The world split open.
Silent—without a sound—yet the moment Don's blade fell, that was the only thought that surfaced in everyone's mind.
The slash descended, and everything in front of him vanished.
To the human senses, that strike seemed slow, like those surreal moments just before death.
But Don had already turned his head after swinging the blade.
The sword mark had stretched all the way into the distance.
The island, the colossal red mangrove, and the sniper who fired that shot—everything disappeared.
Don turned back, the corners of his lips lifting—yet he couldn't smile.
Tch.
He felt his emotional rhythm break, and couldn't pull it back up. Don silently cursed.
"From here on, you'd better protect that pile of trash properly."
He spoke lightly, looking at the deeply grim Borsalino and Sakazuki.
From the distance, CP agents surged in from all directions.
Alongside the regular agents were several masked figures—fast, extremely fast.
Shff!
A golden flash bloomed beside Don. Borsalino pointed a glimmering fingertip toward Don's head.
A casual swing of Don's blade unleashed terrifying force.
A sword mark spanning over ten kilometers tore across the earth. Borsalino's body shattered from the residual shockwave alone, only to re-form in the distance.
A casual slash.
Sakazuki and the re-condensed Borsalino felt their hearts seize.
What the hell is this guy?
Those watching the broadcast saw Don's full-power second phase—and were utterly stunned.
What level of power is this?
In Dressrosa, Doflamingo and his men stared silently at the projection.
No one spoke. Even their breathing softened.
As if afraid the man in the image might notice them.
Only a voluptuous woman in the corner widened her eyes.
With this kind of power… he could definitely do it.
"Notify Kaido. Tell him the first batch of artificial Devil Fruits is nearly complete… but this man may jeopardize our agreement."
Doflamingo's forehead pulsed with throbbing veins as he finally spoke.
Overconfidence was one thing—but even he didn't think he could fight two Admirals like this.
He wasn't sure he could handle even one.
This level of power—he had no way to oppose it.
This guy… had grown even stronger.
…
"Gurararara!"
Whitebeard's massive laughter boomed across the Moby Dick.
But his sons remained silent.
Only their old man could laugh facing someone like this.
"Pops, this guy…"
Marco spoke while staring at the flaming, space-distorting figure on-screen.
Only his back could be seen now, but even that back twisted in the air—like a demon wreathed in fire.
"He's strong."
Whitebeard stopped laughing, answering solemnly.
"This sea is about to get lively again. But that guy… does he really dare kill those Celestial Dragons?"
He downed a massive bowl of sake before continuing.
Attacking Celestial Dragons publicly—would he really do it?
In the Revolutionary Army, Dragon shared the same thought.
They'd been observing Don long before the fight began.
But once the battle started, Dragon and every commander gathered to witness the clash.
"Chief, this guy is seriously this strong now?"
Ivankov still wore a face full of disbelief.
Dragon said nothing.
The answer was obvious.
Back in Shimotsuki Village, Don only learned Armament Haki because Dragon helped him.
How long had it been?
Two years?
And he had reached this level?
Shock filled Dragon's eyes.
The more he learned about Don, the more terrifying the man became.
…
World Economic News Headquarters.
"President! The World Government demands that we immediately cut the broadcast!"
The messenger was pale and frantic.
"I've expected that."
Morgans didn't look surprised at all.
The moment the two Admirals failed to suppress Don—and the Celestial Dragons were in constant danger—he knew this was coming.
Celestial Dragons cannot be killed.
Or rather, news of their death—or even their being attacked—cannot be made public.
Gods cannot bleed.
For if gods bled, the world would realize gods could be killed.
As one of the rulers of the underground world, Morgans understood this truth perfectly.
What the world fears most… is the first time.
Because once the first happens, the second doesn't even need Don's hand.
The halo surrounding the Celestial Dragons would shatter—if only partly.
And that was the real crisis.
"President?"
Seeing Morgans spacing out, his secretary reminded him nervously.
"Forget the orders. This is world-shaking news. How could we possibly cut it?"
Morgans barked.
"Also—deploy every news bird in the Sabaody Archipelago and surrounding regions. Ensure the broadcast never goes down."
"Y-Yes, President!"
The secretary hurried off.
Morgans stared back at the broadcast.
The view began switching rapidly.
The reason was obvious.
Someone was shooting down the news birds.
…
Bang! Bang!
Gunshots echoed continuously as news birds rained down over Area 1—but more were still arriving.
The incoming CP agents had already reached the battlefield, rushing straight for the Celestial Dragons.
Sakazuki and Borsalino fixed their eyes on Don.
That murderous intent earlier—its target was the Celestial Dragons.
If before Don had simply been using them to restrain the Admirals…
Now he intended to kill them.
This guy… actually dared.
"Flame Pillar!"
Just as the two thought that, Don's voice rose from behind them.
A spiraling blaze erupted. A fire tornado expanded rapidly, its suction dragging everything toward it
Including the CP agents carrying the Celestial Dragons.
Borsalino flashed forward, kicking a CP agent—and the Celestial Dragon on his shoulder—out of the suction.
But the moment the man flew clear, flames ignited across his entire body.
The fire spread—consuming both him and the Celestial Dragon.
"AAAAAHHH!!"
The burning agony jolted the unconscious Celestial Dragon awake, drawing tortured screams from him.
Borsalino's face twisted. He condensed into golden light once more—but as he reformed, Don was already before him, blade slicing down.
Move!
Alarm bells exploded in Borsalino's mind.
He barely dodged. The fiery tornado split open under the slash, and the concentrated heat burst outward in a massive explosion.
A sea of fire engulfed the battlefield.
"…Well, sorry about that. Looks like they're dead."
END OF CHAPTER
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