Water 7 War IX

Rayleigh and Scopper stood side by side, their breaths visible, battle-ready. Across from them, Kizaru hovered weightlessly, his Light-Light Fruit powers started to charge up, illuminating ahead, maintaining his distance. As his expression focused, Kizaru unleashed a relentless barrage of light beams toward Rayleigh and Scopper.

Rayleigh moved with clarity and ease, his observation Haki overflowing, following the track of each beam, weaving through the bright onslaught as if he were dancing. The beams scorched the ice, creating cracks and explosions all around him, but none found their mark. Every step brought him closer to Kizaru.

[A: I'm adding something new for "visuals". When someone has mastered Observation as much as Rayleigh has, his observation exudes a misty aura. Rayleigh's Observation Aura is Black with a tinge of white]

Meanwhile, Scopper, taking a moment to recover, pressed his back against a frozen chunk of ice. His sharp observational Haki flared, his instincts screaming, eyes dilating. Without hesitation, he rolled to the side just as a beam struck the spot he had been resting against, shattering it into fragments.

"Close one," Scopper muttered, clicking his tongue as he steadied himself.

Kizaru, focused on maintaining his distance from Rayleigh, glanced momentarily toward Scopper. "Close, indeed," he said in his usual nonchalant tone. But the slight distraction was enough.

{Dark Arc!}

Rayleigh's voice roared through the air as he closed the gap. His blade, coated in an intense layer of Haki, swung toward Kizaru in a sweeping arc. The Dark King's attack crackled with black lightning, the sheer force of his Conqueror's Haki rippling across the battlefield.

Kizaru reacted in the nick of time, his body dematerializing into light. He reappeared a few meters away still in the air, his expression calm but his voice betraying his relief. "Phew… that could've been dangerous."

Rayleigh narrowed his eyes. He had expected the strike not to land so easily. huffing out a low growl as he activated his observation Haki, pinpointing Kizaru's location. Still floating, Kizaru smirked, but his smugness faded as he felt the pressure of Rayleigh's Conqueror's Haki intensify.

Dark lightning streaked through the air, sending waves of pressure rippling outward. The marines watching from afar staggered, some collapsing unconscious from the sheer weight of the Haki.

Rayleigh launched himself into the air, descending toward Kizaru like a meteor. His blade gleamed as he raised it high, preparing a devastating strike.

"Yikes!" Kizaru yelped, his usual composure cracking as he crafted a light sword in a desperate defense.

{Ama no Murakumo!}

Their weapons clashed, sending out a shockwave that shattered the ice below them and sent fragments flying. The collision of their Haki created an explosion of energy, but it was Kizaru who emerged worse for wear. Blood trickled from his mouth as he was hurled backward, his body skidding across the ice.

Not wasting the opportunity, Rayleigh darted forward, his movements leaving a trail of devastation as he cleaved through several marines in his path. Closing the distance to Kizaru once more, he unleashed another named attack.

{Dark Cross!}

Rayleigh shouted, swinging his sword in a wide motion. The slash formed a black, cross-shaped projectile that surged toward Kizaru with terrifying speed.

Kizaru's eyes widened as he realized he couldn't fully avoid the attack. Coating his body in armament Haki, he braced himself.

**Crrrk**

The attack struck, bypassing most of his defenses. The pain was immense, forcing a groan from Kizaru as he staggered to his feet.

Despite his injuries, Kizaru managed to block Rayleigh's follow-up swing, redirecting it just enough to avoid a fatal blow. Summoning his strength, he retaliated with a light-speed kick, his leg glowing with energy.

The attack connected with Rayleigh's stomach, sending him skidding back several meters. Rayleigh stopped himself, his sandals digging into the ice as he smirked. "Didn't think you still had some fight in you," he said.

Kizaru, panting heavily, wiped the blood from his mouth and straightened. His usual aloofness returned as he cracked a wry smile. "Dark King Rayleigh… your name truly fits you."

