After Jin, Nami, and the other women left, Koala turned around and addressed Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, who had rarely taken to the front lines since the Summit War, along with the members of the new Revolutionary Army:
"I want to talk with you, Fleet Admiral Sakazuki."
Sakazuki threw the two cigars he was holding in his mouth to the ground and stomped them out.
After a long silence, he let out a heavy sigh.
"Although I'm very reluctant to admit it, with that man as your backer, the Marines cannot oppose your decision. Speak plainly, what do you want to do?"
Such words really didn't sound like something the iron-blooded hardliner Sakazuki would say.
But there was no helping it… anyone would feel apprehensive seeing a monster who could blow up the moon.
Sakazuki suddenly felt it was good to be a beautiful woman.
After all, with her appearance, Koala can get a powerful man to do everything she wanted.
Koala ignored Sakazuki's sarcasm and revealed a kindly smile:
"My next proposal should align with the concept of [Absolute Justice] that you uphold. I think we can cooperate."
Hearing this, Sakazuki became slightly interested and raised his eyes to look at her.
"Round up all existing pirates! Of course, that includes the Blackbeard Pirates Alliance currently gathered at Onigashima, the Straw Hat Grand Alliance, and the Red-Haired Pirates who are currently in contact with the Elbaf's Giants! All... must be sent to prison!"
Upon hearing this, both the Marine side and the many affiliated nation representatives behind them had their expressions change drastically.
'Good grief, Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King, started the Great Pirate Era.'
'And this young woman with unremarkable combat prowess wants to end the Great Pirate Era?'
One could even say she wants to end not just this era thrown into chaos by pirates, but to completely erase the very word 'pirate' from this world.
Zephyr, who is nearly eighty years old, excitedly twisted his wrists, emitting crisp cracking sounds.
Since the Great Pirate Era began, he often heard people say 'Pirates are symbols of 'freedom'.'
To him... that's bullshit!
Don't you dare insult 'freedom'.
Isn't it just about doing whatever you want based on your own selfish desires?
But they made it sound so noble.
And Zephyr himself was a microcosm of the countless victims suffering from pirates worldwide.
Garp, standing behind Sengoku, had a look of wanting to speak but hesitating.
Because Koala had obviously included his grandson, Luffy, on the arrest list.
Although pirates didn't deserve sympathy, family was different.
That was the concept Garp upheld.
If it were still during the time when his son, Dragon, led the Revolutionary Army, he could probably have turned a blind eye to Luffy's actions.
But Koala was different.
Anyone who becomes a pirate and commits crimes must be arrested without exception!
...
Onigashima.
The war situation was becoming increasingly clear.
Among the four major forces of the Straw Hat Pirates Alliance:
The Whitebeard Pirates' remnants led by the reincarnated Ace and Marco were naturally focusing their fire intensely on Blackbeard.
This made Blackbeard feel immense pressure.
He was already regretting bringing only three of his captains.
If not for Orochimaru's army of the dead, he would probably really die here!
As for the Straw Hat Grand Fleet, the Kozuki Family, and the Revolutionary Army, they were desperately sieging Kaido.
To be honest, without Big Mom, the internal conflict queen, facing the siege of the three stronger-than-original Straw Hat Grand Alliance forces, the Beasts Pirates actually held out longer than in the original work!
"Dragon Claw Fist: Flame Dragon King!"
Flames erupting from Sabo's right hand formed a claw shape, forcefully pressing the reincarnated Dragon to the ground.
However, even so, the parts of the reincarnated Dragon's body burned by the flames were quickly reconstructed from dust floating in the air.
The reincarnated bodies weren't so easily destroyed!
"Damn it! It will just go on endlessly like this!"
Sabo felt the situation is increasingly tricky.
He had already resolved to fight Dragon, who had shown him great kindness.
Dragon, who possessed Emperor-level strength in life…
Because the 'sacrifices' prepared by Orochimaru were just random, worthless pirates, had his strength, like Oden's, similarly limited to Warlord-level.
As long as Sabo overcame his inner dilemma, dealing with him wasn't a problem.
But... the reincarnated body was just too troublesome!
It couldn't be killed!
And Blackbeard in another battlefield was also one of the victims.
Two years had passed.
Having mastered the powers of the Yami Yami no Mi and Gura Gura no Mi more proficiently, he was long beyond what a fool like Ace could challenge.
But the key point was that this dead kid had gained an immortal body + Infinite Chakra.
Spamming his ultimate move, Flame Emperor, one after another without regard for his life.
Over time, even he couldn't withstand it!
Boom!
The next instant, Blackbeard backhandedly punched the air, creating a shattering tremor wave.
The cracks, like a wall, blocked the Flame Emperor falling from above, which resembled a weakened version of the Gaia Force, and shattered it into countless sparks the next second, dispersing into the air.
However, when Blackbeard looked up, he found the reincarnated Ace was already preparing a second one.
'Damn it!'
'Are you ever going to stop!?'
"Hey! Orochimaru, can't you cancel this technique that summons the dead? These guys are annoying as hell!"
