At this moment, everyone's attention was fixed on Elior and the Red-Haired Pirates.

Shanks' sudden appearance had caught everyone off guard and filled them with unease. No one knew whether this war was about to continue, but the battle had already caused fear and trembling across the world — very few had the will to keep fighting.

Was this really going to escalate into a clash between two of the New World's top forces?

Even Sengoku, after calming down, was burdened with immense pressure. He himself had no desire to continue the fight.

Marineford had already become a stage for pirates. What exactly was Shanks here for?

"This is beyond the bounds of the contract... I should leave too."

Upon seeing his only friend, Shanks, appear, Mihawk sheathed Yoru, turned around, and left.

"Since your goal is already achieved... isn't it time for you to leave?"

Even though Elior remained arrogant, Shanks had no choice but to tolerate it.

Looking at Whitebeard's lifeless body in the distance, Shanks couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow. What was truly terrifying was that Whitebeard hadn't fallen to the Marine, but to Elior!

As for Ace's corpse, it was with Marco and the others — he too was killed by Elior.

Both of them were dead.

Gazing across at Elior, Shanks felt a deep sense of dread. He once thought Blackbeard was the most dangerous man alive when Ace was handed over to the World Government. But now it was clear — the real threat was Elior!

Even Whitebeard had fallen to him. And Ace — brutally slain.

What Shanks didn't yet know was that Elior had also killed two other top-tier fighters, and even Akainu had barely escaped with his life.

"That's right. I killed them all."

The next second, Elior appeared right in front of Shanks and his crew, effortlessly crossing the massive fissure left by Whitebeard's quake. Now, they stood merely five meters apart.

As Elior arrived, the ground beneath their feet crumbled — yet strangely, only the small area beneath Elior's feet remained intact. The earth around Shanks and his crew had instantly turned to sand, sinking slightly underfoot.

"What...?"

"What's happening?"

The sudden shift caught Shanks and his men on edge.

"Look at you all, so scared…"

"Is this level of destruction really enough to startle you?"

Elior shook his head with a sigh, though a satisfied smile played on his face.

This was Elior's new power — Honkai, a devastating ability that only required a thought to unleash. Just standing there, the ground collapsed on its own.

"What kind of power is this…?" Shanks muttered in suspicion.

Lucky Roux added, "An invisible force that crushed the ground!"

Beckman analyzed, "It's like gravity pressed down and pulverized it... but clearly, we didn't feel any gravitational force. And he's not that blind old man we met last year either."

The Red-Haired Pirates remained wary — after all, Elior was no ordinary pirate. If he attacked suddenly, people would die in an instant.

Everyone was curious about Elior's ability, but Elior would never reveal the truth. The world assumed he was a Devil Fruit user, but no one knew which fruit. He could command ice, lightning, and more — but in this world, the concept of a person having multiple Devil Fruits was considered impossible. At best, people thought Elior wielded some overwhelmingly powerful Devil Fruit, like Big Mom's Soul-Soul Fruit.

"Hey, hey, are they really going to fight?"

"That monster... is he about to clash with one of the Yonko?!"

Another Yonko appearing was already unsettling — but now Shanks looked ready to fight Elior?

Even Sengoku felt an increasing sense of dread.

"Elior, this war should end here" Shanks declared. "This farce of a war has gone on long enough."

Staring at Elior, he warned,

"If you want to continue, I won't hesitate to fight you myself. Your very existence will plunge this era into even greater catastrophe."

Elior's gaze was cold.

"Can't pirates be a little more pure? You act like a mediator, Shanks — your head's not screwed on right. You fly the Jolly Roger, yet play the saint? You're a strange one."

Shaking his head, Elior added,

"I wouldn't mind wiping all of you out in the New World."

"We'll meet again there."

With that, Elior turned to leave, heading toward Shiryu and the others.

Their objectives were achieved; his plan complete — it was time to retreat.

"You...!" Shanks clenched his fists in frustration. Elior's words were clear: if you're going to be a pirate, don't play the good guy.

And he even threatened to destroy them all in the New World.

"Captain, are we heading home victorious?" Shiryu chuckled.

"That's right. We're going back to the New World."

Elior waved his right hand, signaling Weevil and Shiryu to follow him towards the bay. Behind them, World tagged along.

Elior soon noticed Garp standing to his right, seething with barely contained fury. Next to Garp, Sengoku, back to his normal form, placed a restraining hand on Garp's shoulder, urging him to stay calm.

There was no point in continuing the fight. The Marine couldn't endure any more losses.

Was this a victory for Marine Headquarters?

If victory was defined by Ace and Whitebeard's deaths, then technically yes — but neither was killed by the Marine!

In truth, the Marine had suffered a disastrous defeat — heavily weakened, and now faced with the rise of a new monster even more terrifying than Whitebeard.

"Garp, calm yourself. Marineford can't take anymore!" Sengoku said gravely, his voice heavy with frustration. As Fleet Admiral, he had to think of the bigger picture.

