The natural system started off strong, but the navy finally reached its peak!

Where the blade passed, the air groaned in agony, as if space itself was being torn apart by the blade!

However, faced with this terrifying slash that could instantly cleave a massive warship in two...

With his back to Whitebeard, Gern still didn't turn around, nor did he make any defensive or evasive movements!

Just as Murakumo-giri's all-splitting blade was about to touch the tip of Gern's hair—

"clang!!!!!!!!!!!"

A deafening roar, like the collision of two giant meteorites, suddenly exploded!

Blinding sparks burst forth like fireworks!

A dark figure appeared suddenly behind Gern, in front of Whitebeard's naginata, with a speed beyond visual perception!

The newcomer gripped the massive, cross-shaped black sword "Night" tightly with both hands, holding it sideways in front of him like a shield.

It blocked Whitebeard's furious slash, Murakumogiri, with perfect precision!

The shockwave generated by the massive collision spread out in a ring, instantly clearing the unconscious pirates and splinters from the deck!

It was Djokovic Mihawk who made the move, arriving a step too late!

At that moment, the specially designed deck beneath Hawkeye's feet let out a groan of despair and suddenly collapsed in a large chunk!

His hands, gripping the knife, and even his entire arm, were trembling slightly, and the space between his thumb and forefinger was even feeling a little numb.

However, his cold, stern face showed no sign of pain; instead, it revealed a hint of excitement, as if he had found a worthy opponent.

He raised his head, looking at the white-bearded figure before him, who resembled a war god, and chuckled, "Truly worthy of being the strongest man in the world..."

"This power is truly amazing."

“Whitebeard…” At the same time, Gern also turned his head slightly, glancing at the white beard behind him, which looked like an angry lion, out of the corner of his eye.

His eyes were icy cold, devoid of any warmth; his voice was flat, yet carried a chilling resolve.

I will only say it once.

"Keep quiet for the next while."

Whitebeard was clearly stunned by Gern's gaze, and hesitated to make a move until Gern was completely gone...

.......

"Dad... Dad!!!"

At that moment, a scream filled with extreme horror and disbelief suddenly rang out from behind Whitebeard!

Marco, who had somehow fallen to the ground, was pointing with a trembling finger at the person that Gern had thrown to the ground.

The blood-stained package, now opened, revealed a man whose face was deathly pale, as if he had seen a ghost, and whose voice had distorted:

"The package that Gern sent...it contains...it contains a Celestial Dragon!!!"

These words struck like a thunderbolt, instantly hitting everyone still conscious on the deck!

Whitebeard's sharp gaze, which had been fixed on Hawkeye, suddenly trembled and turned away!

His gaze was fixed on something not far away.

From the scattered package, two heads rolled out, their faces contorted in extreme terror, their expressions still vivid from before their deaths.

Their signature, silly bubble hoods were long gone, but their magnificent Celestial Dragon attire...

Everything about them proclaimed their shocking identities!

These were the two Celestial Dragons that Gern killed in the Sabaody Archipelago!

Whitebeard's pupils suddenly contracted to the most dangerous pinpoints!

Even he, a man who had weathered countless storms and was hailed as the strongest in the world, couldn't help but feel a sudden jolt in his heart when he saw those two heads!

In that instant, Gern's icy gaze, his commanding tone, his undisguised killing intent and madness...

All the images flashed through his mind, connecting to form a clear and terrifying clue!

This madman...

This complete madman!!!

He's not just provoking the world government, he's trying to tear a hole in the sky!

The reason he came to me, leaving behind these two extremely hot heads, was not to show off or threaten me...

He really came to warn Whitebeard—to tell him that a storm was coming, and at the center of the storm was me, Gern, and the World Government!

You Whitebeard Pirates had better stay put and watch! Don't get involved! Otherwise... we'll deal with you first!

Having figured all this out, Whitebeard's massive chest heaved violently a few times before slowly returning to calm, though his gaze became incredibly deep and solemn.

He pursed his lips and squeezed out four words through gritted teeth: "This... madman."

After saying this, Whitebeard took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing all his anger and shock, and made a decision that best suited his identity and interests.

He looked at Marco, his voice regaining its usual composure, yet carrying an undeniable command: "Marco!"

"Immediately! Take these two... 'things' away," the white-bearded man said, pointing to the severed head on the ground, his tone tinged with disgust.

"Deliver it to the doorstep of the nearest Marineford base in the most 'proper' way possible! Let them handle it themselves!"

"At the same time!" Whitebeard's voice suddenly rose, echoing throughout the entire Moby Dick, "Pass on my order! From this day forward, all pirate crews under my command are forbidden from approaching the waters surrounding the G-10 base's sphere of influence without my permission, for any reason!!!"

The order caused an uproar among the still-sane officers on deck, but seeing the white-bearded man's extremely serious expression and the two horrifying heads on the ground, everyone understood the gravity of the situation.

The New World "Emperor's" spheres of influence are intertwined, and among them, it is precisely his Whitebeard territory that borders the widest extent to Gorn's G-10 sphere of influence.

With the heads of two Celestial Dragons, Gern forcibly drew a red line that Whitebeard could never cross.

Now, Whitebeard has chosen to accept this red line.

