With the execution and Sakazuki’s declaration of war concluded, the live broadcast switched back to the burning Sabaody Archipelago.

It also signified that this war, which would decide the future of the world, had reached its most critical stage.

Everyone watching was filled with excitement as they stared unblinkingly at the Sabaody Archipelago being devoured by flames on the screen.

It was as if those blazing fires represented the current Marines, burning away all darkness in the world.

All of them eagerly awaited the arrival of that moment...

* * *

New World, New Marineford.

Inside the Fleet Admiral’s office, Bullet sat leaning against the sofa with his arms crossed while resting with his eyes closed.

Sengoku, who had been teleported here by Carlo, stood by the window looking out at the current Marine Headquarters with a dazed expression.

The Marines today could be called the strongest in history. Sengoku even suspected that the World Government itself might not be able to withstand the current Marines.

But none of that really had anything to do with him anymore. After this war ended, he planned to fully retire...

Carlo walked to the door and pulled it open.

Sakazuki, who had just finished his declaration of war, returned and directly entered the room. "How are things on Soter’s side?"

Carlo nodded. "It’s already done. He’s currently bringing them back."

Sakazuki softly grunted before asking, "And where has that fleet led by ’that man’ reached?"

"They’re currently crossing the Calm Belt. They should arrive at the designated location the day after tomorrow," Carlo answered.

Sakazuki nodded slightly. "When we deal with Knox later, go pick up Soter and send them to Egghead Island."

Carlo smiled. "Understood."

The order sounded completely ordinary, yet standing near the window, Sengoku had no idea that those few casual sentences had already decided the fate of Garp’s son and grandson...

Meanwhile, Bullet stood up and walked over to stand beside Carlo.

Sakazuki continued giving orders, "Pass down the command. Begin the full-scale encirclement according to the previous deployment plan. Completely crush those pirates inside the New World containment zone.

"And notify Garp, Borsalino, and Aramaki to remain on standby and prepare for battle at any moment.

"Now..."

His voice gradually turned icy and emotionless.

"Let’s deal with the first one..."

Sengoku also walked over from the window.

Carlo took out the locator device created by Vegapunk. After infiltrating the communication Den Den Mushi network, it displayed the real-time positions of the Four Emperors...

The four of them placed their hands on each other’s shoulders.

Carlo then took a deep breath and activated his ability.

Whoosh!

The group vanished from Headquarters...

* * *

New World, unknown sea region.

Scorching heat and the thick smell of sulfur filled the endless landscape. Dark clouds and volcanic ash blocked out the sunlight, covering everything in dimness. It felt less like the human world and more like hell itself...

Ever since Sakazuki detonated the New World, scenes like this could be found everywhere.

Even though Knox had descended into furious madness, he still could not escape after becoming completely lost here.

The destruction of the islands had rendered Eternal Poses useless. Now the only option left was to choose a direction and keep moving forward until an island was eventually found.

After being tricked by Sakazuki once again, the Four Emperors had even lost their final dignity and prestige, completely turning into laughingstocks.

At this point, none of that mattered anymore.

No one cared about rules any longer. Everyone only wanted to kill Marines. The more they killed, the better...

Not only had the Marines launched a full-scale offensive, but Big Mom and Kaido had also mobilized all their forces for a desperate counterattack.

And amidst this hellish landscape, Knox’s lower body had transformed into steam as he traveled in one direction after another. He had already chosen the wrong path many times.

But eventually, one direction had to be correct...

Unfortunately for him, he no longer had the chance.

Whoosh!

Four figures suddenly appeared several hundred meters directly ahead of him.

Knox’s pupils instantly shrank as an overwhelming sense of death surged from the top of his head. He abruptly stopped his charge while his body rapidly transformed into an elemental state.

In the distance, Bullet revealed a savage grin and instantly increased his speed a hundredfold. Almost at the exact moment Knox began elementalizing, Bullet appeared beside him.

He immediately entered his awakened form, transforming into a massive blue demon nearly a hundred meters tall. Dense ghostly energy fused with Haki gathered around the gigantic arms that stretched dozens of meters long, condensing into two enormous masses in his palms.

He slammed both hands together toward Knox in the center.

The ghostly clouds infused with all three types of Haki sealed off the entire area and forcefully interrupted Knox’s elemental transformation, forcing him back into his physical form.

Before Knox could even think of escaping, Sengoku, who was equally shocked by Bullet’s form, did not hesitate at all. He directly transformed into a hundred-meter-tall golden Buddha.

With several heavy steps through the air, he appeared opposite Bullet as a shockwave condensed in his palm.

Floating in midair, Sengoku also pressed his shockwave toward Knox, who was already being suppressed by the dense blue ghostly aura.

From afar, the scene looked unbelievable.

Two colossal giants stood opposite each other, one deep blue with the face of a demon as ghostly shadows swirled around his body, while the other was a majestic golden Buddha radiating holy light.

Two mythical beings that should have stood as opposites were instead working together to suppress a single man.

Their palms faced each other as blue and golden energy spheres spun violently between them. Traces of Conqueror’s Haki lightning crackled within.

The dense ghostly aura compressed the entire hundred-meter area around Knox, preventing him from elementalizing, while Sengoku’s golden shockwave continuously pressed inward, forcing Knox’s face into a twisted expression as he became completely unable to move.

Even his violent Conqueror’s Haki was nearly erased under the joint suppression of the two monsters. It could not exert even the slightest effect.

Far away, Sakazuki calmly watched the scene before speaking to Carlo beside him. "Go pick up Soter."

Carlo smiled. "Understood."

Whoosh!

He vanished instantly.

At the same time, Sakazuki’s right arm transformed into magma as thick black smoke rose from it.

Knox’s face twisted viciously under the suppression as he struggled to raise his head. The overwhelming sense of death made his scalp go numb as he looked toward the source of danger.

"SAKAZUKI!!!"

His voice was filled with hatred... and fear.

The instinctive fear all living beings felt toward death...

No one could escape it...

On the other side, magma condensed around Sakazuki’s arm as he coldly spoke.

"Hellhound."

A crimson light tore through the darkened sky.

Pshk!

The sound of flesh being pierced echoed out as the magma attack directly penetrated the energy sphere formed by the ghostly aura and shockwave.

At the center, Knox’s chest was pierced through. Most of his heart had been blown away, leaving the remaining fragments beating weakly...

Sakazuki slowly lowered his arm as the magma returned to normal. He silently watched Knox’s rapidly fading life force.

At this moment, Knox still could not believe it.

He had never imagined he would die so easily... so helplessly... just like this...

Using the last of his strength, Knox’s suppressed body trembled as he barely managed to raise his head.

Then...

He completely stopped moving.

’I refuse to...’

His presence vanished.

With all resistance gone, Knox’s compressed body began collapsing and exploding apart.

Sengoku withdrew the shockwave from his palm and returned to normal form, while Bullet also reverted to his ordinary state.

He reached out with his left hand and grabbed Knox’s head, then casually swung his right hand beneath the neck.

Bang!!!!

Knox’s body instantly exploded into a cloud of blood mist before completely scattering into nothingness...

**

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