Carol nodded and said:
"Understood."
The warships in the distant harbor were constantly decreasing, signifying the departure of the troops. Only personnel to maintain basic operations remained in this vast fortress.
As the last Vice Admiral led his team away, a faint voice echoed:
"Bring that thing out."
Carol gave a soft 'Mm'.
*Shua—*
Using his fruit ability, he vanished without a trace.
Sakazuki turned and walked back into the Fleet Admiral's office.
*Shua—*
Carol reappeared, but this time he was accompanied by a Seraphim, an exact replica of Sakazuki in size…
Looking from afar, it was difficult to distinguish the real one from the copy…
------------
New World, Briar Islands.
This gap in the Navy's strategic layout, located within Kaido's territory, was breached a few days ago by the 44th, 47th, 51st, 52nd, and 57th Fleets.
The battle did not cease. Kaido's reinforcements and counter-offensives continued, even seeming to break the established rules. Kaido had dispatched the three Calamities, though they had not yet engaged in direct combat.
Naval reinforcements were also en route.
Enel, from an adjacent territory, dispatched Trafalgar Law, Drake, and others. Law, using his abilities, led them forward, charging towards the battle without pause.
As for why Enel felt secure sending his subordinates to support the war effort…
It was similar to why Sakazuki had weakened the influence and businesses of Hearl. Knox and Shanks.
It was because these two were among the Four Emperors who prioritized reason. Such individuals were the most troublesome.
Similarly, even though they knew the Navy's strategic layout was complete, both sides would exercise restraint. This was also why Enel felt confident sending his subordinates to reinforce.
Kaido and Charlotte Linlin, however, had obvious flaws. They were easily controlled from an omniscient perspective but were also the most prone to breaking rules, always trying to disrupt everything…
When the higher-ups from both sides began to exercise restraint, Kaido’s deliberate dispatch of Calamity-level combatants to command the operation made his intentions clear…
On the Beast Pirates’ ships.
Queen, round like a ball, stood at the edge of the deck, smoking a cigar and commanding his fleet against the Navy ships defending the island.
Even though it was deep into the night, the rain of cannonballs illuminated the darkness with an eerie glow.
Watching the battle rage on, Jack, who appeared quite ferocious next to Queen, could not contain himself:
"Brother Queen, why aren't we going in?"
"Let me go and tear these guys apart!"
Queen turned slightly, his eyes narrowed.
Seeing Queen's expression, Jack shivered like a naughty child. His once fierce face now looked timid and submissive.
Queen nodded with satisfaction and said:
"Foolish Jack."
"Don't question any of my decisions."
"It's not time to act yet."
"We need to lure out some big fish first."
"Do you understand?"
He cast a sideways glance at Jack.
Jack shuddered and quickly nodded:
"Yes… Yes!!"
Just then, a familiar voice echoed across the battlefield:
"Room!!!"
An almost imperceptible transparent film instantly enveloped the sea.
Queen’s lips curled into a sinister grin:
"The big fish has arrived…"
The Beast Pirates’ ships were lifted out of the water, floating precariously in the air.
*Whoosh—*
A laser beam shot out from Queen’s modified body.
*ROAR!!!!*
A roar, like that of an ancient beast, erupted from both sides simultaneously.
Two colossal entities collided in the air, the dull impact resonating in one's chest…
------------
In the sky.
A giant yellow Brachiosaurus charged towards Law.
Queen, his entire body modified, fired dense bullets from the machine gun in his mouth, intermingled with lasers, while his tail constantly extended to grab at Law.
Various small missiles were launched from his extended arms, pursuing Law.
But these had no effect on Law, not even limiting his movement.
*Clang!*
Law instantly swapped places with a freshly fired missile from Queen's mouth and slashed at Queen with his sword:
"Hey, hey, the Beast Pirates are breaking the rules, aren't they?"
"You're even sending out the Calamities to fight."
Queen, in his Brachiosaurus form, blocked Law's descending sword with his iron claws, a sinister grin on his face:
"You're the ones who broke the rules first."
"You're so strong for a Rear Admiral. Is Sakazuki playing everyone for fools?"
Law flashed behind him, chuckling:
"You're mistaken, Fleet Admiral Sakazuki."
"I'm a Rear Admiral simply because I lack the seniority, nothing more."
*Clang!*
Queen’s long braid, like a steel python, blocked Law’s sword and coiled upwards. He tilted his head slightly:
"Oh?"
"Then he's quite the relic."
