The major powers of the world reacted very differently to the Nightfall Pirates' declaration.
"What an arrogant pirate," officials within the World Government scoffed. "Rocks is nothing but history."
At Marine Headquarters, the mood was far colder.
"I don't care what Rocks represented," one senior officer said grimly. "That pirate crew cannot be allowed to continue existing."
Far out at sea, Golden Lion Shiki threw his head back and laughed, his voice booming like thunder.
"Gurarararara! Come on, kid. I'll be waiting for you."
Whitebeard let out a deep laugh as well, gripping his massive bisento while lowering himself into his chair.
"Gurarararara! Teach… so he's your target. If you dare lay a hand on my family, I won't let it slide."
On another island, Kaido roared in fury, hurling his sake gourd into the distance where it shattered.
"This world doesn't need Rocks anymore. His era is over. This is my era now!"
Across the seas, other great pirates and overlords formed their own judgments, some curious, some dismissive, some quietly alarmed.
Back on the island, Atchison stared at Redyat in disbelief, his eyes wide with shock.
"You lunatics," he shouted. "The Marines will never let this go."
"Oh? Then come and try," Redyat replied coldly. "Unfortunately for you, you won't live to see it."
He smiled faintly.
"Before that, congratulations on your cooperation. You've saved three thousand Marines."
Redyat pulled out a Den Den Mushi and activated it.
"Pito, release the Marines and let them leave."
There was a brief pause.
"Are you sure?" Pito asked.
"Yes," Redyat said calmly. "It was just a transaction. A very pleasant one."
This entire exchange had been planned from the very beginning by Marshall D. Teach and Redyat. The questions, the answers, even the final revelation were all deliberate.
Their declaration was not forced. It was a calculated announcement of ambition.
For now, it carried little real risk. The Nightfall Pirates had not yet entered the New World. To become another Rocks, they would first need to stand on the same level as monsters like Whitebeard and Golden Lion Shiki.
Until then, words were just words.
At the same time, it served as a smokescreen, diverting attention away from the deeper intentions hidden in their earlier statements. The seas were full of sharp minds, and many had already sensed that Redyat's performance carried ulterior motives.
"Alright," Pito replied at last.
His response was also heard by Gall and the others.
Redyat's voice came again, as if remembering something important.
"Wait. Those fifteen warships belong to us now. Give the Marines one ship to leave."
All around the world, people choked on their drinks.
With a single sentence, he claimed fifteen Marine warships as spoils. It was completely in character for the Nightfall Pirates. Even the phrasing was infuriating, as if he were generously subsidizing the Marines with one of their own ships.
The envy was real. These were not ordinary vessels. Each warship was a floating fortress, worth nearly a billion Berries before equipment was even factored in.
On the island, members of the Nightfall Pirates followed the order without question, though some were visibly puzzled.
The pirates who had been surrounding the Marines slowly regrouped, causing unease to ripple through the Marine ranks.
Wallace stepped forward.
At the sight of him, many Marines felt a chill run down their spines. They had witnessed his power firsthand. One move had slaughtered countless soldiers. A few who survived his ability were left alive only to suffer unending agony.
No one knew what he intended to do.
Wallace folded his arms and looked down at them.
"You're lucky," he said flatly. "You're alive."
"We've decided to let you go. Leave this island."
"Don't ask why. You might understand when you get back. Also, surviving an encounter with the Nightfall Pirates is rare. Remember it."
He paused, then added, "If anyone wants revenge later, we welcome it."
"The warship on the far left is yours. The remaining fourteen are the spoils of war and now belong to the Nightfall Pirates."
The words stoked anger among some Marines, but it was pointless. They were utterly outmatched. A few clenched their fists in silent resolve, vowing to grow stronger and seek revenge one day.
They were a minority.
Most had already lost their will to fight. The battle had carved deep fear into their minds. Even if they encountered the Nightfall Pirates again, terror would come first.
Soon, all Marine soldiers boarded the single warship and departed.
The Nightfall Pirates remained, watching silently. Gall and Wallace stood like executioners at the edge of the battlefield.
High above, Borsalino, still locked in combat, glanced over and froze for a moment.
He had seen enough to realize something was wrong. The pirates had stopped killing. Now they were even letting the Marines leave.
Something had clearly happened.
If that was the case, didn't it mean his mission was effectively over? The Marines had withdrawn. From a certain point of view, this outcome was perfect for him.
He was just about to disengage.
Then his expression changed.
A familiar power wrapped around him.
