176 With the Justice System

"Boom——!"

A dull explosion rang out, like a muffled drumbeat deliberately suppressed, yet painfully sharp in the deathly silence of the battlefield.

Everyone saw it.

That pink-haired Marine recruit — the boy who had just spread his arms wide, trying to stop the war —

His head was crushed beneath Hawke's boot, reduced to an unrecognizable mess of red and white.

No scream...

No final words...

Only the headless body, staining the plaza with yet another splash of blood.

"..."

Akainu, locked in a clash with Whitebeard, paused for a moment.

He turned his head, and on that hard, stern face appeared pure, unfiltered admiration and joy.

"Good!!!"

Hawke, that kid did well!

This is what the Marines should be!

This is what Justice should look like — an iron fist!

Anyone who wavers the hearts of soldiers or pities criminals deserves to be executed on the spot!

"Ah, my, my~"

"I told you, he'd definitely die!"

Kizaru lazily raised a hand to shield his eyes, as if unable to bear looking at the bloody scene.

"Hawke-kun..."

"You're terrifyingly decisive~"

"..."

At the mouth of the bay, Aokiji stood silently watching.

He sighed lightly, hoping this Marine's death would serve as a warning to others.

On the battlefield, mercy is a weapon far deadlier than any sword.

Below the execution platform—

"Good——!!!"

Sengoku threw a punch into the air, the rage that had twisted his face now replaced entirely by elation and praise.

As the Fleet Admiral, no one understood better than he did...

At such a crucial moment, under the watchful eyes of the entire world — a Marine publicly questioning the supreme commander of the battlefield could cause catastrophic consequences!

It would shake the army's faith to its core!

It would turn Marine Justice into a global joke!

But Hawke... snuffed out that spark in the most direct, iron-blooded way possible!

He not only executed a deserter — he declared his own Justice, crushing all confusion in the hearts of soldiers!

"..."

Sengoku scanned the battlefield.

Those Marines who had wavered after Koby's outcry...

Now, the hesitation in their eyes was completely gone.

In its place — a fiercer, more fanatical killing intent!

"All units, listen to my command!"

Hawke's voice rang out again, echoing across the heavens.

"The war continues!"

"Erase the Whitebeard Pirates from this sea completely!"

"Kill——!!!"

After a brief, suffocating silence came a tidal wave of roars.

A hundred thousand Marines surged toward the pirates once more.

This time, their attacks were fiercer, more ruthless.

Their eyes held not a shred of hesitation.

Kill!

Annihilate the Whitebeard Pirates right here at Marineford!

"Ah——!"

"No! Stay away!"

The surviving members of the Whitebeard Pirates screamed in despair.

"!!!"

Whitebeard watched as his sons fell one after another.

"Gurararararara——!"

"Magma brat——!!!"

He roared, unleashing the full power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit. With one mighty punch, he sent Akainu flying backward.

But he didn't pursue. Instead, his gaze turned toward the frozen bay sealed by Aokiji's ice.

Beneath that deep blue surface lay his final hope.

His contingency plan...

Jinbe...

Can you still lead the remaining boys out of this hell...?

At that moment—

"Hum——"

A surge of overwhelming Haki swept through all of Marineford.

Everyone turned toward the source.

On the horizon, across the sea surface—

A ship.

A pirate ship bearing a skull flag, with a fierce dragon head carved at its bow, cutting through the raging waves at incredible speed.

On the prow stood a solitary figure.

He wore a black cloak, a Western sword at his waist, and his striking red hair danced wildly in the sea breeze.

"Everyone..."

His voice wasn't loud, yet it reached every corner of the battlefield with perfect clarity.

"Would you all... give me some respect?"

Shanks.

...

New World.

On the Mammoth.

"Ugh——"

Luffy groaned, shaking his head as he climbed out of a massive crater in the deck.

He looked up — and saw the massive figure of one of the Beasts Pirates' All-Stars, "Drought" Jack.

The same man the veterans called Jack the Drought.

"Marines...?!"

"!!!"

Luffy bent his knees slightly, dropping into a fighting stance.

All around him, the Beasts Pirates drew their weapons, surrounding him completely.

"A Marine?"

"Get him! Kill him!"

A few pirates closest to him charged, weapons raised.

"Gomu Gomu no... Gatling!"

Luffy leaned back slightly, both fists blurring into countless afterimages as he unleashed a storm of punches in all directions.

"Bang bang bang bang bang!"

A barrage of impacts rang out.

The pirates charging him were swept away like wheat before a scythe, flying across the deck and collapsing in heaps — instantly losing consciousness.

"Huff——"

After clearing out the small fry, Luffy's eyes locked onto Jack.

He took a deep breath as black Armament Haki spread across his arms.

Gramps threw him here for one reason — to make him stronger!

And the giant in front of him... looked plenty strong!

Beat him!

"Gomu Gomu no... Pistol!"

Luffy's Haki-coated fist shot forward like a black cannonball, tearing through the air toward Jack's face.

"..."

Jack didn't move an inch. He only tilted his massive head slightly.

Luffy's fist whooshed past, grazing his cheek.

"He... dodged it?!"

Luffy's pupils shrank sharply.

Before he could retract his arm, a massive hand — large enough to block out the sky — swung toward him.

With a deafening smack, it slammed across Luffy's face.

"Boom——!"

A dull, heavy sound echoed.

Luffy was sent flying, crashing hard into the Mammoth's thick mast.

"Crack——"

He slid down limply and hit the floor, motionless.

"Heh. That's it?"

A glint of disdain flashed in Jack's eyes.

Did this kid really think a Beast Pirates All-Star was comparable to some random grunt?

But just as he turned away—

"I haven't lost yet!"

A loud, determined shout came from behind him.

"???"

Jack snapped his head around, a muscle twitching on his face.

The boy who'd just been sprawled motionless on the ground suddenly flipped upright like a carp leaping from a stream.

He dusted himself off and readied his stance again.

"Come on!"

"Gomu Gomu no... Bazooka!"

Both of Luffy's arms stretched forward, fists wrapped in Armament Haki as he launched another twin strike toward Jack.

"???"

A giant question mark practically appeared above Jack's head.

That slap of his — enough to knock out a Sea King for hours and this guy fine?!

His recovery... is insane!

"Boom!"

Another thunderous crash.

Luffy went flying again.

"Tch, annoying fly!"

Jack grunted coldly, flexing his slightly numb palm.

This time, he'd added more force.

No way the kid could get up again.

But the next second—

"Boom——!"

Luffy's figure came crashing back down onto the deck once more.

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, his Marine uniform torn in several places.

Yet his eyes... were brighter — and more fired up than ever!

"Come again!"

"Boom!"

"Come again!"

"Boom!"

"Come again!"

"Boom!"

On the deck of the Mammoth, an almost absurd scene kept playing out.

Luffy charged again and again.

And again and again, he was swatted away.

He crashed through railings, bent cannons, and left crater after crater in the deck.

But every time he fell, he stood back up — with even greater resolve — and attacked again.

The Beasts Pirates, who had been groaning on the ground moments ago, now stared in stunned silence.

"This guy... what the hell is he?"

"Jack-sama's attacks... don't work on him?"

"No... they work. Look at his body — the wounds keep increasing... but why... why can he still stand?!"

"..."

The scorn on Jack's face was long gone, replaced by growing irritation.

"You bastard!!!"

"Are you doing sit-ups over there?!"