Blackbeard's head impaled on a spear stood at the center of Marineford Plaza, a shocking sight that instantly spread across the world.
"Blackbeard was really killed!"
"How terrifying!"
"This is the power of Groudon Company!"
Reporters trembled in fear.
From the initial 1 billion berry bounty to defeating Fire Fist Ace, rising to become one of the infamous Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea, only to be hunted down and executed by Groudon Company at Marine Headquarters—Blackbeard's death was nothing compared to the sheer ruthlessness of Groudon Company's vengeance.
One thing became clear to everyone: if you could live in Fortuna Community, you would never have to fear an untimely death again.
In this era of uncertainty, there was no greater guarantee than this!
Then, an even bigger piece of news broke.
The Whitebeard Pirates vs. the Marine Headquarters—a full-scale war! The great Pirate "Whitebeard," Edward Newgate, had fought to the bitter end and perished!
"Whitebeard is dead!"
One earth-shattering revelation after another shook the world to its core.
Marine Headquarters.
"Pops!"
Every member of the Whitebeard Pirates wept bitterly for their fallen captain, the father who had protected them for decades, now reaching the end of his journey.
But the war was far from over!
"I told you I wouldn't let you escape!"
Akainu, alone once more, pursued the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Whitebeard was dead. Fire Fist Ace, grievously wounded by him, would soon follow. But the Whitebeard Pirates had not yet been completely wiped out.
Akainu's body billowed with sulfurous smoke, his fists coated in molten magma.
"Not a single one of you will get away!"
BOOM!!!
An explosion roared across the battlefield.
At the center, the Blackbeard Pirates' officers fled in disarray. Faced with the Marines' threat, Groudon Company's forces did not give chase, instead gathering behind Gurd.
Whitebeard was dead. Blackbeard had been slain by Gurd. Now, the only remaining threat to the Marines was Gurd himself.
The Marines swiftly encircled them, ready to attack at Fleet Admiral Sengoku's command.
If they could annihilate both the Whitebeard Pirates and Earth Calamity in this war, it would be an unprecedented victory for the Marines.
Gurd turned his cold gaze toward Sengoku.
"Do you intend to fight us?"
"I can't let you leave!"
Sengoku's eyes darkened with resolve.
This was the best chance to eliminate Earth Calamity once and for all!
Gurd smirked disdainfully, pressing his palm against the ground.
"If you're so confident, then try it!"
RUMBLE—!!!
The earth quaked violently!
"What's happening?!"
"An earthquake?!"
Officers staggered, their faces pale.
They had endured enough earthquakes already!
But this tremor was far worse than before.
CRASH—!!!
Seawater surged in from the edges of the island.
The Marines soon realized the horrifying truth.
"Marine Headquarters is sinking!"
"Earth Calamity is going to drown the entire headquarters!"
"Stop him!"
One meter, two meters—the island was descending rapidly. Seawater flooded into Marineford Plaza. If the headquarters sank into the sea, countless lives would be lost!
"Enough!"
Sengoku transformed into his golden Buddha form, launching a shockwave-infused palm strike toward Gurd!
"Cliff Sword!"
Gurd didn't move an inch. A massive stone blade erupted from the ground, thrusting toward Sengoku's body. If Sengoku continued his attack, he would be impaled as well!
But Sengoku did not stop.
Seawater flooded the Oris Plaza, submerging the majority of the Marines. Even Aokiji couldn't freeze the ocean—doing so would entrap and kill their own soldiers.
Thus, even if it meant trading injuries, he had to stop Marine Headquarters from sinking further!
BOOM!!!
A massive shockwave engulfed everyone from Groudon Company, while the Cliff Sword pierced straight into Sengoku's abdomen.
KABOOM!!!
Both sides exploded simultaneously!
Gurd withstood the shockwave head-on, but his subordinates behind him were all sent flying, coughing up blood—clearly unable to endure the assault from the Fleet Admiral.
Laser beams and ice spears shot toward him!
Gurd's eyes flicked left and right as rock formations rapidly rose on either side of his body, blocking the lasers and spears.
