"What... is that thing?!"
Everyone on Fish-Man Island—whether natives, Navy, or pirates—turned toward the plaza in unison.
A colossal six-winged angelic apparition soared into the sky, spreading its wings wide and singing a sacred hymn that defied description, a song beyond words...
Then it slowly began to shrink, until it vanished from sight.
"A miracle! It's a miracle!"
"An angel actually descended on Fish-Man Island! Fish-Man Island truly hasn't been abandoned!"
Because of this sight, some native residents who had completely given up on the island's future found their courage rekindled, and a flicker of something called "hope" was born in their hearts once again.
Yet that enormous six-winged angelic illusion didn't disappear completely—it gradually shrank and eventually converged into Michael's body.
Even Whitebeard couldn't help but show a look of shock.
Even he had never seen a Devil Fruit ability with such an overwhelming display.
Soon, when the angelic figure had fully merged into Michael, his pristine white Navy uniform began to transform—flowing and extending until it turned into a complex suit of angelic battle armor inscribed with divine runes.
But upon closer inspection, one would realize that this armor... was alive.
It was formed from constantly flowing liquid Holy Light.
"Po—Pops!"
Both Marco, still recovering from his injuries, and Jozu and Vista standing by at the ready, instinctively stood up and assumed defensive stances.
That young man in the sky was radiating an aura so terrifying, it made them instinctively panic.
"Yeah, no need to tell me. I see it."
Whitebeard let out a hearty laugh.
"Kurururururu! A young Admiral-level, huh? A monster like this, and not a single whisper of him on the seas! Garp! You Navy folks sure know how to keep secrets!"
"Wa hahahaha! Of course! And there's plenty more to surprise you, Whitebeard!"
Garp responded with smug arrogance, then turned his head and muttered to himself suspiciously,
"Am I seeing things? Michael's growth rate is really this insane? He crossed the gap from Admiral candidate to full Admiral in just two years? Judging from his current aura... he even feels stronger than Aokiji..."
As one of the top-tier powerhouses, Garp knew better than anyone that the stronger you get, the harder it is to improve.
Especially once you reach the level of an elite Vice Admiral—so many people spend the rest of their lives without advancing another inch.
But Michael seemed to have never been shackled by any bottlenecks at all.
Still... as absurd as it was—
In Garp's eyes, even with Michael's current strength, defeating a nearly perfect peak-form Whitebeard was still impossible.
After all, Whitebeard had already defeated more than one opponent at that level of power.
Thinking of this, Garp couldn't help but clench his fist.
With Whitebeard's temperament, Michael's life shouldn't be in danger.
But there's always the unexpected.
So Garp was already prepared to throw away his pride as a strong man if necessary—to save Michael at all costs.
As for the idea of two-on-one against Whitebeard? Not even a consideration.
Not only were all the Whitebeard Pirates' division commanders present...
Even if Garp and Michael somehow managed to take down Whitebeard...
Where were they?
Fish-Man Island!
Ten thousand meters beneath the sea!
To unleash full power and fight to the death here?
No matter who wins or loses, millions of lives would be lost in the deep sea.
Who would be that stupid—Garp, or Whitebeard?
So this battle would most likely end in a stalemate.
The Navy and the Whitebeard Pirates currently existed in a state of mutual non-interference.
Whitebeard knew well that if he fought head-on, his crew could never win against the entire Navy.
But the Navy couldn't afford to go all-in just to take down the Whitebeard Pirates either.
Maintaining balance—that was the unspoken agreement between both sides.
This battle... wouldn't change that.
"Kurururururu! Angel brat! Come on! Let me test whether you're qualified to step into the world of the strong!"
Whitebeard raised Murakumogiri high, and the invisible aura of Conqueror's Haki gathered once more—but this time, compared to the basic coating from before...
It had at least doubled.
"Damn you, you crazy old man!"
Hovering midair, Michael shook his head, feeling the terrifying aura from Whitebeard surging ever higher.
Even now, Whitebeard still hadn't used his Devil Fruit ability!
His own strength was still a far cry from that of the world's strongest man.
So...
This whole idea of "equal to the Emperors" only applied to Kaido and Big Mom types.
Admiral level—was just the bare minimum to earn Whitebeard's acknowledgment.
But thinking about it was pointless now.
Michael's mind was filled with only one thing—battle.
The sacred aura around Michael was so intense that it made both civilians and pirates watching feel an overwhelming urge to kneel and confess their sins sincerely.
Thud!
The sound of one weak-willed person falling to their knees triggered an unstoppable chain reaction.
More and more people dropped to their knees, bowing their heads devoutly before the angel above.
"Stand up! No kneeling allowed!"
"I'm Michael D. Maria, a Rear Admiral of Marine Headquarters!"
"No one deserves your kneeling! Not even me!"
"I came to Fish-Man Island for three things!"
"Justice! Justice! And fucking justice!"
Hearing Michael's furious roar, all those who had knelt were stunned, lifting their heads to look at the angel roaring from the heavens.
And when the word "justice" echoed from the angel's mouth and spread across the sky, their knees warmed, as if lifted by an unseen force.
Those who had knelt rose to their feet.
Those about to kneel straightened their backs.
"Hey! Angel brat, one more time—your name... it's Michael, right?"
"Are you deaf, old man? I've said it a bunch of times already!"
"Kurururururu! What a fiery temper!"
Whitebeard laughed heartily.
"If you were my son, that'd be perfect!"
"Keep dreaming, you old freeloader!"
Michael rolled his eyes. The energy within him had reached its peak.
The Myōjō suddenly trembled... the moment had come!
"Whitebeard! Here I come! Time to retire—age is catching up to you!"
Michael's wings burst with power, leaving behind a sonic boom as he shot downward like a meteor, straight toward Whitebeard.
"Kurururururu! You arrogant little angel brat! I'm... the damn Whitebeard!"
Whitebeard didn't hesitate. He swung Murakumogiri with full force.
He slashed upward toward the descending Michael, who struck down like holy thunder.
The terrifying Conqueror's Haki tore through the air, creating a vacuum in an instant.
Blade clashed against blade, releasing a dazzling burst of light!
A newborn powerhouse and a towering legend of the seas—
Collided in an earth-shaking clash of the mighty!
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