BOOM!
The devastating shockwave pierced through Kizaru's abdomen without any obstruction, its momentum completely undiminished as it shot straight into the clouds above.
The thick cloud layer was instantly torn open with a perfect circular hole, and a long-awaited beam of golden sunlight, like a divine stage spotlight, penetrated through the cloud opening and fell upon this bloody battlefield.
Kai's figure slowly emerged from the explosion's smoke and dust, standing majestically in the sunlight.
However, he was in a sorry state at this moment, his entire body covered with scorched explosion marks, with blood streaming all over his battered form.
Kizaru had timed his attack perfectly. Kai hadn't even reacted in time initially and had taken the full devastating brunt of the Yasakani no Magatama's concentrated power.
Damn it! What happened to Kizaru's legendary terrible aim?
Fortunately, Zoan types were renowned for their incredible durability, allowing him to endure such punishment.
But this vicious attack had certainly awakened him to reality.
"Thank you, Admiral Kizaru."
Kai looked up, his bloodied lips curving into a genuine smile as he spoke with sincere gratitude: "You've made me realize how weak I still am."
His position as third strongest in the Beast Pirates after Kaido and King had made him somewhat dangerously complacent.
There were so many incredibly strong people in this world.
"Ah, ah! What a frightening fellow."
In the air, Kizaru thoughtfully stroked his slightly stubbled chin as his body slowly returned to normal.
"I get the distinct feeling that letting you continue growing would be very bad for world peace."
"Then try to stop me."
The flames behind King's head suddenly disappeared completely.
As a Lunarian, he possessed the unique ability to actively extinguish his flames, trading defensive power for extreme speed.
The next instant, King vanished from his position.
A pitch-black blade suddenly cut through the air, becoming a shadow as it slashed toward Kizaru, leaving even sound far behind.
So incredibly fast!
No time to dodge.
Kizaru's pupils contracted as the deadly blade grew larger in his vision.
Years of battle experience made Kizaru instinctively cross his arms in front of him.
Although he had eaten the Glint-Glint Fruit and was a light human with the speed of light, his human reaction speed as a person limited the fruit's upper potential.
BANG!
A dull sound exploded across the battlefield.
The blade carrying tremendous force instantly sent Kizaru flying through the air.
"Ara ara~ seems like this is as far as it goes."
Kizaru maintained his flying posture, thinking unhurriedly, Sengoku-san probably won't blame me when I return.
After all, with King and Katakuri about to team up against him, even he couldn't guarantee victory.
If it dragged on until Kaido or Charlotte Linlin arrived personally, that would be truly dangerous.
"Eh? Am I about to fall into the sea?"
Just as Kizaru's body was about to touch the sea surface, he suddenly made an agile turn, brilliant light emanating from his hand.
"Yata no Kagami."
Dazzling light suddenly shot out, using the sea's reflection to pierce straight into the sky, forming a brilliant path of light.
The next instant, he transformed into countless streams of light and merged into it.
In just the blink of an eye, Kizaru appeared in the sky.
"Time to go back. I need to tell Sengoku-san and the others about the situation here."
Kizaru transformed into a beam of light and left without looking back.
Back on the Bread Island battlefield...
The flames behind King's head silently reignited, and Katakuri also dropped his combat stance, planting his trident firmly in the ground.
Both men tacitly chose not to pursue the fleeing Admiral.
Of course, they couldn't catch up anyway.
This was the Glint-Glint Fruit's absolutely rogue nature. Attack when you want, retreat when you want, and have complete freedom of movement.
As long as Kizaru wanted to run, even Kaido and Charlotte Linlin themselves couldn't stop him.
Kai breathed a sigh of relief. In his current battered state, he really had no initiative against Kizaru. Couldn't win in a fight, couldn't escape either.
Suddenly, a white blur flashed before his eyes, followed by sharp pain in his chest as he was involuntarily knocked to the ground.
"Kai, are you okay! Why did you fall down!"
Yamato was teary-eyed, gripping Kai's shoulders with both hands and shaking continuously.
"Stu-pid! Don't, don't shake me! I can't breathe," Kai said with obvious difficulty.
"Eh?! Really?" Yamato opened her mouth in surprise and obediently stopped.
Looking at Yamato crying her heart out, Kai sighed softly, then raised his hand to gently wipe away her tears.
"Don't worry. I won't fall before we achieve our dreams."
Yamato blinked hopefully: "Really?"
"Of course!" Kai smiled in response.
"Then pinky promise!" Yamato extended her little finger.
Kai also extended his little finger and hooked it.
"Pinky promise, hang for a hundred years, no changing allowed!"
The contract was sealed.
King ignored this childish play and turned to look at Katakuri: "Continue?"
At this moment, due to Kizaru's interference, fighters from both sides had stopped their actions.
Katakuri scanned the battlefield, looking at his brothers and sisters.
Cracker lying on the ground moaning continuously, the panting Smoothie, Snack with blood flowing from his mouth and nose...
Finally, his gaze stopped on the distant Oven, whose life or death was unknown and who looked utterly miserable.
Katakuri was silent for a moment, then said in a heavy voice: "Let's end it here. This sea area is yours."
Though he didn't want to admit it, continuing the fight would leave the Charlotte Family with little chance of victory.
His siblings' lives were more important than winning or losing a war.
King faced the battlefield and loudly declared: "We won!"
The war was over.
"OHHHH!"
The Beast Pirates cheered with raised arms.
The Big Mom Pirates looked ashen with defeat.
This battle not only determined Bread Island's ownership but also solemnly declared to the New World that the Beast Pirates were stronger than the Big Mom Pirates!
Before leaving, Katakuri took a deep look at Kai.
"I'll remember you."
If not for Kai's sudden arrival on the battlefield and consecutive defeats of three important family officers, they would never have lost so easily.
Oh! It seems Katakuri has his eye on me now.
Kai shrugged, completely unconcerned.
At sea, the fleet brought by the Charlotte Family was also destroyed almost completely.
In this battle, they could be said to have suffered heavy losses.
But Katakuri had no interest in any of this.
"How is Oven's condition?"
Katakuri stared at a ship doctor in a white coat, his gaze ice-cold.
The ship doctor swallowed nervously and answered tremblingly: "Lord Oven has compound fractures throughout his body, plus drowning-induced suffocation and cerebral edema..."
Katakuri grabbed the ship doctor by the collar and said coldly: "Shut up! I don't want to hear these useless technical details. Just tell me if he can be saved!"
The ship doctor stammered: "We-we'll do our best. But Lord Oven's injuries are really too severe."
The other ship doctors remained silent as cicadas, just frantically working to save Oven.
"Remember, if Oven lives, you live. If Oven dies... I don't need to say more, do I?" Katakuri released the ship doctor.
"Understood completely, Lord Katakuri."
The ship doctors nodded frantically.
They knew this man's gentleness was reserved only for his family.
Compared to the Big Mom Pirates' ship doctors' fear and trepidation, the Beast Pirates' ship doctors felt incredibly blessed.
All the important officers didn't need their treatment. They only needed to handle the middle- and lower-tier personnel.
Those people's life or death didn't affect their performance evaluations.