As the voice echoed across the battlefield, a white figure slowly stepped out from the crowd of Marines and Cipher Pol agents.
Rayleigh raised his head slightly and looked at the man approaching him.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Then, in an exaggerated tone, he sighed dramatically.
"Oh dear, this old man is just a weak senior citizen, yet I'm getting this much attention. How troublesome."
The white-clothed agent flicked his wrist casually.
A sharp black thorn instantly appeared in his hand.
He slowly stroked the thorn with his left hand while staring at Rayleigh with arrogant eyes.
"Haha, you're the Pirate King's First Mate."
"A legendary pirate like you calling yourself weak sounds ridiculous."
The man slowly raised the thorn toward his mouth and licked the tip with his tongue.
His eyes were filled with madness and bloodlust.
"Still, you're right about one thing."
"This battlefield isn't a place for an old man."
"You should die here."
The moment his voice fell, his figure vanished.
Boom!
A sonic burst exploded from where he stood.
In the next instant, he appeared directly in front of Rayleigh.
The thorn in his hand was coated in Armament Haki, releasing a terrifyingly sharp aura.
The air itself seemed ready to split apart.
The black thorn pierced toward Rayleigh's throat at terrifying speed.
Rayleigh's eyes narrowed.
Conqueror's Haki instantly wrapped around his saber.
Red and black lightning exploded outward.
Clang!
Rayleigh swung his blade forward.
The saber collided head-on with the thorn.
The impact distorted the surrounding air.
Boom!
The ground beneath them shattered violently.
Massive cracks spread across the battlefield like spider webs while an overwhelming shockwave erupted outward.
Nearby Marines and Cipher Pol agents were instantly blown away.
Some crashed into walls.
Others were sent tumbling across the broken ground.
The battlefield looked like it had been struck by a hurricane.
Rayleigh's expression became slightly serious.
This man was strong.
Very strong.
He tightened the force in his arm.
Boom!
The white-clothed agent was finally forced backward.
His feet dragged across the ground for dozens of meters before he stabilized himself.
Yet instead of fear, excitement appeared on his face.
"Hahaha!"
"So this is the strength of Dark King Rayleigh?"
"Terrifying."
Rayleigh silently observed him.
This agent's strength was no weaker than a Marine Admiral.
And the worst part was that Rayleigh had never even heard of him before.
Rayleigh briefly glanced elsewhere across the battlefield.
Red Hair Shanks was already fighting another white-clothed agent in the distance.
Another one stood below the execution platform.
Combined with the Admirals, the God's Knights, the World Government Army, the Seraphim, and countless hidden forces...
The World Government's true military strength was absurd.
This war would not end easily.
The Marines watching nearby were completely stunned.
"So strong..."
"This is the Pirate King's First Mate?"
"He's already old, yet he's still this terrifying?"
The white-clothed agent grinned wickedly.
"Dark King Rayleigh."
"My name is Nankoyev."
"I acknowledge your strength."
After speaking, he casually tossed the thorn upward before catching it again.
"Now let me show you my power."
Suddenly, sharp black thorns began growing out of his body.
His muscles expanded violently.
Within seconds, his entire body transformed into a monstrous porcupine-like beast covered in spikes.
A black flame ribbon wrapped around his upper body.
Rayleigh's grip on his saber tightened slightly.
"An awakened Zoan."
"The Hedgehog Fruit."
"That's quite troublesome."
Then he sighed softly.
"Looks like this old man can only hold you back for Rolan."
Rayleigh slowly raised his blade.
"Come then."
"Let me see what you can do."
Boom!
Rayleigh shot forward like a cannonball.
Nankoyev stomped the ground and charged at him head-on.
The moment the two collided again, an even more terrifying shockwave erupted across the battlefield.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Their figures continuously flashed through the air.
Every clash distorted the atmosphere itself.
Black lightning crackled wildly as powerful impacts exploded one after another.
It looked as if space itself would collapse under their battle.
Back on the NEO Navy ship, Zephyr watched everything unfold with narrowed eyes.
Even he had not expected the World Government to hide so many monsters.
Random agents he had never seen before already possessed Admiral-level combat power.
The battlefield had become complete chaos.
The Red Hair Pirates were clashing against elite Vice Admirals and top Cipher Pol agents.
The Whitebeard Pirates were fighting fiercely across the plaza.
The Revolutionary Army had also fully entered the battlefield.
Zephyr slowly cracked his neck before turning toward the NEO Navy soldiers behind him.
"NEO Navy!"
"Charge!"
"Crush these hypocrites!"
"OOHHHH!"
The NEO Navy members instantly rushed forward like a flood.
The Marines quickly responded.
"Stop them!"
"Fire!"
