The third day of the great battle…
The residents of the small town gradually emerged, their gazes fixed on the spot in the south where several large mountains had vanished.
"Sugoi..."
"They actually leveled those mountains."
"I didn't expect such powerful pirates to exist on this island."
"That was the Red Count."
"A pirate as famous as Gol D. Roger and Shiki."
"It was truly dangerous."
"Yes, yes."
The residents of the New World islands possessed slightly more worldly knowledge than those in the Four Seas.
They could only sigh at the power and danger of pirates.
Garp stood in the center of the plaza, sensing the condition of the two figures in the distance.
"It's almost over."
Vice Admiral Tsuru nodded.
"Let's go."
The two headed towards the distant mountains, while the Marine soldiers maintaining order returned to their ships in formation.
On the mountain peak, sliced in half.
The ground, as smooth as a plane, was dotted with pits of various sizes.
Empty's arms, legs, neck, and even the front of his heart bore sword marks of all sizes.
This was a testament to the ferocity of the battle, a fight for survival.
Covered in blood, Kong gasped for breath, looking at Rayleigh who stood opposite him.
"This is the end."
"Baroque. Rayleigh."
Rayleigh on the other side was no better.
His chest was completely caved in, and his left arm hung limply.
His crimson robes were stained with blood. He leaned on his sword, kneeling on the ground.
Taking several deep breaths, Rayleigh slowly stood up.
"Is that so?"
"Can you still take another sword strike?"
He raised his right hand, his long sword aimed at Kong.
Kong let out a soft huff.
"Then try me."
Kong's mind wasn't on whether he could take the strike, but on his retort.
Sensing that he couldn't ascertain the outcome, Rayleigh abandoned Observation Haki, concentrating all his strength.
Kong stomped his foot. Boom!
The ground instantly cracked, forming a large pit. Kong himself moved like a massive stone, his entire body covered in Haki.
In a posture akin to an Iron Mountain Bash, he charged at Rayleigh.
White explosions erupted behind Kong, forming rings of white shockwaves.
Rayleigh's eyes flashed red. The muscles in his thighs and arms instantly tripled in size. He stamped his foot.
Raising his long sword, a giant projection of sword energy enveloped him as he thrust forward.
From afar, it looked like the sharpest spear piercing the hardest shield.
With a deafening roar, sparks flew as they clashed.
The two men stopped dozens of meters apart.
Boom—!!!
The mountain in front of Kong was struck by an invisible shockwave, shattering into pieces and turning into a rain of rubble.
Screech—!!!
Everything in front of Rayleigh was torn apart. His full-powered strike seemed to cleave the heavens and earth in two.
Thump…
The sound of a body falling behind came.
A deep sword mark appeared on Kong's shoulder, extending all the way to his back. He fell unconscious.
Rayleigh slowly sheathed his sword, staggering a couple of steps.
"I won..."
His eyelids drooped, wanting to close uncontrollably.
Three days of intense battle, wearing down Kong with swordsmanship and speed.
But he was also at his limit, and outside, there were so many Marines… Dammit.
He could sense two rapidly approaching figures with his Observation Haki.
The two rushing figures, upon sensing Kong's unconsciousness, accelerated further.
Garp shot forward, the violent shockwaves behind him roaring.
The surrounding air tore through all the trees and rubble in his path.
At the battlefield.
Boom!
Garp appeared in mid-air, a fist raised as he dove down.
"Die!!!"
"Rayleigh!!!!"
Rayleigh struggled to look up, his pupils constricting.
He watched helplessly as Garp's Armament Haki-infused fist hurtled towards him.
"Da..."
In Rayleigh's enraged gaze, he didn't have time to curse.
Garp's Iron Fist landed directly on Rayleigh's skull.
Crack—
The sound of a skull shattering echoed.
Rayleigh's consciousness plunged into darkness.
"Dead..."
----
Marineford Year 1500.
The proud "Lone Red," Baroque Rayleigh, who stood alongside Whitebeard—Edward Newgate, Shiki the Golden Lion, and the Pirate King—Roger.
In the New World, he battled the then-Fleet Admiral Kong of the Marines.
