Chapter 233: Fierce Battle, the Terrifying Power of a Level 2 Emblem
"Declare the Navy's justice to the world!"
"With the Demon-Sealing Tower, the Navy has become a divinely chosen force destined to purge all evil!"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku was filled with excitement.
Not only had they received a golden-tier item, but its function was also to exorcise evil—proof as clear as day. Who would still dare call the Navy hypocritical now?
At last, his eyes settled gravely on the Den Den Mushi screen, where two Yonko and the Revolutionary Army were united.
The coming battle would be a clash between the royal power of the old era and the reformed supremacy of the new one.
If they could withstand this offensive,
Marine Headquarters would finally soar free—no longer shackled by fate.
Their rise would be unstoppable!
…
"Sakazuki, your Magma Mage is a long-range class. Don't be reckless, understood?"
"Kuzan and Borsalino, fully support Sakazuki. Stop the Whitebeard Pirates!"
Vice Admiral Tsuru issued the final combat orders,
watching Akainu with concern—his face clouded with hatred and rage.
Losing his right leg had filled him with a burning desire to kill Whitebeard.
But the Crimson Troll's legion-based abilities made them incredibly hard to kill.
Besides,
Marine HQ, now under siege by pirates, needed to defend behind the family fortress walls.
"Garp, go block the Revolutionary Army!"
The most dangerous opponent was Dragon. His Wind Dragon bloodline gave him immense destructive power—enough to make Tsuru's heart race.
But Garp wasn't standing still either.
His new ability was a trump card that could go toe-to-toe with Dragon. Sengoku's face had gone black just from allocating the funds to get it.
"What about Red-Haired?"
"And Smoker should worry more about Mihawk. Red-Haired hasn't exchanged for any abilities—he's not a threat."
Tsuru waved her hand dismissively.
It wasn't arrogance—it was the harsh truth.
In this new world, anyone who hadn't obtained powers from the Reincarnation Game was no longer qualified to stand among the top players.
Just a few elite vice admirals who had exchanged powers could easily hold back the Red-Haired Pirates, once feared as one of the sea's strongest crews.
BOOM.
The raging sea roared as the first explosion of battle shook the coastline.
Marine officers rushed to their assigned positions.
"Red-Haired Shanks—called the freest man on the seas—and yet here you are, meddling in the East Blue. Still refusing to embrace the Game's power…"
Swirling in a haze of deadly poison, Smoker appeared as a silhouette wreathed in purple-red mist.
He looked curiously at the figure standing on the Red Force's deck.
"What is your true goal?"
"I'm just trying to keep this sea from spiraling out of control."
Shanks smiled, as usual, but this time his smile carried a trace of confusion—not the usual cheer or resolve.
"Whatever the case, I won't forgive any act of aggression toward the Navy!"
Smoker surged with power.
A massive poison general cloaked his body, surrounded by a deadly mist that tainted even the seawater—turning it into a toxic pool.
"Captain, bad news!"
Beckman's face paled. "The bottom of the Red Force is corroding!"
Though the Red-Haired Pirates had no Devil Fruit users,
ships remained vital in One Piece battles—even for those with normal bodies.
"Then destroy the poison man."
Shanks drew Gryphon and leapt toward the mountain-like enemy.
His Haki surged, black and red lightning cleaving the sea. The pressure of his Conqueror's Haki blanketed the battlefield.
He unleashed his strongest strike from the start.
BOOM!
The clash shook the waters.
Shanks landed back on the Red Force, completely unharmed.
Even Gryphon remained the same—still bearing the damage Garp had inflicted years ago.
"Looks impressive, but nothing special…"
"Our captain's still the strongest!"
The crew cheered, casting mocking glances at Smoker.
But the next moment—
Shanks suddenly collapsed to his knees, coughing up a mouthful of purple-red blood.
"The combined venom and fire poison of the toxic general injects poison with every attack."
Smoker stood untouched.
A single strike had taken down a Yonko.
Unbelievable.
Seagulls circling above captured the moment on Den Den Mushi cameras and broadcast it worldwide.
To everyone watching, it felt like a prank played by the Marines and pirates together.
That was a Yonko!
Even if they lost, at least a fierce clash was expected—
but this?
It was over in one blow.
Smoker remained expressionless, though inwardly he was impressed.
That earlier exchange had shown Shanks' Strength stat was likely close to 50.
Back in the old world, he'd be unmatched.
But now,
the Reincarnation Game had drawn the curtain on the old era.
"Shanks… I hope the Game's power wakes you up."
Mihawk had deliberately not intervened—
but now he spoke, to make sure Shanks understood that the wheels of history wouldn't wait.
"Whether ability or luck, it doesn't matter.
My black blade will still cut you down."
"Is that so?"
Poison mist clashed with emerald sword flame.
The battle was now fully ignited.
Pirates and Marines clashed, sparks flying, the scent of smoke choking the air.
"Beckman! Your opponent is us!"
Two Marine vice admirals charged at the Red-Haired crew's first mate.
"You're not worth my time—"
Before Beckman could finish,
two massive figures descended upon him, their strength splitting the deck of the warship.
"Giants?!"
The Red-Haired Pirates were stunned.
They were on friendly terms with Elbaf's giants—but these weren't familiar faces.
They were vice admirals—suddenly turned into giants.
"Game powers again?"
Shanks drank a detox potion and his color improved.
But he wasn't worried.
Unlike the Whitebeard Pirates, the Red Force crew was small but elite.
With Mihawk distracting Smoker,
his crew could move and strike freely—kiting the Marines until their lines broke.
Just like martial arts masters in wuxia novels,
top fighters in a tight formation could dismantle entire armies.
However…
As more and more giants appeared, Shanks was dumbfounded.
"Am I seeing things?"
"One hundred giant warriors?! Even Elbaf can't field that many!"
"How do we even fight this?"
His elite crew froze.
Even the scattered pirates temporarily under his command were paralyzed by fear.
Beckman struggled under the dual assault of two vice admirals and gasped:
"These… aren't regular giants. They're elite warrior-class giants!"
Shock rippled through the pirates.
There was a massive difference between normal giants and elite warriors—
like the gap between a sickly civilian and a lifelong warrior.
While Smoker and Mihawk had yet to conclude their duel,
the pirate side was already crumbling under the Marine giant assault.
They were being trampled and scattered.
"You fools… running will only get you killed faster. Let me decide your fate!"
A low voice echoed across the battlefield.
Wearing sunglasses, Doflamingo finally stepped in.
He scowled as his fingers worked the puppet strings.
The scattered pirates were quickly reformed into organized squads,
charging back toward the Marines.
Originally, he'd planned to let Shanks and the Navy tear each other apart—
then swoop in for the kill.
But Shanks…
hadn't prepared any trump cards.
He hadn't exchanged a single Game ability.
Now Doflamingo was forced to act early—because of that fool.
Staring at the battlefield covered in blood,
and feeling utterly powerless…
Shanks' eyes went blank.
Then, as if reaching a decision,
he vanished.
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