Although Borsalino had sensed Byrnndi World's presence the moment he shifted speed, his own movements seemed as slow as a snail wading through molasses compared to World's hundredfold-enhanced velocity.
The air cracked.
A sonic boom ripped through the crater.
THUD!
Byrnndi World's punch struck Borsalino's chest dead center, sending him flying backward before his body could fully elementalize into light.
A sunken fist imprint was left on Borsalino's yellow striped suit where World's iron fist had landed.
CRASH!
Borsalino's body was hurled dozens of meters through the air, skipping off the ground like a stone, before crashing into one of the Donquixote Family's remaining weapon forges.
With a thunderous roar, the massive stone forge collapsed on impact, burying the Vice Admiral under tons of rubble and molten metal.
World didn't pause to check his work.
He pivoted on his heel, the ground shattering beneath him.
Adjusting his position instantly, Byrnndi World charged toward Raleigh, who stood nearby with eyes wide.
He had wanted to attack Raleigh earlier, but his position hadn't been as advantageous.
Now, with Borsalino removed from the board, striking at Raleigh next would leave even Sengoku unable to react in time.
Under Raleigh's astonished gaze, Byrnndi World's bloodied, manic face appeared before him in a blur.
"Brat," World hissed, his breath hot with rage, "you die now!"
World's right fist came crashing down heavily toward Raleigh's neck.
However, this time, since he was maintaining his hundred-fold speed to bypass Raleigh's observation Haki, he didn't coat his fist with Armament Haki—he relied on pure kinetic energy.
RIP!
With the hundred-fold speed enhancement, the sheer force of the blow tore through flesh and bone.
Byrnndi World effortlessly twisted Raleigh's head off his shoulders.
It flew through the air, spinning, an expression of shock frozen on its face.
Raleigh's headless body stood for a moment, blood spurting, before crumpling to the dust.
Seeing this, Sengoku's eyes widened to an indescribable extent.
"RALEIGH!" He had held extremely high hopes for the young man.
Although Raleigh wasn't part of their inner circle yet, people's allegiances could always change.
He had planned to recruit both Borsalino and Raleigh into the fold after this mission.
A surge of rage rushed to Sengoku's head, his eyes turning crimson as he glared at the murderer before him.
Back in the Grand Line, the reason they hadn't captured Byrnndi World was entirely because his abilities were particularly troublesome for ship combat.
But here? On land? Aside from his More-More Fruit, Byrnndi World wasn't considered a top-tier powerhouse in close quarters.
Whether in physical combat or Haki, he was only "average" among the monsters of the New World.
And Sengoku was a legend.
Sengoku's figure instantly expanded.
Golden light poured from his skin. He grew to over ten meters tall, transforming fully into the Mythical Zoan: Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Daibutsu.
A golden, shining Great Buddha stood over the crater, casting a long shadow over World.
"Byrnndi World!" Sengoku's voice boomed, sounding like a hundred bells ringing at once.
"Today your life end here! I declare it!"
Grasping a massive shockwave bomb in his hand—a sphere of pure concussive force—he charged toward Byrnndi World single-handedly.
Byrnndi World didn't evade at all. He stood his ground, blood dripping from his chin.
He no longer cared about the meaning of life.
This battle had cost him dearly. Everything he cherished was gone.
The great ship. The loyal crew he had worked half his life to build.
All destroyed and eliminated by the Marine soldiers on the beach. And worst of all... he had spent half his life protecting his frail brother, only to fail in the end.
Byojack lay broken in the dust behind him.
Byrnndi World's spirit had completely shattered.
"Come then!" World roared, tears mixing with the blood on his face.
Now, he would inflict whatever damage he could upon the Navy.
That's why he disregarded his stamina consumption, pushed his More-More Fruit ability to its absolute limit, and delivered a suicide-run punch to Borsalino.
Simultaneously, he had targeted the only one he thought he could kill quickly—Raleigh.
He had deceived Sengoku, traded blows, and taken a head.
At this moment, his mood was immensely, darkly pleased.
Sengoku, meanwhile, was both shocked and furious.
He never imagined such a thing could happen right under his nose.
Losing such a promising talent would be hard to explain, both to the Navy... and to Gion.
On the way here, Sengoku had learned about the "unusual relationship" between Gion and Raleigh.
He had actually been quite pleased to see their relationship potentially developing further.
And now? It was over.
BOOM!
