Chapter 123: The World’s Highest Authority!
"Marco!!"
Jozu suddenly charged forward. Half of his body transformed into diamond, and he rammed toward Sengoku at incredible speed.
"So what if you're the Fleet Admiral?!"
"Let me see the strength of the Navy's leader!"
Blinded by rage, Jozu ignored the enormous gap between them and grinned fiercely.
But in the next instant—
A vast golden Buddha radiance surged before his eyes, filling his entire vision.
"You think you're enough for that?!"
CLANG!
Two figures flashed across the sky.
Sword and blade collided repeatedly, producing sharp metallic echoes.
Compared to Vista, who was fighting with everything he had, Dracule Mihawk merely blocked casually—occasionally counterattacking, even offering subtle guidance as they fought.
That alone made Vista realize just how wide the gap in their swordsmanship truly was.
"Mihawk… just how strong are you?!"
Vista couldn't help but sigh.
In the New World, only the Four Emperors could suppress him this effortlessly.
But if Mihawk truly possessed Emperor-level strength, why would he accept recruitment by the World Government?
In the weaker seas, the Seven Warlords of the Sea symbolized overwhelming power.
But in the New World, truly powerful pirates scoffed at the title—it was nothing compared to the Four Emperors.
CLANG!
With a single slash, Mihawk knocked Vista's swords aside.
He sheathed the black blade Yoru behind his back and turned away.
His hawk-like eyes glanced at Vista.
"A lion uses its full strength even when hunting a rabbit… Unfortunately, I'm not that foolish of a lion."
Vista scanned the battlefield.
Some pirates had already boarded ships and escaped the waters.
But the majority were still trapped within Marineford.
The division commanders were occupied fighting Vice Admirals and Pacifista, barely holding them off while retreating step by step.
Ace and Sabo fought together in perfect coordination against Aokiji, still managing to keep up.
Little Oars Jr. rampaged through the lower-ranked Marines while carrying Mr. 3.
But the most crucial battlefield remained—
Whitebeard vs. Akainu.
Even with Jinbe assisting him, Whitebeard had already reached the end of his strength.
He likely couldn't hold on much longer.
High above the battlefield—
Lightning and light continued clashing.
But the momentum had gradually shifted into Luffy's hands.
Kizaru had fewer and fewer opportunities to counterattack.
Still, that slippery yellow monkey was ridiculously hard to catch.
No matter what Luffy tried, he kept slipping away.
CLANG!
Iron fist collided with light blade.
Kizaru slid back dozens of meters.
Behind his tinted glasses, a glimmer of amusement flashed.
"Well now… it seems a very important figure has arrived."
Luffy froze briefly.
Then his eyes glowed red as his Observation Haki expanded like radar for dozens of kilometers.
His expression immediately darkened.
"…Things just became far more unpredictable."
Dark clouds gathered like ink.
The light of the sky dimmed.
A terrifying presence spread across the battlefield.
Black lightning crackled violently as an indescribably sinister aura descended.
"Sengoku… after all this time, you still haven't defeated an old man and a brat?"
"We… are very disappointed in you."
A powerful shockwave swept across Marineford.
A monstrous creature descended from the sky—
A winged serpent-like body.
A long, razor-sharp birdlike beak.
Talons gleaming with cold light.
It was Itsumade, the monstrous form of one of the Five Elders—
Saint Marcus Mars, the Warrior God of the Environment.
At that moment, both Marines and pirates felt their bodies tremble.
It was as if some terrifying monster had descended upon the world.
"Who… is that?!"
"A monster?!"
The mere sight of the creature filled everyone with instinctive revulsion, as if it were a demon crawling out of hell.
Only the Fleet Admiral, the Admirals, and a few Vice Admirals froze in shock.
They never imagined that one of the Five Elders, beings who ruled from the heavens above the world, would descend to the battlefield.
Akainu merely frowned before launching an even more vicious assault on Whitebeard and Jinbe.
Aokiji's expression changed slightly.
He knew far too well what the Five Elders truly were.
Still, he chose to ignore it and continued fighting Ace and Sabo—though his attacks had noticeably softened.
Kizaru kept clashing with Luffy.
