"Crashhhh——"
Above Impel Down, the rain poured like a waterfall.
Hawke unleashed his mightiest punch.
This strike was the culmination of his four Top-Tier foundations fused seamlessly with Top-Tier Conqueror's Haki—his ultimate realization!
Where his fist passed, the torrential rain was evaporated by invisible pressure, forming a vacuum corridor.
Scarlet lightning of Conqueror's Haki spiraled around his arm like a star nebula, resembling a true meteor, dragging a blazing trail of fire as it came crashing down upon Bullet!
"!!!"
Bullet's pupils shrank to the size of a needle!
On that crimson fist of Hawke's, he felt the overwhelming "King's" will—even he trembled before it!
"Roooar——!!!"
With no time to think, Bullet bellowed.
He poured every ounce of his energy, every shred of his will, into his right fist!
Jet-black Conqueror's Haki condensed on his fist, like a black hole devouring all light.
Their fists collided once more.
"BOOM——!!!"
The instant their fists met.
A visible ring-shaped shockwave erupted from the center of their clash, exploding outward!
The dark clouds above the heavens were blown away in an instant, and the windless sea below was forced down by sheer power into a massive crater, a hundred meters deep!
At the same time, the pitch-black cracks tearing across the sky stretched wider and longer from the collision!
"Pu——"
Blood spurted from Bullet's mouth.
The crimson liquid mixed with rain as it fell from the sky, vanishing into the raging sea.
His right arm, coated in black Haki, was twisted at an unnatural angle.
The injury wasn't severe.
But for a man with a monstrous physique and Top-Tier Haki, this in itself was unbelievable!
"Looks like you won't be leaving, Bullet."
Hawke's calm voice cut clearly through the storm.
"Ha...haha...hahahahaha!"
Bullet froze for an instant, then burst into manic laughter.
"Not yet, brat of the Marines!"
He violently snapped his arm back into place, bones cracking into alignment, and with a flash, wrapped in black lightning, he charged forward once again!
The clash continued!
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
But as the fight dragged on, Bullet's injuries grew heavier and heavier.
His knuckles shattered, ribs snapped, his organs shook violently.
His vaunted monstrous physique forced itself to repair again and again.
He was injured.
He healed.
He was injured again.
He healed again.
But slowly... his rate of recovery began to lag behind his rate of injury.
"Bang!"
Another clash.
This time, Hawke's figure vanished at the instant of impact.
"Whoosh——"
Bullet had no time to react before Hawke appeared at his side, his fist driving into Bullet's ribs with penetrating force.
"Crack!"
The sharp sound of breaking bones rang out through the skies.
Bullet was blasted away, tracing a parabolic arc in the air.
Hawke's figure shadowed him, instantly closing in.
"Farewell, Demon's Heir."
As the words fell, Hawke raised his right fist.
"Squelch——"
The sound of tearing flesh rang out.
Hawke's fist pierced straight through Bullet's chest.
"..."
Bullet's pupils slowly dimmed.
He lowered his head, staring at the hole through his chest, then lifted his gaze to Hawke's face.
He bared his teeth in a grin. "What a... waste..."
The "Demon's Heir," Douglas Bullet, perished.
[Ding!]
[Host has slain 'Demon's Heir' Douglas Bullet, earning 100,000 Justice Points.]
[Host's remaining Justice Points: 134596.]
Hawke slowly drew back his fist, catching Bullet's corpse in his arms.
A pity...
Had they met earlier, the outcome would have been so different.
This man was once a soldier, who earned glory upon glory, but was betrayed by his army and nation... forced down the path of piracy.
If only he had met him sooner, persuaded him into the Navy.
With his talent and will, he could have become an outstanding Marine commander.
"Hummm——"
At some point, the storming rain ceased.
The torn clouds dispersed.
The long-lost sunlight broke through the sky, pouring over Hawke's pure white cloak of Justice, radiant as gold.
"Whoosh——"
Hawke's figure flashed, landing on Impel Down's pier.
He handed the body to Magellan.
"Bury him well."
"Yes," Magellan replied respectfully.
"..."
Hawke swept his gaze across the area, eyes falling on Zoro, Sanji, Hibari... and all the soldiers of the G-3 Branch.
"Rest for one day, then return to Headquarters."
"War is coming!"
"Yes, sir——!"
The reply thundered across the skies.
...
One day later.
Outside Impel Down.
"Hummm——"
A vast fleet slowly departed from the Calm Belt, sailing full speed toward Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
At the same time, countless News Coo birds took flight from across the world.
Tied to their legs was a brand-new edition of the Marine Times.
The front page headline blazed with letters bold and enormous—news that would shake the world.
"A week from now, the Marines will execute publicly at Headquarters the Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division Commander 'Fire Fist' Ace, and his crewmate 'Blackbeard' Teach!"
"At that time, the Marines will broadcast the execution live to the entire world!"
"!!!"
The news spread like a detonated nuclear bomb, instantly exploding across the seas.
The oceans boiled over!
...
New World, aboard the Moby Dick.
First Division Commander Marco rushed into the cabin, newspaper in hand, his face grave.
"Father!"
"Gurarararara——"
Whitebeard set down his massive sake bowl, taking the paper, his eyes falling on the headline.
The air inside the cabin seemed to freeze in that instant.
That dreadful aura, enough to make even the sea itself tremble, began to rise.
"The Marines dare openly provoke me, Edward Newgate!"
"My sons!"
"Set sail!"
Whitebeard rose suddenly to his feet, his voice booming across the deck.
"Rescue Ace!"
...
Another sea.
Aboard the Red Force of the Red-Haired Pirates.
Shanks stared at the newspaper, brows furrowed.
"So... it's come to this, after all..."
He tilted his head back, draining a deep swig of liquor, his eyes heavy with emotion.
"This time, the Marines are dead serious."
"Captain, what do we do?"
Benn Beckman clenched a cigarette between his lips, his tone low.
"Pass it down—everyone on alert."
"Be ready to set sail at any moment!"
Shanks set down the bottle, a flash of resolve in his eyes.
"This war—we cannot let it spiral out of control!"
...
Wano Country, Onigashima.
"Urororororo!"
Kaido of the Beasts bellowed with laughter, shaking the island as he read the paper.
"That old Whitebeard's finally gonna croak?! This'll be the greatest war in the world!"
"Brats! Get ready! We're going too, to join the fun!"
...
Whole Cake Island, Totto Land.
"Mamamamama——"
Charlotte Linlin licked her lips, her eyes gleaming with greed.
"Once Whitebeard's dead, all his territories... will be sweet, sweet cake for the taking!"
The Summit War had arrived!