Rosinante's warship rocked violently as massive waves crashed against its hull, the sheer force of the explosion creating a shockwave so intense that the surrounding sea level of Punk Hazard was forced down by several meters!
The blast was so overwhelming that it reached the point of "a great sound fading into silence"—at its very epicenter, an eerie tranquility prevailed.
Moments later, the full force of the explosion was finally released, and the deafening roar rapidly spread across the nearby waters. Had Rosinante not erected a soundproof barrier in time, the sheer volume might have knocked the Marines aboard unconscious.
Punk Hazard, caught between the clash of two Admirals, had been forcefully leveled by the battle!
Mountains, cliffs, boulders—even gentle slopes—had all been obliterated!
As the explosion gradually subsided, the once-divided central region of Punk Hazard had been transformed into a vast, boiling lake—a massive crater left behind by the explosion, now flooded by seawater and continuously heated by the surging magma beneath.
The seawater turned to steam upon contact, but the fierce winds that rushed in quickly dispersed it, leaving the island's center fully exposed.
Near the lake's shallows, Sakazuki lay partially submerged, his upper body bare as he struggled to catch his breath.
His right arm twisted unnaturally, his once-mighty physique marred by deep, ghastly sword wounds—some cut to the bone. Thin rivulets of blood seeped into the steaming water, refusing to clot.
Defeated...
Sakazuki forced his eyes open. It had been many years since he last felt such utter exhaustion.
He had poured everything into this battle. And now, in defeat, there was no regret.
Rather, from the moment he proposed this fight, he had already foreseen this outcome.
It's only been a little over ten years... That little brat has already grown to this level.
At the very least, he is neither as indecisive as Borsalino nor as lost as Kuzan… He still clings to some naive ideals about the weak, but his strategic foresight and tactical acumen more than compensate for that flaw…
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of Sakazuki's otherwise rigid, iron-like face.
With him as Fleet Admiral, at the very least, justice will be upheld!
And perhaps… even the greatest evil in this world can be…
"Senpai, my apologies."
The final clash had left Sakazuki gravely wounded, while Wright himself had been sent flying.
Approaching Sakazuki, Wright smiled faintly.
"Senpai, brace yourself—if you want that arm to heal properly, I need to set it first."
"Hmph… You think I'd scream from a little pain?"
Sakazuki's gruff declaration was barely finished when Wright grabbed his twisted arm and wrenched it back into place. Cold sweat immediately poured down his face like a waterfall.
Bastard! He definitely did that on purpose!
Ignoring the searing glare Sakazuki shot him, Wright chuckled. "Alright, it's set. Now for the healing."
A brilliant Holy Light enveloped Sakazuki, a warmth far stronger than anything he had experienced before coursing through his battered body. His wounds sealed rapidly, vitality returning to him at an astounding pace.
With a swift motion, Sakazuki leaped to his feet, flexing his hand as if it had never been injured. But his expression darkened.
"You even erased the scars… Those were my hard-earned battle marks!"
"Tch! You know, people usually have to exchange military merit for me to remove scars. You got it for free."
Wright waved dismissively before gesturing toward the waiting warship.
"Senpai, I'll fly you over. Rosinante's warship is still waiting."
"Hmph! Have you forgotten? We're 'enemies' now."
With his back to Wright, Sakazuki slightly turned his head and spoke in a low voice.
"A word of advice, from your senpai—perfection lies in the smallest details."
"From now on, in every public setting, we are 'rivals with clashing ideologies, locked in an endless struggle.'"
"I'll have Onigumo dispatch a warship to retrieve me. You leave on your own."
As Sakazuki strode away with effortless confidence, Wright rubbed his chin thoughtfully and called out.
"Senpai, at least put on some clothes! People might get the wrong idea—"
"BASTARD! SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH!"
An enraged roar erupted from Sakazuki as Wright laughed heartily, soaring into the sky and tossing his pristine Marine coat toward his old mentor before heading toward Rosinante's warship.
"This guy… Thirty-something years old, and still acting like this."
Aboard the warship, Rosinante, Ace, Cavendish, and every Marine stood in solemn silence as Wright descended onto the deck in a radiant streak of golden light.
"Admiral Wright!"
"Congratulations, Admiral Wright, on your victory!"
"Relax, no need to be so formal."
Wright waved a hand. "Alright, let's head back. As for Admiral Sakazuki, he'll arrange for Onigumo to pick him up."
"Where's Smoker? Call him back. If he keeps taking pictures, he might end up getting 'educated' by an enraged Sakazuki—especially since I healed him."
"Uh… Understood. I'll contact him now."
Rosinante exhaled a puff of smoke and dialed Smoker's transponder snail.
"Wrap it up, Smokey. The battle's over… It's time to welcome the new era."
...
Marine Headquarters, Marineford
Within a confidential meeting chamber, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Hero of the Marines Garp, Chief Instructor Zephyr, Vice Admiral Tsuru, and Admirals Borsalino and Kuzan sat in silence, along with Admiral Candidates Gion and Tokikake, their eyes fixed on the now-static projection screen.
They had watched the entire battle unfold in real-time. For figures of their caliber, a battle spanning multiple days was nothing new—mere spectators to a clash of titans.
Sengoku surveyed the room.
"Now, the first agenda."
"The duel between the two Admirals is settled. Wright has defeated Sakazuki, and as agreed, he will assume the position of the next Fleet Admiral."
"Any objections?"
"No."
The unanimous response was no surprise. If not for potential interference from the World Government, Wright's appointment had already been a foregone conclusion. This battle had merely cemented it.
"Very well. I will report this outcome to Commander-in-Chief Kong… This time, there will be no more interruptions."
"Now, the second agenda—selecting a new Admiral. With the expansion to four Admirals, we cannot allow the World Government any excuse to revert us to three—we must decide swiftly."
Sengoku's gaze shifted to Gion and Tokikake.
"As Admiral Candidates, you both are eligible for direct promotion. What are your thoughts?"
Gion shook her head. "I decline. Ever since Wright's promotion, I've known that in terms of strength, I'm suited only to remain an Admiral Candidate. An Admiral must command both power and prestige, and I lack the latter."
She glanced at Tokikake with a slight smile, causing him to momentarily lose his composure.
"Tokikake's situation isn't much different. Frankly, if you asked the Marines at Headquarters, barely a tenth of them would even recognize him, let alone the world."
It was an awkward reality. Even within Headquarters, they were relatively unknown—how could they be expected to command global recognition?
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