Among them, the number of female admirers who admired her far exceeded that of male fans.
Among male Marines, the one with the greatest popularity was Admiral Silver Serpent, who possessed the Thunder Thunder Fruit. Once unleashed, his power carried overwhelming visual impact and terrifying destructive force, making him widely regarded as one of the strongest Logia users.
Among female Marines, her prestige was second only to Vice Admiral Tsuru, one of the highest ranked officers in the Navy.
She was regarded as the most flawless Admiral, both in appearance and ability.
However, compared to Admiral Cero, who was often called the strongest Admiral in the world, her recognition was slightly overshadowed.
And now, back to the present.
…
Admiral Verglas lay sprawled across a floating sphere, still showing no emotional reaction to the sudden chaos unfolding nearby. Her breathing remained steady, her expression unchanged, as though she were still immersed in a deep dream.
…
Fleet Admiral Akainu's ambush on Admiral Kizaru might as well have been an irrelevant detail to her.
Not worth waking for.
"Brothers turning against each other, close friends killing one another, a tragedy of life…"
Standing beside her was Admiral Issho, Fujitora, holding his cane like a sword. His eyes remained closed as always, yet his Observation Haki clearly followed every movement around him.
He let out a long sigh.
"The World Government allowing the Fleet Admiral to execute an undercover Admiral in public… this is going too far."
His words trailed off into silence, ending in another heavy exhale.
"Hmph, traitors get what they deserve."
Admiral Aramaki spoke with clear disdain, flicking a white flower from his coat as he looked toward the weakening Kizaru.
"No matter who it is, former Admiral or Marine hero, betrayal is still betrayal."
…
Elsewhere on the battlefield, the outcome had already been decided.
Former Admiral Zephyr, once a proud figure of Marineford, had been completely defeated by Admiral Cero.
With overwhelming lightning strikes, Cero had drained Zephyr's strength in a one sided battle, leaving the leader of the NEO Marines kneeling in defeat.
Coughing heavily, Zephyr looked down at his broken mechanical arm, now lifeless after the intense lightning assault.
"I didn't think… someone like you would join the Marines…"
His voice was weak but bitter.
"So even now… I cannot achieve a world without pirates…"
Zephyr understood strength better than anyone.
He had always stood at the peak of human ability.
But even he knew there existed a small fraction of monsters above him.
And this Admiral Silver Snake was one of them.
An existence that even his peak self could never defeat.
"Oh?"
Silver Snake stood with a cold expression, silver hair flowing under his Marine coat. Lightning crackled around him like living serpents.
"A world without conflict? Peaceful harmony? Zephyr, you're still dreaming."
Thunder erupted into the sky as his voice carried through the battlefield.
"This world has always been simple. The strong survive, the weak struggle to breathe. Defy that order, and you invite divine punishment."
The storm intensified as he slowly rose into the air.
Lightning gathered in his hand, glowing with overwhelming intensity.
"And I am that punishment."
His gaze locked onto Zephyr below.
"Your end is here."
A surge of lightning crashed down, drowning the battlefield in blinding light.
…
"Zephyr sensei!"
Ain's voice broke with desperation as she struggled against a Vice Admiral, unable to intervene.
The explosion of light consumed everything.
When the glow faded, nothing remained.
No body.
No trace.
Only scorched earth.
Binz dropped his weapon in shock, staring blankly at the wasteland.
"Sensei…"
Even Vice Admiral Momonga hesitated, briefly stunned by the outcome.
…
Aramaki's voice continued without pause.
"As long as they oppose the Marines and the Celestial Dragons, everything they have done before becomes meaningless. Merit, glory, none of it matters."
His tone was cold and absolute.
"All rebels must be eliminated."
Silence followed.
None of the Admirals objected.
Even Admiral Magellan remained quiet, his expression unreadable.
The truth behind Kizaru's identity had already been exposed.
Borsalino, the Revolutionary Army Vice Commander.
A blade hidden within the heart of the Navy.
…
On the Marines' side, confusion erupted.
"What is happening!"
"Mr. Borsalino!"
"Why are they fighting each other!"
Panic spread among the soldiers, none of them understanding the situation.
…
On the cliffs of Elbaf, distant observers watched the chaos unfold across the sea.
"What kind of situation is this…"
"Admirals fighting each other?"
Only Shirogai and Shanks remained relatively composed, already aware of what was beneath the surface of this conflict.
One smiled faintly.
The other remained silent, expression heavy.
…
Back on the battlefield, Kizaru's blood evaporated midair from the heat of magma.
His life force faded rapidly.
Even so, a faint, self mocking smile appeared on his face.
"Cough… Sakazuki, you really haven't changed…"
His body began to glow faintly.
"Guess I don't need to hide anymore…"
Light erupted from him.
"Glint Glint Fruit, Secret Technique, Light Shuttle."
"Hmph, so even now you still try to escape," Aramaki said coldly.
Vines surged forward, attempting to restrain him. Fujitora followed with a gravity slash, Magellan released a wave of poison, and Verglas's unseen influence pressed in silently.
All attacks converged.
Yet they hit nothing.
Kizaru had already become light.
And vanished.
…
A few minutes earlier.
On the Fleet Admiral's flagship.
"Oh my…"
Kizaru looked toward the distant battlefield, tone unchanged.
In the next instant, his body dissolved into light.
A faint smile formed on his lips.
"How terrifying…"
"Brother Sakazuki…"
"You really did try to pierce my chest."