Chapter 247

"Huh? What?"

Ivankov, as if not hearing the two voices, stared blankly and stunned at his back: "What an astonishing, terrifying Conqueror's Haki... even I was stunned for several seconds..."

Shanks, not far away, also sweated profusely: "This Conqueror's Haki... is probably even stronger than Big Mom, one of the Four Emperors. This is Luo En's power..."

On the square beneath the execution platform.

"This Conqueror's Haki..."

Green Bull scratched his head and asked: "General Karp, what do we do? Should I go over there?"

"No, just wait here for that kid."

Karp said.

His gaze fixed on that direction, he squinted: "But come to think of it, what an incredible aura... this Conqueror's Haki... may already rival Luo Jie's in his prime."

Momta listened to his words, her heart subtly shaken.

…

On the execution platform.

"The Haki of supreme dominance, of one standing alone above all—has this young man truly reached such a height...?"

General Tsuru closed his eyes and sighed.

"Conqueror's Haki isn't rare, but those who reach this level are few: Luo Jie, Whitebeard, and... Red-Haired Shanks. Now is another such person emerging?"

Marshal Sengoku, listening to Tsuru's words, stared at the battlefield ahead, clenching his fists and gritting his teeth: "He's not a pirate, yet he wants to become the strongest?! That brat..."

…

Luo En's unleashed Conqueror's Haki instantly stunned tens of thousands of elite Marines and Whitebeard Pirates across the battlefield.

Within a kilometer radius, barely anyone remained standing upright.

Almost all who retained consciousness under that Conqueror's Haki's impact were pirates with bounties over eighty million, or Marines of Colonel rank or higher.

They stared at the tall, slender figure ahead, their expressions filled with horror and fear.

"Annoying."

Luo En raised his bloodied blade and slashed downward, cleaving through the hundred-meter-high enclosing wall.

The sky split open; the enclosing wall was severed in one stroke.

Luo En stepped forward, landing atop the square, standing on the edge of the wall he had cut, facing the execution platform and those below—Karp and the others—his back turned to everyone on the frozen sea.

His eyes were deep blue, his expression calm, bloodied blade in hand, black hair whipping wildly behind him in the wind.

To the elite Marines before him, and to ordinary people watching through the Den Den Mushi across the world…

He looked like a god or demon.

"Gurahahaha!"

After delivering his final, peak strikes, the weakened Whitebeard gazed at the tall, upright silhouette standing atop the high enclosing wall and grinned broadly: "So young, yet already seeking to look down upon the world? Kid, becoming the strongest isn't a fun thing!"

"That guy can never replace you as the new strongest."

Akainu rose from the ground, his gaze beneath the brim of his hat cold, vicious, and murderous as he stared at Whitebeard.

"Because both you and that brat will die here!"

"Gurahahaha, a red dog dares to speak such big words? Are you still asleep?"

Whitebeard grinned broadly.

"Heh."

Akainu sneered, staring coldly at him: "If you were young, I truly wouldn't be your match. But now… how much longer can that body of yours hold up? Whitebeard."

Whitebeard narrowed his eyes and stared at him: "At the very least, killing you won't be a problem."

"Is that so?"

Akainu sneered.

"Then let's see if you can!"

As he spoke, his magma-converted arms slammed violently into the ground beneath him.

From his center, hundreds of magma cracks spread instantly across a hundred-meter radius, erupting into towering pillars of destructive magma, flames and scorching air surging upward.

The air around Akainu and Whitebeard warped from the heat, like a steaming cauldron.

"Kill you, then wipe out that brat—our Marines will uphold absolute justice over this sea!"

Akainu glared fiercely at Whitebeard, invisible Armament Haki coiling around his magma-converted arms.

"You alone?"

Whitebeard raised his left arm, muscles bulging, terrifying shockwaves condensing into his fist.

Their auras clashed, tearing the ground even more apart.

Both struck at once.

Blazing magma met shockwaves!

The battle between a Marine Admiral and one of the Four Emperors erupted again!

Although Akainu still held the disadvantage, Whitebeard's attacks were no longer as terrifying as before, gradually weakening.

Upon sensing this,

Akainu's assaults grew even fiercer.

Kizaru, after striking Moonlight Moria with a dazzling collision and sending him flying, roared:

"All of you, charge through that crack! Break out of the enclosing wall! Rescue Ace!"

"Ooooh!"

"Charge! Rescue Ace!"

The Whitebeard Pirates surged together toward the crack Luo En had slashed open.

Morale surged like a rainbow.

Finally regaining some strength, Aokiji rose from the frozen sea, blood trickling from his lips, and raised his hand toward them.

"Frozen…"

"Not a chance!"

The phoenix formed by Ma Erke kicked out at him with full force, sending Aokiji flying.

"Hell's Journey!"

A low voice from nearby spoke: "Tenghu."

Ma Erke was instantly crushed down onto the ice by an invisible weight.

"Aaaah!"

Diamond Jozu slammed toward Tenghu with full force.

Aokiji slapped the ice with his hand.

"Ice Spike!"

A thick ice spike erupted from the ice, launching Jozu into the air.

…………

On the outer wall, before the execution platform, the square.

All eyes converged on Luo En at the edge of the square.

"So you've finally arrived."

Karp grinned at him.

"Old Man Karp, come to think of it, I've never truly fought you."

Luo En sheathed his blade, raised his right fist, and hardened his Flowing Cherry Blossom Haki.

"You're serious?"

Karp chuckled, rolling up his sleeves: "Then you'd better endure a few punches."

Both men stomped the ground and vanished from their spots.

The next instant.

They appeared in the center of the square, their blackened, Haki-hardened fists colliding with a thunderous crash!

Boom!

Two powerful punch forces, wrapped in condensed wind pressure, slammed into each other!

Sabo, Luffy, Jinbe, and Admiral Momoji, along with other elite Marines, were instantly blown away.

……

When Blackbeard arrived at this battlefield with several prisoners he had brought from Impel Down and Hiryu the Rain.