The slaughter at the harbor was nearing its end.
Doberman also noticed Kizaru leaving with Momonga, and he saw the God Knights retreating as well. But his expression stayed firm. As a Marine HQ Vice Admiral, he'd long since set life and death aside.
Doberman alone faced Kuina and Gasparde. After fighting to this point, the two of them were already running on fumes—but he himself had also burned through a massive amount of stamina and Haki.
And then, in the instant he deflected one of Kuina's thrusts—
Something went wrong!
A black figure appeared behind him without the slightest warning—Beth, who had just arrived!
She didn't even look at the terror on Doberman's face. The greatsword in her hands was already stabbing forward! The blade wasn't just coated in Armament Haki—it was wrapped in a layer of Conqueror's Haki as well!
Doberman tried to turn, tried to block, but his body's "re—" simply couldn't keep up with his thoughts!
No way to dodge! Only one choice—take it head-on!
"Tekkai! Armament—full release!" Doberman roared in despair, gathering every last bit of Haki onto his back without holding anything back!
But in front of Beth's Conqueror's-infused strike, that defense looked pitifully weak!
Pshk—!
A dull, wet sound of a blade punching through flesh!
Beth's greatsword tore through Doberman's Armament defense with ease, stabbed in through his back, burst out through his chest—and completely shredded the life in his heart!
Doberman's movements froze. He stared down in disbelief.
Seeing Beth arrive, Kuina's face immediately lit up with relief. Off to the side, Gasparde finally let his guard drop as well, crashing heavily to the ground and gulping for air.
Beth, expressionless, pulled her greatsword back out. Doberman's body swayed once, then pitched forward. The Marine Vice Admiral famed for his iron-blooded style fell here at the harbor of the Lulusia Kingdom.
Almost the moment Doberman hit the ground, a golden flash dropped onto a spot not far away! Light gathered—and Kizaru's figure appeared.
He'd come a step too late.
Looking at Doberman's corpse as it cooled, grief and exhaustion that he couldn't quite hide surfaced on Kizaru's face.
Three HQ Vice Admirals had been lost here! For the Marines, it was a devastating blow they could hardly bear!
And right then, two dangerous presences locked onto him at once!
Neferpitou appeared soundlessly behind his left side, staring at Kizaru with excitement. She'd thought he'd already left—who knew he'd actually come back. This time, Neferpitou had no intention of letting him escape again. Nen gathered around her, ready to burst at any moment.
On the other side, Enel swaggered up with a golden staff over his shoulder, grinning wide. "You're not getting away this time!"
Beth also slowly turned, dragging the greatsword that was still dripping blood as she walked toward Kizaru step by step.
Three top-tier monsters formed a pincer around him in an instant! Everyone still alive at the harbor—especially the Marines and the Celestial Dragon guards who were trembling—held their breath.
Was even Admiral Kizaru going to die here today?
Yet Kizaru seemed to ignore the killing intent around him entirely.
His gaze pierced the chaos of the battlefield and finally landed on Ronan.
Kizaru spoke slowly. "Ronan-sama…"
"…This 'hunt' is over."
His eyes swept over the dozen or so Celestial Dragons collapsed on the ground, the meaning unmistakable.
"The Marines have already paid a high enough price."
He paused, and a hint of a plea entered his voice. "The Marines still at the harbor… they're soldiers who only followed orders. Please allow me to take them and leave."
In this moment, he wasn't the lofty Admiral looking down from above. He looked more like a commander trying with everything he had to keep his subordinates alive.
As for the Celestial Dragons to the side, Kizaru didn't even open his mouth to ask Ronan to spare them. He understood all too well—Ronan would never let this bunch of world nobles walk away. And Kizaru didn't dare ask for something that extravagant anymore.
After Kizaru spoke, everyone present—including the Marines crouched on the ground—focused their eyes on Ronan.
Ronan stayed silent.
He recalled the beginning of the battle: Kizaru had led the Marine fleet to surround the harbor, yet he'd held position the whole time, never joining in any slaughter of civilians. From start to finish, this man had been "half-assing it" in a way that still clung to some line he'd set for himself.
The Marines needed people like that.
This sea also needed strong men who understood "limits."
Besides, the man had the Glint-Glint Fruit. If Ronan truly forced him into a corner, Ronan was worried Kizaru would lose that line entirely and strike at the entire kingdom. Ronan believed Beth and the others could still take him down—but the damage would be even greater. This was the one downside of using your own territory as the main battlefield: there was simply too much you had to protect.
After a long time, Ronan finally nodded.
"Fine. You can take them and go."
Kizaru seemed to let out the smallest breath.
But then he added, "Then Stainless, Doberman, and Yamakaji… their bodies—"
"No." Ronan cut him off directly, leaving no room for negotiation. "Their corpses are spoils of war. They're a warning. You want them back?"
Ronan laughed coldly, his eyes sweeping over the Celestial Dragons before settling on Kizaru.
"Have the World Government come negotiate with me in person!"
Kizaru's pupils tightened. He understood what Ronan meant.
He looked at Ronan deeply and didn't insist further. He knew this was already the maximum concession Ronan was willing to give.
"I understand." Kizaru nodded. Then he turned and waved to the remaining Marines. "Anyone who can still move—carry the wounded. Assemble!"
The Marines looked like they'd been granted a pardon. They hurriedly helped their comrades up and gathered where Kizaru indicated.
Ronan signaled for the clone soldiers to open a path, and he had a boat brought in from elsewhere and handed over to Kizaru.
Kizaru didn't say anything more. He only stared once at the Celestial Dragons sprawled on the ground like livestock awaiting slaughter, then at Ronan's expressionless face. Then he turned into a streak of golden light and boarded the boat first. The surviving Marines followed silently as the vessel slowly sailed away from the harbor that now felt like hell itself.
As for the guards the Celestial Dragons brought with them—and the CP0 members…
Ronan showed no mercy at all.
"Kill them."
A single icy word fell from his mouth.
The clone soldiers—along with Tesoro and the others, who had been waiting—pounced on the guards at once. The screams quickly faded into silence.
At last, the harbor became completely quiet.
Only those dozen-plus world nobles remained, limp on the ground, waiting for a fate they couldn't yet name.
(End of Chapter)
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