Chapter 533

[125PS!!!]

Faced with Aokiji's sudden ice spear attack—

Akainu immediately dodged to the side with lightning speed.

He didn't dare block Aokiji's absolute zero ice spears with magma directly.

He had tried it before – while the ice spear would melt halfway through his magma, the remaining half still carried lethal force!

"Aokiji, what do you think you're doing?!"

Akainu glared at Aokiji with open displeasure, scolding him.

"What am I doing? I should be asking you that! Are you insane?!"

Aokiji roared furiously as he rushed up to Akainu, trying to grab him by the collar.

But Akainu simply stepped back, leaping onto the stern of the ship to keep his distance.

"You sacrificed prisoners, fine – I didn't say anything. But now you want to sacrifice our own subordinates! These are tens of thousands of Marines! How can you even say something like that? Are you even human?! Do you still call yourself a Marine?!"

Aokiji pointed at Akainu and shouted in anger.

"Then tell me – what other options do we have?! Do you want to let those monsters run rampant?!"

Despite Aokiji's accusations, Akainu remained calm and unflinching.

On the contrary, he acted like he held the moral high ground, berating Aokiji instead.

"Tell me, besides sacrificing people, what other method is there?! Don't forget how massive and terrifying those monsters are! Even Vice Admiral Garp couldn't handle them! What do you think we should do?!"

Akainu glared at Aokiji, righteous fury in his eyes as he shouted.

Hearing this, Aokiji's rage felt like it was doused with a bucket of cold water, instantly chilling.

His face turned ashen as he lowered his head.

He knew the truth of Akainu's words, but these were human lives – their comrades!

"They're our subordinates… they're part of the Navy… and we're talking about nearly a hundred thousand people!"

Aokiji still refused to give in, glaring back at Akainu and shouting.

"Justice is cold and merciless. Haven't you understood that after so many years in the Navy, as an Admiral no less?!"

Akainu showed no pity at all, shouting back even more fiercely.

"To crush evil and uphold justice, sacrifices must be made. Justice is cruel and dark – if everything is bound by mercy, how can we ever eradicate evil?!"

"If sacrificing a hundred people can save a thousand, then you must do it without hesitation. That is justice! Don't you understand?!"

Akainu's voice was grave and righteous as he shouted.

His words were deeply flawed, crossing moral and ethical lines.

Yet he spoke with such conviction and authority that no one could immediately refute him.

"Besides, from the first day someone joins the Navy, they must be ready to sacrifice themselves for justice. Did you all join the Navy out of cowardice, just to cling to life?!"

"Now is the time when sacrifices are needed! If we don't keep sacrificing, the monsters of the Vampire Factory will continue to wreak havoc! Do you know how many islands have suffered catastrophic earthquakes and tsunamis caused by Entity 3, resulting in countless deaths and injuries? Not to mention the monsters it has released!"

"Even Marine Headquarters, the center of justice, has suffered devastating damage! Over a hundred thousand lives have already been lost! If we don't stop this, even more will die – perhaps all of humanity will be wiped out!"

"Aokiji, do you want to see that happen?!"

Akainu continued to speak from his perceived moral high ground, berating Aokiji as if he were in the wrong.

Aokiji's entire body trembled with anger as he clenched his fists, cold air seeping out from every pore.

His mouth trembled uncontrollably, teeth chattering in rage.

He still believed that sacrificing their subordinates so easily, treating lives as expendable, was utterly wrong.

But he couldn't deny Akainu's words.

Indeed, aside from sacrifices—

There was no way to stop the Vampire Factory's rampage.

Fight it?

What a joke.

Even Garp was critically injured.

Marine Headquarters had been devastated.

Even if they gathered every Marine in the world, they might not be able to destroy the Vampire Factory's monsters – they might all end up dead.

That kind of loss would far exceed the current number of sacrifices.

Aokiji knew Akainu was right – but he just couldn't accept it.

Sacrificing their men so easily, especially in such numbers, pained him deeply.

"Aokiji, think about it carefully. You're far too soft."

Akainu spoke calmly, then used the strength of his Kong Gorilla Punch to soar into the sky, overlooking everyone below.

"This crisis isn't over yet. But you all saw the results of the sacrifices – as long as we continue, we can quell this threat! Now is the time for you all to dedicate yourselves to justice! There is no room in the Navy for cowards who cling to life!"

Akainu's voice rang out across the entire fleet, reaching every Marine, letting them know his decision.

The Marines heard his words and their faces filled with utter shock.

Some even collapsed to their knees in despair.

"But rest assured, your sacrifices will be honored as great merits. The Navy will take care of your families, allowing them to live comfortably for the rest of their lives."

Though Akainu was cruel and heartless, he didn't forget to grant them the status of martyrs, so they could at least die with some peace.

Hearing this, tens of thousands of Marines showed expressions of hopelessness, tears streaming down their faces.

Some fell to their knees, clutching their faces and weeping uncontrollably.

They simply couldn't believe that the Admiral they worshipped would issue such an order.

And the only one who had spoken up for them – Aokiji – had fallen silent.

How could they not feel despair?

Yet most said nothing more, neither resisting nor arguing.

They silently accepted this fate.

Perhaps deep down, they still wished to eradicate evil and protect justice and peace.

But many still voiced their outrage.

"Why?! I was just here to help escort prisoners – why do I have to die?!"

"I'm from a branch division – you Admirals from HQ have no authority over me!"

"This isn't fair! Why do I have to die, why don't you Admirals sacrifice yourselves?!"

"Yeah, why don't you go die instead?! Do you even see us as human?!"

"Damn it, I joined the Navy so I wouldn't starve to death – now you want me to die anyway?! What's the point of being a Marine then?!"

Many Marines shouted angrily at Akainu, their voices full of resentment and disbelief at such a heartless order.

Originally, some had only felt silent dissatisfaction. But with others speaking up, they couldn't hold back any longer.

They tried to use public outcry to pressure Akainu.

But those who knew Akainu well knew it was pointless.

"Sigh… why do they even bother saying all that? It'll just make them the first to die."

Kizaru, knowing Akainu's nature all too well, sighed helplessly as he watched the scene unfold.

(End of Chapter)

[Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][www.p@treon.com/zaelum]

[+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]

[Thank You For Your Support!]