He wasn't afraid of Gern; rather, he knew that if he were drawn into the full-blown conflict between Gern and the World Government, it would be a vortex capable of destroying everything.

He had to temporarily avoid the limelight for the safety of his entire "family".

Whitebeard turned his gaze back to the direction where Gern had disappeared, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

He was unaware of the other details, only knowing...

It's going to change.

Chapter 319 Barrett Takes All the Damage

Gern, along with Hawkeye Mihawk and Bartholomew Bear, returned to G-10 headquarters as quickly as possible.

At the base entrance, Tezzolo and Toritoma, having received the news, were already waiting.

When the two saw that Gern had returned safely, they breathed a sigh of relief, but their eyes were immediately drawn to the new, taciturn face behind him, who was even taller than Barrett (Bear is 6.92 meters tall).

"Bartholomew Xiong, the 'tyrant' of the Revolutionary Army? What's he doing here? And he even came back with General Gern?"

Tesoro, who was in charge of most of the operations at G-10 base, clearly recognized Kuma's identity.

After all, the collection of 'intelligence' is of paramount importance in any power.

Despite their doubts, Tesoro and Toritoma both keenly sensed the lingering aura emanating from Gern.

So, being very sensible, he didn't ask any more questions and simply went to greet her.

"General Gern!"

“Gern!”

Gern nodded slightly to the two men, but did not stop walking at all, nor did he exchange a single word of pleasantries.

He led Hawkeye and Bear straight to the medical room deep inside the base.

Tezzolo and Toritoma exchanged a glance and immediately followed suit.

The group walked silently down the corridor, the atmosphere eerily heavy.

Pushing open the metal door of the medical room, a strong smell of disinfectant and a faint glow of life energy rushed out.

Ribo was completely focused on continuing Enel's treatment, her small face etched with exhaustion.

But seeing Gern enter, he still managed a reassuring smile: "Gern, you're back..."

“I’m back.” Gren walked quickly to Lipo’s side, reached out and gently patted her head, his tone unusually gentle: “You’ve worked hard, Lipo.”

Go and rest for a bit, leave this to me.

Libo nodded obediently, withdrew the continuously outputting healing green light, and stepped aside.

Without the continuous infusion of life energy, Enel's face seemed to grow even paler, and his breathing became even weaker.

Gern's gaze immediately shifted to Enel, who was lying on the hospital bed, barely breathing. He then looked at the tall, silent bear beside him and asked succinctly:

"May I?"

The bear's gaze swept over Enel, who, having been nourished by the life energy of Ribo's Healing Fruit, was no longer as severely injured as before.

So he nodded and replied, "No problem."

Immediately following, under the slightly surprised gazes of Tesoro, Toritoma, Ribo, and even Hawkeye...

The bear strode to the bedside, stretched out its enormous paw, and carefully lifted the unconscious Enel from the bed.

Then, he raised his left hand, the thick fleshy pad on his palm aimed at Enel's chest.

For a moment, Xiong's deep voice echoed in the silent ward, carrying a peculiar rhythm.

"Pain...injuries...fatigue..."

"Pop-up (Ursus Shock)."

As soon as he finished speaking, a strange energy fluctuation emanated from the bear's paw!

The next moment, a shocking scene unfolded!

Countless dark red energy substances, representing pain, injury, and fatigue, were visible.

As if forcibly drawn out by an invisible force, it surged forth from every pore and every wound on Enel's body!

This energy rapidly converged and compressed in front of the bear's paw, eventually forming an enormous, dark red, paw-shaped bubble!

As the "injured bear paw" was ejected, Enel's pale face on the sickbed visibly regained its rosy hue at a rapid pace.

The terrifying penetrating wound in his chest began to heal rapidly, his weak breathing became steady and powerful, and he even let out an unconscious groan!

It was as if all the pain and injuries had been wiped away in an instant!

After doing all this, Xiong slowly withdrew his hand and gently placed Enel, who seemed to be in a deep sleep but was no longer in any serious condition, back onto the hospital bed.

He turned to look at Gern and calmly explained, "The injuries caused by the ejection need to be borne and resolved by someone."

Otherwise, after a period of time, it will automatically return to its original state.

Without hesitation, the bear raised its hand and reached out towards the dark red, agonizing bear paw that was hovering in the air and twisting, ready to bear the consequences itself.

However, just as his wrist was about to touch the dangerous bubble...

A hand reached out even faster and grabbed his wrist firmly!

It's Gern!

“I’ll do it,” Gern said firmly.

He couldn't let the bear, who had just helped him so much, suffer this pain again.

But there was a pause the moment when Guern grabbed the bear's wrist.

Another, even more imposing figure, as strong as steel, suddenly burst into the ward!

With lightning speed, a huge fist was plunged deep into the dark red, painful bear paw!

"Pfft!!" The dark red bear paw bubble seemed to have found an outlet, and a massive amount of painful energy surged into the newcomer's arm like a tidal wave!

The person who arrived was none other than Barrett!

He let out a muffled groan, veins bulging on his forehead, and his massive body even trembled slightly, clearly enduring immense pain.

But instead of showing any sign of pain, he grinned with a wild and disdainful smile.

Those beast-like eyes stared at Enel, who was beginning to regain his life on the sickbed, and he sneered, "Hmph! Let me see..."

Just how weak is this noisy, rambunctious Thunder Boy?