Eli Winters' lips curved upward slightly, the hint of a cold laugh escaping him. The murderous stares surrounding him washed over him like a passing breeze. To him, such hostility was nothing more than the helpless rage of people who had no real power to resist.
He walked forward with slow, steady steps, heading directly toward Whitebeard. When he finally stood before him, Eli let another faint smile appear.
"Whitebeard, you and your sons want to live, don't you?"
Those words ignited the deck like a spark thrown into dry powder.
Whitebeard had not yet spoken, but the captains behind him erupted instantly. Their chests heaved with fury, faces flushed red as they shouted over one another.
The most explosive among them, Diamond Joz, stepped forward with bulging veins throbbing across his forehead. His massive fist clenched tight, and he launched it straight at Eli's head while roaring, "Arrogant brat, today will be your last!"
But to Eli, that punch looked no stronger than a child's tantrum. He did not move a single step. With a casual lift of his hand, he caught the diamond-covered fist mid-air. A slight flick of his arm sent a terrifying force rippling outward.
A deafening crack rang out.
Joz's enormous body exploded backward like a fired cannonball, smashing straight into one of the Moby Dick's thick masts. Wood shattered, splinters flew, and the mast collapsed loudly onto the deck.
Eli's smile deepened. His eyes remained cold as he looked at Whitebeard. "That was only a small warning. If you cannot control your men, do not blame me when the real bloodshed starts."
Whitebeard showed no fear, even in his injured state. His powerful voice boomed across the ship like thunder. "Gurararara! Eli Winters, I will admit it. In all my years, you are the strongest enemy I have ever faced. Even Rocks and Roger would struggle to match you."
"But you killed three of my sons. That is a debt carved in blood. The Whitebeard Pirates will never forgive it. Even if we all fall here today, we will never bend to you."
Eli paused, briefly taken aback, then let out a soft, amused sigh. "You truly are something, Whitebeard. Your resolve is admirable. But tell me, is this stubbornness worth it? Are you willing to let more of your sons die just to avenge those who are already gone? Did you ever stop to consider what they would have wanted?"
His words sparked an explosion of fury.
"Shut up, you brat!" someone shouted.
"If you dare kill our brothers, then even if we die today, we'll drag you down with us!" another pirate bellowed, gripping his blade tightly.
"For Whitebeard! Fight together!" a towering man roared, raising his weapon high.
Shouts of rage surged like a tidal wave, pounding against the sky.
Then a deep laugh vibrated through the deck. Whitebeard pushed Marco aside and rose to his full height. His presence alone made the air feel heavier, filled with the unshakeable authority of a man who had ruled the seas for decades.
"Father..." Marco said anxiously.
Whitebeard placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, silently telling him not to worry.
On the other side, Eli tightened his grip on his dark, chilling blade, Oblivion. His gaze sharpened like a hawk locking onto its prey. Whitebeard met his stare with equal intensity.
A devastating clash seemed seconds away.
Until a figure dropped from the sky like a meteor.
A tremor shook the deck as Red-Haired Shanks landed heavily between them. He looked first at Whitebeard, then at Eli, his expression grave.
"Eli Winters, I beg you. Stop this pointless battle."
Eli's smile returned, sharp and mocking. "And if I refuse?"
"Then I will stand with Whitebeard and fight you." Shanks' tone was solemn.
Eli studied him quietly, then turned back to Whitebeard.
"Whitebeard, remember this. You owe me a favor."
With that, Eli vanished.
A spatial vortex opened above the deck, and two bodies tumbled out.
Everyone froze.
Standing before them, alive and breathing, were Atmos and Blenheim. The men they believed dead.
Cries of relief erupted at once.
"You're alive!"
"Atmos! Blenheim! You made it!"
Whitebeard's expression tightened. His deep voice rumbled across the deck. "Explain. What happened?"
Atmos and Blenheim exchanged a stunned glance before recounting everything.
At the moment of the explosion, when death seemed certain, Eli had acted. He had secretly placed spatial markers on them beforehand. When the blast came, he teleported them into his personal Kamui space, saving their lives.
Shock rippled through the Whitebeard Pirates.
And fury followed.
"That bastard Deverados! He was a government spy all along!"
"Traitor!"
"Unforgivable!"
Whitebeard lifted his head and laughed heartily. "Gurarara! Sons, it's time to go home."
"Roger that, Pops!"
The deck filled with warm relief and celebration.
But for Eli, mercy was reserved only for those he deemed worthy.
His treatment of Big Mom's Pirates and Kaido's Beast Pirates was far less gentle.
Once he confirmed they were all inside his Kamui space, he unleashed his overwhelming strength, beating them senseless. Even the most arrogant among them were reduced to terrified, groaning wrecks.
When he was satisfied, he dumped them all back out.
After that, he strode directly toward Charlotte Linlin and Kaido, demanding compensation. Under Eli's terrifying pressure, even those two monstrous Emperors swallowed their rage and handed over everything he asked for.
Once all three pirate crews had been dealt with, Eli clapped his hands clean and shot upward into the sky.
Moments later, he descended again, dragging someone by the collar.
The infamous Golden Lion, Shiki.
Shiki thrashed helplessly, completely defeated. His Float-Float Fruit hadn't even had time to properly activate before Eli overwhelmed him.
Eli's voice was cold as he tightened his grip on the legendary pirate. "Did you really think I wouldn't notice someone spying on me?"
The deck fell dead silent.