Aokiji and Kizaru had returned.
With Akainu handling the remnants of Whitebeard's crew, chasing down demoralized Pirates was less urgent than dealing with the threat here.
"Don't think numbers alone will save you! If you're still itching for a fight, I'll oblige—let's see just how capable the Marines really are!"
Gurd's eyes burned red as his body rapidly expanded in size.
ROAR!!!
Groudon's furious bellow sent visible shockwaves blasting away nearby officers. Immediately after, a blinding flame beam swept across the battlefield!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!!
A chain of explosions followed!
"Fist Bone Meteor!"
Garp's full-powered punch sent Gurd stumbling back several steps. But in his Groudon Form, such an attack only caused pain—it wasn't enough to defeat him!
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
A rain of laser points struck Groudon's armored shell—but to no effect. His defenses were no weaker than Jozu's diamond-hard resilience. Even Hawkeye's slashes might not pierce through.
Gurd's entire body glowed crimson.
The ground beneath him melted into magma, and the surrounding temperature skyrocketed. The blistering heat made it impossible for ordinary officers to even approach!
His target wasn't Sengoku or the Admirals—he wasn't arrogant enough to believe he could defeat multiple top-tier fighters at once.
His goal was this island—the bulk of the Marine forces!
Magma surged outward, clashing with the encroaching seawater, stripping the Marines of stable footing.
"Kekeke!"
Gurd laughed savagely. "As long as I stand on this land, Marine Headquarters will keep sinking! Try and stop me if you can!"
"Bastard!"
Sengoku's veins bulged. "Focus fire! He won't last much longer!"
"Understood!"
Lasers, shockwaves, ice!
A barrage of attacks relentlessly hammered Gurd.
The drawback of his massive form was the inability to dodge—he had to endure every hit. But the advantage? Unmatched defensive power.
"That stings!"
Gurd exhaled a blast toward Sengoku while his tail lashed out at Kizaru and Aokiji. It felt like battling the Five Kage while clad in Susanoo.
His stamina was draining fast.
Every inch of his body ached, especially where Garp's fists landed—each punch driving Haki deep into his flesh.
At this rate, he wouldn't hold out much longer.
But the destruction he wrought was staggering.
The entire Oris Plaza was now submerged, with magma spreading outward from his position. Boiling seawater scalded screaming Marines, who desperately swam toward higher ground—the fortress, the castle.
Yet not everyone made it.
Exhausted soldiers sank beneath the waves, one after another.
The battle between Akainu and the division commanders was also affected. No matter how strong Akainu was, as a magma man, he couldn't fight in seawater and had to jump onto a warship.
"Jie hahaha, how ruthless!"
Gurd sneered mockingly: "You've already achieved your goal in the war against the Whitebeard Pirates. Your marines are exhausted, yet now you're completely disregarding the casualties of ordinary soldiers to deal with us. Is this your so-called justice?"
"Any sacrifice is worthwhile as long as we capture you!"
Sengoku stood on the reef, his gaze unwavering even as screams echoed behind him.
He understood clearly that engaging Gurd would cause massive casualties for the Marines. But if they could kill Gurd here, the threat of the Beasts would soon collapse on its own!
Without Gurd's strategic mind, those warmongering savages would never amount to anything. Ultimately, the world's balance would be restored.
The Marine Headquarters could be rebuilt if destroyed. Soldiers could be recruited again if lost. For the sake of world stability, even if it meant losing a hundred thousand troops, he would eliminate Gurd here!
Gurd was the greatest threat to the world!
"Jie hahaha, truly worthy of the title 'Buddha' Sengoku, the Tactician!"
Gurd roared with laughter.
To achieve his goals, he would stop at nothing.
Unfortunately, so would he!
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"
Vice Admiral Momonga landed beside Sengoku using Moonwalk, urgently reporting: "Kaido has led the Beasts Pirates to capture G-1 and the Red Port! They're now heading for the Holy Land!"
"What?!"
Sengoku's expression changed drastically!
--Support me in Patreon for more chapters 35+ chapters in there
patreon.com/GoddessTL
Thanks!