Clearly, none of the Admirals wanted anything to do with this so-called "highest authority."
Only Sengoku looked as if he had swallowed something rotten.
He slapped Marco and Jozu away with two palm strikes before forcing out an ugly smile.
"May I ask… why one of the Five Elders has descended here?"
"Please rest assured, Saint Mars. I will eliminate the Whitebeard Pirates at all costs."
"Hmph."
"Sengoku… we have already given you many chances."
"Do not forget how you obtained the position of Fleet Admiral."
Saint Mars exhaled a dark, demonic aura, his tone filled with disdain.
Meanwhile, the Marines were completely stunned.
"Wait—did he say… a Five Elder?!"
"How could that monster be one of them?!"
"That thing looks like a demon!"
Whispers spread through the ranks.
"Silence!"
The monster screeched sharply.
Its enormous wings spread as it took flight.
Then its giant beak opened—
A massive crimson pillar of fire erupted.
But the target was not pirates.
It was the Marines themselves.
"AHHH!!"
Hundreds of Marines were instantly incinerated into ash.
Everyone on the battlefield was stunned.
"Pathetic insects… how dare you judge the world's highest authority!"
The Marine officers' faces turned grim.
This was nothing less than a slap in the face to the entire Navy.
Many Marines who believed in justice began questioning everything.
Was this truly justice?
Was serving the World Government truly right?
Sengoku clenched his fists—but didn't move.
He was no longer the passionate young Admiral who once dreamed of enforcing Justice that Reigns Over the World.
Now he carried the weight of the entire Navy.
Only he could not act recklessly.
Saint Mars noticed the unrest among the Marines.
But he didn't care.
His gaze was arrogant.
"I am one of the Five Elders, the highest authority of the World Government."
"Power, fame, status, glory, wealth… if I desire it, all of it is mine."
"Your sluggish performance greatly displeases me."
"But I will grant you one chance."
His cold gaze swept toward Luffy—still battling Kizaru—and the dying Whitebeard.
"If you eliminate these two insects within thirty minutes, you will receive power, status, fame, and wealth."
The Marines' expressions grew complicated.
Some were disgusted by his arrogance.
Others were tempted by the reward.
A number of Marines rushed toward Whitebeard with burning eyes.
The Navy… had fallen into chaos.
Sengoku sighed.
Of all the Five Elders… why did this one have to come?
Among the Five Elders were wise figures.
If Saint Warcury had arrived instead, things would not have turned out like this.
But Sengoku knew speaking further was meaningless.
Their positions were not equal.
Meanwhile—
"My, my… you don't seem pressured at all."
"You really are a monster, Straw Hat."
Kizaru felt the terrifying force traveling through the Ama no Murakumo Sword.
Since Saint Mars arrived, the pressure on him had skyrocketed.
If not for his superior Observation Haki, he might have already lost.
Luffy laughed.
A punch wrapped in Conqueror's Haki Infusion slammed into the blade.
"So… you're tempted too?"
"Well now… who in this world could refuse money?"
Kizaru teased as golden light gleamed from his sunglasses.
"Tch."
Suddenly—
Luffy's hand shot forward like lightning and grabbed the light sword.
His foot pivoted.
His body twisted.
Conqueror's lightning wrapped around his leg as he launched a devastating kick at Kizaru's head.
Kizaru raised his arm to block.
BOOM!!
His body shook violently.
Then he transformed into a beam of golden light and was blasted away for thousands of meters, crashing through more than a dozen buildings.
BOOM!!
BOOM!!
The golden beam detonated a military arsenal.
A gigantic mushroom cloud rose into the sky.
Saint Mars stared in shock.
The moment I arrive… Kizaru gets taken out?!
"If you want my head…"
"Why not come take it yourself?"
A red-clothed boy wrapped in black Conqueror's lightning suddenly appeared above the monstrous creature.
Without hesitation—
He drove his fist downward.
BOOM!
Saint Mars' pupils shrank violently.
He took the punch head-on.
The blow struck like a falling meteor.
BOOM!!
A massive shockwave rippled outward.
Saint Mars' head exploded instantly.
Blood and brain matter splattered across the ruins.
The gigantic body crashed to the ground, sending dust billowing everywhere.
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