Chapter 42: The Holy War on Ohara (Final)

West Blue, Ohara waters.

In the distance, thick smoke rolled and cannons roared across Ohara; once again, Seven was enveloped by the long-forgotten feeling of failure: if only he had arrived sooner, he wouldn’t be here now, wasting his time.

What a failure—even with a god’s-eye view, history does not bend to individual will.

“Sorry, Issei, we’re too late.”

Issei gripped his sword, Gambler’s Fireline: “Captain, there may still be survivors on the island.”

Seven nodded heavily: “Prepare for battle.”

Even if we’re late, save one if we can.

Whoever opposes the World Government—regardless of motive or chance of success—I, Barzab Seven, will stand by them.

The East Sea Emperor surged forward, racing toward Ohara’s coastline from the opposite side of the Marine ships.

On the Marine ships, the lookout shouted.

“General Sakazuki, an unknown vessel has appeared to the northeast—should we open fire?”

“Fire!”

At Sakazuki’s command, ten Marine ships turned their prows and unleashed full firepower toward the red-sailed dragon-headed vessel.

Boom～Boom～Boom～

A dense curtain of cannonballs sealed off every direction around the East Sea Emperor.

On deck, Mihawk had just drawn his black blade, Night, when Issei stepped forward.

“Mr. Mihawk, leave it to me.”

Issei drew his sword, Gambler’s Fireline—but did not unsheathe it. Gravity waves spread like concentric ripples, dragging the incoming hail of cannonballs straight into the sea.

Then—

Countless purple gravity rings erupted around Issei, like a relay race, instantly reaching the sky and forcibly dragging down two extraterrestrial meteorites.

“Captain, Mihawk and I will hold off the Marines. Please take the survivors aboard.”

“No need for that.”

The moment Seven drew his blade—

Crimson-black Haki solidified into tangible lightning, radiating from Dream One at near-light speed, instantly covering the entire sea.

Dream One: 100% Haki boost.

Of the three types of Haki, Seven’s Conqueror’s Haki was the strongest; amplified by 100%, its power was apocalyptic and terrifying beyond measure.

On the ten ships, over ten thousand Marines rolled their eyes back and collapsed like dominoes, all unconscious in an instant.

In the space of a single glance.

The massive Marine force sent to execute the Holy War on Ohara now had only Sakazuki and three other admirals still standing.

The East Sea Emperor docked steadily at shore; Seven looked at Mihawk and Issei.

“Mihawk, Issei—yours.”

“Yes, Captain.”

Seven rushed ashore to retrieve the books and search for survivors; Mihawk, with his flying bamboo dragonfly on his head, lifted Issei and leapt from the deck to the shore.

At this moment, the two meteorites Issei had summoned had broken through the clouds and were plummeting toward the Marine fleet.

“Look up—up there…”

The falling meteorites grew larger as they neared, their massive shadows swallowing the fleet, crushing the air from lungs.

Mousedeer stood beside Sakazuki, throat dry, struggling to swallow twice.

“Th-this… a meteor?!”

The Devil Fruits of the three Marine monsters were already monstrous—but compared to the shock of the meteorites, they seemed almost gentle.

“Magma Burst.”

Sakazuki roared, adding a warning: “Watch out for debris!”

If the meteorites struck, the ten thousand unconscious Marines would drown without a trace.

Violent explosions erupted as Sakazuki shattered both meteorites into countless fragments, spraying them across the sea and churning up massive waves.

Sakazuki narrowed his eyes, finding that white hair painfully glaring.

“Barzab Seven!”

“Joraul Mihawk!”

“They really are together.”

The news from Marine Headquarters had seemed exaggerated to Sakazuki at first.

But now, Barzab alone had wiped out ten thousand soldiers—and with Mihawk and another purple-robed swordsman taunting on shore, Sakazuki’s rage boiled over.

“Barzab! You deserve to die!!”

Sakazuki immediately liquefied his lower body, activating magma jets, surging from the ship toward the shore.

“Meteor Volcano!”

Fists of magma, like a rain of falling stars, rained down from the sky, attacking from all directions.

