At this moment, in the New World, on the Island of World Military Draft, the ground trembled violently.
As everyone looked on with nervous anticipation, Fleet Admiral Akainu and the top powerhouse Aramaki launched a combined attack against Shiro, whose Bounty had soared to an astonishing 3.58 billion Belly. The tension was palpable, as all eyes were glued to the battlefield, wondering if the two powerful figures could take him down.
But then, something unexpected happened.
Shiro vanished.
Not only did he avoid any significant injury from the assault, but his entire presence seemed to disappear from sight. A heavy silence fell over the island, and both the Navy and the Celestial Dragon forces, who had yet to retreat, felt their hearts in their throats.
The Navy side prayed that Akainu and Aramaki could deliver a crushing blow, but what happened next shattered what little hope they had left.
The island shook with a tremendous force, one that echoed the catastrophic tremors of Whitebeard's quakes.
The scene was eerily reminiscent of Marineford, where the Navy Headquarters had faced total destruction.
Boom! Boom!
"Watch out! Shiro is not playing around this time!" someone shouted, their voice trembling with panic.
And then, in the wide-eyed shock of all onlookers, a colossal figure emerged — half the size of the island itself!
Both Aramaki and the onlookers, including those who had not participated in the Summit War, could only stare in stunned disbelief. The figure before them was a Giant Buddha, draped in arcs of lightning and surrounded by flames powerful enough to scorch the heavens. It was as if nature itself had taken form in this terrifying being.
And then, to everyone's horror, the Buddha lifted an enormous, terrifying sword in one of its massive hands.
"Damn it! Is this the ultimate development of wood-based Devil Fruit powers!?" shouted Aramaki, his face paling as he took in the sight before him.
During his previous battle with Shiro, Aramaki had realized that Shiro possessed a wood element power similar to his own Woods-Woods Fruit ability. At that time, though he lost, he knew it wasn't because of Shiro's wood element alone — his arrogance had blinded him. He had been confident that in terms of mastering the wood element, he could outclass Shiro any day.
But now...
What was he seeing? This towering Buddha was something even Aramaki, with all his experience, couldn't comprehend. It was a power far beyond what he had thought possible.
Not only was this Buddha crafted from wood, but it was also shrouded in lightning arcs and fire — powers clearly mastered by Shiro. How was it possible for one person to control so many elemental forces at once?
It was simply unimaginable!
"Aramaki, don't get distracted!" bellowed Akainu, his tone urgent as he saw Aramaki staring blankly in awe.
For Akainu, this battle had already marked a grim turning point. The World Military Draft Plan was failing, and the Navy was taking heavy losses. He knew that if he, as the Fleet Admiral, couldn't continue to inspire fear across the seas, then the Navy branch bases scattered worldwide would descend into chaos.
Unless the World Government intervened or Sengoku the Buddha and Garp returned to the Navy, their forces would be utterly overwhelmed by Shiro and the rising power of the Revolutionary Army.
However, even with these slim chances, Akainu would never abandon his belief in absolute justice.
With Aokiji and Issho having already betrayed the Navy to join the Central Authority, Akainu needed to rely on the few top powerhouses still loyal to the cause. He had long stopped trusting Borsalino, knowing that the Admiral was unreliable.
"Everyone, evacuate! I'll handle Shiro myself!" Akainu ordered.
The battlefield was a storm of overwhelming power as Shiro alone faced off against three of the Navy's top figures: Akainu, Sengoku the Buddha, and Aramaki.
And against all odds, Shiro wasn't just fighting them — he was suppressing them!
Under the onslaught of his devastating blows, which combined several elemental abilities, even these three titans of the Navy could only retreat, unable to launch a proper counterattack. Every strike from Shiro's sword could reduce a mountain to rubble.
The sight of Shiro beating back three Admiral-level men at once filled the hearts of the Navy soldiers with dread.
Even Kizaru, who was busy dealing with Enel, found himself glancing nervously at the massive Buddha dominating the battlefield. The rest of the Navy, from the rank-and-file Marines to the Vice Admirals, stood frozen in fear, helpless against the overwhelming power of Shiro.
The destruction was catastrophic. The island itself was beginning to crumble under the force of Shiro's attacks, and massive waves rose around the surrounding sea. The Naval fleet stationed nearby struggled to stay afloat, with many ships capsizing in the chaos.
And for those Marines who had once fought in the Summit War, the sight of the Buddha once again brought back traumatic memories, causing many of them to turn and flee without a second thought.
Ding!
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The fanfic is finished on p@treon/tambeerg