"Don't let them approach the execution platform!"
Gunfire and explosions erupted across the battlefield.
At that moment, grass growing from the broken ground suddenly expanded rapidly.
In an instant, thick vines shot across the battlefield like living snakes.
They wrapped around Marines and Cipher Pol agents one after another.
"What the hell is this?!"
"Is this Admiral Ryokugyu's power?!"
"No, it's that weird guy over there!"
"That Devil Fruit user!"
Everyone immediately looked toward Binz.
His strange appearance instantly drew mocking comments.
"Look at that guy!"
"He looks like some creepy pervert!"
"Neither human nor ghost!"
Binz's face twitched violently.
The thing he hated most was people mocking his appearance.
Even after years under Zephyr's guidance, that insecurity never disappeared.
Especially whenever Ain was involved.
Binz immediately exploded in rage.
"You bastards are the freaks!"
"Your whole families are freaks!"
His Devil Fruit ability erupted wildly.
"Grow!"
"Grow!"
"Die already!"
The vines instantly became even thicker and more violent.
Dozens of Marines were tightly restrained and slammed into the ground.
Ain watched from nearby and sighed helplessly.
"Binz."
"Teacher Zephyr told you not to lose your temper so easily."
"And stop wasting stamina over insults."
The moment Binz heard Ain's voice, he instantly forced himself to calm down.
He looked at her with an almost pitifully soft expression.
Unfortunately, Ain completely ignored him.
She immediately rushed toward the battlefield instead.
Zephyr looked at the battle around him silently.
Many of the Marines fighting here had once been his students.
Once, he had trained them personally.
Now they stood as enemies.
Zephyr valued loyalty and bonds deeply.
He was never someone who enjoyed killing.
That same mindset had spread throughout the NEO Navy.
Even now, despite overwhelming ordinary Marines in strength, most NEO Navy soldiers avoided fatal attacks whenever possible.
Zephyr exhaled slowly before swinging the massive weapon attached to his arm.
Boom!
Several Marines were blasted away instantly.
Boom!
Another group crashed violently across the plaza.
Screams echoed continuously.
Just as Zephyr prepared to attack again, a powerful slash combined with a massive fist shockwave suddenly erupted toward him.
Boom!
Several NEO Navy members were instantly blown away.
Even Binz was forced to slide backward.
Ain and Binz immediately moved beside Zephyr.
Three Marine Vice Admirals slowly appeared ahead of them.
Momonga.
Dalmatian.
Red King.
Momonga stepped forward first.
"Teacher Zephyr."
"It's been a long time."
Zephyr waved his hand casually at Ain and Binz.
"You two step back."
"Teacher!"
Ain wanted to argue, but Zephyr cut her off immediately.
"I'm not so old that I need protection."
Binz and Ain reluctantly retreated.
Zephyr looked at the three Vice Admirals carefully.
A trace of satisfaction appeared in his eyes.
"Momonga."
"Dalmatian."
"Red King."
"You've all become respectable Vice Admirals."
Momonga sighed.
"Teacher Zephyr."
"Please stop this."
"Do you really intend to oppose justice?"
Zephyr laughed loudly.
"Justice?"
"You still believe the Marines represent justice?"
Dalmatian stepped forward.
"The Marines exist to uphold justice."
Zephyr's expression instantly darkened.
"Justice?"
"Is allowing the pirate who cut off a Marine Admiral's arm to become a Warlord considered justice?"
The three Vice Admirals fell silent.
Back then, countless Marines had been furious over that decision.
Including them.
But they had been powerless to change it.
Momonga shook his head.
"Teacher Zephyr."
"That decision came from the World Government."
"The Marines had no authority to interfere."
Zephyr raised his hand impatiently.
"Enough."
"For old times' sake, move aside."
The three Vice Admirals slowly tightened their grips on their weapons.
Red King spoke coldly.
"We can't allow you to continue hurting Marine soldiers."
Zephyr stared at them silently.
Then he sighed.
"I taught all of you something."
"When facing an enemy far stronger than yourselves, you wait for support instead of charging in blindly."
"It seems you forgot."
Dalmatian transformed into his hybrid form and clenched his fists.
"You also taught us that when comrades stand behind you, retreat is not an option."
Zephyr shook his head slowly.
"Looks like you've forgotten how terrifying your teacher really is."
Just as he prepared to move, green slime suddenly burst from the ground.
The substance instantly wrapped around Momonga and the others before violently slamming them into the earth.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Three massive craters exploded across the battlefield.
Momonga and the others coughed blood as they struggled back to their feet.
Then all three stared ahead with dangerous expressions.
About ten meters in front of Zephyr, the green slime slowly gathered together.
Gradually, it formed into a human figure.