The battle between Elior and Big Mom—the clash between two pirate crews—

It had all come to a sudden stop.

This alone was enough to make Marine uneasy.

Something felt wrong with the script.

After all, in their original expectations, the two pirate crews were supposed to fight to the bitter end.

And those two monsters—Elior and Big Mom—were supposed to tear each other apart, leaving one dead and the other gravely injured.

But now, the situation had completely defied their expectations.

Yes, that was exactly it.

"What's going on?"

Akainu frowned, confusion written all over his face.

Sengoku and the others were no different.

They all wanted to know—what on earth was Elior talking about with Big Mom?

Why had the war suddenly stopped?

The clash between these two monsters hadn't gone anything like they had imagined.

At this point, they might have come here for nothing.

"Wait—he's heading this way!"

Tsuru warned as everyone saw Elior turn his gaze toward them.

The two sides were separated by more than three kilometers.

But Elior moved incredibly fast—almost as if he were teleporting.

Whoosh!

In the next moment, Elior crossed the waters and appeared in front of their warship.

An icicle rose from the sea beneath him, and Elior stood atop it.

From there, he looked down at everyone—

That's right, looking down at the highest authority of Marine.

"Everyone… long time no see."

Elior stood on the icicle, staring down at them.

"You…"

Akainu and the others immediately tensed as if facing a deadly threat. The ordinary marines, who had just regained consciousness after being knocked out by Conqueror's Haki, trembled in fear.

A Yonko was standing right in front of them.

Elior spoke calmly: "Just now, our two forces were only competing with each other. I wonder… what exactly is your purpose here?"

"Could it be… you're planning to take this opportunity to arrest us?"

Elior smiled faintly—a meaningful, taunting smile.

Competing?

Akainu and the others were so furious they nearly spat blood. Competing?

What a joke!

But it was true—there was now a ceasefire.

And Elior stood right before them.

Wasn't this just open provocation?

Akainu growled, voice low and dangerous: "What did you and Big Mom talk about just now?"

Sengoku and the others were equally eager to hear the answer.

Elior looked straight at Akainu, noticing the Fleet Admiral's fists clenching tight as magma steamed violently from his body.

Was Akainu so enraged he might have a heart attack?

In the original tale, Akainu had been provoked time and time again—by pirates, marines, even the Gorosei and Lucci. Who knew how many years this stress had shaved off his life?

And now, it was happening all over again.

Elior's smirk grew even deeper.

"I was simply exchanging combat experience with Big Mom," Elior said lightly. "After all… it was just a friendly competition."

"You…!"

"Impossible!"

Akainu's rage exploded. He leapt forward, fists blazing, and lunged at Elior with a magma punch.

"Sakazuki!"

Sengoku and the others shouted, shocked at the sudden attack.

Elior didn't even flinch—he counterpunched straight into the oncoming magma fist.

The impact shook the air itself.

In the very next instant, Akainu felt a jolt of pain shoot through his fist—he was sent flying backward, smashing into the warship's deck like a cannonball. The deck splintered under the impact, the entire ship rocking violently.

As Akainu prepared to retaliate, Sengoku grabbed his shoulder, stopping him.

"Sakazuki, stand down!"

Now was not the time to lose control.

Marine could not afford to start a war with Elior here.

Not unless they wanted catastrophic losses—or worse.

After all, the Marines had only just recovered from the devastating Marineford War through the World Military Draft.

And now, this battle between Elior and Big Mom had gone nothing like they had anticipated.

At this point, Marine Headquarters could not afford to make a single reckless move.

But what unsettled them most was this—what on earth had Elior and Big Mom really been talking about?

Combat experience?

Friendly competition?

Impossible.

"Kill Kuzan, and sooner or later, you'll pay the price, pirate!"

Akainu snarled, fury boiling inside him.

But for now, he could only endure it.

Sengoku and Tsuru suppressed their anger as well.

Elior smiled faintly. "Akainu, do you really think you can beat me? I could have seriously injured—or even killed—you before. I still can. So if you want to live out your days as Fleet Admiral… you'd better cherish the time you have left."

"Besides… there are things you can't stop, no matter what."

"You…!"

Everyone seethed in frustration.

Then Elior looked over at Admiral Ryokugyu.

"You're the one they say rivals Fujitora, aren't you? Both of you are supposed to be terrifying monsters… Ryokugyu, the man who can make all things grow?"

"Hardly worth mentioning" Ryokugyu replied with his usual carefree smile.

That ever-present grin of his…

But beneath it, Elior could feel the man's tension.

Ryokugyu feared him.

Elior clapped his hands. "Alright, then. Meeting's over."

"You…!"

Tsuru spoke up: "What exactly is the Vinsmoke family's relationship with you?"

The Vinsmokes ruled Germa 66, a nation allied with the World Government.

And yet… the entire family was now working under Elior?

"It's a business arrangement" Elior said smoothly. "They run a mercenary company, after all. The World Government doesn't fund them, so they need other sources of income."

In truth, the entire Vinsmoke family now served Elior completely.

Reiju was utterly loyal to him.

And Judge and his sons? Elior had them completely under his control.

Germa 66 was now his to command.

"Business arrangement…"

Clearly, that wasn't the answer Tsuru or the others had hoped for.

But Elior had said his piece. With a single use of Geppo, he vanished toward Whole Cake Island.

The Marines wouldn't dare set foot there.

Elior knew it.

If they tried, of the eight warships present, perhaps fewer than ten men would make it out alive.

They didn't dare.

And they knew Elior was far too strong.

Once again, Marine had been humiliated.

"Damn him!"

Akainu trembled with fury, nearly coughing up blood.

"Those damned Vinsmokes! Fine—let's ask the Gorosei if they're ready to strip Germa 66 of its status as a member nation!"

"I want to hear what the Gorosei have to say about all this. This is no simple matter… and don't tell me it was just a 'friendly competition'!"