Buzz~!!!
With a resonating hum, two streaks of light separated in the sky, their colors distinct.
"Kurararara!"
"Kizaru, you've been hiding your true strength well!"
Hovering mid-air, Whitebeard's massive frame was surrounded by a ring of white radiance. Laughing into the wind, he raised Cong Yunqie again. A tiny black dot began to form at the tip of the blade.
Swish!
With an intense sound of cutting through the air, the black sphere shot forward like a beam of light, piercing through the space before him.
Below, Kizaru, holding a sword of light fashioned after Ame-no-Murakumo, narrowed his eyes and swung at the seemingly empty space ahead.
Without a sound, the black sphere appeared directly before Kizaru as his light blade descended. The golden sword shattered like thin ice before red-hot steel, disintegrating into glowing fragments at the moment of contact.
"Oh my!"
With a strange cry, Kizaru's body burst into countless light fragments, scattering high into the sky.
Reforming above, Kizaru glanced at the now-obliterated naval port below and whistled.
"Old man Whitebeard, you're done for. Sengoku will definitely dock your pay for this."
Kizaru's taunting voice rang in Whitebeard's mind as the latter raised an eyebrow at him.
"This is one way to use the spiritual power you've awakened through your transformation. Try it out, old man. And just now… were you trying to kill me? How scary~"
"Kizaru."
Whitebeard chuckled lowly, extending his transformed Observation Haki. Suddenly, the sounds of the world unfolded in his perception—the whispers of the wind, the murmurs of the sea, the vibrant pulses of life.
His eyes filled with a newfound understanding, Whitebeard muttered, "So this is the world Roger saw."
Following his instincts, Whitebeard mimicked the spiritual energy wave Kizaru had just demonstrated. The white glow around him flared once more. Holding Cong Yunqie in his left hand, he clenched his right into a fist.
"Kizaru, let's have some fun. Reaching this new realm and meeting a worthy opponent makes me thrilled!"
"Alright, alright. Since Sengoku promised a pay raise, I'll entertain you."
Smiling faintly, Kizaru's expression turned serious as he gazed at Whitebeard in the distance. "It's rare for me to feel motivated, so let's make this good."
Raising his right hand, Kizaru stared at the blazing sun overhead. His open palm slowly closed, dimming the bright midday world into twilight. A pillar of light materialized above him, condensing into a colossal sword.
With the glowing blade towering to the heavens, Kizaru's otherwise sly face carried a hint of sanctity in the light.
Silently, the radiant sword descended, cleaving the darkness like a divine weapon splitting creation. However, it halted before the white glow radiating from Whitebeard, who laughed heartily.
"Kurararara! That's more like it!"
Whitebeard's right hand, glowing with his ring-like power, stopped Kizaru's light sword. The white aura around him began to shift, merging into his fist as a darker hue emerged.
"Grand Shatter!"
Laughing wildly, Whitebeard stepped forward. The darkened world, along with the divine sword, crumbled under his might.
In the resulting fragments that danced across the sky, the space between the two combatants shattered into a vast void, its edges cracking like broken glass. Jagged fissures stretched across the distant horizon.
Below, Sengoku gripped the armrest of his seat, his hands frozen. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he stared at the terrifying scene above.
"Are Whitebeard and Kizaru trying to kill each other?!"
Turning to Riku, Sengoku's expression was grave. "Did something happen with Whitebeard? Is he backing out of joining the navy?"
"Relax, Sengoku," Riku replied calmly, seated beside Crane. Watching the converging beams of light in the sky, she said, "Whitebeard and Kizaru are just sparring. This is just a casual exchange. They're not even using their full power."
Sengoku, still skeptical, looked back at the distant battle. Kizaru had gathered countless rays of sunlight into destructive beams, firing them like a machine gun toward Whitebeard. The old pirate, glowing with white energy, shattered the beams with each punch.
On the ground below, Klee watched the falling fragments of light, resembling snowflakes, with excitement. Holding Qiqi's and Liyue's hands, she bounced with glee.
Quickly pulling a camera from her backpack, Klee dashed to Hiroshi's side.
"Brother Hiroshi, take a picture! Grandpa Whitebeard and Grandpa Kizaru's fireworks are so pretty!"
"Alright, Klee. Just give me a moment," Hiroshi said with a smile, patting her head. Glancing at the downed members of the World Economy News, he turned and left.
Thanks to Klee's bond with Whitebeard and the latter's transformation after eating the whirlpool demon's jerky, the New World's three emperors were heading to Marineford. Meanwhile, the World Government was adjusting its plans. The next broadcast to the world would feature the surrender of the Whitebeard Pirates, the persuasion of the Red-Haired Pirates, and the crushing defeats of the Beast Pirates and Big Mom's crew.
Later, the script would include the destruction of the Red Continent, the fall of the World Government, the planet's reshaping, and the dawn of a new era.
High in the sky, Whitebeard and Kizaru glanced at the three little ones posing against the glowing backdrop they had created. Their battle instantly grew more colorful and intricate, as though putting on a performance just for them.