218 With the Justice System

"Boom——!"

The earth-shattering battle had finally begun.

At that moment, the war at the G-5 Branch in the New World was being broadcast live through the Den Den Mushi across the entire world.

The world trembled.

"..."

Countless kings of the World Government's affiliated nations—men who normally acted with arrogance and cruelty—were now sitting pale-faced on their thrones, paralyzed with fear.

"Come on! World Government!"

"Go! Elders!"

"Go! God's Knights!"

"Go! Beasts! BIG MOM!"

A fat king clenched his scepter so hard his knuckles turned white, roaring hysterically at the screen.

He knew very well—this was a battle that would tear away all masks.

If the Marines were to win, then with their current ruthless and uncompromising style of retribution, all these puppet kings who had once served under tyranny would surely be wiped out.

But...

In stark contrast to their fear and unease, the atmosphere among the kings of Marine-allied nations was completely different.

...

Alabasta.

King Cobra sat with his ministers, leisurely sipping black tea as they watched the war unfold on the screen.

"Your Majesty, the Marines' odds of victory..."

One minister asked, his voice trembling slightly as he stared at the apocalyptic scene on the screen.

"Do not worry."

Cobra took another sip of tea, his tone steady and assured.

"If the Marines dare to broadcast this worldwide, it means they are absolutely confident."

His gaze was deep and thoughtful.

The new Fleet Admiral, Sakazuki, and Admiral Kuzan had yet to appear.

That alone proved that the Marines had full confidence in the outcome of this war.

Cobra set down his teacup and ordered the guards behind him,

"Send word: in Alubarna, Rapeseed, and every city square across the kingdom—set up Den Den Mushi for public viewing."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Let every citizen witness..."

Cobra's eyes returned to the screen, his voice carrying a quiet, heartfelt weight.

"...the dawn of a new era of Justice."

...

East Blue.

Shimotsuki Village.

Before the Isshin Dojo, a crowd of young children gathered.

Their eyes were fixed on the screen—on that green-haired figure wreathed in blood-red demonic aura.

"It's Zoro!"

"Zoro looks so cool!"

As Zoro turned into a flash of crimson light and charged fearlessly at a black-winged, flame-wreathed monster of a man, the children erupted in deafening cheers.

"Look!"

"That's the Beasts Pirates' top All-Star—King!"

"Go, Zoro!"

"Beat him! Knock him out!"

"..."

Shimotsuki Koshiro watched the screen, seeing the student who had grown into one of the pillars of the Marines.

He then looked at the noisy, excited children beside him and smiled warmly.

"How wonderful."

...

Baratie, the floating sea restaurant.

The restaurant was closed for the day.

All the chefs, mugs of beer in hand, crowded around the massive screen in the center hall, shouting at the top of their lungs.

"Go, Sous Chef Sanji!"

"..."

"You better give it your all, you damn brat!"

Zeff held a teacup in hand, his eyes full of pride he could not conceal.

On the screen, Sanji's black stealth suit flickered between bursts of flame, his blazing right leg striking straight toward the man known as the "greatest masterpiece of the BIG MOM Pirates"—Charlotte Katakuri.

"Let Katakuri taste the power of Baratie's sous chef!"

"Kick him! Kick him all the way to the ALL BLUE!"

The chefs waved their fists wildly, shouting with drunken vigor as beer foam splashed everywhere.

"Hahahahaha!"

...

Cocoyasi Village.

Nojiko held a Den Den Mushi, speaking excitedly to Nami, who was far away at Marine Headquarters.

In the village square, sunlight poured down through the leaves of the orange trees, filling the air with a fresh citrus fragrance.

Every villager had gathered there, watching the live broadcast with joy and anticipation on their faces.

"Nami! Can you see this?"

Nojiko's voice trembled with excitement.

"Of course I can, sis! The whole Marine Headquarters is cheering for G-5!"

From the Den Den Mushi came Nami's bright and lively voice.

"Everyone in the Cartography Division is going crazy! They're all shouting Hawke's name!"

"The Marines will win!"

Nojiko raised her fist high.

"Justice will prevail!"

Nami's reply was firm and full of conviction.

"..."

Both women looked at the screen—at the young man standing atop the fortress, overlooking the battlefield like a god.

Their faces shone with radiant smiles.

He was their hero.

Cocoyasi Village's savior.

And the Marine Headquarters' brightest new Admiral—"Blood Hawk" Hawke!

...

G-3 Branch.

Inside the Marines' secret laboratory, a massive screen was broadcasting the battle in real time.

Sentomaru stood tall, arms crossed over his broad chest, his gaze locked on one particular figure in the corner of the screen—

Kizaru.

His uncle.

Ever since the doctor and his uncle had taken him in as a child, he had never seen that expression on Kizaru's face before.

No more laziness. No more pretense. Only pure resolve.

