Just as Maude and Whitebeard were locked in an intense battle, Akainu, having reformed his body, wasted no time launching an attack on Whitebeard.
Great Eruption!
From Akainu's right arm, magma surged forth, quickly coalescing into a massive, molten fist.
In the next moment—
Like a volcanic explosion, the immense force propelled the magma-formed fist straight ahead.
Emitting an unbearable heat as if to incinerate all evil in the world, the enormous magma fist hurtled unimpeded toward Whitebeard and Maude.
This Great Eruption, brimming with pure killing intent, did not consider Maude's position in the slightest.
The searing glow arrived first, casting its light over the corners of Maude's and Whitebeard's eyes.
"This guy… Akainu…"
From the corner of his eye, Maude caught sight of the massive, flame-engulfed magma fist barreling toward them. His gaze grew cold.
With no hesitation, just before the Great Eruption reached him, Maude's shadow clone released Bailey and immediately swapped positions with it.
Shff—!
In the next instant, Maude appeared mid-air, effortlessly grabbing Bailey, now transformed into dual pistols.
Meanwhile, the shadow clone that took his place held a shadow blade nearly identical in form to Shusui, standing face-to-face with Whitebeard.
However, at this precise moment, the Great Eruption was closing in. If Whitebeard wanted to strike down the shadow clone, he would have to endure Akainu's full-powered attack head-on.
"Damn magma bastard."
Taking a lead bullet to the face was one thing; taking Akainu's Great Eruption to the body was another entirely.
There was no way Whitebeard would risk taking such a devastating attack just for a chance to strike down a mere shadow clone.
Maude had anticipated this, which was why he swapped places without hesitation.
Moreover—
While shadows could be harmed by Haki-infused attacks, they were impervious to the destructive elements of Logia-based abilities like those of Akainu, Aokiji, or Ace.
Under Maude's control, the shadow clone standing before Whitebeard instantly flattened into a two-dimensional form, merging into the ground as a shadow.
Ignoring the shadow's movements, Whitebeard redirected his attack and swung his blade at Akainu's Great Eruption.
Crack—!
The immense magma fist was first etched with glowing fissures before shattering into hundreds of fiery fragments, scattering like a shotgun blast back toward Akainu.
Splat. Splat.
The flaming debris pelted Akainu's face and body, but, like stones sinking into a swamp, they barely caused any noticeable disturbance.
From above, Maude swiftly recalled his shadow and canceled Moonwalk, descending calmly to the ground as he fixed a cold gaze on Akainu.
"Akainu, I won't just ignore that last attack of yours."
"Oh? With an ability that lets you switch places with your shadow at will, avoiding my Great Eruption should be easy enough. I simply 'trusted' in your ability to evade, and acted accordingly."
Akainu turned his head slightly to glance at Maude while adjusting the brim of his cap.
"And as it turns out, my judgment was correct."
"Hah. Makes sense."
Maude flashed a dangerous smile, unwilling to dwell further on the matter. Instead, he commanded Bailey to transform into a single pistol, which he grasped in his left hand.
Then, standing firm, Maude slowly composed himself, his gaze calm as he fixed his eyes on Akainu.
His posture made it clear—he was inviting Akainu to make the first move.
Akainu remained unfazed.
His confidence stemmed from his overwhelming strength, and his strength was his absolute justification.
Not far away—
After slicing apart Akainu's Great Eruption, Whitebeard slowly lowered his blade, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath.
The relentless high-intensity combat, along with his two recent exchanges with Maude, was continuously pushing his body to the edge.
Deteriorating stamina was an inevitable reality for an aging warrior.
But even more concerning than his failing endurance were his near-failing organs—a far more serious weakness.
"That brat…"
Between breaths, Whitebeard recalled his earlier clash with Maude.
For those fleeting seconds, something long-buried in his heart had been awakened.
However—
He was no longer in a position to indulge in such things.
Anyone else would have collapsed by now.
Yet, through sheer, indomitable will—worthy of the title "World's Strongest"—he continued to push his failing body forward, refusing to let it succumb just yet.
However—
Even in a world where "willpower" could turn the tide of battle, there were limits.
"I've been on this journey long enough…"
As the symptoms of his failing body became clearer, Whitebeard seemed to see the end approaching.
Still, he had long since accepted his fate—to die here in battle.
Even if his body could no longer carry his will, he would squeeze out every last ounce of life to fulfill his duty as both a father and a captain.
Though Whitebeard was merely catching his breath, both Maude and Akainu keenly noticed the gradual weakening of his presence.
"Even you can't defy time, Whitebeard."
Magma bubbled from Akainu's right fist as he strode toward Whitebeard.
Beads of sweat formed on Whitebeard's brow, but his face remained emotionless as he watched Akainu's approach.
Maude remained silent, observing Whitebeard's weakening state.
From their previous clash, he had already sensed that he held the upper hand.
Which meant Whitebeard's condition was rapidly deteriorating.
He felt a tinge of regret for Whitebeard, but not sympathy.
This man, who once reigned supreme in the old era, had already stood at the summit.
And every summit must eventually see its descent.
In the battlefield—
Under Maude's watchful gaze, Akainu quickened his pace before breaking into a full sprint.
Without any pretense, he drove his magma-formed fist directly at Whitebeard.
Whitebeard didn't evade. Instead, he gathered his tremor power into his fist and met Akainu's attack head-on.
Boom!
Two unyielding forces clashed in mid-air, sending scorching shockwaves rippling outward.
Even as his strength waned, Whitebeard's quake-powered punch still held firm, repelling Akainu's molten assault.
But—
Though he blocked the attack—
Blood silently trickled from Whitebeard's lips.
Seeing this, Akainu smirked coldly.
From his vantage point, Maude also took note of the moment.
Then—
Maude abruptly withdrew the shadows restraining the execution platform and the Straw Hat Pirates.
Freed from their shadow bindings, the Straw Hats regained their mobility, and the platform collapsed.
In that instant, Sabo, Marco, and the others saw their chance to rescue Ace more clearly than ever before.
However, Maude paid no mind to the ensuing chaos. Instead, he calmly adjusted his stance.
Then—
Fixing his gaze on Akainu's back, Maude raised Shusui's spine to his shoulder, assuming the stance for Hakoku.
"Let's see… will you stop Sabo and the others, or will you stop me?"
Hakoku!
With a faint smile, Maude swung his blade.
A colossal cylindrical shockwave surged directly toward Akainu's back.
"Hmm?"
Akainu's expression shifted slightly.
In the blink of an eye—
A blinding white light engulfed both him and Whitebeard.
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