Splash.
Above Impel Down, rain poured in a relentless torrent.
"Fist Doctrine: Celestial Cataclysm!"
Hawk unleashed his ultimate punch.
This blow was the culmination of his mastery, perfectly fusing four top-tier fundamentals with supreme Conqueror's Haki, forming his final insight!
Where his fist cut through the storm, rain was instantly vaporized by invisible pressure, creating a vacuum channel.
Crimson lightning of Conqueror's Haki spiraled around his entire arm, like a shooting star blazing across the sky, streaking toward Barret with unstoppable force!
Barret's pupils shrank to pinpoints.
The crimson aura of Hawk's fist radiated an overwhelming kingly will that even made Barret tremble.
Roar!
With no time to think, Barret let out a deafening roar.
He poured every ounce of his energy and will into his right fist without reserve.
A dark Conqueror's Haki gathered around his punch like a black hole devouring all light.
Their fists collided again.
Boom!
The moment they met, a visible circular shockwave erupted, centered on the two combatants!
The storm clouds above were instantly cleared, and the windless sea below was crushed into a massive crater hundreds of meters deep.
The pitch-black rift tearing through the sky widened further.
Blood spurted from Barret's mouth.
Crimson mixed with rain, falling from the sky and dissolving into the churning sea.
His right arm, wrapped in dark Haki, twisted unnaturally.
For Barret, a man with monstrous strength and supreme Haki, this was nothing short of incredible.
"Looks like you won't be leaving, Barret."
Hawk's calm voice cut through the wind and rain.
Ha… ha… hahaha!
Barret froze for a moment, then laughed wildly.
"Not yet, Navy brat!"
He violently shook his arm, forcing his twisted bones back into place. In a flash, shrouded in dark lightning, he surged forward again!
The clash continued!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
But as the battle raged, Barret's injuries accumulated.
Fists shattered, ribs cracked, internal organs rattled.
His once-proud monstrous body struggled to repair itself.
Gradually, his recovery could no longer keep up with the damage.
Another clash.
This time, Hawk vanished in the moment of impact.
Before Barret could react, Hawk appeared beside him, delivering an iron fist embedded with piercing force into his ribs.
The crisp sound of breaking bone rang through the storm.
Barret flew backward, tracing a parabolic arc in the air.
Hawk's figure followed relentlessly, arriving instantly.
"Goodbye, Devil's descendant."
With those words, Hawk raised his right fist.
Rip.
The sound of flesh tearing echoed.
Hawk's fist pierced Barret's chest.
Barret's pupils slowly lost focus.
He looked down at the wound in his chest, then back at Hawk's face.
A twisted smile appeared. "What a shame…"
Douglas Barret, the Devil's descendant, fell.
[Host has killed "Devil's Descendant" Douglas Barret, gaining 100,000 Justice Points.]
[Remaining Justice Points: 134,596.]
Hawk slowly withdrew his fist and cradled Barret's body.
What a shame…
If he had encountered Hawk earlier, the outcome would have been different.
Barret had once been a distinguished military man, betrayed by his army and country, forced onto the path of piracy.
Had Hawk reached him sooner, perhaps he could have persuaded him to join the Navy.
With his talent and mindset, he would have been an exceptional naval officer.
At some point, the violent storm subsided.
The torn clouds drifted apart.
Long-missed sunlight pierced the sky, shining upon Hawk's pure white cloak, golden and radiant.
In a flash, Hawk landed on the docks of Impel Down.
He handed Barret's body to Magellan. "Give him a proper burial."
Magellan nodded respectfully.
Hawk's gaze swept over Zoro, Sanji, Hibari, and all the G-3 branch soldiers.
"Rest for a day, then return to headquarters."
"War is about to begin!"
"Yes!"
The reply thundered across the sky.
A massive fleet slowly departed the calm waters, speeding toward Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
At the same time, countless news birds soared from every corner of the world.
Attached to their legs were brand-new newspapers the Marine Daily.
The headline screamed across the front page, bold and massive, a message that shook the world:
"One week from now, the Navy will publicly execute 'Fire Fist' Ace, Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, and his comrade 'Blackbeard' Teach at Marineford!"
"The execution will be broadcast live to the world!"
The news spread like a detonated bomb.
The entire sea boiled in uproar.
New World, aboard the Moby Dick.
Division Commander Marco held the newspaper, his expression grave, and rushed into the cabin.
Clatter.
Whitebeard set down his massive wine bowl, snatched the newspaper, and focused on the headline.
The cabin seemed to freeze in that instant.
A terrifying aura, enough to make the seas tremble, slowly began to rise.
"The Navy is openly challenging me, Edward Newgate!"
"My sons!"
Whitebeard roared as he stood, his voice rolling across the deck. "Rescue Ace!"
Elsewhere, aboard the Red-Haired Pirates' Red Force.
Shanks frowned as he held the newspaper.
"So… it has come to this…"
He tilted his head back and swallowed a large gulp of wine, his eyes complex.
"The Navy is serious this time."
"What should we do, Captain?"
Benn Beckman, smoke in his mouth, asked gravely.
"Alert everyone. Full readiness."
"Prepare to set sail at any moment!"
Shanks set down his wine bottle, determination flickering in his eyes.
"This war must not spiral out of control!"
Wano Country, Onigashima.
Kaido of the Beasts laughed, the sound deafening.
"Whitebeard that old geezer is going down too?! This is the ultimate war in the world!"
"Minions! Get ready! Let's join the fun!"
Whole Cake Island, Totto Land.
Charlotte Linlin licked her lips, eyes glinting with greed.
"When Whitebeard dies, all his territory… will be delicious cake!"
The War of the Summit had begun!