Inside the Fleet Admiral’s office.

Sakazuki stared at the massive strategic sand table on the desk.

He casually picked up a small flag representing the Marines and tossed it out.

Ssshhh—

Two light sounds.

The two little flags landed perfectly.

Each stuck into the center of an island on opposite sides of the sand table.

Not long after…

…

In the New World, Smir Port.

One of the islands under Knock’s command that lay closest to Marine-controlled territory.

Although they had been on guard, no one had expected the Marines to move so swiftly and decisively.

Dozens of warships kept their distance, bombarding Smir Port.

This lineup could already be considered equivalent to a Buster Call, though it was still somewhat restrained for now, targeting only the areas on the island marked as pirate strongholds.

Yamakaji, one of the Vice Admirals leading the operation, stood on the central warship, took a drag from his cigar, and said,

“Faster than I imagined.”

“We’ve barely entered the New World, and we’re already fighting.”

They had all received orders from Fleet Admiral Sakazuki not long ago and set sail immediately.

No specific instructions were given—just to take Smir Port. The only restriction was to keep casualties below a certain percentage. The objective was obvious: training…

“This is better.”

“To wipe out the pirates and do it in our generation.”

“What an honor that would be.”

“If I didn’t have to command, I’d charge right in myself…”

As he spoke, he gripped the hilt of the sword at his waist, excitement surging through him.

Yamakaji also chuckled. He felt the same way…

At that moment.

The pirates stationed at Smir Port, after their initial panic, had already begun to respond.

They organized their counterattack with practiced efficiency. As the largest criminal power in the underworld, Knock’s subordinates were a mix of gangsters and pirates.

They could rapidly form combat units. Combined with their vast stockpiles of weaponry,

they could wipe out a small nation in a short time. Several pirate ships burst out of the harbor, cannons blazing in return fire.

This was where the Vice Admirals’ role truly shone.

Not only did they command the fleet and coordinate the sea battle, but they also instructed young officers, passing down their experience.

If any powerful pirates appeared, they could engage them directly.

Time flowed steadily…

The thunderous cannon fire and flashing flames lasted deep into the night before they finally ceased.

After a day of fierce naval combat, the Marines had the upper hand. Although Smir Port had not yet been taken, the more than ten hours of intense fighting had caused the soldiers to grow rapidly.

In the past, they only ever chased pirate ships. There had never been a situation like this… fleet combat, naval coordination, long duration, high intensity. Their targets were no longer mere pirate ships but entire islands and entire fleets.

This was the new normal…

After the battle ended, the Marines withdrew to a distant stretch of sea. The soldiers hastily ate their rations before collapsing into sleep… exhausted… utterly exhausted.

The Vice Admirals gathered together to debrief and review the day’s battle.

Morning.

Whooosh—

A sharp, piercing steam whistle roared across the sea, rushing toward the Marine fleet.

“Enemy attack!!!”

The sentries immediately raised the alarm at the first sound.

But they couldn’t find the source of the attack. The shrill sound grew closer and closer, sharp enough to pierce eardrums…

The Vice Admirals rushed out as well. Their Observation Haki swept the area, and their expressions changed drastically.

“Oi oi… you’ve got to be kidding!”

“Why is that guy here!”

“It’s just a single island.”

“He’s pulling out the trump card right away?!”

The soldiers couldn’t see it, but the officers could clearly sense the steam-powered rocket diving toward them.

Swish!

A figure wreathed in cold mist suddenly appeared above the fleet.

The air froze in an instant. A massive, dome-shaped shield of ice formed in the sky, intercepting the incoming steam rocket.

Kuzan’s right hand turned to ice. His half-elementalized body caught the rocket.

The clash of steam and ice made the thing pulse violently, as if struggling to break free from his grasp.

“Hoo—”

He exhaled a cold breath.

The long steam rocket froze solid in an instant.

Kuzan let out a sigh of relief and lifted his gaze into the distance.

“Arara… I didn’t expect to run into a troublesome guy like this.”

Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh—

More shrill steam howls approached.

Kuzan hurled the frozen steam spear in his hand. It collided head-on with the oncoming steam spears.

The explosive energy melted the ice… BOOM!!!!

A huge shockwave and a wave of scorching heat spread out, shattering the remaining steam spears into scattered debris.

Some crashed into the sea, others struck the massive wall of ice behind Kuzan, but all were stopped.

Bam!

Two fists collided.

High in the sky.

Half of Knock’s body had turned to steam as he stared at Kuzan.

“Sakazuki sent you here to die?”

“Admiral Aokiji…”

Kuzan’s tone was flat.

“Don’t talk so big.”