After a fierce battle lasting three days and three nights, it concluded with Fleet Admiral Kong collapsing from exhaustion.
The equally exhausted Baroque Rayleigh was then arrested by the arriving Marine Vice Admiral—Garp.
The imprisonment of the "Lone Red" shocked the world.
It also signified the complete demise of the old era, represented by Whitebeard, Shiki, and Roger.
----
Several days later.
In the North Blue, during the "Scourge" operation.
Sakazuki, on board the third massive warship, spoke into a Den Den Mushi.
"Yes."
"Understood."
"I'm aware."
*Click—*
After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Sakazuki summoned a messenger.
"Announce to all units, starting today, there is no need to collect heads anymore."
"Deal with them on the spot."
The messenger saluted.
"Yes!"
He ran off to relay the order.
Sakazuki ascended to the highest deck of the warship, looking towards the rear, and let out a soft chuckle.
He then slowly entered his room.
It was nearly midnight.
The off-duty sentries roused the soldiers taking over their shifts.
"Wake up!"
"Your shift!"
"Hurry up, there's a surprise outside."
The incoming soldiers opened their eyes groggily, somewhat puzzled.
"Surprise?"
"What surprise could there be on this sea?"
"What is it?"
"So mysterious."
However, it piqued their curiosity, and they quickly dressed and went out to relieve their posts.
The moment they stepped outside, they were stunned.
"Wow!!!"
"This is!!!!"
"There wasn't this many yesterday!"
"Why are there so many today!!"
"It's so beautiful!"
"I told you so."
"Hurry and take over."
"Coming, coming."
After the handover, the soldiers who had just finished their shifts didn't leave but stood with them.
They stared blankly into the distance, at the lights that resembled a constellation.
"I can't get enough of looking..."
Sakazuki's voice suddenly rang out.
"Magnificent, isn't it."
The surrounding soldiers flinched and quickly turned.
"Admiral Sakazuki."
"Admiral Sakazuki."
"Sakazuki..."
Sakazuki waved his hand, signaling them to stop.
"No need for formalities."
He walked to the railing and looked at the ships gathered behind the warship.
Because of the "Scourge" operation, they could sail the seas with impunity, and their numbers were growing exponentially each day.
There were merchant ships, private vessels, national fleets, small travel boats, and many more.
The lit lamps were as dense as fireflies.
He quietly observed this scene, like starlight on the sea, for a while.
He then looked at a soldier who had just completed his shift.
"Any thoughts."
The soldier who had just completed his shift looked at Sakazuki with reverence and replied.
"Proud."
"And honored."
"This is what we fight for."
Sakazuki's lips curved into a slight smile.
"Yes."
"This is what we fight for."
"This is only a small part of the world."
"Everyone has only one life."
"Some choose peace and quiet, while others choose to bear the burden."
"And the moment they choose to bear the burden,"
"it is destined that their future will be filled with trials of life and death."
"Behind us are the lights of countless homes."
"We have no retreat."
"I am very pleased with the choice you have made."
The relieved soldier blinked, his voice trembling with emotion.
"You... you still remember me."
Sakazuki chuckled.
"Not many have such courage, young one."
"It was 14 years ago, wasn't it?"
"When we were sweeping pirates in the West Blue, you attacked me with a wooden sword while we were resupplying on an island because I killed a pirate you admired."
"I remember it was Sicily Island, you wore a fake beard and wielded a small wooden sword."
The relieved soldier smiled sheepishly.
The surrounding soldiers also joined in the teasing, making him blush crimson.
"You remember so clearly."
Sakazuki chuckled.
"Why didn't you choose to go out to sea?"
The relieved soldier's expression turned somber, and he clenched his fist.
"I..."
Clearly, something cruel had happened to him.
The surrounding soldiers seemed to understand and fell silent.
Sakazuki patted his shoulder.
"Keep striving."
"There will come a day when, on this sea,"
"there will no longer be a single pirate, and the people of the world can sail openly."
"At that time, such tragedies will no longer occur."
The relieved soldier raised his head and took a deep breath.
"Yes!!!"
His eyes were filled with the light of hope.
As if he could already envision that scene...