Then he yanked away the famed sword "Kogarashi" from the Golden Lion's grasp, not having time to pull the other two blades from his feet.
With a kick, he sent the Golden Lion's corpse flying, gripping the severed head and Kogarashi as he dove swiftly downward.
At this moment, the massive island—several times larger than all of Loguetown was losing the Golden Lion's Devil Fruit powers, and was about to crash into the sea not far from Loguetown.
If it wasn't stopped… the consequences would be unimaginable.
A fiery-red figure arrived ahead of the enormous mass of land, landing at the harbor. He tossed aside the head and Kogarashi.
Sakazuki pressed both hands onto the harbor ground, aiming forward:
"Magma Land Creation!"
From where his palms pressed, magma surged out wildly, spreading flat across the sea's surface, then coated in black Armament Haki.
From afar, it looked as if a massive black platter extended from Loguetown's harbor, ready to catch the falling island from the sky.
Watching the impending collision between the island and the magma platter, Sakazuki's expression hardened as he poured more Armament Haki into it.
Finally…
BOOM——!!!!!!
The earth-shattering explosion sent shockwaves visible to the naked eye, rippling outward layer by layer.
CRACK——
Then came a sharp, splintering sound.
The magma platter coated in immense Armament Haki absorbed more than half of the impact before shattering completely.
Disconnected from Sakazuki's control, the broken magma slowly dissolved, crushed beneath the weight of the massive island and sinking into the depths.
As the island touched the sea, Sakazuki took a deep breath and erupted with power once more.
On this side of the island, magma walls several dozen meters high rose, coated in Armament Haki, to block the incoming tsunami.
Wave after wave of massive swells slammed into the magma walls.
Sweat streamed down Sakazuki's forehead.
After a long moment…
When the waves no longer posed serious harm to the island, Sakazuki released his ability and exhaled in relief—it was finally over.
In one instant, he had drained most of his stamina to create a magma platter the size of several islands, coat it entirely with Armament Haki, then erect magma walls dozens of meters high and half an island long. It was exhausting.
If Kuzan were here, it might have been easier—freezing the sea into ice would certainly consume less energy.
But magma couldn't turn water into magma—it could only be produced by draining his stamina, then coated in Armament Haki to withstand impact.
Even so, in that moment of collision, the magma platter coated in Armament Haki was instantly smashed apart… which spoke volumes about the force behind it.
Still, looking into the distance, parts of the land—each the size of Loguetown—remained above water.
It wasn't a complete loss.
At least some land had been saved. This island, several times the size of Loguetown, could be developed in the future to make up for some of the New World's losses.
Thinking of this, Sakazuki's face darkened again.
The two Marine garrison islands kidnapped by the Golden Lion had plenty of people on them when taken.
But during the fight earlier, he discovered only mindless giant beasts on them—aside from the Golden Lion, not a single person remained.
Clearly… they were already…
Sakazuki walked to the Golden Lion's head and ground his boot into it.
"Filthy trash…"
He picked up Kogarashi and drove it straight into the center of the Golden Lion's head.
Hoisting the head on the blade, he walked toward the town.
...
Half a day later.
A photograph, sent through the government's channels, reached newspapers across the globe.
The next day, it exploded across the seas.
The headline on the front page blared:
"The End of the Old Era! The Age of the Marines Will Surely Come!!!"
Below it, taking up an entire page, was a single photo.
The fearsome Marine Admiral—Sakazuki—stood holding a longsword.
On the sword's blade was impaled a severed head, its eyes closed, long hair disheveled and dragging.
It was none other than the legendary Golden Lion, once as famous as Roger and Whitebeard.
The pirate who had shattered Impel Down's myth of impenetrability, the man who sought to bring disaster to the world with his own hands.
Yet he had been utterly slain by the newly appointed Marine Admiral Sakazuki, without even a crease in his uniform.
And the sword in Sakazuki's hand was recognized as the Golden Lion's own blade—Kogarashi.
The world was in an uproar…
...
New World, Onigashima.
Sitting cross-legged in the great hall, Kaido grabbed his gourd of sake and took a deep swig.
BANG——
He smashed it aside, looking at the newspaper in his hand.
"Heh…"
"Just fooling a bunch of idiots."
"All he did was kill an old man on his last legs."
"And now they're practically worshiping him."
Standing beside him, King spoke:
"Even so… Sakazuki's strength is probably…"
Far more terrifying than a few years ago, King sighed inwardly.
Kaido gave a cruel grin.
"Our own strength isn't what it used to be either."
"Everything's ready?"
King nodded.
"Ready. Everyone's been dispatched."
"Just waiting for your order."
Kaido grinned viciously.
"Then let's begin."
"The Age of the Marines will surely come?"
"Utterly laughable."
"Let the world welcome its new emperor."
"Ba ro ro ro ro!!!"
...
North Blue, "White Town" Flevance.
Gone was its once fairytale-like, pristine white beauty.
Thick, gloomy smoke covered the skies, and the ruined town exuded despair from every corner, suffocating all who saw it.
Around Flevance's outskirts, several neighboring nations had joined forces to set up iron barricades, trapping its people inside.
Dense ranks of soldiers in protective suits, wearing gas masks and carrying guns, guarded the borders in fear.
If they spotted anyone from Flevance approaching the fences, they would open fire without hesitation.
And the cause of all this was a "plague" that had swept through Flevance in a short time…
At least, that was the truth the public was told a perfect, irrefutable reason.
No one wanted to die from such a terrifying disease.
But the people trapped inside Flevance also wanted to live.
Finally… when some could bear it no longer and took up arms to break through,
They gave the surrounding nations the excuse they needed.
Countless soldiers in protective suits and gas masks poured in.
Their goal: to slaughter every last citizen of Flevance.
At the town's center.
A young nun had gathered many children, tears glimmering in her eyes, her voice trembling.
Spotting Law standing outside the hospital, she ran over.
"Law, come with us."
"Some kind soldiers said they'll spare the children."
Wearing his school uniform and spotted hat, Law lowered his head, fists clenching.
"Sister, my little sister… she's not going to make it…"
"I can't go…"