Orochimaru, currently fighting Law, coldly glanced at his captain and said indifferently:
"Canceling it means canceling all of them. Are you sure?"
Hearing this, Blackbeard immediately stopped complaining.
Currently, the dead on their side's opposing side were only Ace and Oden.
But on their own side, there were several CP0 Agents, Aramaki, Dragon, and the others.
The reason Blackbeard, who only brought three captains, had held out until now was entirely thanks to the army of the dead summoned by Orochimaru.
Otherwise, he would have been skinned alive by the Whitebeard Pirates' vengeful members long ago.
...
"This kid! His progress is way too fast?!"
Feeling the overwhelmingly domineering pressure emanating from Luffy's swinging fist, Kaido instinctively crossed his kanabo in front of his chest.
However, the fist imbued with Conqueror's Haki striking it created a storm that blew Kaido's messy long hair wildly backwards.
'He's completely mastered it!'
'Conqueror's Haki Infusion!'
Kaido was dumbfounded.
He was absolutely certain that this brat, Straw Hat Luffy, at the start of the war, was still a playing-house pirate who hadn't even fully mastered Ryuo.
'H-how could he have learned Conqueror's Haki Infusion after just a few hours of fighting!?'
"It's because your Devil Fruit is the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Teacher, so you taught him how to fight."
A sudden complaint once again attracted the attention of everyone on the battlefield.
Kaido, Blackbeard, Luffy, Sabo...
Even though the battle was intense, they couldn't help but turn to look.
Sure enough!
That man had returned!
"What happened to the World Government?"
Sabo instinctively shouted the question.
Although hours ago when Jin left, he said he was 'going to meet Monkey D. Luffy's mother', anyone using their brain a little would realize he must have gone to settle accounts with the World Government.
"Just keep fooling around with your precious younger brother. Leave the serious matters to others."
Jin yawned.
Sabo's overprotective behavior towards Luffy always reminded him of the fanfictions he read in his previous life where characters acted as nannies for the protagonist.
What kind of mindset those authors had to write such things… Jin didn't know.
'What kind of love potion did the protagonist give you that you feel obliged to dutifully act as their nanny?'
'Never mind a protagonist like Luffy, who charges headlong once his emotions take over.'
'Even for a normal protagonist like Ichigo, if he hasn't given me any benefits, why should I be their nanny?'
'Unless you give me Inoue Orihime.'
Just then, Dragon, his body repaired, charged forward again, engaging Sabo.
"Speaking of which, even though I've been gone so long, the battle situation hasn't changed much."
Jin stood somewhat disappointedly on the second floor, observing the scene below.
The biggest change was probably Burgess acquiring Jozu's Kira Kira no Mi.
"Boring! I want to see a river of blood!"
Jin shouted down below.
Even while in a life-or-death situation, Jin's shout left many below speechless.
'Damn it, he really is just here to watch the show, isn't he?'
"Huff Huff! Finally caught up. Jin-sama flies too fast."
Flying Nimbus landed at this moment, and Pudding hopped down lightly, pouting as she moved beside Jin.
Seeing that not only had the three women who left with Jin earlier returned, but they had also brought along Hancock, and another... enlarged loli version of Hancock, everyone had a guess.
The World Government was most likely done for.
But right now, they didn't have the spare energy to worry about others.
The current battle was still at a stalemate.
A single misstep could lead to becoming another member of Orochimaru's reincarnated army.
Swish-
In an instant, Kaido's kanabo swung fiercely towards Luffy.
Suddenly, the kanabo whipped out a black-purple pressure, roaring forth.
[Attracting Hell]
To be honest, Jin found the fight between Kaido and Luffy somewhat hard to watch.
Currently, Luffy had already awakened Ryuo and Conqueror's Haki Infusion.
To be honest, Jin suspected the next hit might help him awaken his Devil Fruit.
"Gomu Gomu no... Cannonball!"
A fist imbued with Conqueror's Haki met the attack.
BOOM!!
The collision of the two Advanced Conqueror's Haki stirred up a whirlwind, forcing the surrounding people to retreat step by step.
After a stalemate of about two seconds, Kaido ultimately gained the upper hand.
After all, before evolving into Nika, Luffy still wasn't quite enough.
The massive pressure, in the form of black-purple lightning, continued approaching Luffy.
Luffy's body retreated, crossing his arms in an [X] shape in front of him, letting the attack hit him.
Although he lost the energy clash just now, he had also weakened Kaido's ultimate move considerably.
So withstanding it now wasn't a problem at all!
...
However, Kaido seized this opening.
His huge, burly body burst forth with speed completely mismatched to its size, charging forward violently.
"Luffy! Be careful!"
A sharp voice suddenly cried out.
Jin glanced at the black-haired woman not far away, covered in kimono.
Kozuki Momoko.
'The kimono she's wearing is Hiyori's, right?'
'The two standing together really gave off a sisters vibe.'