“But seriously—just for something like this, someone like you personally came?”

“Since when did the Four Emperors become so cheap…”

It was like two countries at war… as soon as one side attacked the first village, the enemy emperor showed up on the front lines himself…

What the hell?

Knock grinned viciously.

“Go to hell and figure it out!”

“Steam Massacre!!!”

In an instant, Knock swelled to hundreds of meters in height…

Kuzan’s pupils contracted sharply, and his body fully elementalized.

“Ice Age!”

BOOM!!!!

A massive mushroom cloud rose into the sky, and a suffocating heat wave swept through the area.

Half of the colossal mushroom cloud froze, then melted, then froze again as spreading ice filled the gaps…

The stalemate between steam and ice was terrifyingly beautiful from afar.

Below, the Marines were not idle. They didn’t fully grasp the situation, but a battle of this scale was far too dangerous for ordinary soldiers…

They could only retreat for now and call for reinforcements.

Not long after the Marine fleet pulled back…

A massive fleet formed of giant Den Den Mushi entered the waters. After a brief stop at Smir Port, it sailed toward deeper seas…

…

In the New World, New Marineford.

Sakazuki picked up the call and quickly absorbed the situation.

Then he called Borsalino.

Not long after, a streak of golden light shot across the ocean, flying in Kuzan’s direction.

He hung up the call.

Sakazuki frowned slightly, tapping the table with his index finger…

That guy Knock still hasn’t run out of steam. Why is he personally making a move…

“Karol.”

“Go check Knock’s territory. Find out what happened.”

…

At the same time.

On the other side of the New World.

Unlike Knock’s territory, where the underlings were mobsters with an abundance of weapons and ships…

The islands under Red-Haired Shanks’ control, like those under Kaido and Charlotte Linlin, were governed by powerful pirate crews. Though few in number, each was an elite fighter.

They also had many expendable pirates, forming a loose fleet structure.

But this kind of disorganized, chaotic structure was powerless before the Navy’s fleet. They crumbled quickly under pressure…

The powerful pirates trying to break through were blocked by elite Vice Admirals.

The low-ranking pirates were surrounded, cut off, and gradually wiped out by the lower-ranked Marine fleets.

While the battle still raged on, the fighting here had already ended.

At the port.

Law used his power to create an ability field large enough to cover half the island.

His figure flickered rapidly as he appeared beside the wounded soldiers, his hand moving so fast it left afterimages as he treated their injuries one by one.

Drake organized the SWORD unit, swiftly clearing the battlefield.

In the distant sky, a massive fleet appeared.

Skarn commanded the floating fleet to descend slowly. He himself floated down, landing beside Enel, who was directing the operation.

“How’s it looking, Enel-nii?”

“Are a lot of people trying to leave?”

Enel shook his head.

“Not too many. About half and half.”

“Some people still have their heads on straight.”

Skarn frowned.

“Why so few…”

On other islands, only the elderly who’d lived there their whole lives were unwilling to leave.

Enel gazed toward the island.

“This isn’t Navy territory.”

“They were brutally oppressed by chaotic pirates for too long.”

“After Red Hair became an Emperor, he set some rules to restrain the pirates.”

“Once the oppression lessened, the locals began seeing Red Hair as their savior.”

“But now that we’ve eliminated Red Hair’s subordinates, we’ve become the villains.”

Skarn was taken aback.

“This…”

Enel sighed lightly.

“Take as many as we can.”

“The ones who refuse to leave… their fate depends on luck.”

“This isn’t the time to show mercy.”

“The war between the Navy and the pirates has entered its final stage.”

“If we win, then fine. But if we lose…”

“Everyone in the New World will go to hell together with those sea-scum.”

Skarn took a deep breath.

“I know…”

The people who’d hurriedly packed their belongings began boarding the warships one after another, desperate to escape this place of suffering…

And the news of the attack on the islands under his control soon reached Red Hair as well.

…

In the New World, on a remote deserted island.

The Red Force drifted and docked at the shore.

Everyone was resting in the forest, roasting fragrant meat over the campfire.

Shanks wore a grim expression as he held an intelligence report.

“This isn’t good news…”

“We just received word that Sakazuki has entered the New World.”

“The Navy has already begun its operation.”

Beckman, cigarette dangling from his mouth, also held a report.

“It’s not just us.”

“Knock’s territory was also attacked.”

“The Navy’s top combat power hasn’t even acted yet.”

“They’re focusing on large fleet encirclements.”

“They’re probably drilling their troops. Looks like they’re already preparing…”

“But for some reason, Knock suddenly appeared.”

“He tried to ambush the Navy fleet but was intercepted by Admiral Aokiji.”

