Its breath collided with Mihawk's slash, sending up towering waves that churned the sea.
As the spray rose, the battle officially erupted!
A massive water column split apart as a booming yet domineering voice rang out:
"Father, you only have me as your son! Everyone else deserves to die!!"
From within the crashing torrent, Whitebeard Jr's bulky figure appeared.
With his enormous blade raised high, he swung it down like a giant axe, aiming to crush the Whitebeard Pirates.
Whitebeard frowned as he watched him. "Sleep!"
His own massive blade moved, each swing shaking the earth itself, the very air trembling violently.
Black lightning interwove, unleashing a terrifying pressure that made hearts tremble.
Whitebeard's blade clashed against Whitebeard Jr's, the collision forming a whirlpool of compressed black lightning between them.
Marco, Jozu, and the others were shocked.
"Conqueror's Haki!?"
"This guy actually has Conqueror's Haki…"
Everyone was stunned.
Possessing Conqueror's Haki meant one's strength was a tier above ordinary strongmen.
For the truly powerful, their physical defense combined with Conqueror's Haki made them like living steel. Big Mom and Kaido, with their monstrous defense, were almost impossible to injure without Conqueror's infusion or advanced Armament Haki techniques like Ryuo.
Whitebeard Jr laughed hoarsely. "Of course! I am Whitebeard's son!"
The crowd turned their eyes to Whitebeard, who twitched at the corner of his mouth.
His grip tightened on his blade, veins bulging as he growled:
"Since when did I have a son like you?"
With that, Whitebeard shattered the balance of power between them. The clashing energy exploded outward in a violent wave.
Vegetation across the island toppled, some even ripped out by their roots.
Though their exchange didn't produce a victor, Whitebeard Jr, fighting without solid footing on the sea, lost balance and plunged into the ocean.
Even so, the spectators were shaken.
Whitebeard hadn't even used his Devil Fruit yet, but his strength was still monstrous. In the original timeline, he could stop the colossal Moby Dick with one hand. And Whitebeard Jr's strength… could actually rival his.
This was strength approaching the level of an Emperor.
The Grand Elder of the Gorosei barked out: "Fire the cannons!!"
Rows of black cannon barrels turned toward the island.
With deafening booms, a storm of cannon fire rained down.
Whitebeard's side was not about to be outdone.
Dragon unleashed a raging hurricane, forming a barrier overhead. Many shells exploded mid-air, others were sent hurtling back.
The roar of artillery filled the battlefield — the war had begun.
In an instant, chaos consumed the scene.
Aokiji leaped onto the sea, unleashing Ice Age (Aisu Ejji).
The hundred-meter stretch of ocean between the two sides froze into an icy world.
"Kill!!"
The Grand Elder's command sent countless Marines leaping from their ships, charging the island.
Whitebeard led the charge, smashing his Gura Gura no Pistol (Quake Fist) toward the densest group of Marines—
But Teach absorbed it with his Yami Yami no Mi (Dark-Dark Fruit) powers.
"Teach!!!"
Rage surged in Whitebeard's eyes. Everything that led to this war traced back to Teach killing Thatch. If not for that, Ace wouldn't have left the crew, and the Paramount War would never have happened.
Teach quickly redirected Whitebeard's fury toward Akainu while moving to attack Marco.
But before he could, Shanks struck at him.
"From long ago, Buggy told me you were different. But it wasn't until you scarred our faces that I realized—you should never have existed in this world!"
Shanks' strike was merciless, his sword Gryphon wreathed in overwhelming black lightning, like divine punishment itself.
Teach's eyes widened in shock. He fumbled for his pistol, but Benn Beckman shot it from his hand.
With no defense left, Shanks' strike tore into Teach, lightning and blade aura ravaging his abdomen.
Blood sprayed from Teach's mouth as dark energy seeped across his wounds. He crashed to the ground, writhing in agony.
"Pain, pain, pain… it hurts! It's killing me!!"
Yet, as Shanks and the others watched, their expressions grew grim.
Despite the devastating blow, Teach bore no serious injuries.
"What… what kind of monster is this guy?" Shanks muttered.
He moved to strike again—only for his body to suddenly feel unbearably heavy.
"What is this…?"
Shanks turned sharply, spotting a blind swordsman in purple robes — Fujitora.
Benn Beckman sprang high, firing twin pistols at Fujitora to free his captain.
Fujitora, however, pulled back, turning to Aramaki.
"Yours to handle. The Gorosei said if we perform well today, we'll be promoted straight to Admiral."
Aramaki chuckled, stepping forward.
"Leave it to me. Red-Haired Shanks, the youngest Emperor… I've heard much about you."
"Shinju: Moten Kourin (True Tree: Demon Vine Descent)!"
With Aramaki's roar, countless massive vines burst up from beneath the ice, clawing toward Shanks like the hands of demons.
The war had only raged a few minutes, yet the battlefield was already white-hot.
Benn Beckman fought Fujitora.
Shanks clashed with Aramaki.
Whitebeard faced Akainu.
And Kizaru had chosen Rayleigh as his opponent.
The strongest protectors of Good's camp were fully engaged.
But on the side of the World Government, many powerful figures had yet to even make a move.
(End of Chapter)
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