Whitebeard, who had just knocked away a Marine soldier, suddenly felt an intense gaze on him. Slowly, he turned his head. Sakazuki's cold eyes met his.
"Magma Imp!" Whitebeard growled.
At the same time, Whitebeard unleashed a surge of overwhelming power, far beyond anything seen before. It was as if he wanted to showcase his unshakable dominance as the world's greatest pirate. His eyes shone with royal authority, his will clashing against Sakazuki's fiery determination.
The two locked eyes, their gazes as sharp as lightning. A faint aura formed around them. In an instant, the air became charged, the tension rising like a storm. The momentum was like a rainbow! Space seemed to warp under the force of their clash.
Sensing the danger, Marines and pirates alike quickly distanced themselves from the two monsters. They continued fighting elsewhere but couldn't help casting glances at the spectacle.
Sakazuki, seeing Whitebeard's imposing display, felt his resolve harden. His hands transformed into molten lava, droplets of it sizzling as they hit the ground. The heat surrounding him was suffocating, like standing at the mouth of a volcano.
Without hesitation, Sakazuki leaped forward, cutting across the battlefield in the blink of an eye. He reached Whitebeard in an instant.
"Great Eruption!" he roared.
Whitebeard, feeling the scorching heat rushing at him, didn't flinch. He immediately activated his Tremor-Tremor Fruit ability, swinging his massive fist to meet the attack.
"Boom!" The collision shook the battlefield. Magma exploded in all directions, and shockwaves rippled outward. Those who hadn't evacuated were forced to retreat by the sheer force of the clash. Only Sakazuki and Whitebeard remained in the center of the battlefield.
"Boom!" Again, their attacks collided. Neither gave an inch as they launched into another round of furious blows. Magma versus shockwaves, the fight raged on for a full fifteen minutes, leaving the battlefield in awe.
The Marines, pirates, and even viewers watching the live broadcast were stunned into silence. The sight was unimaginable.
Sakazuki had long built a reputation as a fearsome Marine general. Pirates quaked at the mere mention of his name. But Whitebeard was legendary—the strongest man in the world and a peer to Gol D. Roger. His fame spanned decades, and his strength was unrivaled.
For Sakazuki to go toe-to-toe with him and hold his ground was shocking. Even though many doubted his chances, the fight was now deadlocked. However, Sakazuki knew the truth—Whitebeard's health was deteriorating. He wasn't the man he used to be.
"Kill him while he's weak!" Sakazuki thought, his attacks growing fiercer.
"Gurararara! Lava kid, you've got some guts!" Whitebeard laughed, watching Sakazuki's relentless assault.
"I don't need guts to kill you!" Sakazuki shot back, eyes burning with determination.
He pressed on, giving Whitebeard no time to recover. Whitebeard roared, raising his massive naginata. He swung the weapon down with terrifying force, aiming for Sakazuki's head. The ground beneath them caved from the power of the blow.
Sakazuki, however, was unfazed. He jumped onto the blade itself, leveling his height with Whitebeard. "Dark Hound!" he shouted, launching a lava-covered fist at Whitebeard.
The speed and proximity of the attack gave Whitebeard no time to summon his tremor powers. The punch connected.
"Boom!" An explosion shook the battlefield. As the smoke cleared, the horrifying aftermath came into view. The left side of Whitebeard's face was burned away, leaving only the right half of his iconic mustache intact. The scene was grotesque and bloody.
Sakazuki noticed faint, flickering purple-red light on Whitebeard's head. "Top Conqueror's Haki," he murmured.
In a desperate moment, Whitebeard had summoned Conqueror's Haki to shield himself. Otherwise, his entire head would have been incinerated.
"General Sakazuki! You've done it!" Marines cheered, their morale skyrocketing as they saw their leader gaining the upper hand.
While the Marines celebrated, Kizaru and Aokiji continued their battles against the Whitebeard commanders. Despite the chaos, the two generals fought leisurely, occasionally glancing at Sakazuki's fierce duel.
Kizaru chuckled, "How scary! Admiral Sakazuki might take my job at this rate."
The contrast was striking. Sakazuki's fiery passion and determination to destroy evil contrasted sharply with the other admirals' relaxed attitudes. It was clear that Sakazuki's reputation among the Marines would soar after this war.
Meanwhile, Whitebeard's rage began to build. Blood dripped from his wounds, his body trembling with fury. Suddenly, a deafening "Crack!" echoed. The air itself fractured as Whitebeard's power erupted. His Conqueror's Haki overwhelmed the battlefield, sending many Marines and pirates collapsing unconscious.
"Whitebeard is angry," Sengoku muttered gravely from the execution platform, standing alongside Garp and Tsuru.
Whitebeard, battered but unbroken, glared at Sakazuki. Decades of experience and pride surged within him. This injury—this pain—caused by a mere junior was unforgivable.
He roared, his resolve burning brighter than ever.