"Huh?! A Marine Admiral is dead?!"
"Is this real or fake?!"
"No... no way?!"
"The Admirals, who existed like monsters, died during the Marines' second attempt to suppress that man!"
All over the world, countless people shot up from their seats, their eyes fixed on the live broadcast from Marine Headquarters, projected through the Den Den Mushi.
People desperately searched for the truth behind Whitebeard's shocking revelation. And as they pieced things together, it became evident:
At Marine Headquarters, the current battle lineup against the Whitebeard Pirates was as terrifying as expected. But something was missing.
As Whitebeard claimed, both Akainu and Kizaru were absent.
Adding to this, Sengoku's unbearably grim expression and his visible fury at Whitebeard's words solidified the truth.
In that instant, realization struck.
Whitebeard was right.
Some dropped to their knees in shock.
Others stood frozen, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
And many swallowed hard, unable to process what they had just heard from the Summit War.
Because...
It was true.
It was real.
Two Marine Admirals had personally led an operation—and died in the process.
For a moment, the entire world shook.
Sabaody Archipelago
"Is the news... true?"
At a bar on the outskirts, Shakky paused mid-drag on her cigarette. She ignored the chaos erupting in the nearby streets of Sabaody.
After a long silence, she turned to the silver-haired old man beside her.
Rayleigh's glasses reflected the broadcast as his eyes flickered with disbelief. Watching the standoff between Whitebeard and Sengoku, he muttered:
"I'm afraid it's true. If so, then Marine's recent actions and the early execution finally make sense."
Though his tone remained calm, the deep unease in his gaze betrayed his inner turmoil.
After all, Rayleigh had faced Marine Admirals several times in his past—not the Admirals of this era, but men of equal rank.
No one understood better than him how formidable a Marine Admiral was. To earn the title, they needed inhuman strength, monstrous resilience, and the stamina to fight for days without faltering.
The thought of killing an Admiral—let alone two—seemed nearly impossible.
What made this worse was the timing. Both Akainu and Kizaru were at the peak of their powers in this era.
Even if defeated, an Admiral could always escape. To kill them outright? That required something—or someone—far beyond human comprehension.
Since the legendary battle at God Valley 38 years ago, no record of a Marine Admiral's death existed.
And unlike that chaotic clash between the Rocks Pirates and the Marines, this was different.
This time, one man had taken on—and killed—two Admirals. Alone.
Amazon Lily – Nine Snake Island
At the palace, Hancock suddenly stood up. Her narrowed pupils reflected her inner turmoil.
"Marine Admirals... dead?!" she whispered.
The world government had kept such monumental news hidden from the public.
Her clenched fists trembled as she recalled earlier reports. Could it be...?
"No, Snake Princess, stop!" Grandma Nyon's sharp voice cut through Hancock's thoughts. The elderly woman saw the dangerous spark of hope in Hancock's eyes and immediately pulled her back to reality.
"The World Government's power is not something you can underestimate. Those arrogant fools wouldn't maintain their grip on the world for so long without a terrifying amount of strength."
"Even so," Hancock retorted, her voice heavy with doubt, "isn't this... enough?"
Grandma Nyon sighed but nodded grimly.
"It's true. Their power runs deep. Decades ago, during the battle at God Valley, they eliminated the Rocks Pirates in just one day. That was no ordinary crew—it was the most fearsome gathering of monsters in history. Yet they were wiped out as if they were nothing."
She paused, her gaze darkening. "If the World Government decides to act, their strength is overwhelming."
Even the four Emperors combined could struggle to bring them down.
As Grandma Nyon spoke, her senses suddenly sharpened. A wave of oppressive power radiated toward Nine Snake Island, setting her instincts on high alert.
She darted to the window, her eyes scanning the Calm Belt.
"Could it be pirates trying to take advantage of the chaos to attack?" she muttered.
Yet the waters remained eerily still.
She exhaled in relief, but her relief was short-lived. That overwhelming aura... if it didn't belong to pirates, then what—?
Her thoughts halted as a chilling realization struck. That presence—it felt familiar. Was it...?
"Could it be Whitebeard?! Has the war with the Marines already started?"
Her gaze shifted to the Summit War broadcast, her heart racing.
But no... it wasn't Whitebeard. This was someone else. Someone far more dangerous.
The image of a man—that man—flashed in her mind.
"If it's him," she whispered, "then maybe... but who could he be fighting now?"
All Over the World
Sabaody Archipelago.
Amazon Lily.
The Grand Line.
The New World.
Every corner of the globe buzzed with disbelief. Marine Admirals had fallen. The impossible had become reality.
Marine Headquarters
Meanwhile, amidst the chaos of the battlefield, the scene shifted back to the figure at its center.
Bai Ye.
The overwhelming pressure he exuded twisted the surrounding sea into his domain.
"Prepared to die here, are you?" Bai Ye spoke coldly.
Aboard a warship, the sound of metal creaking under immense force echoed like screams.
Generalissimo Kong—leader of the World Government's forces—stood firm, though his expression betrayed a hint of unease.
"You've forced our hand," Kong said, his tone cold and resolute. "The World Government has prioritized your extermination. And now, it seems we've made the right choice. Monsters like you have no place in this world!"
Kong raised a Den Den Mushi, issuing an order to commence "Operation Demon Slaughter."
At his command, several powerful presences emerged from the warships. One by one, they revealed themselves—human-shaped weapons devoid of emotion. The "Seraphim" had arrived.
Kong smirked grimly. "These are the weapons of the future. And today, we will show you why the World Government reigns supreme."
As the Seraphim charged forward, Bai Ye's cold eyes narrowed.
"The World Government's hypocrisy..." he murmured, "...is now fully exposed."
With that, the battle to shake the foundations of the world began.