Level Four, Impel Down.
The instant Magellan finished speaking, the entire Blazing Hell fell into a terrifying silence.
The inmates who had been howling moments ago now looked like ducks with their necks wrung, their cries cut short.
They exchanged glances, terror written across their eyes.
Saint Ian?
The Celestial Dragons actually issued orders to Impel Down—aren't they only good at living off privilege and having fun? Why meddle with this place?
Level Four sank into an eerie, deathly stillness.
Only the hidden jailers tightened their grips on their weapons, waiting for their prey to walk right into the trap… Marineford, the plaza.
Whitebeard swung Murakumogiri, the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit sending out waves of devastating shock.
Wherever it passed, air shattered and the ground caved in.
Countless Marines were flung backward, blood spraying from their mouths.
"Pop's the best!"
"Wipe out the Marines!"
Morale among the Whitebeard Pirates soared as they surged forward like madmen.
But right at that moment—
Boom!
A scarlet figure dropped from the sky, smashing onto the ice in front of Whitebeard.
The ice instantly melted from the searing heat, steam billowing upward.
Akainu Sakazuki rose slowly, half his body already molten rock.
He lifted his head, eyes locked on Whitebeard, voice as low as subterranean magma: "Whitebeard, your era ends today."
Whitebeard roared with laughter: "Gurarara! Brat, you're still too green to end my era!"
Before the echo faded, both struck at once!
Murakumogiri, carrying quake-force, cleaved downward; Akainu's magma fist met it head-on!
Boom—
The instant shock and lava collided, all of Marineford shook violently.
Ice ruptured, magma sprayed!
Soldiers and pirates on the plaza scrambled back, afraid of being caught in the blast.
On Sabaody Archipelago, everyone held their breath, eyes glued to the screens.
"Is this the power of an Emperor?"
"Akainu's actually matching Whitebeard!"
"Wait—look at Whitebeard's body; he seems…"
Sharp-eyed viewers noticed a trickle of blood at the corner of Whitebeard's mouth.
It wasn't from Akainu's blow—his own body was failing.
His aged frame could no longer bear the strain of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit.
On the battlefield, the clash between Whitebeard and Akainu grew fiercer.
Every collision caused the earth to quake and the mountains to tremble.
Just as everyone thought the fight would go on—
The sky suddenly darkened.
Not from the setting sun—something was blocking the light.
People on the plaza instinctively looked up.
In the next instant, every pupil shrank in shock!
Rolling black clouds surged from the horizon, shrouding more than half of Marineford in moments!
Thunder exploded within the clouds, lightning ripping across the heavens!
An aura even more savage than Whitebeard's descended from above!
"Roar—"
A sky-shaking dragon cry!
A gigantic, ferocious dragon head emerged from the dark clouds, overlooking the battlefield!
An azure dragon, its body coiled endlessly within the storm, impossible to see in full!
Upon its head, two horns like sharpened swords pointed at the firmament; crimson eyes swept Marineford with a domineering disdain.
"Th-that's…"
On the plaza, countless Marines froze, weapons slipping from their hands.
"The Beasts… Kaido!"
A Marine Vice Admiral choked out the name.
In an instant, all of Marineford fell into stunned silence!
On the execution platform, Sengoku's face turned ashen.
He whirled around, roaring: "Where are the Gorosei? Weren't they supposed to stop the Beasts Pirates?!"
No one could answer.
Everyone was staring at the dragon in the sky, minds blank.
Sabaody Archipelago.
The crowd in front of the screens exploded.
"Kaido! It's Kaido!"
"Emperor Kaido of the Beasts is here too!"
"This world's gone mad!"
"Two Emperors at Marineford at the same time!"
Reporters snapped shutters frantically, flashes bursting like strobe lights.
This scene would go down in history!
Mock Town.
The cheers of the populace died abruptly.
Those who had just chanted "Long live Saint Ian" now wore looks of terror.
"Two Emperors…"
"Can the Marines win?"
"Lord Saint Ian…"
Everyone instinctively looked at the Marine HQ building on the screen.
Saint Ian was still inside.
If the Marines lost, would the crown prince be in danger?
…Marineford, Fleet-Admiral's office.
Ian released Hancock, straightened his clothes, and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.
He looked up at the dragon in the sky, a smile curling on his lips.
"So you're here, Kaido."
Hancock stepped beside him, worry flashing in her beautiful eyes: "Young master, if Kaido and Whitebeard join forces, the Marines might…"
"Relax."
Ian cut her off, slipping an arm around her waist, his grin meaningful.
"Since This Young Master invited Kaido, I'm sure I can make sure he never leaves."
Just as his words fell—
Above the plaza, Kaido coiled in the clouds let out a furious roar!
"Whitebeard! I'm here to lend you a hand!"
The dragon opened its massive maw, a terrifying Blast Breath condensing inside!
The next second, a colossal column of flame descended straight for the execution scaffold!
"Not good!"
Sengoku's expression changed; he was about to act—
"Ice Age!"
Aokiji appeared in mid-air in a flash, both hands releasing frigid air!
The freezing vapor collided with the Blast Breath, producing an earsplitting boom!
But Kaido's breath was too powerful; Aokiji's ice held for only seconds before shattering!
As the blast was about to hit the scaffold—
"Yata Mirror!"
Kizaru turned into a streak of golden light, appearing in front of the blast with arms crossed!
A gigantic mirror of light materialized, refracting the flame toward another direction!
Boom!
The Blast Breath struck the edge of the plaza, carving out an enormous crater!
In the sky, Kaido laughed wildly: "Fufufufu! Navy brats, today I'm tearing this lousy place apart!"
Before the echo faded, his titanic body rolled within the clouds, draconic might surging unchecked!
Black clouds completely blanketed the skies of Marineford!
Lightning danced, torrential rain poured!
This war had spiraled completely out of control!