Now.
The dark clouds had dispersed, and the sun shone down on the battlefield, illuminating the devastation.
Bai Ye swung his blade with his right hand, casting off the flames wrapped around Ryūjin Jakka. The weapon, which had brought unimaginable destruction moments ago, now appeared so ordinary that it belied its true power. Calmly, Bai Ye sheathed it.
He surveyed the battlefield. The ground stretched outward in layers resembling an abyss, creating a terrifying, cratered wasteland that spanned hundreds of kilometers.
"The matter here is settled…" he muttered.
Standing under the sunlight, Bai Ye's calm eyes turned toward the direction of the Sabaody Archipelago. No, more precisely, toward the World Government that controlled it—the same World Government ruled by the Celestial Dragons.
"It's time to get on with business," he said to himself.
The Summit War had never been of interest to Bai Ye, nor had he planned to intervene. The Red Hair Pirates were fortunate this time.
If it weren't for his current focus on overthrowing the World Government, Bai Ye wouldn't have hesitated to eliminate them. Red-Haired Shanks and Benn Beckman would have had no chance of escaping alive.
The World Government's plan to use the Summit War to divert global attention while initiating their "Demon Slaughter Operation" to hunt Bai Ye had backfired spectacularly. Instead of trapping him, they had unwittingly created an opportunity for him to accelerate his own plans.
A lackey government under the World Government posed no real threat to Bai Ye. Now, if obstacles were to arise, it would have to be the World Government itself stepping in directly.
As Bai Ye began walking toward the Sabaody Archipelago, a gust of wind swept across the battlefield, ruffling his tattered black shirt. He paused and looked down, realizing that most of his upper garment had been destroyed.
The remains of the shirt revealed his neatly defined muscles, radiating an aura of immense power. Bai Ye glanced at his ruined attire, then shook his head.
"Never mind," he muttered.
The battlefield was already reduced to rubble, and with the upcoming 'war,' any new clothing would likely face the same fate. It didn't matter.
Sabaody Archipelago, as the stronghold of the Celestial Dragons, would surely have someone eager to prepare clothes for him—willingly or otherwise.
Looking out at the distant sea, Bai Ye could see where the island's landscape had been drastically altered. The intense heat of Ryūjin Jakka in its Shikai state had evaporated parts of the ocean, lowering the water levels significantly.
Despite his outward calm, Bai Ye's inner thoughts buzzed with anticipation. The continuous battles with some of the strongest figures in the One Piece world had left him drained, yet invigorated. For the first time, Bai Ye had depleted nearly a quarter of his physical strength.
However, with his rapid recovery, he also felt a surge in power. Defeating Kong, Kaido, and other powerful adversaries had brought significant gains, reflected in his template's progress:
[Host: Bai Ye]
[Current Template: Yamamoto Genryūsai] [Zanpakutō: Ryūjin Jakka – Unlocked] [Shinigami Ability: Kidō – Unlocked] [Physical Technique: Ikkotsu – Unlocked] [Template Progress: 68.5%] [Next Unlock: Bankai at 70% Progress]
The recent battles had caused a significant jump in his progress, nearly doubling the gains from his earlier fights with Akainu and Kizaru. This confirmed a vital detail: the speed of template progression was directly tied to the strength of the opponents he fought or defeated.
Bai Ye's gaze shifted to Ryūjin Jakka in his hand.
"A form change again?" he murmured, a flicker of excitement in his usually stoic eyes.
The image that appeared in his mind was unmistakable: Ryūjin Jakka's second form—its ultimate state, Bankai: Zanka no Tachi.
The power of Ryūjin Jakka in its Shikai state was already overwhelming. If it evolved further…
Bai Ye couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. Unlike the gradual boosts in Reiatsu and swordsmanship he had experienced so far, unlocking Bankai would result in a true qualitative leap in power.
He realized that the progress required to unlock Bankai—70%—was relatively low compared to the immense difficulty most Shinigami faced. It was a testament to Yamamoto Genryūsai's overwhelming strength.
For most Shinigami, even achieving Shikai was a lifetime goal. Only a rare few ever reached the level of Bankai, a feat that forever immortalized their names in the annals of the Soul Society.
But for Yamamoto, Shikai alone was equivalent to the Bankai of other Shinigami. His unparalleled strength allowed his Bankai to be unlocked with far less effort than any other Shinigami could imagine.
Bai Ye smiled faintly as the pieces fell into place.
"It's no wonder Yamamoto Genryūsai is hailed as the strongest Shinigami in Soul Society's history," he said softly. "He stood on a peak that others couldn't even dream of reaching."
The realization of this power only solidified Bai Ye's confidence. With every step, he could feel his strength recovering and his connection to Ryūjin Jakka deepening.
As the Celestial Dragons basked in their illusion of power, they remained unaware of the storm approaching their gates.
Neither their "Admiral Combat Forces" nor their meticulously planned "Demon Slaughter Operation" could delay the inevitable.
Their actions had done nothing but hasten their own destruction.
Bai Ye could already see the outcome clearly.
The so-called 'sacred land' of Mariejois was destined to be reduced to ruins.