Chapter 465: The Marines

'Exactly!'

Sakazuki's voice trembled.

'Two years ago, that monster appeared in Water Seven—not for the Pluton, but for the Golden Lion, more precisely, for the Golden Lion’s Paramecia fruit.'

'Only when the Golden Lion dies will the Paramecia fruit rebirth, giving him a chance to swallow a second Devil Fruit.'

'And this is merely the first step of his plan!'

'I even suspect that at that time, Knight Gao Wen had already obtained the Paramecia fruit, which is why he later devised the plan to seize Britannias and achieve immortality!'

'A body that cannot die, combined with the ability to lift an entire continent into the sky, will ultimately forge...'

'The last foothold for humanity on this planet!'

As Sakazuki’s astonished voice fell, all voices around him fell silent.

Only the waves of the sea grew faster, fiercer!

Visible massive waves rose one after another, like a flood of apocalypse ready to swallow the world.

And the ark of salvation is no longer in Mary Geoise—it is above the dome!

Contrary to the joy and excitement on everyone else’s faces, when Gao Wen’s plan occurred to him, Sakazuki’s expression grew heavier, more powerless.

Tsuru’s gaze fell on Sakazuki; their eyes met, both seeing the helplessness in each other’s hearts.

Some words.

They did not speak them aloud.

If the world truly develops as Sakazuki predicted, it may soon face an unprecedented tyrant.

Unlike the World Government, where some still dare to cry out against rebellion, Gao Wen who reaches this point can almost be said to be single-handedly holding up humanity’s future.

Who dares defy such a being?!

Who could possibly defy him?!

Sakazuki opened his mouth, a thousand thoughts in his heart, but only turned to look at Aokiji and the others, asking:

'Britannias...'

'What kind of nation is it?!'

Aokiji froze, pulling his gaze from the rising continent, recalling everything he had seen in Britannias, and could not help but praise:

'I think I understand your concern, Master Sakazuki.'

'I cannot describe to you everything about Britannias—it is too astonishing, too beyond imagination.'

'All I can tell you are a few entries already recorded in the Marine investigation files.'

'Britannias has no nobility, no Celestial Dragons; equality is written into its constitution.'

Kizaru’s expression hardened, and he nodded:

'I confirm it.'

'It is true.'

Sakazuki stared, silent for a long while, then sighed deeply, murmuring:

'Zefa...'

'You were right!'

Those around him froze, expressions complex—mixing memories of a respected elder and mourning for a fallen comrade.

Zefa’s physical body was destroyed, but his will still endures.

When Zefa stormed Mary Geoise and then defected to Britannias, even within the Marines, his actions were once criticized.

But as time passed, every seemingly absurd, irrational judgment Zefa made has gradually come to pass.

With the world’s destruction looming, the World Government, which should bear the duty of salvation, abandoned everything and fled to the moon—while the pirates Zefa once praised stepped forward...

Is this not irony?!

Click!

Click!

Karp clenched his fist, his cloak flaring without wind, grinning fiercely:

'Forget all that sentimental nonsense—I’ve wanted to beat the hell out of Celestial Dragons for a long time!'

'Sakazuki!'

'Join me this time?!'

Sakazuki snapped back to reality, turning to look at Karp, dazed.

Time seemed to pull back decades—when they chased legends like Roger and Whitebeard, Karp’s face bore this same expression.

Now that I think about it...

Youth is truly wonderful!

Even after decades, though his body has aged and his strength no longer matches its former glory, his heart has not grown old!

I...

Boom—!

Sakazuki’s heart slammed hard, a surge of blood rushed to his skull, and he felt as if he were burning alive in that instant.

I haven’t grown old either!

Swish—!

Sakazuki tore off his coat bearing the word ‘Justice’ and tossed it into the sea; his back straightened at once:

'Then let’s go together!'

As his voice fell, cheers erupted across the deck!

'Together!'

'I’m done with this hypocritical life of serving Celestial Dragons like slaves!'

Vice Admiral Doflamingo spat, then copied the act, hurling his cloak into the sea.

The waves rose and fell; the cloak churned a few times before being swallowed by the sea.

'That’s right—we do the same things as pirates, yet we lie to ourselves with excuses of “the greater good.” To hell with your greater good!'

'A few years ago, when I escorted the Sky Gold, a ragged child spat at me and said pirates only steal and kill, but we... we’re cutting off their roots!'

Kuzan’s eyes burned red; his once gentle face now held a hint of ferocity.

At the same time, more and more people began voicing the resentment they had long suppressed.

'Back in Sabaody Archipelago, I saw those beasts kidnap several girls aged ten or eleven—and I had to stand guard for them...'

'I bit my molars to shards!'

'Celestial Dragons? Gods? Bullshit!'

'If they were truly saviors, how could they do such things? When gods betray us, we have every right to raise our blades!'

Spandam’s cigar glowed faintly; his half-closed eyes flashed with bloodthirsty light:

'So this time, shall we bathe in god’s blood?!'

'Interesting!'

As the crowd’s rage grew louder and more uncontrollable, one after another cloak designed by the World Government, bearing the word ‘Justice,’ was thrown into the sea.

Those who abandoned Justice now felt an indescribable, overwhelming sense of relief—they could finally do what was truly right.

Justice?

To hell with Justice!

'If that’s the case...'

Akainu stood before them, crimson magma swirling around him, nearly igniting his sleeves.

The air grew scorching—but it could not match the boiling blood within them!

'Then let’s complete Master Zefa’s unfinished mission—go to Mary Geoise and drag those pigs off their thrones.'

'No need.'

Sakazuki shook his head, his gaze fixed on Britannias high above:

'At this point, the Five Elders—no, even the monster on the Empty Throne can no longer sit idle.'

'Britannias... will be the next battlefield!!'

A figure landed.

Everyone present stiffened; an immense, wordless dread settled over their hearts.

For an unprecedented malice and darkness had come from Britannias in the distance—the sun in the sky seemed to dim at that very moment!

The monster in Mary Geoise has moved!

All present realized this; as high-ranking Marines, they knew better than anyone how terrifying the monster atop the Empty Throne—who had ruled the world for eight hundred years and towered above the Five Elders—truly was.

Yet not a single person showed fear.

Not one!

Sakazuki’s face was grim as he turned to Akainu beside him:

'Sakazuki!'

'I know!'

Akainu grinned, swept off his cloak with a wave of his hand, adjusted his hat, and roared:

'Now... go do what you believe is right!'

At the same time.

Off the coast of Britannias.

After Kid fired an electromagnetic cannon that shattered the incoming giant wave, the Straw Hat Pirates also saw the continent rising into the sky.

For a moment, all things fell silent.

“Britannias… is an air island?!”

Brook asked in confusion.

Decades ago, he too had once adventured at sea with his companions.