"Boom—!"
Whitebeard's fist swung out violently, unleashing the full power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit in its awakened state.
The space around him shattered like glass, and a series of piercing cracking sounds echoed through the air.
The invisible shockwaves radiated wildly from him, tearing apart the sea and distorting the sky in their path, as if the entire world trembled under his might.
"Kulalalala! Brat, see how you like this punch!"
Whitebeard let out a booming laugh as his fist hurtled straight toward Hashirama Senju's wooden golem. The island-destroying force poured out without restraint.
Hashirama Senju stood atop the wooden golem's shoulder, his presence under Sage Mode immense, as if he were one with heaven and earth.
The golem's body shattered in an instant under the impact of the shockwave, sending splinters flying, but soon, new wood rapidly grew from the broken wreckage, restoring it to its original state in the blink of an eye.
"What terrifying power…" Hashirama murmured in admiration, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He pressed his palms together again, his chakra surging wildly. "But that's what makes this fun!"
The wooden golem's fist, coated in dense Armament Haki, met Whitebeard's attack head-on. The two forces collided once more, unleashing an earth-shattering roar.
"Boom—!"
This was already the tenth or so island they had sunk in their battle. The entire sea was caught in the crossfire, the surface littered with countless fragments of shattered wood and rock.
The battle between Whitebeard and Hashirama Senju had reached its climax. Whitebeard's awakened Tremor-Tremor Fruit indeed possessed the power to destroy the world, but Hashirama's Sage Mode was equally formidable.
The wooden golem, like some divine demon, stubbornly withstood Whitebeard's attacks, constantly breaking apart only to regenerate.
Meanwhile, the commotion here had already reached the outside world. Although this was in the New World, there were many eyes from various factions.
On Onigashima, dark clouds loomed as thunder rumbled.
Kaido sat on a massive stone throne, a jug of sake in hand, his gaze fixed grimly on the intelligence report before him.
Beside him stood King, Queen, and the other All-Stars, the atmosphere heavy.
"That old Whitebeard has finally grown old," Kaido sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "The seat of the world's strongest should have been vacated long ago."
However, the look in his eyes betrayed the gravity he felt.
As a powerhouse who had clashed with Whitebeard many times, Kaido understood better than anyone how terrifying Whitebeard's fists were.
Even he, when facing Whitebeard going all out, couldn't claim to have much of an advantage.
And now, someone was actually able to match Whitebeard, even forcing him to use his full strength.
"Who's fighting Whitebeard?" Kaido's head snapped up, his voice thundering like a roar.
"It… it's Hashirama Senju," one of his subordinates answered trembling. "That most heinous criminal, the one who killed the Celestial Dragon."
Kaido's pupils contracted sharply, and the sake jug in his hand creaked under the pressure.
His mind conjured up the reports about Hashirama Senju—the madman who dared to challenge the authority of the World Government and even massacred Celestial Dragons.
His strength was indeed extraordinary.
"Hashirama Senju…" Kaido muttered the name under his breath, a flicker of both caution and excitement in his eyes. "Interesting. Very interesting."
Meanwhile, in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, the seat of the World Government's power.
The Five Elders gathered together, their expressions grave. Garling Figarland, the Commander of the Holy Knights, stood nearby, holding the latest intelligence.
"Hashirama Senju has appeared?" Saturn's voice simmered with suppressed fury. "Good. Bring him back! After what happened last time, Lord Imu is already extremely displeased with us."
Garling Figarland nodded and said solemnly, "According to the intelligence, Hashirama Senju is currently engaged in a massive battle with Whitebeard in the New World. It has already lasted a full day and night."
"And the result?" Saturn pressed, a note of urgency in his voice.
"The battle is still ongoing," Garling Figarland replied gravely. "Whitebeard has already unleashed his full power. In his awakened state, the Tremor-Tremor Fruit makes him nearly invincible. But… Hashirama Senju shows no signs of being defeated."
The Five Elders' faces immediately darkened.
Better than anyone, they understood how terrifying Whitebeard was when going all out.
Even the Marine Headquarters was reluctant to start a war with the Whitebeard Pirates lightly. Yet Hashirama Senju was able to fight Whitebeard to this extent—such strength far exceeded their expectations.
"If even Whitebeard can't defeat him, capturing him won't be so easy."
Nasujuro spoke in a low voice, a hint of worry in his tone.
"Regardless, Hashirama Senju must be eliminated!" Saturn slammed the table. "He killed a Celestial Dragon—an act of defiance against the World Government's authority! If we allow him to continue existing, our prestige will be utterly destroyed!"
"Mobilize Marine Headquarters!" Saturn commanded decisively. "Send Garp and the Admirals together! No matter what, Hashirama Senju must be eliminated!"
His gaze swept over the other four Elders. However, they did not immediately agree. Instead, they exchanged glances, a flicker of hesitation in their eyes.
"Saturn, we understand your feelings," Nasujuro said slowly, his voice calm.
"But sending Admirals directly to the New World carries immense risk. The battle between Whitebeard and Hashirama Senju has already captured the world's attention. If we intervene recklessly, it could lead to even greater chaos."
"Indeed," another Elder picked up, his tone tinged with concern. "The strength of both Whitebeard and Hashirama Senju is extraordinary. If they were to join forces against the World Government, the consequences would be catastrophic."
Saturn's expression darkened further as his fists clenched tightly.
Last time, due to Hashirama Senju's massacre of Celestial Dragons, Lord Imu had severely punished him, and he had nearly lost his position among the Five Elders.
This time, he had hoped to use this opportunity to redeem himself, but he hadn't expected the other four to oppose his proposal.
"Are we just going to stand by and let Hashirama Senju roam free?" Saturn's voice crackled with suppressed rage. "His very existence is the greatest threat to the World Government!"
"We are not dismissing the threat Hashirama Senju poses," Nasujuro said firmly.
"But we need a more cautious plan. Sending Admirals directly to the New World will not only provoke the Whitebeard Pirates but also raise the alarm among the other Emperors. At that point, the situation in the New World will spiral completely out of control."
Saturn fell silent for a moment before letting out a cold snort and sinking back into his chair. He knew the other four's concerns were not unfounded, but the fury within him would not be so easily quelled.
"Then what do you suggest?" Saturn asked coldly.
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