221 With the Justice System

At the same time, the battles involving the other four Elders had also reached a fever pitch.

High above the sky.

Hawke's figure streaked through the air, leaving behind a crimson afterimage.

On his fist, red and black Conqueror's Haki intertwined and condensed into a visible vortex of destruction.

Before his punch even landed, the space ahead had already begun to twist and shatter!

"Clang——!"

Saint Nusjuro, in his centaur form, galloped through the air, his movements swift and ghostlike.

In his hand, the First Generation Kitetsu drew a cold arc, and wherever the blade passed, even light itself seemed frozen.

As the "Warrior God of Finance" among the Elders, renowned for his unmatched offensive power, he was confident that this slash could sever all things in the world!

However—

He was facing Rayne Hawke!

A monster who had refined his Armament Haki, Observation Haki, physique, and martial arts to the very peak of this world!

"Weak."

Hawke's voice was calm—utterly devoid of emotion.

He drove his fist forward.

Power!

Nothing but power!

The power to shatter everything!

That chilling slash was shredded three feet before it reached Hawke's fist, torn apart by the sheer force field emanating from his strike, dissolving into scattered frost.

Hawke's fist did not stop—it continued forward, heading straight for Saint Nusjuro.

"!!!"

Saint Nusjuro's pupils shrank sharply!

In that instant, he realized—he couldn't dodge it!

The force of the punch had locked down all space around him...

It was as if the entire world was pressing in upon him!

All he could do was hastily cross his blade before him.

A moment later—"CLANG——!!!"

The deafening clash of metal resounded, the shockwaves rippling through the sky.

The blade of the First Generation Kitetsu let out a mournful screech as it bent into an exaggerated arc.

Saint Nusjuro felt an overwhelming force transmitted through the blade. The skin between his thumb and forefinger split open instantly, blood splattering in every direction.

But it wasn't over!

The Conqueror's Haki surrounding Hawke's fist surged violently along the sword into Nusjuro's body, rampaging through his meridians, crushing his will!

"Pu——!"

A split second's lapse, and Hawke's fist grazed past the sword's edge, smashing directly into Nusjuro's left shoulder!

"Crack——!"

The sharp, crisp sound of bone shattering echoed across the sky.

Nusjuro's entire left arm was reduced to dust—completely obliterated by that punch!

"Urgh!"

He let out a muffled grunt, body flying backward.

After struggling to regain balance, he glanced down at his empty left shoulder.

There, red and black Haki clung to the wound like parasitic worms, corroding his life force and slowing his regeneration to a crawl!

"Damn it!!!"

A storm surged within Saint Nusjuro's heart.

He was one of the five Elders, standing at the pinnacle of worldly power!

How could he be suppressed to this degree by such a young marine?!

...

Elsewhere, Zephyr's battle could only be described with one word—savage.

His opponent was Saint Warcury, who had transformed into the massive wild boar.

"Black Arm!"

Zephyr's hair and beard stood on end, his eyes glowing blood-red—a sign of his Vampire Fruit pushed to its absolute limit.

Rather than waning, his life force grew stronger with each strike—surging, boundless!

He had abandoned defense entirely, fighting in the most primal, brutal manner imaginable, trading blow for blow with Saint Warcury!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Each punch that landed on the boar's armored hide erupted in red and black bursts of energy.

It was not only Armament Haki—it carried the eerie power of devouring life itself.

"ROAR——!!!"

Saint Warcury howled in agony.

With every impact, he could feel his life force being drained away, stolen bit by bit by this madman before him!

Meanwhile, the old Marine only grew more frenzied, more alive with every strike!

"Ha! How exhilarating!"

Zephyr bellowed with laughter, feeling the return of his prime—the strength that once made him legendary. Decades of pent-up rage and regret burst forth in full.

"So this is the blood of the Celestial Dragons?!"

"Interesting!"

He sent Saint Warcury flying once again, flexing his right arm, his muscles swelling like coiled dragons.

"Come on! Let this old man have his fill!"

...

Saint Peter was faring no better.

His sandworm form was nothing but a giant, clumsy target before Garp.

Garp grinned from ear to ear, laughing like a child with a new toy.

His fists, coated in red Conqueror's Haki, rained down like a storm!

Each blow punched a gaping crater into the sandworm's massive body.

He pounded it into the ground, sending sand flying in all directions, the creature flailing miserably.

"Pu-hahaha! It's been decades since I last stretched these old bones!"

Garp roared with laughter between blows.

"You better last a little longer, you damn worm! Don't die too quick!"

Every word was like a hammer, smashing into Saint Peter's pride.

Utter humiliation!

This was, without question, the world government's most shameful disgrace!

...

The worst off, however, was the "Warrior God of Environment," Saint Marcus Mars.

Transformed into the colossal monstrous bird, his wings blotted out the sun. Each flap sent out hurricanes capable of shredding steel.

Yet his opponent… was the Marine legend, the former Fleet Admiral, the "Buddha" Sengoku!

"Shockwave!"

Sengoku's golden Buddha form radiated divine light, his expression serene but his heart brimming with delight.

He thrust out a palm—the golden shockwave slammed square into the chest!

"Screech——!"

Saint Mars shrieked, his body spinning out of control midair, black feathers mixed with blood scattering across the sky.

"Hahahaha!"

Sengoku laughed heartily as he watched the monstrous bird tumble helplessly under the shockwave.

He stepped forward, appearing above Saint Mars, and brought his palm down again!

"Saint Mars! When you all sat atop the throne of power, turning a blind eye to the Shichibukai's crimes in the name of 'balance,' sacrificing Marine lives—did you ever imagine this day would come?!"

"BOOM——!"

The golden palm print slammed into the back, snapping his wings and forcing another anguished scream from him!

"When you turned Marine 'Justice' into a mere tool for maintaining the Celestial Dragons' rule, trampling our honor beneath your feet—did you ever imagine this day would come?!"

Sengoku's beard and hair bristled, his laughter burning with fury.

He recalled every compromise he'd been forced to make, every humiliation he'd suffered under the world government's absurd commands.

But now—the chains were broken!

He was no longer the Fleet Admiral who had to weigh the consequences or endure for the "greater good."

He was Sengoku!

A Marine veteran who would use both hands to crush the corruption that had festered for eight hundred years!

"Today, I will end you here!"

"To bring peace to the heroic souls who died under your so-called 'Justice!'"

"Buzz——!!!"

Each finger of the golden Buddha shone with blinding light, converging into a colossal handprint that pierced through the heavens, descending upon the nearly plucked Saint Mars!

...

Sengoku's declaration, unfiltered and unrestrained, spread across the world through the live Den Den Mushi broadcast.

Countless people were frozen in shock, minds blank.

What were they seeing?

The world government had descended as judges, boldly declaring the Marines as traitors.

And then…

The Marines, led by Admiral "Blood Hawk" Hawke, struck back—launching a full-scale assault on the highest authorities of the world government!

Now...

Those once untouchable, godlike Elders—the very faces of the world government—were being pummeled across the sky!!!

The world wasn't about to change.

The heavens themselves… had already been pierced by the Marines!!!