His body tried to disperse into light, but it was too late. Nelson's ability activated again, grabbing him directly.
At the same time, Lister's mental tentacles surged forward, piercing and enveloping his consciousness.
Mental and soul-based attacks could not simply be adapted to. Borsalino froze for an instant.
That instant was enough.
Bullets and blades slammed into him in rapid succession.
Elsewhere on the battlefield, Redyat turned his attention back to Atchison.
"Vice Admiral Atchison," he said softly, "your death is worth the price. Three thousand Marines will live because of it."
Without giving him another chance to speak, the shadow beneath Redyat's feet surged upward, swallowing Atchison whole and dragging him into the darkness.
In the next moment, the world shook.
A deafening roar echoed across the island, followed by a violent surge of air. The sky itself seemed to distort.
The broadcast was still focused on Redyat's side, but the sheer scale of the disturbance could not be hidden.
Redyat turned his head sharply. His pupils shrank.
"So that move is finally out," he murmured, smiling faintly.
In the distance, a horrifying sphere was forming. Sand, stone, and debris were being drawn together into a massive gravitational core, glowing faintly blue at its center. It expanded at an alarming rate, quickly covering nearly a quarter of the island.
Across the world, countless people stared at the screen in shock.
What was that?
From Redyat's camera angle, it was impossible to tell how such a thing had even formed.
"If I'm not mistaken," someone said slowly, "that should be the battlefield of the Dark Emperor, Marshall D. Teach, and the two Marine Vice Admirals, Gilman and Nickt."
Morgans' voice cut in immediately.
"Everyone, please wait. We'll now replay the footage from the Dark Emperor's battlefield."
Even Morgans himself had nearly forgotten. Redyat's performance had been too captivating. Only now did he remember that the main clash of this war was Teach against two Admiral Candidates.
The footage began.
Teach stood alone, facing Vice Admirals Gilman and Nickt.
Both Marines looked grave. Teach's presence alone was oppressive. The moment the fight began, they went all out.
Gilman transformed instantly into his strongest hybrid form. His body became massive, covered in black serpent scales. Speed and strength surged together.
Nickt activated the Supersonic Fruit. Thunderous explosions erupted with every movement. Sound itself became his weapon, each vibration carrying devastating force.
The air trembled as Nickt punched. The destructive power was astonishing.
His mastery of the Supersonic Fruit was deep. The way the air shattered and rippled looked eerily similar to Whitebeard's attacks.
But Teach knew the truth.
The Supersonic Fruit could never compare to the Tremor-Tremor Fruit.
A series of sonic booms detonated as Nickt struck. An invisible force slammed into Teach and exploded.
Gilman stood at the front, acting as a living shield. His enhanced physique and martial arts made him a terrifying opponent. Backed by the vitality of an Ancient Zoan, he could clash head-on with Teach.
Nickt focused on damage output. Gilman bore the pressure.
Teach met them both.
His powerful body and refined martial arts allowed him to fight two Admiral Candidates at once. Blades, fists, claws, and shockwaves collided in a blur.
For a time, the battle was evenly matched.
But two against one was still two against one.
The Marines' coordination and experience began to show. In a straight one-on-one fight, Teach would have held a clear advantage, but facing two near-Admiral-level opponents, he was gradually pushed back.
Still, this suppression was only superficial.
Teach's Observation Haki tracked every movement. Without even using Future Sight, his instinctive predictions sharpened with each exchange.
He treated the fight as a whetstone.
Gradually, he learned their rhythms, their habits, their flaws.
Then, the balance shifted.
Teach's aura suddenly surged.
Gilman's instincts screamed in warning.
Teach's feet pressed into the ground. His body leaned forward.
And then he vanished.
Nickt's Observation Haki caught a trace. Gilman reacted instantly. Both attacked the space between them.
"Supersonic Punch!"
"Poison Fang!"
The air exploded. The ground collapsed into a crater beneath their feet.
They hit nothing.
Too late.
Teach appeared beside them. His leg swept through the air, carving a silver arc that smashed directly into Gilman's head.
In the same breath, Teach appeared in front of Nickt.
A fist coated in Armament Haki slammed into Nickt's abdomen.
Nickt's eyes bulged as blood sprayed from his mouth. His body was sent flying.
Gilman crashed more than three hundred meters away.
This was absolute suppression.
Pure martial dominance.
Teach smiled slightly.
Compared to Redyat, his physical strength was still lacking. His true power lay elsewhere.
In the darkness.