Issei swung his blade, countering with layers of gravity waves and furious magma.

“Gravity Blade: Tiger.”

Meanwhile, the other three Marine admirals, led by Mousedeer, used Moon Step to reach shore and encircle Mihawk.

“Joraul Mihawk, how could a man like you side with pirates?”

Though they had just parted, Mihawk already missed Captain Seven—if he were here, he’d retort with fiery words.

Do I need Marine permission to do what I want?

Unlike now, where he could only answer with his blade: a cultured man’s retort would be beneath him.

Unlike the fierce battle ashore—

Another Marine admiral, Kuzan, sat on a rock, chatting with a small, dark-skinned, tearful black-haired girl.

“Absolute justice…

Sometimes turns people into weapons.”

“I had prepared a ship for you, hoping to see what kind of seed Sauro died protecting would grow into.”

“Now… go with him.”

The moment he finished speaking, crackling electricity coalesced into a human form.

Looking at the figure before him, Kuzan’s obscured eyes behind his sunglasses revealed no emotion.

“Barzab Seven.”

“Hurry along—the World Government and Marines will send the new Fleet Admiral, Kizaru, to reinforce us.”

Kuzan had always resisted the Holy War, and Barzab had once reached the Final Island—he was the pirate least motivated by Ohara scholars’ goals.

For the girl, it was a good fate.

“Thank you.”

As Seven lifted the dark-skinned girl, Kuzan asked:

“What’s your pirate crew called?”

“Morning Star Pirates. I’m the captain, Mihawk is vice-captain, and our full crew member is Tenghu Issei.”

“Morning Star?” Kuzan mused: “The brightest star in the night sky before dawn?”

“Yeah,” Seven said casually. “The star that vanishes when the sun rises.”

“See you.”

After delivering the girl to the East Sea Emperor, Seven made several trips back to the island, rescuing a few surviving Ohara scholars still breathing.

Then, a barrage of flying slashes engulfed Sakazuki.

“Mihawk, Issei—retreat.”

Mihawk unleashed a flying slash, shattering the three admirals, then shot skyward; Issei used the debris kicked up by Sakazuki’s attack to leap into the air.

On shore, Sakazuki’s face turned ashen, his cigar snapped between his teeth.

“Born-evil pirate brat!”

Seven treated Sakazuki’s rage as mere impotent shouting—he’d never lost a verbal duel in his life: Come on, let’s hurt each other!

“Hey, Red Dog, is this how the Marines kill civilians to prove their so-called justice?”

“Serving as a dog and feeling superior about it?”

“Tsk tsk tsk tsk.”

“If I were you, I wouldn’t even have the guts to wear that Zhengyi cloak. But you? Your face must be thicker than a whale’s hide—even I, this born-evil pirate brat, can’t stand it.”

In midair, Mihawk stayed silent.

That’s the spirit—keep going, don’t stop.

Issei stared in shock—his captain’s other side… that mouth… was truly infuriating.

Sakazuki laughed bitterly with rage.

“Dare not run away.”

“Fine.”

Seven drew his blade and unleashed a flying slash at full speed, signaling Mihawk to set sail and leave first.

The Magma Fruit’s power was too terrifying—they had to wait until the East Sea Emperor was out of Sakazuki’s range before truly retreating.

Seven didn’t want his newly purchased East Sea Emperor to be destroyed by magma on its maiden voyage—not because he cared about the 100 repair points, but because it was bad luck.

At this moment, Kuzan, who had vanished since the Holy War, finally arrived.

"Sakazuki, I'll hold them off."

Although some minor mishaps occurred during the execution of the Holy War Order, the surface duties must still be carried out—otherwise, what good is a Vice Admiral?

Kuzan and Isshine moved farther away from the two combatants and also distanced themselves from the East Sea Emperor, and upon sensing their intent, Isshine silently memorized this Vice Admiral of Justice, cold on the outside but warm within.

Unlike the two others’ health-preserving duel.

At another battlefield, Sakazuki fought with near-mad desperation, solely intent on killing Seven as quickly as possible.

"Great Eruption."

