Feeling Shanks' overwhelming Conqueror's Haki, Kaido's gaze sharpened.
"So this is it…
I've always heard that Shanks' Conqueror's Haki was terrifying, but I never expected it to affect reality itself."
Kaido slammed his right foot down and launched his massive body into the air.
The kanabo in his hands swung down with brutal force.
"Thunder Bagua!"
Wrapped in crackling lightning, the weapon reached Shanks' head in an instant.
Shanks' eyes narrowed.
Without hesitation, he drew the sword Gryphon from his waist.
Clang!
Blade and club collided violently.
For a moment, the balance tilted.
Little by little, it began to favor Kaido.
There was no helping it.
Kaido's raw strength was simply monstrous.
Shanks reacted instantly.
He stomped hard against the deck and twisted his body, pulling his sword back to evade the follow-up strike.
Boom!
The massive kanabo smashed into the deck where Shanks had stood.
Fortunately, the Red Force was built tough.
Though the deck cracked and splintered, it was not pierced through.
Kaido rested the kanabo on his shoulder and looked down at Shanks with open disdain.
"Is this all you've got, Red-Haired Shanks?"
Shanks curled his lip.
"Tch. Kaido… you're really asking to die."
In the next instant, Shanks' right leg slammed into Kaido's body.
Crash!
Kaido's enormous frame was sent flying like a cannonball, crashing back into the ranks of the Beasts Pirates.
Just as both sides prepared to clash again, a lazy voice drifted down from above.
"So you're still fighting here. What a hassle."
Everyone looked up.
Standing in the sky, dressed in a black suit, was Ezra D. Vale.
"Admiral Cinderflare!"
"A Marine Admiral?!"
"Why is he here?!"
As for why Ezra appeared here, the answer lay five minutes earlier.
At the port of Marineford, Ezra had been leisurely basking in the sun when his Den Den Mushi rang.
"Hello, Admiral Cinderflare. We have a situation to report."
"Speak."
"During routine patrol, we discovered the Beasts Pirates still engaged with the Red-Haired Pirates."
Ezra raised an eyebrow.
Wasn't Shanks supposed to be mediating?
How did he end up fighting himself?
Rosinante then relayed what he had seen through his binoculars.
After listening, Ezra nodded slightly.
"So they've really come to blows."
He rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.
If he ignored it, the Red-Haired Pirates might actually lose.
With a sigh, he said, "I understand. Keep your distance and continue observing."
"Yes, Admiral!"
After hanging up, Ezra let out a long breath.
"What a hard life."
Still, he stepped into the air and flew toward Shanks' position, leading to the scene now unfolding.
Below, Shanks saw Ezra and finally relaxed a little.
That exchange of blows earlier had left his right hand trembling slightly.
Kaido's power was no joke.
Kaido's expression also turned serious.
"Cinderflare…"
Though the two had never fought directly, Kaido had no doubts about Ezra's strength.
After all, Big Mom had fallen by his hand.
Ezra's crimson eyes settled on Kaido below.
"Kaido of the Beasts.
Do you still want to continue?"
Kaido snorted coldly, gripping his kanabo tightly.
"You killed Jack."
Ezra raised an eyebrow.
That was ancient history.
"So what?
Are you planning to avenge him now?"
Kaido fell silent.
After a brief pause, he roared to his crew,
"Men, we're leaving!"
No one in the Beasts Pirates objected.
After all, the man standing there was Admiral Cinderflare.
As the Beasts Pirates gradually disappeared beyond the horizon, Shanks finally felt completely at ease.
"And you. Aren't you leaving too?"
Ezra swept his crimson gaze across the Red-Haired Pirates.
Shanks said nothing.
He simply led his crew away from the waters near Marineford.
Ezra stretched lazily.
"Good. That should be the last interruption."
Muttering to himself, he flew back to Marineford and quietly waited for the arrival of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
Marineford was now packed with countless Marines.
They stood in formation, faces solemn, gathered below the execution platform.
Morgans himself had arrived on site.
At Sengoku's signal, the video Den Den Mushi was activated.
At that moment, the entire world held its breath.
If the Navy failed, what would the world become?
No one dared imagine it.
All they could do was pray.
Pray for the Navy's victory.
In Foosha Village, the villagers did not drink that day.
Everyone gathered inside Makino's bar, staring at the video Den Den Mushi in the distance, worry etched on every face.
"The Three Admirals are coming out!"
Someone shouted, and Morgans quickly turned the camera.
On the high platform in the distance, three figures sat neatly, each with one leg crossed over the other.
Kizaru.
Ezra D. Vale.
Akainu.
Yellow-striped suit.
Black-striped suit.
Red-striped suit.
Kizaru leaned back casually, hidden eyes scanning the surroundings behind his sunglasses.
Akainu sat with arms crossed, his expression rigid and severe.
In the center, Ezra rested his chin on his right hand, his left tapping the armrest rhythmically.
His gaze drifted lazily over the crowd below.
The presence of the Three Admirals filled the screen.
"So that's them…"
"The Navy's highest combat power."
"I heard the one in the middle, Admiral Cinderflare, is the strongest."
"Strong or not, he's ridiculously handsome!"
Ezra's appearance struck fear into countless pirates.
At the same time, it sparked admiration in just as many young women.
Because honestly, he really was absurdly good-looking.
In Foosha Village, the villagers smiled when they saw him.
For some reason, their anxiety eased.
At Shimotsuki Village, ever since Kuina joined the Navy and Zoro set out to sea as a pirate, Koushirou's life had grown quieter.
Yet many children who loved swordsmanship now came to train.
They all sat in the dojo, watching the man on the screen.
The aging Koushirou wore a gentle smile.
"Ezra… I hope you succeed in stopping the Whitebeard Pirates."
On Baltigo, Dragon had uncharacteristically brought out a video Den Den Mushi.
Together with Sabo and the others, he watched Marineford.
"Dragon, do you think the Navy can win?" someone asked.
Dragon nodded without hesitation and pointed at the screen.
"With him there, the Navy cannot lose."