Loguetown—rapidly shrank down to a pitch-black sphere, no larger than a fist.
Despite the distance, Kizaru's Observation Haki screamed at him with alarm.
"Oi oi... That move... is insane."
Sengoku felt it too. The awe he'd felt just seconds ago vanished—replaced by urgency. He couldn't let that technique be unleashed.
Golden light flared around him. A shockwave visibly formed in his hands as he transformed into a golden blur, rocketing toward Yemu.
"I won't let you pirates escape to wreak havoc on the world. This is my justice!"
As Sengoku closed in, Yemu remained calm.
"Too late."
"Apollo's Wrath."
As he spoke, the black energy sphere shot from his hand like a cannonball.
Sengoku had just reached him, fist raised—but suddenly froze. His face twisted in shock as he turned his head slowly.
The energy ball wasn't aimed at him.
It was heading toward Loguetown—and the Marines.
"Damn you... Yemu, you bastard...!"
Even with both Kuzan and Kizaru stationed there, Sengoku couldn't afford to risk it.
He immediately canceled his attack and vanished in a flash, reappearing in the line of fire, ready to block the energy ball with his shockwave.
But then it happened—something even his Observation Haki hadn't picked up on.
Just as the black sphere was about to collide with his shockwave, it shifted—midair.
Like it was guided by an invisible hand, the ball arced around him, dropping from the sky in a steep parabolic curve.
"No... That's not possible..."
Sengoku's face was filled with disbelief as he watched the black sphere fall... and vanish into the frozen sea.
The impact point? The line separating the Marines and the pirates.
...
Crack.
The world seemed to go silent.
On the vast frozen ocean, the only sound was that of something breaking.
Crack... crack...
The sound grew louder, sharper.
Countless fractures spread across the ice, visible to the naked eye. Superheated steam burst through the cracks with a screeching hiss.
Those with Observation Haki felt it—an enormous disturbance deep beneath the sea. Even ordinary people could hear the muffled rumble from the ocean floor, like something monstrous was about to erupt from below.
Boom...
The shrieking steam gave way to an explosion of boiling water. Jets of scalding vapor shot straight into the sky through the shattered ice, violently separating Marines and pirates.
And it didn't stop there.
The underwater detonations triggered a chain reaction. Cracks multiplied. Ice shattered faster than anyone could react.
Boom!
A towering wave—easily four to five hundred meters high—rose into view.
It loomed over them all, blotting out sky and sea...