Sengoku's massive golden palm slammed down.
He grabbed at empty air, just barely missing Byrnndi World as the pirate dodged with unnatural speed.
But Byrnndi World's counter-attack—a fist to Sengoku's golden ribs—didn't cause serious damage either.
Relying on his supreme Armament Haki and Mythical Zoan durability, Sengoku withstood the impact with a grunt.
Sengoku's right hand shot out toward the air again, faster this time.
This time, Byrnndi World wasn't so lucky.
He was tired. His speed was fading.
CRUNCH.
Sengoku's massive hand firmly seized Byrnndi World's left arm.
Startled, World tried to pull his arm back, engaging his fruit to multiply his strength, but he couldn't move it an inch against the Golden Buddha's grip.
A sharp glint flashed in Sengoku's eyes.
"DOWN!" He slammed Byrnndi World violently into the ground with his right hand.
Propelled by the tremendous force, World couldn't resist at all.
His head plunged deep into the earth, shattering rock.
Sengoku didn't stop.
He raised his left hand, coated in heavy Armament Haki, and struck World repeatedly.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sound of breaking bones continuously echoed from Byrnndi World's body as Sengoku's fists landed on him again and again, burying him deeper.
The already fractured horned helmet was completely shattered.
An intense wave of pain instantly shot through World's brain, jolting his previously muddled, grief-stricken mind awake.
Sengoku released his grip on the battered pirate.
He coated his massive golden leg with Armament Haki and stomped down hard on Byrnndi World's right knee.
CRACK!
Byrnndi World's right leg was brutally snapped, bending at an angle that defied human anatomical limits.
"Ahhhhhhh!!!!" World screamed, clutching his leg. "Sengoku! I'll kill you! I'll kill you!!!"
He writhed in agony, his body rolling several times across the ground.
But with his right leg crippled, Byrnndi World couldn't escape.
Sengoku transformed back to his human form, though he still radiated power.
His cold eyes stared down at the broken legend beneath his feet.
"Byrnndi World," Sengoku declared, his voice heavy with judgment. "You are charged with assaulting and killing a Marine Rear Admiral, two World Government officials, plundering military supplies... and just now, killing the Deputy Commander of the North Blue Marine. I hereby announce that you will be imprisoned in Impel Down Level 6, where you will rot for eternity."
At that moment, a slightly flippant voice came from behind Sengoku.
"Admiral Sengoku... which commander did he kill?"
Sengoku froze.
"He killed Raleigh," Sengoku said automatically, his voice thick with grief.
"Oh. I see. That's terrible."
As soon as Sengoku finished speaking, he suddenly whipped his head around.
He stared at Raleigh, who was standing unharmed behind him while dusting off his shirt.
Sengoku's jaw dropped.
"You..."
Byrnndi World also noticed Raleigh standing there.
His eyes bulged.
"You! Impossible!" World shouted, coughing up blood. "I clearly tore your head off just now! I felt it snap!"
Raleigh rubbed his neck and shrugged his shoulders casually.
"I don't know either," he said, feigning ignorance. "Maybe you missed? Don't you check what the corpse looks like after killing someone?"
He pointed to the "corpse" on the ground.
It was dissolving into wind.
Because World hadn't used Haki on that final, speedy strike, he had merely torn apart a Logia elemental body.
"So, little Raleigh," another voice drawled. "When did you become a Devil Fruit User?"
Countless light particles gathered in the air between Raleigh and Sengoku.
Borsalino reformed, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth but otherwise he still look bored.
Apart from the small amount of blood and some dust on his suit, Borsalino was fine.
Sengoku's mouth twitched slightly.
'Of course.'
Even though he already knew Borsalino's personality, he still felt somewhat irritated every time he encountered such situations.
This was exactly why Borsalino had been transferred to the North Blue.
Raleigh ignored them both.
He looked down at Byrnndi World on the ground.
The man was broken. Defeated.
But his eyes still burned with a dangerous light. Raleigh had no habit of leaving enemies alive.
Especially ones who knew his secrets.
Zzip.
With Soru's enhancement, Raleigh's figure instantly appeared before Byrnndi World.
"Goodbye, Legend."
Shing.
A katana, coated with lethal Armament Haki, sliced cleanly through Byrnndi World's throat.
Before Sengoku could even shout "Stop!", Raleigh thrust the blade downward, piercing Byrnndi World's heart.
The World Destroyer gasped once, and went still.