"Don't go!"
Marco landed heavily on the deck, blocking Jozu's path. His voice was low but firm.
"Even Pops couldn't kill them. Those things aren't normal enemies, they're immortal monsters. Do you really think charging in alone will change anything?"
"Then what are we supposed to do?!" Jozu roared, veins bulging with rage. "Just stand here and watch?!"
A cold, disdainful voice cut in from the side.
"Exactly that."
Crocodile floated in the air, sand swirling lazily around him as he looked down on the two commanders.
"Sit here quietly and watch the show, Whitebeard Pirates. You'll only get in his way if you rush in."
Marco and Jozu looked up simultaneously.
"You don't understand him at all," Crocodile continued, his tone mocking. "Do you really think Shirogai would throw his life away on a meaningless battlefield like Whitebeard did? How naive."
Crocodile knew Shirogai's strength better than most.
Grinding him down to death was nothing but wishful thinking.
…
"So strong…"
In the Marine camp, Koby, his arm severed and hastily bandaged, stared in a daze at the distant battlefield.
Shirogai stood alone, suppressing the Gorosei with pure physical power.
A single punch sent a mountain-sized body flying. A kick hurled the sandworm-shaped monster into the air. He even swung its massive body like a weapon, smashing the spider-form Gorosei aside with brutal ease.
Koby swallowed hard.
"Arrogant Emperor Shirogai's close combat… it might be on the same level as my sensei's."
"It's above mine."
Monkey D. Garp stepped beside him, his expression darker than ever.
"Maybe," Garp muttered, "this is the absolute limit of human physical combat."
Nearby, several Marines who had not been stationed at Marineford hesitated before speaking.
"Vice Admiral Garp, why is the Chief Instructor attacking the Gorosei… and Admiral Sakazuki?"
"That's right. Wasn't Vice Admiral Shirogai part of the Marines? Didn't he infiltrate pirates for research purposes?"
"Shirogai-san is my idol. Why would he attack Admiral Sakazuki?"
Garp listened in silence.
After a long moment, he looked toward the battlefield, toward the lone figure tearing apart monsters meant to rule the world.
"Yes," Garp said quietly. "Why would our own turn against us?"
…
Inside the emergency ward.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku… we've done everything we could."
The Marine doctor lowered his instruments and shook his head gravely.
"Admiral Sakazuki's injuries are catastrophic. His internal organs suffered a massive penetrating shock and have completely decayed. His brain sustained extensive damage. He can no longer think clearly or control his body."
The doctor sighed heavily.
"Even with the most advanced life-support systems, he won't last more than a few minutes."
"I understand."
Fleet Admiral Sengoku stared at Akainu's barely breathing body inside the chamber. After a long silence, he turned and left.
"Shirogai… you've severed all ties with the Marines."
Sengoku's fists clenched as he walked out, his eyes burning with rage as he looked toward the plaza, where Shirogai was tearing apart half of Saint Mars's monstrous body.
"Admiral Akainu and Vice Admiral Tsuru died because of you. From this moment on, you are the Marines' enemy. You will pay the price."
…
"Damn bug!"
Saint Mars, the God Warrior of Environment, flapped a single ruined wing in the air.
His eyes were cold, frantic, and filled with hatred as he stared down at Shirogai.
A mere insect, born under the rule of the Celestial Dragons, dared to humiliate them in public.
Unforgivable.
Just as Imu had said, this world was rotten beyond redemption.
Only complete destruction could cleanse it.
"Your existence is an accident that never should have happened!" Saint Mars roared. "Insects will always be insects!"
Black flames surged again.
The monstrous bird dove, its massive beak slicing downward like a pair of giant shears.
"You must be erased completely!"
At the same moment,
Crackle, crackle!
Warcury's tusks transformed into twin blades, coated in Haoshoku Haki as he charged.
Saint Peter, the God Warrior of Agriculture, shrank his sandworm body, compressing terrifying Haoshoku Haki as he coiled toward Shirogai.
Saint Nusjuro, the God Warrior of Finance, narrowed his eyes.
Black flames flickered in his pupils as he gripped the First Generation Kitetsu.
"Kidō…"
"…Descent to Hell."
Slash!
A freezing blade wave tore through the air, carrying bone-chilling cold.
Wails echoed where it passed, as if tormented souls screamed from beyond the grave.
"Becoming our enemy was the greatest mistake of your life!"
Saint Saturn did not attack Shirogai.
Instead, he bypassed him.
He appeared before Whitebeard's still-standing corpse, raising his sharp spider legs.
"The man is already dead. And yet you leave the body intact?" Saturn said coldly. "Filth should be erased completely, so it never obstructs this world again."
Whoosh!
Several spider legs shot forward like spears.
Once pierced, Whitebeard's remains would melt into nothing.
"Hey."
A calm voice interrupted him.
"What do you think you're doing to a respectable old man's remains?"
Shirogai appeared instantly in front of Whitebeard.
He smiled politely, bowing his head slightly, but his voice grew colder with each word.
"As expected of the Celestial Dragons. Even desecration comes naturally to you. Morality and civilization must be foreign concepts in your world."
Slice.
Slice.
The spider legs fell cleanly to the ground.
"This stage has followed my script from the beginning," Shirogai said calmly.
"It's time to end it."
He turned to face the charging Gorosei.
Shirogai raised his right hand and slowly clenched it toward them.
His smile was sharp.
"God's Hand."
"Ice Burial."
---