"Bwahahaha! Did you see that Marine Vice Admiral's face?"
A pirate who had just gained a Zoan ability lay flat on his back, chest heaving violently as if reliving the intensity of the fight.
His lips curled into a grin, revealing uneven teeth, his eyes sparkling with triumph.
"When I transformed into a Saber-Toothed Tiger and pounced, he pissed his pants! I'm invincible!"
He carried himself as if he had already become the master of the battlefield.
Not far away, a burly man who had acquired the Paramecia-type Spring-Spring Fruit was struggling to stand.
His body swayed unsteadily, his legs still twitching uncontrollably like coiled springs losing tension.
Every slight movement seemed to drain the last of his energy.
THUD.
The moment he exerted himself, he collapsed forward from sheer exhaustion, landing face-first in the dirt.
He lay sprawled on the ground, muttering into the dust.
"This ability... is too damn good... just a bit hard on the legs..."
His voice carried a hint of exhaustion, yet it couldn't conceal his satisfaction with the new power.
Gecko Moria's zombie army was methodically assisting in cleaning up the battlefield, dragging away Marine corpses and gathering weapons.
Though physically drained, the pirates who had gained new abilities couldn't stop chattering.
"Did you see that 'Blast Breath' earlier? Mine was even fiercer than Kaido's!" one pirate exclaimed, wildly gesturing with his arms to mimic a dragon, his face full of pride.
"Bullshit! Your 'Demolition Gust' didn't even scratch the paint on the warship!" another pirate retorted bluntly, eyes wide with disdain.
"Stop arguing... let me sleep for a bit..." a third pirate lazily yawned, slowly closing his eyes, hoping to regain some strength during this brief moment of peace.
...
Meanwhile, at the center of the battlefield.
Ron was leading the Whitebeard Pirates' Division Commanders, along with Douglas Bullet and other members of the Divine Kingdom's Enforcers, ascending the spiral staircase toward the Eternal Shrine at the summit.
Their footsteps were steady and resolute, each step stirring small clouds of dust from the ruins.
Divine Kingdom warriors lining both sides of the staircase saluted respectfully, yet their gazes inevitably drifted toward Whitebeard.
The legendary man now had a white Divine Halo glowing softly yet powerfully behind his head, radiating an intangible aura of intimidation.
He looked like a deity walking among men.
"Pops, are you really alright?" Marco couldn't help asking for the third time, his eyes filled with concern.
He followed closely behind Whitebeard, his expression betraying anxiety.
He feared this "resurrection" might be a temporary adrenaline burst before a final collapse.
Whitebeard laughed heartily and patted his son's shoulder, nearly buckling Marco's knees with the force.
"Gurararara! Brat, I feel like I could tear a hundred Kaidos apart right now! Stop worrying!"
"..."
CREAAAK...
The shrine doors slowly creaked open before them with a heavy, drawn-out groan.
Soon, the circular council chamber was filled with people—all the Whitebeard Pirates' Commanders and Ron's inner circle.
Some were whispering among themselves while others sat quietly, all eyes focused on the center of the hall.
Bullet kept studying Whitebeard, particularly the Divine Halo behind him, wondering inwardly why this thing couldn't be retracted after Awakening.
'And why didn't my own Awakening come with a Divine Halo?' He frowned.
'This flashy aesthetic... it makes him look like a higher tier of being.'
'Annoying.'
His brow furrowed slightly, his eyes revealing traces of confusion and dissatisfaction.
TAP.
Ron's White Moon scabbard lightly tapped the ground with a clear sound.
A team of white-robed Shandian attendants immediately served wine and food with practiced, synchronized movements.
"First," Ron raised his glass, his gaze sweeping across those present, his eyes projecting steadiness and confidence.
"Congratulations on the Captain's successful Awakening. The strongest man in the world has returned."
His eyes finally settled on Whitebeard, pausing briefly before continuing.
"However, regarding your current physical condition... and the mechanics of this 'Immortality'..."
All movement ceased.
The previously lively council chamber instantly fell silent, leaving only the sound of everyone's soft breathing.
Bullet stood with arms crossed.
Shiki clenched a cigar between his teeth.
Jozu's diamond arm reflected the candlelight.
Everyone wanted to know what level Whitebeard had reached after being resurrected from death and awakening dual abilities.
Whitebeard leaned Murakumogiri against his seat.
The glow of the white Divine Halo gradually receded until it vanished completely, retracting into his body.
When he spoke, everyone pricked up their ears as if afraid to miss a single word.
"The Phoenix's rebirth... coupled with the Orochi's vitality... has allowed me to achieve a state where the soul is immortal and the body is indestructible."
Whitebeard's words echoed through the temple, striking everyone's hearts like a thunderclap.
CLATTER.
Marco's wine glass fell to the floor, blue flames spilling uncontrollably from his body.
His eyes widened, his face filled with shock and disbelief.
Jozu's diamond jaw nearly dropped, stammering as he repeated, "S-Soul.. immortal? Body indestructible?"
"Gurararara!" Whitebeard laughed heartily, raising his giant sake gourd. "Simply put—"
Whitebeard's laughter echoed through the temple as he suddenly raised his supreme blade, Murakumogiri.
The blade instantly became coated with black-purple Armament Haki.
Before anyone could react to stop him, a cold gleam flashed—
"Watch."
SCHLICK!
Blood sprayed across the room as he cleanly severed his own left forearm at the elbow!
THUD.
The severed arm hit the ground heavily, staining a large portion of the temple floor red.
"POPS!!!"
Marco jolted with a surge of blue flames. Jozu's diamond body creaked loudly as he hurriedly rose to intervene—but it was too late.
Vista dropped both his swords in horror.
Everyone was terrified out of their wits by this sudden self-mutilation.
But the next moment, a horrifying scene unfolded.
FWOOSH!
White flames erupted from the wound.
Flesh wriggled at the severed stump, and bones regenerated at a visible rate.
Even more astonishingly, the severed arm on the ground suddenly burst into flames, transforming into a beam of white light that shot back up and reattached itself to the wound.
The entire process took less than three seconds.
Whitebeard's arm was completely restored, without even a scar left behind.
"Gurararara!"
Whitebeard flexed his newly grown arm, the muscles rippling with power.
"See? Even if my true body is wounded by Haki... it means nothing."
He raised Murakumogiri again, this time aiming it at his own neck!
"Pops! NO!"
Marco, scared out of his wits, instantly transformed into his Phoenix Form and desperately clung to Whitebeard's arm.
"Please don't do this!! We believe you!!"
Whitebeard laughed and lowered the blade, patting Marco's trembling shoulder.
He scanned the stunned crowd, the glow of his re-ignited white Divine Halo illuminating each shocked face.
"As long as my soul remains intact, even if my body is blasted to pieces..."
He stomped his foot.
CRACK!
The ground suddenly cracked open into a deep abyss.
"I can crawl back from hell itself!"
Douglas Bullet's face instantly turned pale.
The "Demon Heir," who once rivaled Roger and sought to be the strongest individual in the world, now had fine beads of cold sweat on his forehead.
His proud Armament Haki, his terrifying power capable of shattering islands—suddenly seemed utterly laughable in the face of Whitebeard's display.
Strength represents power, Bullet thought, his hands trembling.
But this... this is eternity.
'If even death couldn't end this monster, then what was the point of challenging him?'
For the first time, Bullet felt true fear.