Marine Headquarters, Marineford, rear mountain.
The collapse of the island's vast section reduced the total area of the Headquarters by one-fifth.
The entire rear mountain was completely blasted away.
Countless high-ranking Vice Admirals and others gathered here, staring at the two rampaging like ferocious beasts. None dared to step forward—the shockwaves alone were beyond what most could withstand...
The Vice Admirals could only try their best to shatter the remnants of the shockwaves, preventing them from striking the residential area.
Borsalino stood at the edge, unsure of which one to stop first.
Ward Morris frowned deeply, glanced behind him, and suddenly relaxed.
Zzzzt—
Lightning struck the ground, condensing into the form of Enel.
His battle with Kuzan had ended without a victor. When Zephyr and Vice Admiral Tsuru arrived, they intervened, blocking the two just as they were about to unleash their ultimate attacks. Neither side could make a move.
Yet Enel's aura was steady, his body fairly neat and unscathed.
Kuzan, who returned after him, was much more disheveled. His fruit had been completely countered...
Borsalino sighed in relief upon seeing Enel appear.
"Finally, you're back~"
"One each?"
Enel nodded, his gaze sweeping over the two figures locked in combat, whose raging winds were sharp enough to tear skin even from this distance.
Thinking of something, he turned toward Law.
"Can you control them, even briefly?"
Cold sweat trickled down Law's forehead.
"No... their Haki is too strong."
"But... I can control the battlefield a little..."
Law hadn't expected to walk right into such a shocking scene as soon as he returned with Enel...
Watching this fight thoroughly extinguished the bit of confidence he had gained from his training. The gap was still far too wide...
Enel nodded.
"That's enough. Prepare."
Law stretched out his hand, a glowing ring forming in his palm.
"ROOM!!!"
In an instant, it expanded, covering the entire rear mountain.
Enel and Borsalino exchanged a glance, their bodies turning elemental as they shot toward Bullet and Garp from opposite sides.
...
Center of the battlefield.
Bullet's body, in his Demon Mode, was dented and deformed.
Even the monstrous regeneration of his Demon Mode couldn't keep up. Deep fist marks were branded into his flesh.
Covered in blood, his scarlet eyes glared death at Garp.
His left arm hung limp. His right arm swelled with layers of condensed Haki, the demonic phantom behind him ballooning in size. He raised his fist and charged forward.
On Garp's side, his left cheek was shattered, his chest caved in where all his ribs had broken.
A huge portion of flesh had been torn from his right shoulder, and his right arm moved sluggishly.
Yet his left arm was wrapped in near-solid jet-black Haki, like an armored gauntlet, as he hammered it toward Bullet.
BOOOOM—
Like thunder erupting on flat ground, even those at a distance clutched their ears.
The two clashed in the center, locked in a dead heat.
Law quickly nullified the sound, reducing the roar to a bare minimum.
"Now!!!"
He raised his hand, the ground trembling violently.
The entire rear mountain was lifted skyward by his power, the battling duo carried high into the air.
At the same time—
Enel and Borsalino flanked the two combatants.
Electricity coiled around Enel's arm. A laser condensed under Borsalino's foot. Both layered Haki onto their powers before firing.
Lightning and laser, elementalized and near lightspeed, struck each of the fighters' wrists.
BOOM—
The two were forced apart...
Their arms scraped against each other. The sound of shoulder blades cracking faintly echoed.
Then, driven by uncontrollable force, they shot in opposite directions.
Enel and Borsalino immediately gave chase...
Below, Law finally let out a long sigh of relief. With a wave of his hand, the landmass he had lifted nearly a hundred meters slowly settled back down.
The ground constantly reshaped itself, trying to restore its form...
But the portion sunk into the sea couldn't be recovered. Only when Skarn brought in new land would it be filled.
The crescent-shaped Headquarters of the Marines now looked as though something had taken a bite out of it. A perfect arc... missing one-fifth.
...
High above Marineford.
Enel, who had braced against Bullet's back and was being forced backward, suddenly crossed paths with the returning Sakazuki, Kong, and Sengoku.
Sensing Bullet's berserk aura, Sakazuki frowned, stomped down, and surged forward.
Appearing behind Bullet, he gestured for Enel to fall back as he blocked him head-on.
BOOOOM—
A massive impact blasted against Sakazuki's back, but it instantly reduced Bullet's momentum, gradually slowing him until he stopped.
Seeing Bullet's grievous injuries, Sakazuki grabbed him, spun around, and charged toward the warships in the harbor.
Watching him leave, Kong shouted out.
"Oi! Sakazuki!!!"
Sakazuki didn't look back. He only waved dismissively.
"Nothing left to say."
"Enel, take people to the New World."
Enel shouted in reply.
"Understood!"
He gave Commander-in-Chief Kong a nod before vanishing.
Kong's brow tightened. He said nothing, only turning to Sengoku.
"You two... what is this all about?"
With just the two of them left, Kong asked directly.
Sengoku sighed faintly, Sakazuki's words still echoing in his mind.
"It's my fault."
"Regarding the Revolutionary Army..."
"Sakazuki already knows Dragon's identity."
...
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Outside the ruined Fleet Admiral's office, Kong and Sengoku stood at the fortress edge, watching warship after warship depart...
Sakazuki hadn't lingered. After loading Bullet onto a warship, he set sail straight for the New World to fulfill his stationing mission.
Enel quickly organized his men. Vice Admiral Doberman, Vice Admiral Momonga, and others followed as well.
In an instant, the vast Marine Headquarters fell silent.
Only Sengoku's faction remained, alongside the Academy's Zephyr and Ward Morris.
It was as though the Navy had been split apart...
Commander-in-Chief Kong fell silent.
"So this is the Navy you've been leading."
Sengoku stayed quiet for a long while.
"Sorry."
Kong sighed lightly.
"Do you think an apology can salvage this situation?"
"I know you and Garp share a deep bond."
"But you've indulged him too much..."
"Sakazuki wasn't wrong."
"As Fleet Admiral, you should be accountable for the lives of Marine soldiers."
"You should think of how to end wars with the least sacrifice."
"Not let compassion for the enemy sway you."
"The value of Justice must not be twisted by personal feelings."
"Sengoku."
Sengoku closed his eyes.
"I know..."
"After the new year, I'll resign in self-reproach. For the families of those soldiers who died because of my mistakes... I'll do all I can to compensate them."
Kong gazed at Sengoku with a faint sigh.
"You can resign... but you cannot quit the Marines."
"Stay on as an advisor."
"Otherwise, the impact will be no less than what has already happened."
"The Navy may already be the world's laughingstock."
"As for the next Fleet Admiral..."
Sengoku looked down at the busy soldiers below and spoke.
"I recommend Sakazuki."
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The fanfic is Finished on p@treon/tambeerg. 414 chapters in total