Among all natural disasters, tsunamis are among the most terrifying.
When an earthquake strikes or a fire spreads, people—though frightened—still retain the courage to flee. But when an overwhelming tsunami surges across the horizon with the might of nature itself, it leaves nothing but despair.
Most people wouldn't even have the courage to run.
So when a towering wall of water, hundreds of meters high, rose above the sea, countless navy soldiers were stunned speechless. Even titans like Akainu and Garp had drastic changes in expression.
And it wasn't just the tsunami. Above, dark thunderclouds pressed down heavily, laced with raging lightning dragons flickering within them. The air itself felt suffocating.
"Hahahaha! What kind of monster is this? This is going to be fun!"
Doflamingo stared at the churning sea and roiling heavens, laughing wildly in excitement. He felt this trip had been more than worth it. Even if Mundo couldn't annihilate the navy completely, at the very least, the navy would suffer a catastrophic blow today.
"Sister, Senior Mundo is far too strong. We should evacuate before the tsunami reaches us, or we'll be caught up in it!"
Hancock's younger sister urged her anxiously.
The Empress's face turned serious. She nodded, then said firmly, "You retreat to safety first."
"What about you, Sister?"
"I'll remain here and prepare to assist Senior Mundo."
On the coastline, countless navy soldiers stared at the oncoming wall of water, their minds breaking under the sight.
"Tsunami—there's a tsunami! Run for your lives!"
"Impossible, there shouldn't even be tsunamis in this region!"
"It's that monster Mundo—it must be his ability! What kind of creature is he?!"
"Who cares? Our ships can't survive this. If we don't act, we're finished!"
"It's no use! Against something like this, what can we do but pray?"
Only those with strong mental fortitude could still speak and attempt to rally resistance. Most were already crushed by despair, their will to fight gone.
"This is bad!"
Garp's face darkened as the tsunami drew closer.
Akainu's expression was just as grim. He roared furiously, "Why wasn't I informed that Mundo had the ability to summon tsunamis?! Who wrote these reports?!"
"If this continues… countless sacrifices are inevitable."
Fujitora's brows furrowed, his usually calm face shadowed with grief.
These top masters, each capable of destroying cities with a single strike, could do nothing in the face of a natural disaster of this scale. At best, they could hope to save themselves.
Even Akainu's lava, as powerful as it was, could never evaporate an ocean.
Rayleigh's gaze flicked toward Fenric, astonishment flashing in his eyes.
"Mundo… you really do continue to surprise. Another terrifying ability."
On the land, Kizaru, seeing the approaching waves and the inaction of his comrades, grew anxious. "Sakazuki, why isn't Kuzan here? Only he can halt something of this scale!"
At that, Akainu's face darkened.
Kizaru's words cut to the heart. If the navy suffered devastating losses today, all responsibility would fall upon the Fleet Admiral's shoulders. And of course, the old fox Kizaru knew exactly what he was doing. He had deliberately brought up Kuzan, aware of the discord between the Fleet Admiral and the former admiral.
Akainu shot him a cold glare but held his tongue. This was not the time for blame. They needed a solution.
Suddenly, Garp bellowed at Fenric:
"Mundo! Stop this madness! Do you mean to slaughter innocent navy soldiers? They have families waiting for them!"
Fenric smiled faintly. "Master, they sailed here to deal with me—just like you. To fall at my hands… isn't that simply their misfortune?"
This wasn't mockery.
Fenric was no saint, nor a man of misplaced compassion.
These soldiers might have been obeying orders, but that didn't matter. In war, the unlucky perished. Fenric had no intention of sparing them.
This was not a child's game. This was war.
Garp was left momentarily speechless.
Fenric's voice then rang out, louder than before, deliberately carrying across the fleet:
"Akainu! If you lead the navy in surrender, I may consider sparing the lives of these soldiers, forced into battle by your orders!"
The declaration sent ripples of shock through the fleet.
Akainu's face twisted with fury. He instantly understood Fenric's intent—to force him into an impossible choice, to sow discord and pressure him publicly!
But Akainu was a soldier of iron and blood. Concession and compromise did not exist in his dictionary.
"Surrender?!" he barked. "The justice of the navy does not bow to anyone! As soldiers of the navy, we will never surrender to a pirate!"
He turned his head toward Fujitora.
"Issho! Kill Mundo with me—we must stop this tsunami!"
Without hesitation, Akainu leapt skyward, molten lava already dripping from his arm.
"Inugami Guren!"
His fist transformed into the flaming maw of a molten hound, snapping toward Fenric with destructive force.
At the same time, Fujitora unsheathed his blade, his deep voice echoing:
"Gravity Blade—Tiger!"
A crescent arc of compressed gravity shot forth, its crushing weight threatening to bury Fenric.
Two Admirals struck at once. Fenric's eyes narrowed, and his body hardened with Armament Haki, cloaking him in obsidian black.
Just as he prepared to counter, a gray-white figure blurred into the air before him, intercepting both attacks with a single sweep of a sword.
Rayleigh.
"Hmph! Did you forget about this old man?" the Dark King laughed boldly.
"Rayleigh!" Akainu snarled, his teeth grinding. "You've lived too long already. I'll send you to join Roger today!"
Rayleigh only smirked and pointed behind him.
"Sakazuki… you'd better worry about saving your soldiers first."
Akainu turned, his face instantly paling.
The tsunami was already upon them, a towering wall of water sealing the fleet's fate.
"Great Eruption!"
"Hell Journey!"
He roared, unleashing more molten devastation to meet the oncoming sea.