"How about joining the Beast Pirates? You'd be the Fourth Calamity."
Law looked at the braid, which coiled upwards, glinting with sharp coldness:
"Thanks for the offer, but I'm not interested."
He's undergone full cybernetic modification… In that case…
His sword burst with intense electrical energy and lunged forward:
"High-frequency Scalpel!!!"
High-pressure current gathered on the blade, aiming to pierce the cybernetically enhanced Queen.
Queen scoffed, and his body erupted with powerful Armament Haki, separating them:
"Then die… Vegapunk's disciple!!!"
Circular launchers emerged from various parts of his body, firing missiles in all directions. Before Law could even raise his hand to redirect them…
*BOOM!!!!*
All the missiles detonated simultaneously.
Queen, at the center of the explosion, held his breath and plummeted downwards in human form, his gaze fixed on Law.
Law in the air felt his strength draining. He looked at Queen, who was holding his breath, and realized something:
"Seastone powder?"
He’d mixed Seastone powder into the missiles… It spread across the entire battlefield in an instant with the explosion…
He mused internally, but his actions were swift. Though he had lost considerable strength, the moment the thought arose, he isolated himself from all external influences.
Queen, falling below, suddenly erupted with Armament Haki, shaking off the Seastone powder that had settled on his skin. He pointed at Law's heart.
A sense of impending doom locked onto Law. Just as he was about to activate his ability, his body suddenly seized, and a sharp pain coursed through him.
Black and blue marks on his arm instantly spread halfway across his body. Law's heart tightened:
"Poison…"
He had no time to expel it, as the delay allowed the laser to reach him…
*Screech—*
An arm flew off…
Queen cursed:
"What kind of ability is this?"
It’s like a universal solvent, managing to dodge even in this situation…
On the other side.
Law and his severed arm vanished together.
He reappeared on a distant warship, reattached the arm to his shoulder, and simultaneously pulled out a syringe, injecting it directly into the shoulder.
Activating his Ope Ope no Mi ability, new flesh continuously grew and intertwined, healing him completely in moments.
However, the cold sweat on his brow was unavoidable. The tearing sensation of stimulated cell activity, growing new flesh and bone, was truly… something.
The Seastone powder he had inhaled was then expelled along with the poison.
But where did the poison come from…
Law raised his sword and pointed it at the entire battlefield:
"Scan!"
His eyes became like X-rays, instantly revealing the entire battlefield. Smoke erupted and spread, continuously invading the air.
Some of it mutated into a deadly red…
"So that's how it is…"
"I've certainly learned a lesson…"
In an instant, Law understood the origin of the toxic substance that had invaded his body.
The missiles Queen had fired earlier contained raw ingredients for a potent poison, but individually, they wouldn't harm the body, being mistaken for harmless substances.
This was why Law hadn't detected it.
The final volley of missiles not only contained Seastone powder but also the last crucial ingredient, instantly creating the deadly poison…
The substance in his vision was about to reach the sea. Many soldiers had already inhaled some of the earlier substances. If this final wave swept over them, the entire fleet would perish instantly.
But now that he knew, it was solvable.
*Shua—*
Law instantly appeared in mid-air.
With one hand pointing at the fleet and the other at the sky:
"Conductor!"
An invisible force swept through, and the soldiers in the fleet below felt a sense of relief within their bodies.
Two condensed spheres of slightly discolored energy orbited Law’s hands, one extracted from the soldiers below, the other condensed from the attack in the sky.
Combining the two spheres and attaching them to his rotating blade, he aimed at the Mammoth Gigant that was locked in battle with Drake:
"Inject… Shoot!!!"
The rotating spheres merged and shot out, the originally light-colored spheres transforming into black and blue arrows of poison.
Far in the distance.
Queen, descending from high altitude and preparing to return, suddenly sensed something. Seeing the poison arrows aimed at Jack, cold sweat dripped down his face…
He recognized the black and blue color.
Law, after inhaling only a small amount, had half his body instantly invaded…
Even with Jack's strong physique, the dose of this poison… he'd be stripped to the bone even if he didn't die…
Queen's arm extended directly, transforming mechanically, a laser cannon appearing, and he aimed it at the poison arrows.
*Swoosh—*
*Boom!!!!*
He shattered the poison arrows directly, but the ensuing black and blue toxic mist spread with the explosion.
Queen's laser cannon condensed another beam and aimed it at the two ancient beasts locked in a fierce embrace.
A laser beam shot out.