[Back to Draco]

Draco stood amidst the chaos of the battlefield, his presence radiating an overwhelming aura that silenced the clamor of war. The bloodied marines around him either cowered in fear or stared in stunned disbelief. Even the most battle-hardened Vice Admirals hesitated to approach, their fear betraying their training and resolve.

"How… how is he so strong?" one marine muttered, his voice trembling as he clutched his injured arm.

"That's… that's not a man. That's a monster!" another marine stammered, sprawled on the ground, bloodied and broken.

"Shut up!" barked Vice Admiral Weld, his commanding tone cutting through the murmurs. His body was battered, and his uniform was torn and stained with blood, yet his determination hadn't waned. His trembling hands reached into his coat, pulling out a Den Den Mushi.

After a few tense rings, the snail's receiver crackled to life. "Have any of you seen Kong?! I can't get in contact with him!" Fleet Admiral Sengoku's voice came through, laced with frustration and urgency. "He should've beaten that Draco kid by now!"

Weld hesitated, his voice faltering. "B-beaten? Admiral Sengoku… Draco is standing right in front of me…."

There was a pause on the other end. Then Sengoku's voice rose sharply, "What?! What do you mean he's there? Where's Kong?"

Weld's lips quivered as he looked up at Draco, who stood calmly amidst the destruction, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. Taking a deep breath, Draco finally spoke, his voice steady and clear.

"He's dead. I killed him."

The battlefield grew silent as the words hung heavily in the air. Weld's hand shook, his grip on the Den Den Mushi tightening as he struggled to process the revelation.

"What did he say?!" Sengoku demanded, his voice filled with disbelief. "Tell me, Vice Admiral Weld!"

"He… he's dead!" Weld shouted, his voice breaking. "Fleet Admiral Kong is DEAD!"

The announcement struck like a thunderclap. Marines across the battlefield froze, their weapons lowered as they turned to stare at Weld and Draco. Even those locked in combat ceased their struggles, the weight of the news robbing them of their will to fight.

"That's… not true…" Sengoku murmured, his voice barely audible over the Den Den Mushi. It was as if the words themselves refused to settle in his mind.

Draco, standing resolute amidst the wreckage, waited patiently for Sengoku's response. He could see the shock and sorrow spreading among the marines. Folding his arms, he thought to himself,

'Will this finally end the war?'

Sengoku's voice returned after a long silence. "Is it confirmed? Where's the body?"

"It's at the bottom of the sea," Draco answered his tone even but loud enough for Sengoku to hear.

The battlefield remained eerily quiet, the tension palpable as every ear strained to catch Sengoku's reply. Draco finally broke the silence.

"Let's end this bloodshed, Sengoku! This war is pointless, and you know it. Too many have died already!"

On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, Sengoku sat motionless, the receiver trembling in his hand. Tears welled in his eyes as he reflected on the senseless loss of life. The death of his mentor, Fleet Admiral Kong, weighed heavily on him.

Looking around at the countless injured marines, some missing limbs, others blinded or crippled, he felt the crushing weight of his decisions.

The veins on his forehead bulged as anger and despair warred within him. He opened his mouth to issue a command, his voice shaking with conviction. "Let's conti—"

He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes meeting those of the marines around him. Their expressions told him everything. Even those still willing to fight expressed the same doubt, the same fear. Sengoku realized that continuing the war would mean losing what little remained of their forces, not just physically but morally.

Finally, he exhaled deeply, the fight leaving his body. With a resolute nod, Sengoku made his decision.

"Let's end this," he said, his voice carrying the weight of a lifetime of leadership. Then, louder, his tone firm and authoritative, he issued the order.

"Cease fire! CEASE FIRE!!!"

His voice boomed through the Den Den Mushi, amplified by a surge of bright yellow Conqueror's Haki that rippled across the battlefield. Marines everywhere felt the calming yet commanding presence of their leader. The fighting stopped as weapons were lowered, the battle replaced by silence and the sound of weary breaths.

Draco stood motionless, watching the marines around him lay down their arms. He sighed quietly, relieved that the bloodshed had finally come to an end. His eyes drifted toward the horizon as he muttered under his breath, "I'm hungry..."