Akainu and the other Admirals each landed on separate floating icebergs, their eyes fixed on the lingering dark green radiance illuminating the night sky. Their expressions grew increasingly solemn.
In the distance, Joy Boy stood at the bow of Pluton, looking down at the massive pitch-black cannon protruding beneath its prow. A faint dark green glow still lingered around the barrel.
The devastating attack moments earlier had been fired by the ancient weapon itself.
Even after eight hundred years, Pluton's destructive power had not diminished in the slightest.
For a brief moment, silence fell across the battlefield.
Everyone stared in disbelief, unable to hide their shock at the terrifying might of the ancient weapon.
Aokiji frowned deeply.
"That level of power is beyond reason. If it were allowed to fire without restraint..."
Not far away, Kizaru stood with both hands tucked into his pockets. A faint glimmer reflected beneath his tinted glasses as the corner of his mouth lifted into a slight smile.
"Pluton isn't something only Joy Boy possesses."
As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of cracking ice echoed across the battlefield.
Everyone instinctively turned toward the horizon.
The Marine fleet had finally arrived.
Leading the massive formation was an enormous black warship built under Dr. Vegapunk's supervision.
The second generation Pluton.
The moment Joy Boy saw it, surprise flashed across his face.
Before he could fully react, the second generation Pluton fired.
A dark green beam, several times thicker than the one launched moments earlier, erupted from its cannon and raced straight toward the original Pluton.
Joy Boy's pupils contracted.
Without hesitation, he activated the first generation Pluton's defensive system.
A dark green spherical barrier instantly expanded, enveloping the ancient warship.
Under countless watchful eyes, the enormous beam slammed directly into the shield.
The tremendous force drove the first generation Pluton rapidly backward across the frozen sea.
The barrier flickered violently, its light growing unstable.
Even the genius who had designed Pluton could never have imagined that eight centuries later, another Pluton would exist.
Nor could they have imagined that the two ancient weapons would one day stand on opposing sides of a battlefield.
Witnessing the overwhelming performance of the second generation Pluton, Marine morale soared.
With thunderous battle cries, the Marines charged toward the stunned Mink Tribe and Giant warriors.
Naturally, Akainu and the other Admirals had no intention of standing by.
Now that Joy Boy had revealed himself, eliminating him became their highest priority.
The five Admirals exchanged silent glances.
Years of fighting together had forged perfect coordination between them.
No words were necessary.
In the next instant, all five leaped into the sky simultaneously.
"Dog Biting Red Lotus!"
"Ice, Pheasant Beak!"
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
"Tree Sea Great Funeral!"
"Kuma Shock!"
Their attacks converged into a single overwhelming assault.
Magma, ice, light, countless forest vines, and Kuma's devastating shockwave engulfed the first generation Pluton like an unstoppable tidal wave.
Pedro, who had been locked in combat with a Marine Vice Admiral, looked back and immediately panicked.
"Joy Boy!!!"
It wasn't just Pedro.
The entire Mink Tribe, along with the remaining Giant warriors, felt their hearts sink.
The Giants, having fought on the front lines from the beginning, understood the Marines' strength better than anyone.
If Joy Boy fell...
Their defeat would be inevitable.
Crunch!
The five Admirals landed firmly upon the frozen sea, staring expressionlessly at the dense smoke covering the battlefield.
Meanwhile, the dark green energy fired by the second generation Pluton gradually scattered into countless particles before disappearing into the night sky.
Suddenly...
A dazzling white light burst from within the smoke.
As the haze dispersed, the first generation Pluton once again appeared before everyone's eyes.
Its dark green protective barrier had completely vanished.
Fine cracks spread across the ancient vessel's hull.
Even Pluton could not emerge completely unharmed after enduring the combined assault of another Pluton and five Admirals.
Joy Boy still stood calmly at the bow.
His straw hat shone brilliantly beneath the dark sky.
Looking toward the second generation Pluton that had officially entered the battlefield, he quietly muttered,
"So... another Pluton still exists in this world."
With that, he leaped from the deck and landed lightly upon the elastic frozen sea.
Pedro's face lit up with excitement.
"As expected of Joy Boy! He's unharmed!"
Joy Boy grinned.
Raising one hand, he pressed down on the brim of his straw hat before shouting across the battlefield,
"My comrades of the Mink Tribe, let the World Government witness your true strength!"
Pedro's eyes immediately burned with excitement.
He raised his fist high into the air.
"Transform, my brothers and sisters!"
The moment his words fell, Pedro's eyes turned blood red.
His body had already absorbed enough moonlight.
He had only been waiting for Joy Boy's command.
Across the battlefield, every Mink warrior released beast-like roars.
Their fur rapidly turned snow white as it grew longer, while violent lightning crackled around their bodies.
The Marines unfamiliar with the Mink Tribe stared in confusion.
The veteran soldiers reacted immediately.
Without the slightest hesitation, they charged forward while shouting at their bewildered comrades.
"Don't look at them!
The Mink Tribe grows stronger under the full moon!
Attack before they finish transforming!"
As they shouted, their blades were already swinging.
Several Mink warriors who had not completed their transformations were cut down instantly.
Heads flew through the air as blood sprayed across the frozen battlefield.
Their faces still carried the savage expressions of their incomplete transformations.
Pedro had already mastered Sulong.
His entire body was enveloped in brilliant white fur as lightning danced wildly around him.
Seeing his fellow Minks slaughtered before they could unleash their true strength, his eyes widened with fury.
"You despicable Marines!!!"
Consumed by rage, Pedro led the transformed Mink warriors into the Marine ranks.
Wrapped in crackling lightning, they charged like white beasts, their razor-sharp claws carving deep trenches across the frozen sea.
Watching the charging Minks, Aramaki merely grinned.
"Hah, looks like the zoo animals are rioting."
As he spoke, he stomped heavily onto the ice.
Countless vines erupted beneath the frozen surface.
They instantly transformed into thousands of razor-sharp wooden spikes.
The spikes pierced straight through the front ranks of the charging Mink warriors.
In the same instant, their life force was drained away.
Their bodies rapidly withered into dried corpses.
Fresh blood stained the ice crimson.
Pedro's eyes nearly burst with rage.
"Bastard!
Bastard!
Bastard!"
The immense power granted by his Sulong transformation filled him with enough confidence to challenge even an Admiral.
His body transformed into a streak of silver lightning as he rushed directly toward Aramaki.
Aramaki merely glanced sideways.
Keeping both hands casually in his pockets, he waited until Pedro reached him.
Then he calmly lifted one leg.
Bang!
His kick landed squarely in Pedro's abdomen.
Pedro's eyes bulged violently.
His body shot backward like a bolt of lightning.
Behind him, a massive wooden spike emerged from beneath the frozen sea, perfectly positioned to impale him.
Just as Pedro was about to be killed, a white figure flashed across the battlefield.
Joy Boy appeared instantly and caught Pedro before he struck the spike.
Pedro struggled to open his eyes through the overwhelming pain radiating from his stomach.
The first thing he saw was Joy Boy's concerned expression.
"Pedro, your opponents aren't the Admirals."
Joy Boy gently set him down before continuing,
"Go and protect your tribesmen."
=≠=
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