Boom…!
The ground across the battlefield trembled violently, cracking and shifting under the immense force. The red-haired Shanks stood behind his saber, Griffin, which was embedded in the ground. He could feel the terrifying heat and pressure released by Bai Ye's Reiatsu, surging like an unstoppable force.
Instinctively, Shanks raised his right arm beneath his long black cloak, shielding himself from the intense heat.
Then, he lifted his head, his eyes widening in shock as he watched Ryūjin Jakka descend from Bai Ye's hands.
The surrounding land, stretching for hundreds of kilometers, melted into molten lava, radiating unbearable heat and glowing with a fierce orange light. The battlefield was consumed in an instant, transformed into a molten wasteland.
Shanks's expression darkened, his face contorted in frustration and regret.
Perhaps, this time…
Coming to the first half of the Grand Line to end the Summit War and intervene in this fight…
He had made the worst decision of his life.
Meanwhile, in the New World…
The "Mobile Base Camp" of the World Economic News Agency had relocated to the second half of the Grand Line, a region known as the New World.
Inside the bustling headquarters, a bloated figure clad in a black cloak and adorned with feathers on his head held a red communication Den Den Mushi. The creature, resembling an oversized albatross, was none other than Morgans, president of the World Economic News.
"Forgive me," Morgans said with a sly grin, holding the red Den Den Mushi. "Such big news can't be kept a secret!"
From the other end, a furious voice roared through the receiver—it belonged to a member of the CPO.
"Morgans! You b*****d! After all the favors and benefits the World Government has given you, now you dare to defy us?! You'll regret this betrayal, I swear—"
Click.
Morgans hung up the Den Den Mushi mid-rant. His sharp eyes glinted with ambition as he gazed out at a deserted island beyond the mobile base camp.
The wrath of the World Government was indeed terrifying, capable of crushing ordinary people without mercy.
But to a businessman—one skilled at exploiting opportunities—the stakes were different. If the rewards were great enough, offending the World Government was a risk worth taking.
After all, once this news was released, even the mighty World Government would struggle to maintain its composure.
Across the World…
At Morgans's command, chaos erupted within the World Economic News headquarters.
"Little ones!" Morgans exclaimed, raising a wing in dramatic flair. "Destroy all the newspapers prepared for the World Government!"
"Focus all resources on this new story! Distribute the headlines globally, and send my reporters to every corner of the world!"
"The opportunity for a new era has arrived! Hurry! Wahaha!"
The bustling newsroom sprang into action. Albatrosses with backpacks brimming with fresh newspapers were dispatched across the New World, the Grand Line, and even the furthest reaches of the seas.
The world was about to witness a storm unlike any before.
The Headlines:
"The Unprecedented Defeat of the World Government!" "Marine Marshal Kong Falls in Battle!" "A New Era Dawns Amid Chaos at Sea!"
The World Economic News had perfected the art of sensationalism. Morgans, after all, was the same man who had turned the Straw Hat Pirates' near-defeat in Big Mom's territory into the rise of the "Fifth Emperor." His marketing prowess was unmatched.
And with an extensive global subscription base, the news would spread like wildfire, reaping unimaginable profits for Morgans's organization.
Back on the Battlefield…
As the newspapers began to stir a global storm, the conflict between Bai Ye and the Red Hair Pirates reached a temporary conclusion.
The Red Hair Pirates, unwilling to suffer massive casualties in a battle they could not win, made a strategic retreat. Yasopp and several other key figures returned to the Red Force, leaving only Shanks and Benn Beckman behind.
The two stood their ground, wielding their strength to cover their crew's retreat.
For Shanks and Benn Beckman, the decision to stay behind wasn't merely about strategy. It was a testament to their strength—two of the most formidable warriors in the world, holding the line against an overwhelming foe.
Even so, the reality was clear: one-on-one, no Four Emperor in this world could stand against Bai Ye.
Even two of them combined, at their peak, wouldn't fare much better.
Despite the toll of successive battles on Bai Ye's Reiatsu, the advantage remained entirely in his favor—overwhelming and absolute.
For the Red Hair Pirates, their retreat wasn't a sign of defeat, but rather a calculated decision to preserve their strength for another day.
And yet, as Bai Ye stood amidst the molten battlefield, his gaze cold and unyielding, it was clear:
Anyone who dared to challenge him would face the same fate—utter annihilation.