Fear surged inexplicably throughout the battlefield, and one bad premonition after another washed over every combatant.
At last, Saint Saturn among the five rose, his eyes filled with iron determination.
"Do not be afraid! Ashveil's defence just a short while ago must have drained a great deal of his Haki," he announced.
"This is his final strike; as long as we hold fast through this attack, Ashveil will be finished!"
His roar echoed across the ice and sea, and the World Allied Army steadied itself for the final assault.
"That is correct — unleash our last strike and crash it down upon Ashveil one more time. I refuse to believe that so many cannot fell one single foe!" Saint Warcury shouted angrily.
"Exactly! Everyone, release your final blow! Do not hold back, one strike to seal the victor!" Saint Peter declared, strange flames flickering across his hands and feet as he fixed his sinister gaze on the sky.
Though the allied forces trembled at the thought of Ashveil's power, they could not stand down.
Saint Warcury and Saint Peter channelled their Haki and bound their limbs in flame, sending those infernal flames soaring toward Saint Saturn's position. High overhead, Saint Saturn gathered Conqueror's Haki into a massive fist as the strange flames merged with it.
"Such a pity," he said. "Had we the strength of Saint Mars and Saint Nusjuro, our assault would be even more terrible. But Ashveil's Conqueror's Haki is almost exhausted now — with the combined attack of the Marines and the United Army, we shall win!"
As he spoke, the troops gathered their power. Fleet Admiral Sengoku transformed into his giant Buddha form, yellow shockwaves flashing. Garp and Kong clutched their fists, aura boiling. Kaido and Big Mom once more unleashed their combined strike. Admirals Aokiji and Kizaru prepared their Devil Fruit powers, resolving to expend all they had in this one decisive moment. Even lower ranked Marines and pirate executives mustered whatever strength remained.
The massive gathered energy shot upward toward Ashveil in the sky.
Ashveil looked down at the swirling assault beneath him, his expression calm.
"You truly are persistent," he murmured, voice almost soft.
"You do not actually believe that pooling all your strength for another attack will defeat me, do you?" He let a faint sneer slip.
Saint Saturn shouted his command once more. "Follow my blow! Destroy Ashveil!"
He condensed his Conqueror's Haki into a gigantic fist and swung it upward.
Ashveil chuckled, his tone cold. "Such over-confident fools…"
In that instant, the golden greatsword of Conqueror's Haki that hovered above crackled with radiant energy, bathing the sky in golden light. The sea glimmered beneath, as if the whole world were wrapped in gold.
Though the Saints' faces were storm-dark, through their grim resolve the surging mass of power still hurtled upward at Ashveil.
Two colossal energies collided overhead — rumble! rumble! A sky-shaking sound like thunder split the air.
The assembled energy from the allied forces dissipated, and the Saints coughed up red blood as the shockwave of Ashveil's sword swept through them.
But Ashveil's golden sword showed no sign of weakening. Layer after layer of golden light rippled along its blade, strange Devil Fruit energies flaring within it. The sword cleaved the sky and thrust downward toward the World Government's forces with unstoppable might.
The United Army stared, hopelessness spreading across their faces.
"Did our combined strike of hundreds of thousands finally fail…?" one whispered.
"What a mockery: even with so many powerful fighters we still could not fell Ashveil?!"
"It is over… this time we are truly finished!"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Kong, and Garp looked ashen, each swallowing hard.
"Ashveil… Ashveil is simply too powerful," Kong said, voice trembling.
"If I had not experienced it myself, I could never have imagined someone could be so powerful. It is simply boundless!" Sengoku's voice shook.
"This person—how many times stronger is he than Rocks?!" Garp gasped.
Kaido and Big Mom also stood frozen, terror in their eyes. Finally Big Mom let out a roar.
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Happy new month, Ladies and Gents 🍁
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