"We're in ruins. We can't afford more bloodshed."

"Hold me back, Sengoku... or I might just snap." Garp's eyes glistened, grief and rage overwhelming him. He couldn't forgive himself for letting Elior walk free.

Elior glanced at Garp and Sengoku for a few seconds, flashing a meaningful smile.

"Hmph, provoking the Marine like this... they won't sleep easy for the next year" Shiryu commented.

Elior replied, "As long as I'm around, the World Government won't sleep easy either."

World laughed, "Kid, let's topple the World Government together! I've still got some fight left in me!"

His lifelong dream had been to destroy the World Government, but alone, it was impossible.

"The World Government's foundations run deep" Elior remarked. "There's that secret Celestial Dragon King — Imu. A being shrouded in mystery, like a god gazing down from the heavens."

Elior had never underestimated the World Government. It had ruled for 800 years — and in that time, even a pig would grow wise.

He even suspected the Government maintained balance by letting pirates thrive. A classic tactic of rulers: balance breeds control. The presence of pirates and darkness made the world "need" the Government's protection, sustaining their reign.

Elior speculated that Imu's talk of "extinguishing lights" might refer to periodic purges — eliminating any force that grew beyond their control.

That was entirely plausible. Imu was undoubtedly an existence beyond comprehension, and the Gorosei? Definitely not weaklings. Mary Geoise itself surely held other formidable powers.

World chimed in, "I saw the Gorosei fifty years ago... word is, they underwent the Perpetual Youth Operation."

"Doesn't surprise me" Elior responded.

At the bay, Elior encountered Jinbe and Ivankov. They carried a broken Luffy and the corpse of Sabo on their backs, their grief palpable.

They didn't linger — fleeing at once, consumed by sorrow.

"Dragon! Sabo is dead... and the Straw Hat boy's lost his will too..."

At last, they reached Dragon, who was already drowning in his own grief.

"I know…" Dragon covered his eyes, on the verge of tears.

"I'll never forgive you!"

When Bullet rejoined Elior, Dragon stood in their path, voicing his hatred.

Elior only smiled silently. Now, he had made enemies of the World Government, the Marine, the Whitebeard Pirates' remnants, and the Revolutionary Army.

Especially the Revolutionary Army — even the World Government didn't know where they hid. Elior only knew their base was on Baltigo, the white earth island in the first half of the Grand Line, but its exact location? A mystery. After all, the Grand Line was vast.

If that island was ever found, Elior would destroy it without hesitation.

With that, they walked right past Dragon.

"I'll be waiting for you... in Paradise."

Elior didn't forget to leave a parting message.

By now, Kizaru, the other marines, and the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates were all watching Elior's group with cold eyes.

They had never seen such arrogance—not from a pirate, but from someone acting like a pirate within the Marine's own stronghold.

He had stormed into Marineford with swagger, and now he was leaving the same way.

How could the Marine not seethe with anger?

Nearby stood the Redfield, glaring daggers at Elior. Their earlier clash had left his upper clothes in tatters, and his eyes burned with rage.

"Are you ready for the changes about to sweep the New World?"

Elior grinned at Kong, the elderly yet imposing commander-in-chief of the entire World Government military.

Kong said nothing, simply staring back.

Seeing him, Elior couldn't help but feel validated in his earlier decision to break the Redfield and others out of Impel Down. If he hadn't, there was a real chance he'd have been crushed between Kong and Garp — both of them top-tier combatants capable of holding back even legends.

Only beings of their level could suppress men like Elior.

Ten minutes later, under the watchful gaze of countless eyes, Elior and his group of ten boarded their ship. No one dared stop them — even if they wanted to, they couldn't.

Elior's record spoke for itself: he'd killed CP0's strongest operative, slain Admiral Aokiji, severely wounded Admiral Akainu, and finally, killed Whitebeard.

Such a resume was enough to make even the most ferocious monsters of the New World think twice before making a move.

For a while, Elior could enjoy some peace.

"Damn it! What the hell were we doing in this war?!" Smoker cursed, throwing his weapons to the ground in frustration. All they did was watch Elior leave.

"Hina had no choice" Hina muttered. " Even though I'm furious... that monster looked at me with such wicked eyes just now. It felt... revolting."

She frowned, recalling Elior's gaze — as if he wanted to devour her whole.

But now, they were gone.

"This time... the Marine Headquarters might have to witness the rise of a new emperor" Kizaru said quietly, his usual flippant tone gone, replaced by a rare seriousness tinged with melancholy.

Elsewhere, Shanks turned to Sengoku.

"Now that the war's over... I ask you to let me take Whitebeard's body. I won't allow anyone to defile it."

Back when Roger was executed, his body was left on public display for days. Shanks wouldn't allow Whitebeard to suffer the same humiliation.

"Please... grant me that dignity."

Shanks' voice was solemn as he faced Sengoku.