It blasted Jack, who was clashing with Drake, sending him flying.
Drake's draconic eyes narrowed:
"Wh-"
*Shua—*
He was instantly teleported away by Law's ability.
The black and blue toxic mist swept over…
---------
*Shua—*
Drake reappeared on a warship:
"What the hell…"
He shook his head, the familiar sensation of teleportation…
Law directed the fleet to return and rest:
"Temporary ceasefire."
His tone was relaxed, clearly not taking the recent battle to heart.
Drake scoffed:
"I haven't had enough yet, that guy…"
Law looked at him with a strange expression:
"You seemed to be getting beaten up, though…"
Drake’s face stiffened, a hint of anger in his voice:
"What do you know!"
"Zoan-type battles are called evenly matched!"
Law's lips twitched:
"Yeah~ Yeah~"
He turned away with an expression of feigned belief…
Veins bulged on Drake's forehead:
"Hey! What's with that look… Bastard!!!"
---------
Beast Pirates' fleet.
These pirate ships were desperately fleeing… Yes, fleeing…
They didn't have Law's abilities and couldn't possibly repel the migrating poison mist, fearing death if they got even a speck on them…
Queen stood calmly on the deck, looking at the distant Navy fleet:
"What a shame…"
The bait was drawn, but the fish had escaped. It would be harder to catch next time…
Jack frowned beside him:
"Brother Queen! The poison mist is coming!!!"
Queen snorted:
"What are you shouting about."
"I'm here, no one will die…"
He raised his hand and fired missiles, the resulting blast wave disrupting and scattering the spreading poison mist. Queen turned and walked back into the cabin:
"Keep attacking like this."
"This poison mist was created because I had to save you, so you’re responsible for blocking it."
"Foolish Jack."
Jack immediately straightened up:
"Yes!"
In his mind, he pondered how to achieve the same effect as the missile explosion…
"External Armament Haki?"
------------
Grand Line, Sabaody Archipelago.
Garp hung up the Den Den Mushi and looked at Fujitora beside him:
"It seems you can't leave for now."
"Sakazuki just called, asking you to wait for another newly appointed Admiral, and then head to Marine Headquarters together."
Fujitora showed a hint of interest:
"Oh?"
"Another newly appointed Admiral…"
Garp said:
"That's right, also recruited through the World Military Conscription."
"The appointment letter and uniform have just arrived. Tomorrow, I'll start familiarizing you with Sabaody."
"Shichibukai Jinbe is also on the island. You can visit Fish-Man Island if you have time."
"You two should get along."
Fujitora nodded:
"Alright."
---------
Grand Line, near Diéppe Island, on a deserted island.
Nearly half of the island had sunk, and the remaining half was overgrown with dangerous-looking plants.
Borsalino transformed into golden light and landed on a large tree:
"Kowaii ne~"
"What a terrifying ability~"
"It's completely impossible to guard against~"
Aramaki, with green hair, said with a grin: 138READ.NET
"Hahaha."
"Not at all."
"Admiral Borsalino's ability is invincible!"
"It's impossible to touch him."
Borsalino's lips twitched almost imperceptibly:
"Well~"
"The test is over. It's time to report to Fleet Admiral Sakazuki~"
---------
New World, New Marineford.
In the Fleet Admiral's office.
A new desk had been added, and Carol sat there working.
*Buruburuburu~ Buruburuburu~*
The Den Den Mushi on the Fleet Admiral's desk rang.
'Sakazuki' picked up the Den Den Mushi.
At the same time, Carol also picked up the one-way Den Den Mushi on his desk, pressed a button, and a shield similar to Law’s ability enveloped Carol.
Borsalino's voice came through, and Carol nodded slightly:
"Since it's over, return directly to the New World."
" Hurry back and take charge in the direction of Kaido."
"As for Aramaki."
"Welcome to the Marines. It's an absolutely correct decision."
"Currently, there's a mission that needs you to carry out temporarily."
"The Vinsmoke family in the North Blue is colluding with a Four Emperor. Their guilt has been established."
"Except for the main leader, Judge, leave no one alive…"
"After that, you will proceed to Sabaody Archipelago and head to Marine Headquarters with Fujitora."
"An appointment letter and uniform will be delivered by a special envoy…"
Strangely…
Carol, inside the shield, opened his mouth but made no sound.
And 'Sakazuki' behind him spoke in perfect sync with Carol…
His voice and fluctuations were indistinguishable from Sakazuki's…