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

"Get out of my way, little bird!"

Barrett let out a low growl, his arm bursting with terrifying force, and he swung Marco up like a sandbag, smashing him towards Kizaru, who was lounging around not far away!

"Hmm?" Kizaru raised an eyebrow, forced to stop his movements, and transformed into a golden light to dodge.

Almost simultaneously, Barrett turned around and threw a punch, meeting Diamond Joz's heavy punch head-on without any fancy moves!

"clang!!!"

Joz's diamond-like body, capable of withstanding most attacks in the world, was actually knocked backward by Barrett's pure and extreme power, and even tiny cracks appeared on the surface of his diamond fist!

"Get out of my way, Barrett!" Vista's flower sword strike was already upon him!

Unfortunately, Barrett didn't even turn around. His other arm was bulging with muscles and covered with Armament Haki, and he took the blow head-on!

One man alone temporarily halted the frenzied counterattack of the three top division commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates!

In that split second, on the other side, a fierce glint flashed in the eyes of "Red Dog" Sakazuki!

He saw a golden opportunity to work with Gern to completely end Whitebeard's reign!

"Ming dog!!"

Without hesitation, his right arm instantly transformed into scorching, boiling dark red lava, stretching at incredible speed and erupting into a ferocious lava hound ready to devour its prey.

He lunged straight at the white-bearded man who had not yet regained his footing in mid-air!

If this blow lands, it could blast off half a head and be fatal!

But then...

"Whoosh!!!"

A sharp, pale golden flying slash, launched later but arriving first, struck the "Netherhound" with perfect precision!

"Boom!!" The lava and the slash collided violently, unleashing a deafening roar!

Akainu's sure-fire strike was abruptly severed by this unexpected slash!

Amidst the billowing smoke, an unruly figure slowly descended, blocking Akainu's path.

Shiki the Golden Lion, a large cigar dangling from his lips, casually rested his hands on the hilts of the famous swords "Karaki" and "Sakura Ju".

With a cold, disdainful sneer on his face, he looked at the gloomy-faced Akainu and mocked him.

"Lava brat... It's best if you don't interfere in a battle between top men."

"Of course, if you're really itching for a fight... I can play with you!!"

Golden Lion joins the battle!

........

At the same time, Whitebeard was blasted into the sky by Gern's "Heavenly Tremor: Piercing Star" and coughed up blood.

The entire battlefield fell into a brief, deathly silence because of this overwhelming scene...

Tesoro, who had been closely observing Gern's movements and waiting for the right opportunity, had a glint of brilliance in his eyes!

"Now! The moment General Gern has been waiting for!!"

Without the slightest hesitation, he slammed his hands, which were already prepared, heavily onto the ground beneath his feet!

In an instant, an invisible wave, centered on his palms, spread like ripples throughout the entire Marineford Square!

The next moment, a scene that left everyone speechless unfolded.

In the cracks in the ground, in the corners of buildings, even in the air... countless tiny golden powders

As if summoned, they surged forth wildly, converged, and transformed into a surging golden torrent!

Get up!!!

Tezzolo opened his arms and shouted loudly.

"My stage!"

In an instant, under the gaze of countless eyes, the sunlight above Marineford was instantly blocked out.

An unimaginably vast floating island, entirely constructed of liquid gold, was created out of thin air!

Its sheer size even temporarily obscured the color of the sky, casting shadows that covered a large portion of the battlefield.

Meanwhile, the special video Den Den Mushi that Tezzolo had meticulously arranged throughout Marineford...

They all opened their eyes at the same time, and the cameras, without exception, were pointed at the golden stage in the sky!

Tesoro knelt down on one knee in Gorn's direction, his right hand on his chest.

"General Gern."

"The stage you requested..."

"Tesoro is all set up for you!!"

"Gold is the stage, the world is the curtain!"

"The rest... is up to you."

Chapter 460 Are you really confident you can defeat me, the one known as the 'strongest in the world'?

Compared to the Golden Terrace, Shiki the Golden Lion's sudden departure and his fierce battle with Admiral Akainu instantly made the situation in Marineford Square even more chaotic!

Because of these two, one was an unruly and lawless flying pirate.

One is a naval admiral who believes in absolute justice and uses ruthless methods.

Both fighters have a wide-ranging and powerful fighting style that affects a very broad area!

In other words, both of them are reckless and utterly inconsiderate!

"Lion·Senkiriya!"

"A massive fireball!!"

Countless sharp golden slashes collided wildly with the overwhelming scorching lava in mid-air, exploding!

