Chapter 463: The Overture to the Sky City Era!

The people on the deck fell into a long silence.

The phone worm in Akainu’s arms rang at that moment.

Bubu-bubu—!

The urgent ringing, like a demon of death, beat against the hearts of everyone present.

At a time like this, who else but the Five Elders, seated in Mary Geoise and remotely controlling this war, would dare call the Marine Fleet Admiral?!

Everyone present knew the Five Elders’ orders would never be to retreat!

A few breaths later.

Akainu took a deep breath and reluctantly answered the call.

“Sakazuki!”

Satan’s voice, seemingly calm yet unmistakably wild with fear, came through the phone worm’s receiver—anyone could sense his unease.

It was an ineffable terror of Britannias, of Gao Wen, and of the one seated upon the Void Throne.

“Advance!”

“Storm Britannias!”

Akainu’s breath caught, his mind freezing for an instant.

The image of the ancient weapon annihilating every enemy at Britannias’ border still burned before his eyes; the helplessness and insignificance of man facing a natural disaster still clung to his heart.

“Don’t make me laugh!”

Akainu bit his gums until they bled:

“Britannias possesses an ancient weapon—they are already invincible! The Marine forces, against such a destructive arm, are nothing but cold numbers!”

“One more shot, and everything will be erased!”

“We…”

“That’s why this war must be fought on Britannias’ homeland!”

Satan’s voice whispered like a demon’s, sending a bone-deep chill through the Marine high command.

They understood Satan’s meaning perfectly.

If this battle took place on Britannias’ soil, Knight Gao Wen, fearing collateral damage, might very well refrain from using the ancient weapon.

But as Marines, as those who stand for justice—when did we sink so low as to force an enemy to surrender their weapon by sacrificing civilian lives?

Everyone present felt a searing pain on their faces.

Justice had been nearly shattered.

“Don’t make me laugh!”

“Fuck you!”

Akainu could no longer contain his rage; he forgot all notions of rank and hierarchy and cursed outright.

He didn’t want to be this damn Fleet Admiral for another day!

Neither Warlord nor Crane made any move to correct Akainu this time.

The word “Justice” printed on their coats now weighed a thousand catties, crushing their breaths!

Satan’s voice, at last, grew calm:

“You should know.”

“Only the Lunar Ark is humanity’s sole salvation!”

“With Britannias and that man’s power, he may very well intervene—and when he does, humanity will be extinguished!”

“This is not a war for justice. This is a war for the survival of our race!”

“Sakazuki!”

“Is that all the capacity you have?!”

“Throw away your nonsense about justice—kill your way onto Britannias, now, immediately, without delay!”

“As for Knight Gao Wen…”

“He will come himself!”

Doo—!

The call ended.

Akainu stood at the bow, silent for a long time.

For the first time since swallowing the Magma Fruit, he felt the sea wind’s coldness—a chill deep in his bones.

He turned his gaze toward Britannias in the distance, staring at the continent at the horizon’s end.

Shame nearly burned him alive, yet the last shred of reason in his heart made him choose the only correct decision!

Lunar Ark!

The World Government’s Lunar Ark was the only path to survival!

The last hope for humanity’s continuation!

But…

But how many lives would this next war claim?

How many of the Marines on these ships would even make it onto the World Government’s escape vessels?!

The number was so cold, Akainu refused to face it.

“Sakazuki!”

Warlord’s voice came through; his wrinkles deepened instantly, his whole body radiating the decay of a man nearing death.

His eyes were bloodshot, yet still unbearably resolute!

“We must do what is right!”

“To hell with right!”

Akainu exploded:

“If doing what’s right means sending my men to die for monsters no better than pigs, then I’d rather see the world burn!”

Even if T Bone were still alive, he’d never want to live in a world like that!

At the mention of T Bone’s name, Akainu’s eyes filled with bloodshot veins; his gaze toward Britannias turned feral.

“If we seize the World Government’s Lunar Ark, what are our chances?!”

“At least…”

“At least the last survivors shouldn’t be only those pigs, right?”

Hoo—!

The sea wind surged, biting cold against their bodies.

Warlord opened his mouth but had no reply.

Crane stared at Akainu, equally speechless.

“Bold!”

Garp, rarely smiling at Akainu, now grinned—his violent Haki surged around him, summoning thunder from the void!

Aokiji, Kizaru, and Ryokugyu felt electric currents flood their bodies—because this path…

Could work!

Aokiji saw one layer deeper, a faint smile touching his lips:

“If Marine strength alone is insufficient, then…”

He turned toward Britannias and said:

“What if we add that monster’s power? Even the World Government, even the one atop the clouds, couldn’t stand against it?!”

Everyone present felt their hearts skip a beat.

Even the ever-cautious, ever-rational Warlord grew excited.

He was about to speak when the warship beneath them lurched violently—even the men on deck nearly lost their balance!

“What’s happening?!”

“Residual effects of the ancient weapon?!”

“No!”

“No—it’s Britannias’ homeland! Something new has changed!”

…

World Government, Mary Geoise.

The battle outside the Pangu City ended at an unimaginable speed.

Rayleigh and the others who had stormed Mary Geoise to rescue Jia Ba’s wife and children once again faced Im, who had appeared at the Valley of the Gods over thirty years ago.

In a single glance, Im’s power to forcibly dominate Loxs transformed them all into members of the Demon Army.

This farce ended before it even began.

Im stood silently at the center of Mary Geoise.