19

About three kilometers off the coast of the Sabaody Archipelago, aboard a Marine warship...

"Admiral Sakazuki! Reports just came in—three Celestial Dragons were publicly executed!"

"They were beheaded by that man... Elior!"

"Admiral Kizaru and the others were held off by the Demon Heir, Bullet, and his allies. They couldn't rescue the Celestial Dragons…"

Akainu's expression darkened. Without a word, he slammed the Den Den Mushi down.

"Inform Fleet Admiral Sengoku."

With that, Akainu launched himself into the sky with a powerful Geppo, blasting off at high speed toward Sabaody. Within seconds, he vanished from the view of the stunned Marines.

Meanwhile, Elior calmly tossed aside the bloodied sword he had used. His objective was complete.

He might be the first person in modern history to execute Celestial Dragons publicly. Not even Rocks may have dared go that far—though Rocks was insane, Elior's approach was colder, sharper... calculated.

But that wasn't the most important part.

What would truly echo across the seas was the phrase he forced into the world's ears: "Celestial Dragons are pigs."

Even if he coerced them into saying it, even if it was through illusion or manipulation, the phrase had already spread like wildfire, and with the World Economy News Paper stirring the flames, it would soon become a belief etched into the people's hearts.

Elior had spat in the face of the so-called "gods".

But are the Celestial Dragons really gods?

No. They're garbage wearing crowns.

Of course, among their ranks, there are those with power—monsters like Doflamingo, who possessed Conqueror's Haki. He surely wasn't the only one. There must be others lurking in the shadows of their corrupted lineage.

And what about Shanks? A man whom even the Five Elders met in secret?

And then there's Im—the one who sits atop the world. The true monarch of the Celestial Dragons, the shadow behind the throne.

Soon, Elior arrived at the lawless zone where Bullet and the others were battling. The entire area, spanning hundreds of meters, was a shattered battlefield. The ground was torn apart, buildings were reduced to rubble. The clash between Bullet and Kizaru had reshaped the landscape. Crocodile had drained the earth with his Ground Secco, turning fertile ground into lifeless dust.

"Looks like they really are dead…"

Kizaru sighed. Seeing Elior's arrival, he knew the Celestial Dragons were gone.

He was still locked in fierce combat with Bullet. Their strength was so evenly matched that it was impossible to tell who had the upper hand.

Suddenly—

"Inugami Guren!"

A roar echoed across the battlefield, followed by waves of blistering heat.

Elior, with his advanced Observation Haki, sensed the incoming threat even before turning. Massive walls of glacial ice erupted in front of him, forming an impenetrable fortress.

Boom!

Lava exploded violently against the ice, sending steam and shattered rock flying in all directions.

"Hiding behind walls, are you? Coward!" Akainu snarled, frustrated his surprise attack had failed.

Elior turned slightly, smirking.

"What's the matter, Akainu? Since when did sneak attacks become part of that proud 'justice' you love to scream about?"

"Sakazuki! Be careful with this one—he's a monster!" Kizaru shouted, only to be punched into the distance by Bullet moments later.

"Pirates... all of you deserve nothing but death" Akainu growled, hurling another wave of magma through the air.

But before it could hit, Elior placed a hand against the icy wall.

In a flash, a massive spear of sharpened ice burst out from behind the wall and impaled Akainu through the head—sending his body hurtling backward with terrifying force.

It wouldn't kill him, of course. The magma logia's body simply reformed, but it was enough to humiliate him.

"My ice isn't like Aokiji's…" Elior said quietly.

Elior remembered Esdeath's techniques from the Demon's Extract — not only could he replicate them perfectly, but with imagination, he could evolve them.

The Demon's Extract—a power that transcended the Ice-Ice Fruit.

And in this, Elior had absolute confidence.

By now, the chaos had drawn a crowd—pirates, bounty hunters, reporters, outlaws, and more.

Even the Supernovas had gathered to witness history.

But Luffy... Luffy wasn't here. Not anymore. Having lost his crewmates, he wandered aimlessly, unaware that Ace was soon to be executed.

"That's Akainu!"

"Two Admirals, in one place!"

"Bullet—the Demon's Heir—isn't he supposed to be locked up in Impel Down?! Even Garp had trouble subduing him back then!"

"And that other guy… Elior… who is he? Where did this monster even come from?!"

"He's on par with an admiral?!"

"He killed a Celestial Dragon on live broadcast! That's a death sentence for anyone else!"

The Worst Generation stood stunned. The sheer scale of destruction, the defiance of the World Government, the raw power on display—it all left them breathless.

And the moment Akainu was struck down by Elior's ice… that image would forever be etched into pirate legend.