197 With the Justice System

"Since that's how it is..."

"Then I'll just have to make sure none of you leave here alive!"

The moment his words fell—"Pa!"—

Zephyr's entire body turned into a streak of dark red lightning, shooting straight toward Shamrock.

His speed was so terrifyingly fast that a ring of visible white airburst rippled where he had stood.

His fist, after absorbing the blood of the Hellhound, now gleamed with an eerie, demonic crimson glow.

"Hmph, a retired former Marine Admiral dares to act so arrogantly?!"

Shamrock roared, his pride as Commander of the Knights of God making it impossible for him to tolerate such insolence from a "lowly being" of the lower world.

Facing Zephyr's punch, he didn't dodge—he met it head-on.

After all, he possessed an immortal body.

"Boom——!!!"

Their fists collided in midair with a thunderous crash!

A circular shockwave exploded outward from the two of them, sweeping across the deck and shaking the entire massive warship.

"Damn…"

Shamrock felt an overwhelming power surge through his fist—raw, destructive, unstoppable.

In that instant of contact, his own strength was utterly shattered, crushed without resistance.

"Crack—"

The sound of bones snapping echoed sharply.

His entire arm was blasted apart, flesh and bone scattering like shrapnel.

He was sent flying backward, his feet gouging two deep trenches into the deck before he barely managed to steady himself.

"You..."

Shamrock looked up at Zephyr.

"You ate a Devil Fruit?!"

The flesh on his right shoulder began to twist and squirm, regenerating at a speed visible to the naked eye. Within seconds, it had completely healed.

But he had already noticed—Zephyr's aura...

It wasn't fading after such ferocious attacks. On the contrary, it was growing stronger, more terrifying, and more alive with every passing moment!

That vitality... was rapidly surging upward!

This wasn't the Zephyr described in their intelligence reports—the dying, faithless "Black Arm" Zephyr who had lost his will to fight.

The only explanation was...

He had eaten one of the great treasures of the sea—the Devil Fruit!

"Heh—"

Zephyr grinned, the corners of his mouth curling in mocking amusement.

"You little Celestial Dragon brat."

"Back then, I was called the 'Non-Killing' Admiral of the Marines because I believed even the worst of criminals deserved a chance at redemption."

His voice dropped low and rough, thick with bitter regret.

"But now I understand. Whether it's the bloodthirsty pirates or you arrogant scum who call yourselves gods—choosing not to kill..."

"...is the greatest sin this world has ever known."

"Tap—"

Zephyr stepped forward, his foot slamming down so hard that the deck beneath him exploded.

"Today, I'll show you pampered little nobles..."

"What it means to face the killing blow... of Black Arm Zephyr!"

"!!!"

Shamrock's Observation Haki screamed in his mind—every cell in his body shrieked the same warning: "Run!"

He wanted to dodge, but his battered body, still reeling from the earlier blow, simply couldn't keep up with his thoughts.

He could only watch helplessly...

As that crimson iron fist expanded rapidly in his pupils!

"Boom——!"

Zephyr's fist tore through Shamrock's chest.

That dark red iron fist burst clean through his back, yet not a drop of blood clung to it.

All of his blood, all of his life force—were completely absorbed in that instant.

"Ugh..."

Shamrock looked down in disbelief at the massive hole in his chest, his face filled with utter confusion.

Wasn't Zephyr supposed to have lost his will to live?!

Wasn't Zephyr supposed to be dying?!

Wasn't he supposed to be finished?!

Who...

Who the hell fed them false intel?!

"Haah——!!"

Feeling the surge of vibrant life energy flooding into his body through his fist, Zephyr threw his head back and roared ecstatically.

He flung his arm out with a whip-like motion, sending Shamrock's shriveled, drained "corpse" crashing heavily onto the deck.

"..."

Zephyr gazed quietly at Shamrock's face as it rapidly turned ashen.

"Crack—"

Then, something unnatural occurred.

That supposedly lifeless body began to heal—the hole in his chest closing at an impossible rate, pale skin regaining color.

Seconds later, Shamrock suddenly sat up, gasping desperately, his face pale and drained.

"First your arm... now your heart."

Zephyr walked toward him step by step, each footfall pounding like a drumbeat in Shamrock's chest.

"An immortal body, huh?!"

Zephyr's mouth split into a wide grin, revealing two sharp, elongated fangs.

"Kid... that's just... wonderful!!!"

...

Meanwhile—

"Hm?"

The two Celestial Dragon, Sommers and Killingham, who were clashing with Sengoku and Garp's overwhelming Conqueror's Haki, suddenly felt the crushing pressure vanish.

The oppressive force was gone!

"What's going on?"

Killingham clutched his chest, gasping for breath.

"Did those two old bastards... give up?"

"..."

Sommers wiped the sweat from his forehead, relief flashing briefly in his eyes—but confusion followed.

To retreat, unprovoked, when they were legends of the old Marine era?

That didn't make sense!

"No... wait!"

He snapped his head toward the harbor.

Two figures were soaring straight into the sky!

Garp and Sengoku—launched upward like cannonfire, piercing through the clouds!

They hadn't retreated.

They'd chosen a different kind of attack—one far more devastating!

"BOOM——!!!"

High above, Sengoku's form expanded with the wind, a blinding golden light tearing through the clouds as a colossal golden Buddha appeared in the heavens!

With his palms pressed together, energy of pure golden radiance swirled madly between them—until it condensed into a blazing sun of divine power!

And atop the golden Buddha's head, Garp had become but a small black speck.

His fists clenched tight, his arms darkened to pitch black by an ocean of Armament Haki.

Looking down upon the gleaming white warship far below, Garp's face broke into a wild, unrestrained grin.

"Sengoku!"

"Let those arrogant Celestial Dragons see for themselves!"

"What true Marine Justice looks like—through the Iron Fist of Righteousness!!!"

"WOOOM——"

The golden Buddha's voice thundered like the decree of heaven.

"As you wish!"

"Joint Technique—Heavenly Buddha Meteor!!!"