Sabaody Archipelago.
The live broadcast had been cut off by the Marines, but thanks to a man who luckily snatched a Den Den Mushi, the central screen continued to display the scene.
The screen was perfectly focused on the center of the battlefield.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Whitebeard, the Blackbeard Pirates—all three factions were visible on the screen, along with the sudden appearance of the Groudon Company!
A hundred suited enforcers stood out starkly in the heart of the battlefield, and Gurd's declaration of judgment reached the ears of the masses.
"The Groudon Company?"
"I've heard of them!"
"They're in real estate, something about Hoenn—yes, the Fortuna Community! They're all over the New World, I hear!"
"Have they lost their minds?"
The crowd buzzed with disbelief.
This had to be a joke. A company had actually stormed Marine Headquarters, all for a murder case within their own community?!
This was sheer madness!
"Breaking news!"
Including Morgans, reporters from various newspapers scrambled for their pens, paper, and Den Den Mushi, documenting the unfolding chaos.
The sudden appearance of the Blackbeard Pirates had already shocked them, especially the crew Blackbeard had brought with him.
"Impel Down's Head Jailer" Shiryu of the Rain!
"Corrupt King" Avalo Pizarro!
"Crescent Moon Hunter" Catarina Devon!
"Colossal Battleship" San Juan Wolf!
"Heavy Drinker" Vasco Shot!
Each was a notorious figure whose crimes alone sent chills down the spine.
And with their captain, the "Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea" Blackbeard Teach, this lineup was strong enough to contend for the title of the Four Emperors.
Yet, even against such foes, the Groudon Company was willing to fight Blackbeard at Marine Headquarters—all to uphold their reputation and seek justice for a deceased resident.
"Now that's dedication!"
"A boss with such Haki—what an inspiration!"
"Wonder if they're hiring?"
The reporters empathized. Often, they too took risks to get the scoop.
Countless journalists had died in the line of duty.
Marine Headquarters, Oris Plaza.
"Fufufufu~~"
"Magnificent! The show's begun!"
Doflamingo laughed wildly. The more chaotic the situation, the happier he was—the more this damned world descended into madness, the better!
The others had also halted their battles.
The Warlords of the Sea, the Marines, the remnants of Whitebeard's crew.
"Are they serious?!"
All eyes turned to the battlefield's center. It was hard to believe any faction would join this war for such a reason.
"Sentence me to death? Zehahaha!"
Blackbeard roared with laughter. Now, not only did he possess the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit, but he also had a crew of formidable allies.
All he needed was the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, and he'd be the strongest in the world!
If it had been the monster Kaido who showed up, he might've been wary. But a mere Earth Calamity? Too arrogant.
"Zehahaha! With just you—"
Before he could finish, Gurd's fist slammed deep into Blackbeard's face. His body spun midair, and with his fist still driving into Blackbeard, he hurled him downward toward the plaza!
BOOM!!!
A streak of light flashed, and the plaza's center erupted in a violent explosion. Dust and debris surged as a shockwave rippled outward in a ring.
"What just happened?!"
The other officers only now reacted.
Too fast!
They hadn't even seen him move!
The likes of Avalo Pizarro were imprisoned and unfamiliar with the Groudon Company and Gurd, but veteran crew members like Burgess knew well.
"It's the Teleportation Fruit!"
Without hesitation, Van Augur raised his sniper rifle and pulled the trigger, sending a bullet straight at Gurd's head!
The others also launched their attacks.
"Move!"
"BOOM!!!"
The execution platform exploded!
Speed and Gurd appeared in the sky directly above the battlefield, the wind howling in their ears as they plummeted downward.
"Speed."
Gurd commanded coldly.
"Leave the other officers to you. Just keep them from interfering."
"Understood!"
Speed muttered "move," and in a flash, she returned to the company's formation, relaying Gurd's orders to the officers.
Eliminate the Blackbeard Pirates!
"Leave that giant to us!"
Hajrudin raised Iron Thunder and led the five members of the Giant Warrior Pirates toward the massive warship behind the fortress.
Ulti and the others activated their transformations, and several dinosaurs rampaged through the fortress square, paying no heed to the Marines in their path.
"Get out of the way!"
The officers scrambled aside. Until Fleet Admiral Sengoku gave the order, they couldn't afford to clash with the Groudon Company.
