Chapter 243

"Then have them duel immediately; is there any time to delay in the current situation?"

"Kong, give the order: no matter who becomes Fleet Admiral, the first task is to conduct a world military draft!"

"Facing the aggressive stance of the Fifth Emperor Luo Xing and the Beasts Pirates, we must increase our new combat power!"

"In addition, you must also conduct a total mobilization of the entire army, ready at all times for an all-out war with the Beasts Pirates!"

214. The Battle of the Navy Admirals, Aokiji vs. Akainu! Their Respective Justice!

The Beasts Pirates' current territory, besides their home base of Wano,

Includes Dressrosa, Punk Hazard, the Sabaody Archipelago, and the Germa Kingdom in the North Blue on the surface.

Temporarily unknown to outsiders, they also have Alabasta and the surrounding villages in the East Blue where Nami is.

And during the Summit War period,

Kaido and Big Mom formed an alliance and occupied Whitebeard’s territory in the New World, doubling their territory again.

Nowadays.

Luo Xing had launched a war in the North Blue, intending to use Germa’s clone soldier legion to carve the North Blue out of the World Government’s jurisdiction.

Once successful, it would mean the foundation of the World Government, which had ruled the seas for eight hundred years, had been completely shaken!

After all,

These seas were composed of the four major seas of East, West, South, and North, as well as the Grand Line and the Red Line.

If the North Blue fell, it would be equivalent to the World Government’s territory shrinking by a quarter.

Coupled with the second half of the Grand Line, the New World, except for a few forces like the Red Hair Pirates, was basically under the control of the Beasts Pirates.

The overall strength and territory of the Beasts Pirates were already enough to go toe-to-toe with the World Government!

Even if the Five Elders had no brains, they could see this clearly.

The threat of the Beasts Pirates right now was even far greater than that of Rocks and the Pirate King Roger back in the day!

The World Government could no longer hold anything back; they had to gather more troops and combat power, ready at all times to start a real, massive war that would affect the whole world with the Beasts Pirates!

This was also the order and consideration of Lord Imu!

Therefore.

The Five Elders directly ordered Kong to conduct a total mobilization of the entire army on a global scale, which meant gathering the troops of the World Government scattered in various places.

Once these troops were gathered, it would be an army of at least hundreds of thousands!

But even with so many troops, the Five Elders still felt it wasn't enough.

They also demanded that the Navy conduct a world military draft to increase more combat power to deal with the growing threat of the Beasts Pirates.

"Let Akainu and Aokiji decide the winner quickly; the Navy has no time to wait for them!"

These were the Five Elders' original words, which soon reached the ears of Akainu and Aokiji.

The two looked at each other and tacitly came to a deserted island far away from Marineford.

In the original story,

The great battle between Akainu and Aokiji took place on Punk Hazard and permanently changed the climate of Punk Hazard, turning it into an ice-and-fire island.

But now Punk Hazard was the territory of the Beasts Pirates, guarded by King the Conflagration, so they naturally couldn't choose that place again.

On the deserted island.

Akainu’s injuries from the Summit War had recovered, but he was left with a few permanent scars on his face and neck, all caused by the world’s strongest man, Whitebeard.

In contrast,

The unscathed Aokiji and Kizaru had basically been slacking off during the Summit War.

Their hard work and contributions were far from comparable to Akainu’s.

However,

Even with such great contributions and hard work, Sengoku was still determined to let Aokiji succeed him as Fleet Admiral. How could Akainu not feel angry and dissatisfied?

This was too unfair!

Fortunately, there were voices within the Navy that supported Akainu.

Especially the top brass like the Five Elders, who favored Akainu more, giving Akainu the opportunity to compete fairly with Aokiji for the position of Fleet Admiral.

Akainu looked at Aokiji opposite him and said coldly:

"Admiral Admiral Kuzan, with your lazy personality, you are simply not suitable to be Fleet Admiral!"

Aokiji retorted unceremoniously:

"Sakazuki, even if I really lack motivation, the Navy can never be handed over to you under any circumstances!"

"Your justice is too extreme! Do you still remember that civilian ship you shelled at Ohara?!"

A smirk appeared on Akainu’s lips, and he said laughably:

"I didn't expect you to still remember such a long-ago event."

Then, his smile gradually turned cold, cold enough to make one’s heart chill.

"I don't think I did anything wrong in that matter!"

"What if there were still hidden scholars on that civilian ship?"

"For the safety of the world, I would rather kill a hundred by mistake than let one go!"

Aokiji’s expression sank.

Sakazuki was indeed as extremely radical as ever, and his philosophy was completely incompatible with his own.

Aokiji took a deep breath and said:

"Since that’s the case, there’s no need for more nonsense; let’s decide the winner with strength!"

"Just what I wanted!"

Akainu shouted and struck first:

"Great Eruption!"

A giant magma fist blasted out.

Aokiji was fearless.

He also threw a giant ice fist, clashing head-on with Akainu.

This duel between ice and magma, the two mutually countered each other, making it hard to determine a winner.

But neither of them was willing to take a step back, and both chose to fight to the death.

Although they were not enemies, but rather comrades who had worked together for many years,

For the sake of their respective justice, they had to hold the belief of killing the other!

This unprecedented, world-shaking battle between Navy Admirals lasted for a full ten days and ten nights.

The final winner was Sakazuki Akainu.

Aokiji lay on the ground, covered in blood, with one leg burned away by magma.

Akainu panted heavily, with a huge scar on his upper body, but he still stood.

"I won, Admiral Admiral Kuzan..."

Akainu said with a hoarse throat, clenching his fist, magma surging out, seemingly wanting to end Aokiji right there.

However, looking at his former comrade who had no strength left to resist, Akainu, whose heart was like iron, felt a trace of reluctance.

Akainu ultimately gave up on killing Aokiji. He turned and walked toward Marineford, saying without looking back:

"Watch closely, Admiral Admiral Kuzan; I will make you understand that only under my leadership will the Navy move in the right direction!"

"The lazy, soft justice you insist on has no effect at all in this increasingly intense Great Pirate Era!"

"Admiral Admiral Kuzan, one last warning: if you fall from grace in the future and I run into you again, I won't show mercy!"

Akainu left.

He would create a new Navy different from any previous era as the new Fleet Admiral.

And Aokiji, as the loser, lay on the ground, unable to come back to his senses for a long time.

I don't know how much time passed,

Aokiji made a leg out of ice and stood up.

He looked toward Marineford and shook his head.

He could never return to the Navy.

And where should he go next?

Aokiji couldn't help but remember what the mysterious Fifth Emperor Luo Xing had said to him more than ten days ago.

That person seemed to have expected long ago that he wouldn't be able to compete with Akainu, and had actually invited him to join the Beasts Pirates at that time.

Aokiji initially thought this invitation was absurd.