On the ice, the collapsed warship emitted earth-shaking explosions as a billowing mushroom cloud of black smoke rose into the air.

The sudden, massive explosion caught even Akainu and Garp completely off guard.

The Marine soldiers serving as logistics and messengers on board didn't even have time to utter a sound before being obliterated in the blast.

Amid the flames, Akainu stood unwavering, molten lava oozing from his body as a scorching killing intent erupted from him.

"Who dares to attack a Marine warship?!"

WHOOSH!

Garp strode out from the flames, his body unleashing a powerful shockwave that dispersed the air within a hundred-meter radius, expelling all oxygen.

The raging fires on the warship were instantly snuffed out by an invisible force.

Garp gritted his teeth and let out a low, furious growl as he surveyed the charred corpses scattered across the wreckage of the shattered warship.

Akainu smashed through a large section of the blackened hull with a single punch, revealing the two figures entangled within.

"Red Hair! And Gecko Moria! Of all people! What madness drove you to destroy my warship?!"

Akainu's rage flared, molten lava surging violently from his right fist.

"Red Hair Shanks? The man who led Luffy down the path of piracy dares to attack our warship so brazenly? It seems he must be dealt with... Hm? Wait, he appears to be severely injured."

Garp followed behind Akainu, his face twisted in anger.

When he saw the broken half of Shanks' sword, Griffin, in his hand, Garp's pupils constricted.

Akainu noticed it too.

Shanks' body was practically embedded into Moria's stomach, blood pouring from his eyes and mouth—a truly pitiful sight.

Moria was in even worse shape.

His eyes were rolled back, mouth agape, face frozen in pain and shock, his body curled like a boiled shrimp.

Even as the flames from the recent explosion licked at him, Moria remained unconscious, his clothes completely burned away.

Akainu was stunned.

Though he despised pirates with every fiber of his being, he had to admit that Red Hair Shanks hadn't become an Emperor of the Sea through sheer luck like Buggy the Clown.

Like Whitebeard, Kaido, and Charlotte Linlin, he had earned his place among the Yonko through overwhelming strength, forged in countless battles.

Had it not been for the fear of the Red Hair Pirates during the Summit War two years ago, the remaining members of the Whitebeard Pirates might have all perished at Marineford.

Seeing Shanks in such a state, Akainu raised his fist.

"Garp, it seems their Tea Party didn't go as planned. The pirates must have clashed—violently, if it sent Red Hair flying here. Regardless, this is a good thing. Let's end Red Hair here and now. This might just be the breakthrough the Marines need in the New World!"

Scorching lava surged forth.

Without waiting for Garp's response, Akainu swung his molten fist down at Shanks and Moria.

Shing!

Shanks, who had been lying motionless with his eyes closed, suddenly reacted.

Raising the broken Griffin, he blocked Akainu's magma fist.

Hum!

A torrent of Conqueror's Haki erupted.

With a sharp flick of his wrist, black-red lightning crackled along the broken blade as Shanks pushed back with all his might, attempting to repel Akainu.

A cruel smirk twisted Akainu's lips as the magma in his fist condensed further, taking the shape of a snarling hound's maw.

"MEIGO!!"

The blazing magma unleashed overwhelming force, crushing Shanks' resistance and sending him flying with a single punch.

BOOM!

A searing pillar of magma erupted, its terrifying heat blasting both Shanks and Moria away.

"GYAAAAH! IT BURNS! Akainu?! Who am I? Where am I? What's happening?!"

Moria, splattered with scalding magma, screamed in agony as his skin smoked and blistered, the pain jolting him awake.

"Shadow Doppelganger! Hollow Shadow!"Moria screamed as his obese body instantly turned pitch black, transforming into a shadowy void before vanishing completely under the watchful eyes of Akainu and Garp.

Hundreds of meters away, a loud crash echoed as Moria plummeted headfirst into the ice.

This technique, Shadow Void, was Moria's ultimate escape skill—turning his body into a shadow, allowing him to disappear instantly under sunlight or blend into darkness at night.

With this ability, he had once dominated the Summit War, slipped away from Doflamingo's grasp, toyed with Shiryu, and escaped from Hachinosu Island.

However, this technique demanded immense stamina.

Already severely injured, Moria had also been caught in Akainu's attacks, taking a partial hit from the Meigo shockwave.

Instantly, he could no longer hold on.

After fleeing just a few hundred meters, he plummeted from midair.

Moria was on the verge of tears.

'How is it that I, one of the Shichibukai, get beaten up everywhere I go?'

In Wano Country, he was beaten by Kaido.

On the Grand Line, he was beaten by Straw Hat Luffy.

At Marineford, he was beaten by Jinbei, then by Doflamingo.

In the New World, he was beaten by Shiryu.

Today was even worse—without even lifting a finger, he had been half-killed by Caesar's rampage.

And now, Akainu was pummeling him.

"Kishishishi... This unfair world... I'll make you all suffer one day..."

Meanwhile, high in the air, Shanks swung his broken sword once more.

A blinding slash tore through the air, engulfing Akainu and Garp.

"Hahaha! What's wrong, Red Hair? Where's your strength? Show it to me!"

Akainu charged headfirst through the storm of slashes, erupting with a ferocious pillar of molten magma.

He launched himself from the ground, his magma-clad fist smashing toward Shanks!

"Magma Hound: Crimson Lotus!!"

The volcanic eruption of magma struck Shanks, forcing a mouthful of blood from his lips.

His already battered body couldn't withstand the blow, and Akainu's punch sent him crashing down from the sky.

BOOM!!

A massive explosion erupted on the ice, sending countless shards flying in all directions.

Some even struck Akainu, instantly vaporizing into white mist against his scorching magma body.

"Hahaha! Seems like today's your unlucky day, Red Hair Shanks!" Akainu stomped midair, creating sonic booms as he used the Marine Six Powers' Moon Walk to reach the edge of the enormous ice crater.

His fist ignited with magma once more as he prepared to strike down into the pit—

"Black Blade—Flash!"

Suddenly, a cold yet slightly furious voice rang out.

A thin, black streak silently sliced across the icy battlefield from afar, carrying an aura of death.

Akainu felt a chill and immediately halted his attack, bracing for defense.

"Hawkeye Mihawk... Are you jumping into this mess too?"

Garp appeared coldly in front of Akainu, throwing a simple, unadorned punch toward the black streak.

BOOM!!

A deafening explosion erupted as the terrifying shockwave shattered the condensed slash, obliterating everything within hundreds of meters ahead!

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