Jixo

223 With the Justice System

Added 2025-10-27 11:06:13 +0000 UTC

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

The dock was silent.

The salty tang of the sea lingered in the air.

"..."

Sakazuki stood alone at the edge of the pier.

He wore the Fleet Admiral's cloak emblazoned with the word "Justice." His figure stood tall and unmoving, like a silent volcano—majestic and unyielding.

Only the special-grade cigar between his fingers flickered faintly in the sea breeze, its smoke rising in thin spirals before being swept away.

His gaze was locked dead ahead, on the endless horizon of the sea.

He was waiting.

Waiting for someone.

Suddenly—

"Whoosh——!!"

At the distant line between sea and sky, a streak of icy blue light ripped through the waves, racing toward Marineford at incredible speed!

It was a strangely shaped bicycle.

Where its wheels passed, the blue sea instantly froze into a crystalline path of ice stretching endlessly forward.

"Screech——!!!"

With a sharp brake, the bicycle came to a steady halt right in front of Sakazuki.

Kuzan swung off the bike and casually leaned it to the side.

"Sakazuki, I'm here."

His voice still carried that distinctive tone, but the usual laziness was gone—replaced only by cold resolve.

"Mm."

Sakazuki lifted his cigar to his lips, taking a long drag. "Huff——"

No more words were needed.

A single glance said everything.

All past divisions and grudges were nothing in the face of their shared goal—to overthrow the World Government and rebuild true Justice!

"Let's go."

Sakazuki exhaled a thick cloud of smoke.

The next instant—

"BOOM——!!"

Magma and ice—two opposing extremes—erupted from beneath their feet simultaneously!

Sakazuki became a streak of dark red light, while Kuzan soared upon an ice bird. Both of them shot skyward, speeding toward the Red Line!

Just as they were about to leave Marineford's airspace, Sakazuki suddenly stopped mid-flight.

He looked down, his gaze locking onto Vice Admiral Onigumo, who was directing soldiers below, preparing battle formations.

"Onigumo, contact the G-5 branch…"

Sakazuki's voice carried clearly to his ears.

"Tell that brat Hawke…"

A complex emotion flashed through Sakazuki's eyes— trust, expectation, and above all, the unshakable resolve of a veteran paving the way for the next generation!

"The upcoming phase of this war will be under his command. He's to hold the line—and finish this beautifully!"

"Old man Sakazuki…"

His voice suddenly rose, like the roar of a volcano on the verge of eruption!

"Go raise the banner of Justice over this sea!!!"

"..."

Onigumo's body stiffened with a jolt!

He looked up, eyes wide, watching the two figures soaring into the distance.

In that instant, he understood exactly what those words meant.

The Fleet Admiral was going to launch a surprise attack on the Holy Land!

"Snap——!"

Onigumo's legs came together sharply, his posture straight as an iron rod, as he gave the sky the most solemn Marine salute.

"Yes, sir——!!!"

...

On the frozen battlefield of G-5 in the New World.

"Pssh——!"

Kuma slammed down his paw for the final strike, crushing Saint Saturn's head into a mist of blood.

On the ice, all that remained were countless twitching chunks of flesh, writhing as if trying to fuse back together.

"..."

Kuma looked down at the grotesque remains, and in his mind appeared Ginny's face—covered in blue scales, yet still smiling gently before her death.

And Bonney's small, trembling form under the sunlight, curled up in pain.

Endless grief and fury turned in that moment into pure, killing cold.

He slowly raised his massive hand toward the carnage before him.

"Jaygarcia Saturn…"

His voice was hoarse and low, filled with unshakable resolve.

"Die!!!"

"WHUM——!!!"

Invisible repulsion condensed to its absolute limit!

Every shred of flesh on the ice, along with the hundred-meter-thick frozen layer and the sea beneath it—

—all were crushed in an instant into a perfect vacuum!

A gaping black void appeared over the ocean!

Under the crushing pressure, every atom of Saturn's flesh was obliterated, reduced to its most basic particles and forever exiled to the abyssal depths of the sea!

There would be no resurrection. Ever.

...

High above, the wind howled.

"Shuu——!"

Hawke's body streaked through the sky like a scarlet flash. Each flicker of movement came with a thunderous boom.

He punched.

Again and again.

Every strike carried a Peak-tier physique and mastery of martial arts.

Every punch was wrapped in Top-Tier Conqueror's Haki.

"BOOM——!"

One blow landed squarely on the chest of Saint Nusjuro's skeletal horse form.

"Pfft——!"

Saint Nusjuro spewed blood mixed with fragments of bone as his massive body was sent flying backward.

The Supreme Grade blade—the First Generation Kitetsu—that had served him for centuries, was now covered in cracks, groaning in agony.

His vaunted immortality faltered under Hawke's crimson-and-black Haki. His regeneration slowed to a crawl, every wound screaming with the agony of a torn soul!

"Hawke!!!"

Saint Nusjuro roared in frustration, forcing his broken body upright, trying to swing his blade again.

But Hawke gave him no chance to breathe.

"Too noisy."

The cold voice whispered beside his ear.

Saint Nusjuro's pupils shrank—Hawke was already at his side.

That crimson-coated fist filled his entire vision.

It was aimed straight at his head.

Hawke intended to end this old monster once and for all.

"BOOM——!!!"

A deafening, bone-crushing impact.

Saint Nusjuro's so-called noble head—and the terrified expression frozen upon it—exploded into a mist of blood.