Every time Sakazuki attempted a long-range attack to shatter the East Sea Emperor, Mihawk blocked it with his black blade, Yoru.

"Dog Bite: Crimson Lotus!"

Sakazuki’s lava-hardened arm solidified into a grotesque dog’s head, surging with scorching magma and an aura of destruction, lunging to tear into Seven.

CLANG~

The sharp clash pierced the air.

Seven slashed his blade swiftly, precisely intercepting the lava-dog’s head and neutralizing the lethal strike.

In the next instant, his Conqueror’s Observation Haki erupted violently, forcibly overwhelming Sakazuki’s Observation Haki and blanking his perception.

In a flash, Seven’s other fist—wrapped in Conqueror’s and Armament Haki—struck Sakazuki’s cheek with pinpoint accuracy.

THUD~

The muffled impact deafened the air.

Under the blow, Sakazuki’s cheekbones caved in, his lips split, and blood like lava sprayed across his twisted face,

and his entire body flew dozens of meters like a severed puppet, crashing heavily to the ground.

From the start of the duel, Seven’s suppressed Observation Haki finally revealed its strategic power.

"Pity," Seven murmured regretfully.

If he had mastered Garp’s Infinite Fist Bones, that punch alone could’ve kept Sakazuki bedridden for half a year—not just injured as he was now.

While Sakazuki was still shaking his head, Seven had already unleashed dozens of Flying Cuts.

PUFF! PUFF! PUFF!

The Flying Cuts struck one after another; though Sakazuki now looked like a bloody rag, he rose as if nothing had happened and resumed fighting Seven.

Far out at sea, Mihawk steered the East Sea Emperor and casually slashed out Flying Cuts to block the pursuit of three Marine Vice Admirals.

Having accepted the position of Vice Captain of the Morning Star Pirates for only two years, he had already clashed with three Marine Vice Admirals: Borsalino, Sakazuki, and Kuzan.

Captain Seven—no wonder he was a crewman of Pirate King Roger. He truly has guts.

The fighter Isshine… is also quite impressive.

Of the Morning Star Pirates’ three crewmen, Mihawk had time to comment on the battle, Isshine sparred with Kuzan in a health-preserving duel, and Seven fought Sakazuki with blood in his eyes.

The battle intensified further; after a full day and night of relentless combat, even though Seven had not suffered serious injury,

the constant maintenance of Conqueror’s Haki and Conqueror’s Observation Haki drained his Haki at an exponential rate, leaving him gasping for breath.

Moreover, though he didn’t know why Kizaru hadn’t arrived yet, he couldn’t bet that Kizaru would never come.

Seeing this, Sakazuki grinned with a bloodied mouth.

"Kid, running out of stamina?"

Seven smiled brightly, pulled a Senzu Bean from his system space, wiped his mouth, and casually swallowed it.

"Red Dog, Grandpa’s coming."

Seven instantly returned to full condition.

His Dream One Sword, wrapped in Conqueror’s and Armament Haki, unleashed Flying Cuts laced with electromagnetic storms, fiercer than before.

Sakazuki gritted his teeth and, without the aid of Observation Haki, relied purely on combat experience to block wave after wave of attacks.

"Damn thick blood!" Seven muttered.

No wonder he lasted so long in the Marineford War.

Sakazuki was like a cockroach that wouldn’t die—each time Seven knocked him flying, he rose again within the next second to resume fighting.

This kind of tank is truly annoying.

His health is absurdly high, his attack power is terrifyingly strong—he’s a perfect hexagonal warrior.

One slip, and you’re either wounded or crippled.

Seven had been using lightning to stimulate his body all along, pushing his senses and Observation Haki to their limits, because his attacks could only wound Sakazuki—but Sakazuki’s attacks… were lethal.

Besides, Seven had already enjoyed the fight.

Continuing to battle this young, strong Sakazuki would lead nowhere—neither could defeat the other, and it would only waste more Senzu Beans.

The goal had already been achieved.

The East Sea Emperor had vanished beyond his perception; Seven levitated midair, one hand summoning an electromagnetic storm that swept across ten Marine warships, destroying their power systems.