“They’re still fighting.”

“So we can infer that every one of these Navy fleets has an Admiral escorting them…”

Shanks nodded slightly.

“Enel, huh…”

They were all familiar with this Admiral candidate.

After all, Sakazuki himself had publicly announced Enel as the overall commander responsible for their front.

And as Sakazuki’s trusted subordinate, his background wasn’t hard to find. On top of that, he was a Logia user with both speed and offensive power…

Thinking of speed…

He couldn’t help but recall Bullet… troublesome and impossible to catch.

Shanks stood and folded the intelligence report.

“We can’t let this continue.”

“Gather all the captains. We’ll establish our defense centered around Sbooby Island.”

“Warn the Navy to cease its provocations.”

“Everyone, pack up and set sail.”

“Let’s see if this Admiral candidate’s speed can match that monster’s…”

Shanks did have some interest in Enel—his contemporary.

…

South Blue, Sorbet Kingdom.

Inside the royal palace, Dowager Queen Conney hung up the Den Den Mushi with a headache.

Not long after Kuma left, rumors had spread from who knows where. They said he’d become a pirate—and the stories of his crimes were vividly detailed.

Even many of her friends had called to ask… and she had to explain one by one.

She’d just hung up on the 27th such call… Damn government.

Her clenched fists trembled slightly, betraying her inner turmoil.

Buru buru~ Buru buru~

Queen Conney sighed and picked up the Den Den Mushi.

“Hello…”

To her surprise, it wasn’t another question about Kuma.

It was terrible news.

Sweat poured down Conney’s forehead, her breathing quickened, her mind went dizzy…

Thud—

She collapsed to the floor, falling into darkness… unconscious.

“My child…”

…

Sorbet Kingdom, inside the royal palace.

Dowager Queen Conney was unconscious.

Upon hearing the terrible news, Princess Bonney rushed over to confirm her grandmother’s condition.

Then she stormed out of the palace… determined to take revenge.

Thankfully, Dragon had found her in time, knocked her out, and brought her back. But upon waking, Bonney threatened to die if she wasn’t allowed to leave.

Helpless, Dragon had no choice but to let her go. He also ordered someone to call Sabo.

Before long, Sabo arrived, eyes red and face grim.

“Commander.”

Dragon sighed.

“Bonney wants to go after Sakazuki for revenge.”

“You’ll protect her for a while.”

“Stay hidden. Don’t let her notice.”

Sabo took a deep breath.

“I understand.”

“I won’t let Kuma’s daughter get hurt.”

Dragon nodded slightly, then took out a Devil Fruit.

“Eat this. It’ll make things easier.”

Sabo accepted the fruit.

“This is…”

Dragon spoke.

“Logia—Snow-Snow Fruit.”

“The previous user was a notorious pirate under Golden Lion, Frank.”

“He died during the destruction of Marineford by Golden Lion…”

That event was officially reported as Sakazuki’s zero-casualty annihilation of Golden Lion’s fleet.

The world didn’t know the details, but many within the Navy did.

After Golden Lion lost an arm and fled, the remaining pirate leaders were hunted down by Sengoku and Garp… none survived. Including Frank.

The Snow-Snow Fruit then reappeared somewhere in the seas, eventually found by the Revolutionary Army in the North Blue and sent to their headquarters.

Sabo nodded heavily…

Then took a big bite… his expression instantly twisted in pain.

“…”

“…”

“Ugh!!!”

…

New World, Smir Port.

High above in the distant sky, steam and ice continued to clash.

The alternating heat and cold made the islanders below fall sick one after another.

Fortunately, the Marine fleet that had withdrawn far away to call for reinforcements wasn’t affected.

Though young and powerful, Kuzan was fighting an experienced Knock, who also possessed Conqueror’s Haki and had roamed the seas far longer than Kuzan.

After prolonged fighting, Kuzan was gradually being pushed back.

But neither side could inflict lethal damage…

That was the nature of Logia battles: large-scale attacks that couldn’t touch the real body—air hitting air. It all came down to endurance.

Even though Knock’s steam power after years of training was several times stronger than during his battle with Sakazuki, it still wasn’t enough.

Only when one side vastly outpowered the other could an instant kill happen…

But against Kuzan’s power, Knock couldn’t instantly evaporate all the ice. The fight was locked in a stalemate.

Buzz——

A strange sound echoed through the sky.

It was faint, but both fighters noticed it.

Then, countless beams of light swept through the steam and ice, slicing them apart.

Borsalino’s lazy voice followed closely after:

“Yasakani no Magatama~”

———–

The fanfic is Finished on p@treon/tambeerg. 414 chapters in total

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep