The life-and-death battle between the two Sea Emperors began that afternoon and ended the following dawn.
Not more, not less, exactly fifteen hours.
And a little earlier.
The situation on the Ice Marsh Battlefield had already become clear.
...
Bang!
In the northwest corner, two female swordsmen crossed paths and fell downwards.
Kuina knelt on one knee, with the Wado Ichimonji deeply inserted into the ice, sliding more than ten meters before barely stabilizing her posture.
The wind blew through her hair, she wiped the bloodstain from the corner of her mouth, and looked up expressionlessly towards the opposite side.
Smoothie was also half-kneeling on the ice.
However, by now, compared to herself, Smoothie was in a significantly worse state.
Covered in blood, riddled with scars, she only remained standing by supporting herself with a long sword, her breathing was rapid and chaotic.
When she looked up to meet Kuina's gaze, she gasped several times before speaking with difficulty.
"Hey, you bastard..."
Smoothie gritted her teeth, glaring at the Kuina who was surrounded by black and red lightning, "So you've awakened the Supreme King Haki, big deal? What do you mean by keeping it up like this?"
Awakened the Supreme King Haki...
Well, it is indeed impressive, as Kuina said, it's something she's rather envious of, but... so what?
Without mastering that complex technique of entwining, it's only good for clearing out small fry.
And is she, Smoothie, such a small fry?
Of course not!
Maybe the awakening of the Supreme King Haki has expanded the upper limit of this female Sword Master's growth considerably, but that's something for the long future.
In today's battle, it wouldn't make any difference!
By flaunting the Supreme King Haki non-stop, what exactly was she trying to show off?
"About this..."
Kuina lowered her head, looking at the Supreme King Haki swirling around her, "I can't help it, I can't control it either."
Not everyone can, like Lord Shano, who could control it at will just after awakening the Supreme King Haki.
"But now, it doesn't seem to be a bad thing, does it?"
Kuina spoke coldly, "At least it makes your mind more chaotic. You were never my match to begin with, and with this influence, you'll only lose faster."
Ten moves.
Within at most ten moves, she was confident that she could completely crush her opponent!
"Are you kidding me!"
Smoothie shouted angrily, "Chaos? Stop presuming about other's states of mind, do you really think you can beat me like this? Not a chance! I'm the daughter Mom values most!"
She was also just a small step away from becoming this little brat's sister-in-law!
She raised her long sword high, releasing a dazzling blue light.
Buzz!
"Juicing Transformation: Obelisk the Tormentor!"
In an instant, she pushed her Fruit extraction ability to the extreme, her muscles swelled, and her body grew over fifteen meters tall!
In this state, the strength and stamina she possessed broke through the limits of her race, reaching a level only the Giant Race could achieve!
"It's useless!"
Kuina sneered, with an even greater battle spirit, grasping Wado Ichimonji tightly with her right hand, gently stroking the blade with her left, and shouted in a low voice:
"Wind Manipulation: Six Paths Spin Slash!"
She had already completely grasped the Wind Swordsmanship Manual and integrated it with her learnings and insights from Isshin Dojo, developing and improving many new techniques.
This move...
It is most suitable for dealing with such large-sized enemies!
Swoosh!
Her figure suddenly transformed into a turquoise stream of light, as if combining with the gale, swiftly traversing around Smoothie's massive body, flickering back and forth.
The blade constantly sliced through the air with sharp whistling, leaving a blood mark on Smoothie's body with each strike.
Be it the arm, the abdomen, or... the nape of the neck.
"Annoying fly!"
Smoothie roared, swinging her gigantic sword, trying to capture Kuina's figure.
But her speed was too fast, and her presence fused with the sea breeze, making it difficult to lock with Observation Haki.
If it were in her peak, maybe she could follow its rhythm through combat instincts, but in her current state, clearly, she couldn't.
Almost all attacks missed, and the few that did strike were blocked by the opponent's sword blade.
"Judging by your panting, are you exhausting stamina faster after getting bigger?"
Kuina's voice suddenly echoed in Smoothie's ear, whose pupils contracted abruptly as she hurriedly turned around, but couldn't find Kuina's figure.
Instead, to her astonishment, above the Ice Marsh, at some unknown time, a massive turquoise tornado had appeared, howling as it swept towards her!
What is that thing!
The tornado's movement speed was extremely fast.
No time to evade, she was directly sucked into it, her massive body being tossed high into the air, like a ragdoll.
She struggled desperately to break free, but the Sword Qi in the raging wind blended with outward Haki, slashing her body like countless sharp blades, leaving cut after cut.
"It's over, the final move!"
Followed by Kuina's icy voice:
"Whirlwind... Death Breath Slash!"
```
Smoothie felt darkness fall over her eyes, and a figure appeared in front of her. The azure whirlwind suddenly dissipated.
In its place was countless sharp sword lights, simultaneously slashing from all directions!
"Puff—"
Blood gushed like a fountain. Instantly, multiple deep wounds appeared on Smoothie's massive body, deep enough to see bone.
She could no longer hold herself up, and her enormous body crashed to the ground, scattering ice shards everywhere.
"Isn't the sky awake yet?"
She tried to get up but failed, looking emptily at the sky, forcing a self-mocking smile:
"Just a few hours of fighting, and I'm already... I must be the first Commander to fall, what a disgrace..."
"It's not shameful to lose to me."
Kuina approached slowly, casually flicked away the blood on her blade, and said lightly, "But on the latter point, you're wrong."
Hmm?
"What do you mean?"
Smoothie frowned and looked at her.
"After all, you're ranked second among the Four Commanders."
Kuina glanced at her, "Even if I give it my all, it's not easy to deal with you. But among the other highest-ranking cadres fighting, the power differences are far greater than between us."
Does this mean...
Smoothie followed Kuina's gaze and was instantly shocked.
On the other side's glacier lay mountains of cookie crumbs, and atop these mountains, a man with a purple bun lay motionless, covered in blood.
"Unlike you, as the Deputy Captain, I need to occasionally pay attention to the battle situation."
Kuina said calmly, "Twenty minutes ago, your brother Cracker was already defeated by an angry father. The reasons and motives of both sides participating in this war are not on the same level at all..."
"The power unleashed to save one's daughter cannot be compared with a Commander accustomed to being cowardly."
"It's Cracker, you idiot!"
Smoothie corrected angrily, but quickly became dejected:
"Indeed, that guy, it's been a long time since I saw him fight with his actual body. If the disguise of the cookie soldiers is torn apart, it easily becomes the weakest link between us..."
"..."
Kuina raised her eyebrows slightly, gazing at her unexpectedly, "Why did you suddenly adopt this resigned attitude?"
"You've already secured victory, haven't you?"
Smoothie turned over with difficulty, lying face up on the ice, exhaling a bitter sigh:
"I wasn't counting much on Mom from the start. With Cracker losing so fast, Katakuri and Perospero also seem to be entangled by your people, unable to free themselves..."
"Now even I've been defeated, two of the Four Commanders have fallen. Is there any suspense left in this war?"
Boom!
As if responding to her words, a loud noise suddenly came from the sky.
Smoothie turned her head with difficulty and saw a tall figure plummet like a meteor onto the ice not far away.
Once the haze cleared, she saw the face of the man, beaten black and blue and unconscious.
It was the last of the Four Commanders not yet mentioned—
"Snack?!"
Smoothie gaped. Who defeated him?
——————
Navy Headquarters, Marinfanto.
In the high-level conference room at the top of the fortress, many high-ranking officials gathered, including Admiral Sengoku.
Several advisors were busy at the whiteboard.
They continuously compiled and organized the latest messages from the front, distributing them to the seated high-level members, occasionally projecting captured photos onto the whiteboard.
As per usual practice.
Every time a war breaks out between the Four Emperors, or even just a minor skirmish, the Navy dispatches surveillance ships to observe and analyze the conflict from afar.
They received advance notice of the war this time, no exception.
"Has Ryokugyu made no progress over there?"
Having spent the whole night awake, Sengoku, with dark circles under his eyes, made himself a bitter coffee and asked in a deep voice, "It's almost dawn, what's the latest battle report?"
"Report, Admiral. Only one surveillance ship is stationed at the Endgame Pirates' main base, with the last report sent an hour ago."
An advisor wearing glasses stood up immediately and responded:
"Mr. Aramaki seems still locked in battle with 'Star Fall', completely blocked on the outskirts of the Galaxy Sea Region, unable to advance at all."
Still evenly matched?
Sengoku rubbed his temples, troubled.
That Issho is indeed troublesome...
However, Aramaki's failure in the infiltration operation isn't entirely his fault.
After all, no one at the headquarters expected that Endgame Pirates, capable of launching an expedition against Ten Thousand Nations, would still have enough strength to leave their second strongest at home.
"Red Hair is also being blocked by Kaido."
Tsuru tossed the file in hand back onto the table, saying calmly, "This implies that the all-out war erupting in Ten Thousand Nations will surely be life or death, and won't be halted by external interference."
Charlotte Pirates, Endgame Pirates.
Whichever wins or loses.
Will greatly shake the power balance of the New World!
"Not necessarily?"
A newly appointed Vice Admiral with a face full of scars said coldly:
"Since the Pirates are all fighting, oblivious to anything else, what I don't understand is, everyone, why doesn't the headquarters seize this opportunity and reap the benefits?"