The scattered aftershocks of the slashing attack shattered the ground, and the splashed lava fell like a rain of fire, indiscriminately scorching the marines and pirates within its range!

Screams echoed everywhere, and the casualty figures on the battlefield were rising rapidly!

In short, the flying Golden Lion is a tough opponent! He easily held off Akainu, and the two engaged in a battle of wits!

On the other side, on the execution platform

Sengoku, who had just announced Ace's bloodline, watched this out-of-control scene unfold.

His fists clenched tightly, staring at the golden lion's wild figure, he growled through gritted teeth.

"That bastard Shiki...!!"

"Wouldn't it be better to just become a historical legend?! Why do you have to jump out and cause trouble?!"

However, what's even more troublesome than the battle between Shiki and Akainu is the behavior of the other two Shichibukai!

"Fufufufu... What an interesting mess!" Doflamingo flicked his fingers, and invisible threads crisscrossed the battlefield.

Sometimes he cuts pirates into pieces, and other times he manipulates unfortunate marines to stand in front of him, completely disregarding his "allies".

"Shadow Mage!" Gecko Moria frantically collected the shadows of freshly killed people on the battlefield to strengthen his power, completely unconcerned about the Navy's formation being broken.

These two guys are simply enjoying this slaughter, completely disregarding any faction!

"Warring States period, this cannot continue!" A calm voice rang out.

Former Navy Admiral "Black Arm" Zephyr can no longer stand idly by!

He looked at the young naval soldiers who were dying and wailing under the aftershocks of the powerful and the indiscriminate attacks, his eyes filled with sorrow and anger!

These are the future of the navy!

"Golden Lion!!!" And so...

With a roar, Zefa flung his Justice Coat and leaped from the lower level of the execution platform, crashing into the center of the battlefield!

Those arms, which had seen countless battles, were once again covered with a thick layer of Armament Haki for 'justice'!

The name Black Arm has been revealed once again!

After landing, Zephyr took a step and charged straight toward Shiki the Golden Lion, who was causing the greatest chaos!

"Your nonsense should stop now!!"

Zephyr's arrival instantly relieved some of the pressure on Akainu and also helped to keep Shiki, the biggest unstable factor, under control.

His goal was clear: to prevent the aftermath of the battle between Shiki and Akainu from causing further large-scale friendly fire incidents.

At the same time, we must keep a close eye on those two reckless guys, Doflamingo and Moria!

.........

Meanwhile, above the golden platform suspended in the air above Marineford.

The white-bearded man slightly bent one knee, his hand tightly pressed against his chest, which was still throbbing with excruciating pain.

With his other hand, he gripped the Murakumo Kiri tightly to support his body, barely managing not to fall.

But his expression showed no fear of death, nor any lamentation for his own decline.

Instead, he grinned, revealing a smile; his voice, though somewhat hoarse, remained bold and unrestrained.

"Kuralalala...Gern."

"Your fist is much heavier than when you first entered the new world, arrogantly challenging me!"

Whitebeard was well aware that this was the true reality.

Aging, illness, and Gern's already unparalleled strength

If he could still fight this "King" who was at his peak at this moment, that would truly be a miracle!

A crushing defeat was the only outcome that was predetermined.

Gern looked at the white-bearded man, who was struggling to stand tall despite his serious injuries, his expression remained calm, but a complex emotion, difficult to describe, flashed across his eyes.

"White beard."

"uh-huh?"

"What I want is not to defeat you in your current state."

"What I want to face... is the 'strongest' you."

The white-bearded man was slightly taken aback.

Gern strode forward, each step a sentence.

"This is not the you I was when I first entered the new world and challenged you."

This is not the same you we had later when we were fighting each other for territory and power in the New World!

"But..." Gern's voice suddenly rose: "Back then... in the Western Sea, when I was still weak, I met you!"

"His face was radiating invincibility and pride; just standing there made me feel so small."

For the first time, you made me clearly realize what 'the vastness of the world' truly means, and what a true 'king' you are!!

Upon hearing this, Whitebeard remained silent for a moment, then let out an even deeper laugh.

The laughter carried a sense of understanding, a touch of loneliness, and a hint of nostalgia.

"Kula la la la..."

"Gern, you bastard..." Whitebeard looked up.

"Ever since that exhilarating final battle with that bastard Roger... I stand alone at the summit of this vast ocean..."

"You've been lonely for a long time, haven't you?"

This statement is not a question, but a statement.

He saw through Gern's deep-seated desire for ultimate power and a true rival.

That same loneliness he and Roger felt back then, standing atop the peak...

Unfortunately, Whitebeard sighed slowly, "But, I'm sorry, Gern."