"Bye-bye, Red Dog."

Seven shot upward.

In a few Flash Steps, he reached another battlefield, slashed several Flying Cuts at Kuzan, then grabbed Isshine and chased after the East Sea Emperor.

Kuzan was left standing alone, staring at the direction they vanished, his emotions unreadable.

For Marines—who should protect civilians—to launch a Holy War Order was already highly abnormal; for pirates to rescue several people from Marine artillery fire seemed even more absurd.

"What a chaotic world."

When Kuzan returned to shore, Sakazuki was staring blankly at the ten completely disabled warships on the sea.

"Notify Marine Headquarters..."

Kuzan interrupted: "I’ll handle it."

West Blue, East Sea Emperor.

Seven waved off the Ohara scholar who wanted to thank him, flashed to the captain’s cabin, and immediately pulled out a Den Den Mushi.

After fighting Sakazuki for a full day and night,

he had spent only one Senzu Bean to successfully recruit Isshine aboard, plus an extra bonus: four erudite Ohara scholars.

If Seven were already an adult, his body fully matured, he wouldn’t have needed even one Senzu Bean.

But he was only seventeen.

And his opponent was thirty-three, in his prime.

But this meant he had directly torn the veil with the World Government—he must warn his family to be cautious.

"Uncle Lei Li, I need a favor."

"Tell all the crew to hide quickly—I’ve destroyed the Marine Holy War fleet. The World Government will almost certainly come after you."

"Nani?!" Lei Li’s expression turned grave.

"Kid Seven, you really are something!"

Sabaody Archipelago, Knocking on the Door Bar.

Lei Li hung up the Den Den Mushi and hurriedly whispered to Xia Qi.

Xia Qi stared in shock, forgetting to smoke the cigarette burning between her fingers: "I think... I should go hide with you for ten or twenty days."

Lei Li didn’t hesitate: "It’s been a while since I last saw Jia Ba. Let’s head to Amazon Lily first, then take a vacation to Elbaf."

Lei Li and his wife wasted no time, dismissed their customers, packed lightly, and sailed away from Sabaody Archipelago.

Knocking on the Door Bar was unusually closed during the day.

On the other side, aboard the East Sea Emperor,

Seven soaked in the bathtub. Though he held clear superiority over Sakazuki, that was only after pushing his spirit and energy to the extreme and consuming one Senzu Bean to restore full condition.

If they kept fighting, neither could defeat the other.

Sakazuki... was truly formidable.

Buzzzzzzz~

After pressing the Den Den Mushi’s answer button, Seven pulled the receiver away from his ear: "Moshi moshi."

"Barzab Seven, what exactly are you trying to do?"

Seven stared at the Den Den Mushi and asked the soul-question: "Who the hell are you?"

Den Den Mushi: "Five Elders, Wochuli."

Seven realized: "Hello, hello."

Den Den Mushi: "Barzab Seven, you interfered with the Holy War Order. What exactly are you after?"

Seven climbed out of the bathtub.

"First, I sincerely apologize—but I did not interfere with the execution of the Holy War Order. Ohara is already in ruins."

"Second, you know this—

I have no interest in history, and I only took one little girl. Don’t worry—I guarantee she’ll stay by my side for the next thirty years."

Den Den Mushi: "Your guarantee is meaningless. Hand her over, and we’ll pretend this never happened. Otherwise, prepare for endless pursuit by the World Government and the Marines."

Seven rubbed his temples and sighed.

"If that’s how it is, I’ll have to reveal the existence of a certain someone to this entire sea."

Red Line, Mary Geoise.

Inside the Pangu City, the Five Elders stared at each other, sweat pouring down their foreheads.

Den Den Mushi grinned: "How about a deal?"

Wochuli: "Speak."

The Five Elders were betting: that Barzab Seven did not know of the Great One’s existence, and that those just now were merely scare tactics.

The Den Den Mushi stretched its voice: “Yi...”

“Deal!”

Wuqiu Li Sheng glared and scowled: “Barzab Seven, this matter is dropped.”

“Thank you.”