The current territory of the Beasts Pirates, aside from their base in Wano Country—
Included, on the surface:
DressrosaPunk HazardSabaody ArchipelagoAnd the Germa Kingdom in the North Blue
Hidden from the public:
AlabastaAnd the villages around Nami's home in the East Blue
During the Paramount War era—
Kaido and Charlotte Linlin formed an alliance and seized Edward Newgate's territories in the New World.
Their domain doubled once again.
And now—
Luo Xing had ignited war in the North Blue, attempting to carve it away from the World Government using Germa's clone army.
If successful—
It would mean that the regime that ruled the seas for 800 years would have its very foundation shaken.
After all, the world was composed of four seas—East, West, North, South—plus the Grand Line and the Red Line.
If the North Blue fell—
The Government would lose a full quarter of its domain.
And with most of the New World already under Beasts Pirate control—
Their overall power had reached a level where they could directly contend with the World Government.
Even the Five Elders could see this clearly.
The threat of the Beasts Pirates had already surpassed even Rocks D. Xebec and Gol D. Roger.
The World Government could no longer hold back.
They began full-scale mobilization across the globe—
Under the command of Kong.
Hundreds of thousands—perhaps millions—of troops were being gathered.
Even that wasn't enough.
The Five Elders ordered a worldwide military draft.
War was coming.
A war that would engulf the entire world.
"Have Akainu and Aokiji settle their duel immediately."
"The Navy has no time to wait."
This order soon reached both men.
Without further words—
Sakazuki and Kuzan met eyes.
Then silently departed for a remote, uninhabited island.
In the original timeline, their battle took place on Punk Hazard—
Turning it into a land of ice and fire.
But now that island belonged to the Beasts Pirates, guarded by King.
They chose elsewhere.
On the desolate island—
Akainu stood scarred but healed.
The wounds from Whitebeard remained etched across his face and neck forever.
Meanwhile—
Aokiji and Borsalino had come out of the war relatively unscathed.
From Akainu's perspective—
They had done far less.
Yet despite his sacrifices—
Sengoku had still favored Aokiji as the next Fleet Admiral.
How could Akainu accept that?
It was unjust.
Fortunately—
The higher-ups, especially the Five Elders, supported him.
Thus, this duel was permitted.
A fair fight.
Winner takes the throne.
Akainu stared coldly at his opponent.
"Kuzan."
"With your lazy attitude, you're unfit to be Fleet Admiral."
Aokiji replied bluntly:
"Sakazuki."
"Even if I lack drive…"
"The Navy must never fall into your hands."
"Your justice is too extreme."
"Have you forgotten the civilian ship at Ohara?"
At the mention of the Ohara Incident—
Akainu smirked.
"You still remember that?"
Then his expression turned icy.
"I regret nothing."
"What if scholars had been hiding among them?"
"For the sake of the world—"
"Better to kill a hundred innocents than let one enemy escape."
Aokiji's face darkened.
This was the same Sakazuki as always.
Extreme. Absolute.
Uncompromising.
Their ideologies could never align.
Aokiji exhaled slowly.
"Then there's nothing more to say."
"Let's settle it with strength."
Akainu grinned.
"Just what I wanted!"
"Great Eruption!"
A massive magma fist blasted forward.
Aokiji responded instantly—
An equally massive ice fist collided head-on.
Ice vs. magma.
Absolute opposites.
Perfect counters.
Neither side gave way.
Though comrades for years—
Now, they fought with killing intent.
Because their justice demanded it.
This unprecedented battle—
Admiral vs. Admiral—
Raged for ten days and ten nights.
The island itself became a battlefield of extremes.
At last—
A victor emerged.
Akainu.
Aokiji lay on the ground, drenched in blood.
One of his legs had been completely burned away.
Akainu stood, breathing heavily.
His chest bore a massive wound—
But he remained standing.
"I… won, Kuzan…"
Magma gathered in his fist.
For a moment—
It seemed he would finish it.
But looking at his fallen comrade—
Even Akainu hesitated.
In the end—
He turned away.
"Watch carefully, Kuzan."
"I will lead the Navy down the correct path."
"Your lazy, soft justice has no place in this era."
"And remember—"
"If you fall into darkness…"
"Next time, I won't hesitate."
Akainu left.
To become the new Fleet Admiral.
To reshape the Marines into something harsher—
More absolute—
Than ever before.
Aokiji remained on the ground.
For a long time, he didn't move.
Eventually—
He created an ice leg and stood up.
He looked toward Marineford…
Then shook his head.
He would never return.
So where now?
His thoughts drifted—
Back to the words of that man.
The mysterious Fifth Emperor—
Luo Xing.
That man had predicted this outcome.
Had even invited him—
To join the Beasts Pirates.
At the time, it had sounded absurd.
A Marine Admiral… joining pirates?
But now—
With nowhere left to go—
The idea no longer seemed impossible.
In fact—
It might be the only place left that could accept him.
After a long silence—
Aokiji made his choice.
He slung a bag over his shoulder.
Mounted his bicycle.
With only a penguin companion—
He set off toward the war-torn North Blue.
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