"Hey hey hey, this is no joking matter!"
A drop of sweat rolled down Aokiji's forehead from the heat.
The commander responsible for leading the encircling fleet from the rear hadn't even tightened the encirclement yet, and the blocking fleet at the front was already almost burnt to a crisp.
Forcing him, the commander of the encircling fleet, to delegate command to his deputy, jump into the sea himself, and rush at full speed toward the inferno ahead.
"Ice Age!"
A stern chill rapidly spread, extreme cold freezing even the burning flames.
The churning sea came to a standstill. The glacial light blooming from Aokiji's hands turned everything pure white.
"Ah, you've come, Kuzan."
Hands tucked into her half-worn, light pink trench coat, Sakura turned with a smile.
"Haruno Sakura, your threat is too great. We can no longer allow you to exist!" Aokiji frowned, waving his hand coldly. "Today, you will be sent to Impel Down!"
The enraged Marine Admiral drew an ice saber, slashing at Sakura's head without a second thought.
But in the next instant, a bolt of lightning descended from the sky, striking Aokiji's blade and pushing him back several dozen meters.
"Hey, that guy's head is mine. Don't cut in line!"
Enel's figure slowly emerged from the lightning, one foot planted on Aokiji's saber.
"Enel? You're here? Who's controlling the ship's weapons?" Sakura, seeing who it was, was stunned.
Dodging Aokiji's Armament Haki-infused ice spear, Enel found a moment to answer, "Gave it to the Gloomy Girl. Her Observation Haki is passable. With Leviathan's help, she'll manage!"
"Haha, is that so!"
Sakura withdrew her gaze, stepping toward distant Punk Hazard.
However, the Marines' attempts to stop her weren't over yet. From beneath the ice layer everyone had overlooked, a man like a demon opened his eyes.
"Damn… Pirates!!!"
Amidst an indomitable roar, the frozen sea churned once more. Shattering layer upon layer of ice, emerging from a massive fissure, was Garp, his body wrapped in crimson Haki.
The rapidly approaching iron fist was dazzlingly bright, like a cluster of stars falling from the heavens.
Sakura's gaze turned serious as she watched him, about to raise her arm infused with Ryou to counterattack.
Then, the wind over the ice suddenly changed direction. Greatly gathering to form a storm, it thrust toward Garp falling from the sky!
Boom!
A fist extended from the storm collided with Garp's. The dull sound spread like rolling thunder, assaulting every eardrum.
"Dragon! You damn brat!"
Garp, demon-like, glared fiercely at his son before him. "Have you fallen so low as to ally with pirates?"
"Such words won't shake me, old man!" Dragon chuckled lightly. "The darkness of Punk Hazard is something you should know best. The Revolutionary Army fights only for justice and righteousness in this world, regardless of identity or position!!!"
Garp's eyes flickered. "Those are just prisoners, scum of the seas!"
"The number of prisoners doesn't match the fertility of that land, old man!"
Fists wrapped in storm winds, Dragon punched Garp in the abdomen, dragging him into the sky to shift the battlefield.
"Now then, who's next?"
Watching father and son battle into the sky, Sakura's gaze, with a hint of a smile, turned back to Punk Hazard.
The Marines' two major combat forces in the New World were already tied up. The encircling fleet outside was blocked by the ice field. G-5 was being stalled by Shanks.
On the coast, the fortifications were being relentlessly shredded by the Leviathan's autocannons. Fires raged across the entire beach.
By the time Sakura set foot on Punk Hazard's soil, there was no proper intercepting force left on the shore.
"Well then, World Government, play your next card, or I'm taking this island!"
The girl spread her arms, a ferocious aura erupting from her core.
Countless dark lightning bolts surged. Their mere reverberations extinguished the fires along the entire coast, making the island tremble violently.
The dark clouds in the sky were stained crimson by blood and fire. Waves of heat seemed to carry sobs and wails.
Within the flashes of Sakura's future-sight Observation Haki, her emerald pupils reflected the hell concealed beneath the vibrant island.
After a moment of astonishment, she couldn't help but... burst into laughter.
Fifteen years ago, the illegal scientific research team MADS, which Vegapunk had once joined, had its entire team bought off by the World Government after he and Judge discovered the Lineage Factor, citing the discovery as too dangerous.
Now, these killing weapons created from the MADS team's achievements were clearly laid out before Sakura.
Prisoners, bodies stained with green fungal spots, walked out of the forest with vacant eyes, stepping onto the sandy beach.
The earlier Conqueror's Haki release hadn't knocked them unconscious. It seemed they had undergone some targeted modification, turning them into mindless zombies.
"World Government, is this your second card?"
Sakura felt a sense of relief that she hadn't let the assembled combatants follow her in assaulting the island immediately.
Otherwise, with a charge from these bacteria weapon-infected prisoners, the losses from this attack on Punk Hazard would have been huge.
In the distance, top-floor room of Research Facility No. 1, closest to the coast.
A figure enveloped in a faint pink gas coat sat before a giant screen projecting the forest scene.
"Shurorororororo, looks like the viruses left behind by that bastard Queen are still functional!"
Behind him, four or five CP agents in white suits stepped forward, grabbing Caesar's shoulders to drag him away.
"Mr. Clown, the other scientists have already evacuated. Please come with us quickly!"
But the agents, without Haki, couldn't hold onto Caesar, who had eaten the Gasu Gasu no Mi, a Logia-type.
He turned his body into gas, slipping nimbly between the CP agents.
"No way!" Caesar's smile was maniacal. "This is precious research data. I'll leave naturally after I record it!"
In a corner the CP agents didn't notice, a bitter expression flashed across Caesar's face.
In truth, aside from recording the parameters of Queen's bacterial weapon, there was a more important reason he didn't want to leave...
Click!
The door behind them opened. Two figures in black military uniforms walked in, with a huge shadow sitting outside.
The CP agents present immediately knelt upon seeing them. Caesar also lost his previous arrogance.
"Why don't you continue, Caesar Clown?"
The member of the God's Knights, Shepherd Sommers, found a seat, propping his military-boot-clad feet on the table.
"No, Your Excellencies, please let me explain!"
Sweat immediately beaded on Caesar's forehead, his hands waving frantically in the air.
"Too troublesome. I prefer to see for myself!"
The God's Knights' member, Rimoshifu Killingham, suddenly appeared behind Caesar, snapped his fingers, and hypnotized him.
Then, his entire form transformed into a meandering Kirin, diving into Caesar's dreams.
Soon, having obtained the information, Gillingham floated out from the dream cloud.
He stroked his chin, smiling. "Hoho, I see. This guy... is hiding such a good thing!"
"Huh? What good thing?" Somaz showed interest, leaning closer.
While the two whispered, the massive figure, too large to enter the room, pulled down the hood of her cloak.
"Tch, childish men. I'm going out for some air."
With that, she dragged her enormous body toward the research facility's corridor.
The two childish men discussing their 'big toy' exchanged glances and shrugged.
"Don't go too far now~"
Sommers waved at her with a ferocious grin.
'Because you are today's… most important main course!'