In the distance—about seven or eight kilometers to the right of the Three Yonko Alliance fleet—the Marine had finally arrived.
Even though the massive fleet wasn't arranged neatly, its sheer scale was terrifying enough.
On the Big Mom Pirates' side, the lookout immediately rang the alarm bell, shouting that the Marine was approaching.
Within moments, the entire alliance knew the Marines had arrived.
Of course, with such a colossal fleet appearing on the horizon, it was impossible for anyone to miss it.
"Finally here… I wonder if Kong himself came."
The Redfield, youthful once again, was eager to fight. His face remained calm, but inside he was burning with anticipation.
Ever since regaining his youth, the Redfield hadn't taken action. He didn't intervene against the Red-Haired Pirates either — just like World. After all, there were barely enough opponents among the Red-Haired Pirates to interest them.
Now that the Red-Haired Pirates had essentially been annihilated, many powerhouses were waiting for the Marine to arrive.
"For me, as long as Garp is here, that's enough. Anyone else doesn't matter—just give me a top-tier fighter."
"Finally…"
Bullet, who constantly craved worthy opponents, was thrilled.
Members of both the Big Mom Pirates and the Beasts Pirates were excited yet uneasy.
Katakuri said, "If we win this battle, the order of the world will completely change. If the Marine —the spear of the World Government — falls, then the World Government and the Celestial Dragons are practically finished."
His words shocked many. People's breathing and heartbeat quickened without them realizing.
"That may be true, Katakuri," a voice interrupted. Big Mom herself descended on the thundercloud Zeus.
"But the strength of the Celestial Dragons far surpasses the Navy Headquarters."
The Charlotte siblings exclaimed:
"Mama!"
"Hey, Katakuri!" Zeus circled, grinning wickedly.
Prometheus also laughed. "Is Mama going to take action? We're so excited!"
"Mm-hmm! Me too," Napoleon the bicorn added.
Of course, the most excited of them all was Big Mom.
At this moment, the final remnants of the Red-Haired Pirates were killed by the Alliance.
With that, the Red-Haired Pirates — once one of the mightiest forces in the New World — were completely destroyed. Many hadn't died quietly, but against Elior's Three Yonko Alliance, they were helpless.
None were left alive.
Under the gaze of the entire alliance, Elior grabbed Shanks' severed head. With barely any force, he tore it free from the corpse and held it by the hair.
Scenes like this weren't exactly rare for these crews. But the question everyone felt in their bones was:
Whose head was Elior holding?
Even dead, Shanks' reputation and overwhelming presence lingered. Many younger or weaker members of the Big Mom and Beasts Pirates felt fear prickling their skin.
They also couldn't help but silently acknowledge Elior's terrifying power.
Some realized painfully that if Elior ever turned his power against them, the Big Mom Pirates and the Beasts Pirates would fare no better than the Red-Haired Pirates.
Kaido stood beside Elior. Now he fully understood what it felt like to stand next to him — he felt like a subordinate.
Kaido didn't mind anymore. The real battle was about to begin.
And once this war ended, Kaido had already made up his mind: he would ask Elior to marry Yamato. In Kaido's imagination, the Beasts Pirates would become Elior's in-laws.
Of course, Kaido's plan meant little. To Elior, Yamato was just another beauty—and beauties were everywhere in this world.
"Kid, what are you planning to do with that red-haired head?" Kaido asked, eyeing the severed head. Blood still dripped from Shanks' torn neck, gruesome enough to make even Kaido's scalp tingle.
"Kaido," Elior said calmly, holding the head, "if you want to avoid getting beaten to death, transform into your strongest form. As for this head—it's a welcome gift for the Marine."
"A welcome gift?"
Kaido could already picture Elior tossing Shanks' head in front of the Navy brass.He couldn't imagine how the top commanders would react.
Soon after, Big Mom, Elior, and Kaido stood facing the incoming fleet.
Big Mom floated atop Zeus. Elior hovered in the air through his own power. Only Kaido stood on the ground.
"I'm transforming into my strongest form!" Kaido bellowed.
A monstrous surge of aura exploded from his body, forcing anyone too close to retreat. The pressure felt like pure Conqueror's Haki.
His body began changing, scales spreading over his skin as it shifted to a deep dragon-blue tone.His head took on draconic features.
He wasn't becoming a full dragon—he was assuming his strongest hybrid form, combining the abilities and advantages of both human and dragon.The Beast-Man Form.
In this form, his presence alone was terrifying, even to long-time members of the Beasts Pirates.
"Big Mom… send them a greeting gift. A tsunami or something."
Elior said this casually.
"A tsunami? Sure!" Big Mom laughed darkly.
Then she released a torrent of souls, driving them into the sea.
Instantly, the ocean trembled, and the sinister, distorted faces of Homies emerged beneath the waves.