Although Jin expressed rejection due to ugliness…
Just as Jin glanced sideways at Momoko, he noticed a few drops of pure white turbid liquid dripping from under her kimono.
Jin: "..."
'Wow~ Could it be that Yamato will have a little brother or sister in ten months?'
"Luffy! He's coming!!!"
The other Straw Hat crew members also cried out in alarm, warning Luffy that Kaido was charging.
Hearing this, Luffy quickly struggled.
He sent the black impact lightning flying and reassumed a punching stance.
However, to Luffy's and everyone else's surprise, Kaido rushed past him.
Everyone was stunned by Kaido's move.
'Wh-what's going on?'
'What is Kaido trying to do?'
"Sabo! Be careful!"
The next second, Morley, one of the Revolutionary Army's Commanders, shouted in alarm.
The others also noticed.
Kaido's target was Sabo, who was currently fighting the reincarnated Dragon!
Sabo, perceiving through Observation Haki, had his expression change drastically.
He turned around sharply.
But he didn't see Kaido.
Because his vision was completely filled by the kanabo rapidly enlarging before his eyes!
Sabo's pupils contracted sharply, 'It was too late to do anything!'
"Sabo!!!"
Luffy activated his Gomu Gomu no Mi's Ability, extending his arm over ten meters in one go.
But it was also too late!
Not to mention he was even farther away!
[Gundari Prosperous Dragon Army!]
The kanabo danced down wildly, frantically pounding on Sabo's head.
Not only Sabo himself, but even the ground beneath him was instantly smashed to dust.
Ultimately, the ground was left with dozens of pits of varying sizes!
"Good grief, this Kaido guy can use tactics too?"
Jin grinned, "I was just wondering if that kid Sabo has the defensive power of the Goat Emperor."
After all, during the Onigashima War, the entire Straw Hat's side had sit-up buffs.
At most, Kin'emon, who wasn't even as strong as a Warlord, endured who knows how many kanabo strikes from Kaido plus a sword through the heart.
Then in the next chapter, he was perfectly fine.
Therefore, Jin seriously doubted whether those few strikes just now could kill Sabo.
Several seconds passed. Sabo, covered in blood, lay in the pit on the ground, not getting up for a long time.
There were at least eighty people present with Observation Haki, if not a hundred.
Sanji slightly opened his mouth, remained silent for a moment, but was the first to speak:
"N-no breath..."
And behind Kaido, Luffy knelt on both knees, his mouth wide open.
A few seconds later...
"Aaaahhhh—!!!"
Two heart-wrenching cries of agony echoed throughout Onigashima.
This scene greatly resembled the Summit War two years ago.
Another sworn brother, dead before his eyes.
Lindbergh: "Sabo... is dead?"
Morley: "How... how could this happen..."
However, before everyone could finish grieving, they saw Kaido suddenly turn around, brandishing his kanabo, and charge straight at Luffy.
"You're next! Straw Hat!"
This scene greatly resembled the moment when Sakazuki killed Ace and pursued Luffy two years ago.
Back then, Jinbei blocked it for him.
But how could the Background King be undeserving of his title!?
A figure that had occasionally appeared in Kaido's nightmares for twenty years suddenly flashed into existence and helped Luffy block this strike.
It's none other than the reincarnated Oden!
"Get lost, Oden! Do you still think you're my match now?"
Kaido cursed.
"This kid is the one who can help Momonosuke become the Shogun of Wano Country! I absolutely cannot let you kill him!"
Oden, who is weakened to only Crocodile's level, gritted his teeth and held on stubbornly.
Kaido sneered mockingly:
"Can a woman become shogun? How about I help you have a grandson, and you can train him instead!"
When Kaido mentioned again about this matter, Oden's face instantly darkened.
"Now! Zoro! Sanji! Quickly bring Luffy over here!"
Franky shouted to the second and third strongest members of the Straw Hat crew.
"Kaido, you bastard!"
The reincarnated Ace, originally busy fighting Blackbeard, was also nearly driven mad with rage.
One Blackbeard wasn't enough… now there was another enemy!
Thump...
But at this moment, a drumming sound, seemingly quiet yet resonating clearly throughout the entire island, inexplicably echoed in everyone's ears.
Thump!
Thump!!
Thump!!!
The drumbeats grew louder and louder.
Everyone was searching for the source of the drumming.
"Wahahaha~"
However, at this moment, the drumming was replaced by laughter.
"Luffy?"
The marimo-headed and the pervy cook, who were originally preparing to go rescue him, were completely stunned.
They saw their captain, who had just been crumbling, now covering his face with his right hand and holding his stomach with his left, howling with laughter:
"Ahahaha! Ahahahaha! Sa-Sabo's dead! Wahahahaha-"
Everyone was baffled by Luffy's sudden change in attitude.
'Th-this must be a mental breakdown from excessive grief, right?'
'Your sworn brother just died right in front of you, and you can still laugh?'
Jin also couldn't help but showed surprise.
'As expected of you, Monkey D. Nika.'
'Everyone else awakens in a state of rage, but you actually go against the trend.'