Uncle... you're really going all out this time!

"Saint Saturn... have you ever seen light?"

"..."

Nearby, Bonney watched the screen quietly.

Unlike others, her eyes weren't focused on the fight—only on one person reflected within them.

Bartholomew Kuma.

Her heart clenched painfully tight.

The peace she had finally found—she didn't want to lose it again.

"Don't worry, Bonney."

A gentle voice spoke beside her.

Vegapunk had appeared without her noticing, raising a finger toward his enormous head.

"Since the Marineford War, this old man hasn't been idle!"

His face carried the confidence and fervor unique to a genius scientist.

"All my energy has gone into upgrading and perfecting these children!"

His gaze turned to the screen—to the Pacifistas clashing fiercely with the God's Knights.

"They've yet to reveal even half of their true power!"

...

New World, G-5 Branch.

On the frozen sea, the war had reached its boiling point.

"Boom!"

One of the God's Knights swung his long sword, releasing a pitch-black slash that cleaved open a PX-Ice's chest, revealing its intricate mechanical structure.

"Crack!"

Another knight, moving like a phantom, appeared behind a PX-Magma, his hands turning into sharp claws as he tore apart its power system from behind.

The balance on the ground battlefield was shifting.

Even though the new Pacifistas possessed Devil Fruit abilities rivaling the original three Admirals, they were still too rigid in their combat style—especially against these elite warriors handpicked from the Celestial Dragons.

"Splurt——"

Kuma stepped forward to shield a PX-Light that was about to be destroyed, taking a knight's thrust straight into his back.

The sharp blade pierced his massive frame, spilling a handful of warm blood.

"Ugh..."

Kuma grunted, but did not take a single step back.

"Bartholomew Kuma!"

Not far away, the Supreme Commander of the God's Knights—Saint Garling—looked at him arrogantly, a mocking smile curling his lips.

"You lowly slave... you dare defy the gods?"

His cold eyes swept over the faltering Pacifistas, and he scoffed.

"And these pathetic imitations—are these Vegapunk's so-called masterpieces?"

"Pathetic!"

"Not even worth my breath!"

"..."

Kuma ignored his taunts.

Silently, he pulled the sword from his body and dropped it to the ground.

Scarlet blood splattered—

The ice beneath him cracked apart.

In his mind, the innocent, carefree smile of Bonney appeared.

Then came Admiral Hawke's words — "The Marines will always have your back."

He couldn't lose.

He wouldn't lose!

"New Model Pacifista, system reconstruction…"

Kuma slowly raised his hand. That massive palm, instead of striking at the enemy, pointed toward the sky.

His voice resonated through a special frequency, transmitted clearly into the core processor of every single Pacifista.

"Activate!"

"BZZZZ——!!!"

In that instant, all the Pacifistas on the battlefield froze mid-motion.

And then, something unimaginable happened!

The thirty deep-blue PX-Ice units suddenly broke apart, disassembling into countless metallic components that gleamed with cold light. The pieces spun rapidly through the air, swirling and fusing together!

Like living building blocks, within seconds they reassembled into a pair of colossal legs that towered into the heavens, along with an indestructible frost-coated torso!

When those gigantic legs struck the ground, a sharp crack echoed across the frozen plain — the temperature plummeted even further!

"BOOM——!!!"

At the same time, the thirty crimson PX-Magma units exploded apart!

Their forms transformed into two massive arms burning with molten lava and an integrated shoulder-mounted artillery system, fusing perfectly with the icy torso!

The blazing heat distorted the very air around them!

"!!?"

"What?!"

The sneer on Shepherd Sommers's face froze solid.

Even the charge of the God Knights faltered.

They stared in shock at the surreal transformation before them, unable to comprehend what they were witnessing.

But it wasn't over yet!

"SWISH——!"

The final thirty golden PX-Light units dissolved into pure golden light particles!

Those particles, like a living stream of holy brilliance, surged into the massive body of ice and fire!

They became the most intricate neural network, the most powerful energy core, and a sleek, divine armor that shimmered with radiant gold!

Ninety Pacifistas — gone.

In their place stood a war machine over a hundred meters tall, merging the ultimate powers of ice, magma, and light — the Ultimate Weapon of War!

It stood silently upon the frozen wasteland.

Its left arm was a blazing magma cannon; its right arm, a blade forged from absolute frost.

Its golden streamlined body was covered in countless laser emitters.

At the center of its chest lay a transparent cockpit.

Inside it — sat Kuma.

He was the heart and soul of this ultimate weapon.

"Pacifista — New Era…"

Kuma's voice thundered across the entire battlefield.

The next second—

THUMP——

The single massive eye of the weapon known as "New Era" suddenly blazed crimson.

The cold, mechanical gaze locked onto Shepherd Sommers's frozen expression.

"Ultimate evil… shall be eradicated!!!"