The distance between the two sides closed rapidly.
The Blackbeard officers exchanged glances.
"We're being targeted, meow!"
"In this situation, we can't get what we want. If the plan fails, will we disband?"
"Weehahaha! Let's deal with the enemies first, then talk about the future!"
Aside from the original members, the other officers held no loyalty to Blackbeard. If Blackbeard were to be taken down by that Gurd, they'd immediately look for ways to flee headquarters.
Thus, fighting the enemy to the death was out of the question. Their smiles were sinister, all prepared to disband.
The key to this war lay in whether Blackbeard could defeat Gurd and obtain Whitebeard's power!
At the center of the battlefield.
"Damn it! That hurts!"
Blackbeard clutched his cheek, his eyes filled with furious bloodshot veins.
On the verge of obtaining the world's greatest power, only to be blocked by an interloper—how could he not be enraged?
"BOOM!!!"
Another explosion erupted ahead. As the dust settled, Gurd emerged from the crater, his icy gaze fixed on Blackbeard.
Like the Grim Reaper.
"Zehahaha! How terrifying!"
Blackbeard chuckled darkly, every hair on his body standing on end.
He felt immense pressure, a familiar sensation he'd only experienced when facing the Four Emperors.
Truly a monster!
But he, too, was no longer the same as before!
Blackbeard pressed his hand against the ground.
"Dark Hole!"
Thick black mist spread across the ground, soon enveloping a large portion of the battlefield. Many Marine officers failed to dodge in time, panicking as they were sucked into the mist.
Beneath Gurd's feet, the black mist swirled.
A pulling force rose from below, slowly dragging his feet into it.
Like quicksand.
In this peculiar environment, movement became incredibly difficult, as if countless hands were tugging at him from below.
"Zehahaha!!!"
Blackbeard's body was wreathed in black mist.
"My power is darkness, and darkness is gravity—a force that absorbs everything, even light!"
"The gravitational pull of darkness crushes all things with infinite force until they're pulverized. Witness it!"
"Liberation!"
The black mist surged into the sky, spitting out the swallowed Marines, each one covered in blood, clearly having suffered severe damage.
Blackbeard laughed heartily: "See that? This is the power of darkness!"
"Nothing special."
Gurd's eyes didn't waver in the slightest.
He raised his right foot, Haki swirling around it!
"Boom!"
The foot plunged into the black mist, the overwhelming Haki immediately dispersing the surrounding darkness to reveal the rocky foundation beneath.
Blackbeard's expression darkened.
"Worthy of a man worth 3 billion berries!"
"Too late for regrets now."
Gurd stated calmly: "Whatever you do will be futile. You've violated our company's greatest taboo. Only death can atone for your transgressions."
"Zehahaha! You're strong indeed, but don't underestimate me! My era has only just begun!"
Blackbeard sneered as he raised his palm.
"Dark Water!"
A powerful gravitational force enveloped Gurd!
Gurd's gaze remained icy as he allowed the force to pull him toward Blackbeard. Even when Blackbeard grabbed his shoulder, his expression didn't change.
"Got you now!"
Blackbeard clenched his fist and threw a full-powered punch at Gurd's face!
"Snap!"
The fist was caught firmly in Gurd's grasp.
Gurd's fingers tightened as he twisted Blackbeard's fist sideways, his tremendous strength forcing Blackbeard's entire arm to contort painfully.
Blackbeard's body arched in pain.
"Damn it! How can this guy be so strong?!"
"Blackbeard, you closed the distance without even knowing your enemy's physical strength. Your stupidity exceeds my expectations."
While maintaining his grip on Blackbeard's fist, Gurd clenched his other hand into a fist, charging it with power. With a "crackle," black-red lightning spread across its surface.
Conqueror's Haki Infusion!
"Hey, let go!"
Blackbeard screamed in terror, trying to pull back his fist, but it was as if caught in an iron vise—no amount of effort could free it.
Gurd's eyes sharpened as his Conqueror's Haki-infused iron fist shot toward Blackbeard's head. The fist seemed to be encased in an invisible gauntlet, pressing against Blackbeard's forehead through the air itself!
"Crack!"
The sound of shattering skull was unmistakable.
(End of Chapter)