The destruction caused by the meteorite crashing into the earth was nothing short of catastrophic.
Boom—!
When the meteorite summoned by Fujitora struck, a deafening roar spread across the entire sea. A violent shockwave erupted from the point of impact, screaming outward in every direction like the blast of a super missile.
If not for the navy's massive flagship—and the fact that the meteorite Fujitora called forth was relatively small—the entire fleet might have been annihilated on the spot.
As the smoke cleared, the Sabaody Islands' shoreline lay in ruins. A massive crater had been gouged into the land, now quickly filling with seawater.
The stunned navy soldiers finally caught sight of the devastation, their faces paling in disbelief.
"Too… too terrifying…"
"Where's Mundo? Has he been obliterated?"
"He has to be! Under that kind of attack, survival is impossible!"
"It's finally over…"
"Yes, it's over. Fighting a monster like that… it was hopeless from the start."
The surviving soldiers broke into cheers of relief.
But then—
"Personnel below the rank of vice admiral, withdraw immediately by ship and return to headquarters!" Akainu commanded coldly.
The order silenced the celebratory voices.
"…Over? Then why isn't the Fleet Admiral leaving with us?"
"Don't tell me… that monster's still alive!?"
Ordinary soldiers, unable to use Haki, couldn't sense Fenric's presence. But Akainu and the other top officers had no such luxury. Their keen Observation Haki had felt it clearly—Fenric hadn't died. He had vanished, teleporting away in an instant.
"What kind of monster is this man?" Garp muttered, staring out at the sea.
In his battle with Fenric, he witnessed ability after ability: Buddha Palm, Flames, Psychic Power, Thunder, the Trident… the Armament Haki but not haki. And now—teleportation.
Against such a foe, Kizaru's defeat was anything but shameful.
"…Terrifying," Fujitora admitted under his breath.
Akainu's voice cut through the tension: "Issho, use that meteorite attack sparingly. It risks our own men. And if you shatter the islands, it puts us at an even greater disadvantage in naval combat."
"You're right, Fleet Admiral. I'll keep that in mind," Fujitora replied with a solemn nod.
By now, the ordinary soldiers had spotted him as well.
"That monster—he's still alive!"
"No way! How did he get that far so quickly?"
"It's teleportation! I heard, ten years ago, when Mundo killed a Celestial Dragon at headquarters, he used teleportation to escape capture!"
"This guy… he's inhuman…"
"When will this nightmare end!?"
"Stop staring! Follow the Fleet Admiral's orders! Retreat!"
Panicked, the rank-and-file scrambled to maneuver the flagship around Fenric and flee.
Fenric didn't bother with them. They were small fry, not worth the effort. His attention was fixed solely on the three figures standing on the shore—giants among the world's strongest.
If he could defeat these three today, his name would echo across the seas forever.
"Hancock, take your people and leave. Staying here will be far too dangerous," Fenric ordered, floating over the waves toward the island.
Aboard the Kuja Pirates' flagship, the Empress froze the moment Fenric called her name. Her flawless face flushed crimson as she cupped her cheeks with both hands, her starry eyes glazed with infatuation.
"L-Lord Mundo… he called my name again… Could this be… marriage?"
"Ugh, Sister!" Sandersonia groaned, unable to watch her fall into lovestruck delirium. "Senior Mundo's already gone ahead—let's move!"
"No!" Hancock declared firmly, her gaze never leaving Fenric's back. "We'll stay right here… and wait for Lord Mundo's return!"
—---
Meanwhile, at somewhere at the sea—
The colossal fortress known as Impel Down was under siege by the Whitebeard Pirates.
Towering like a black pillar in the ocean, Impel Down was infamous for holding the most vicious and powerful criminals alive. Among them: Fire Fist Ace.
Whitebeard himself stood tall on the deck of the Moby Dick, watching his "sons" clash with Impel Down's defenders.
Though his crew was formidable, their advance was stalled. Admiral Aokiji and Warden Magellan fought side by side, proving a deadly combination.
Magellan, wielder of the Poison-Paramecia, unleashed toxins so lethal that even Whitebeard's veteran fighters faltered.
Whitebeard's brow furrowed. Enough was enough.
"Brats, stand aside!" he bellowed.
Raising both fists, he slammed them into the air.
Crack!
The very sky shattered like glass, spiderweb fractures racing outward.
The sea convulsed. The earth quaked. The heavens themselves trembled under his might.
And then—two monstrous tsunamis rose from either side, converging upon Impel Down like the jaws of a leviathan.
The fortress's defenders froze in despair.
At the critical moment, Aokiji leapt into the sky, arms outstretched.
"Ice Age!!"
Twin beams of freezing power surged from his palms, colliding with the twin tsunamis.
In mere breaths, the towering waves froze solid, transformed into colossal ice sculptures glittering in the sun.
The crisis was averted—but the battle had only just begun.