Boom—
The shockwave penetrated Kizaru’s abdomen without hindrance, its momentum undiminished, soaring straight into the sky.
The thick layer of dark clouds was instantly torn open, creating a circular hole, and a long-absent beam of golden sunlight, like a spotlight on a stage, pierced through the cloud hole, scattering onto this bloody battlefield.
Kain’s figure slowly emerged from the explosion’s smoke and dust, standing in the sunlight.
But at this moment, he was in a sorry state, his entire body covered in scorched explosion marks, and copious blood hung from his form.
Kizaru’s timing was precise; Kain didn’t even react immediately, taking the brunt of most of Yasakani Sacred Jewel’s power head-on.
Damn it, what about the Yasakani Border Jewel that was promised?
Fortunately, the Animal-type Devil Fruits are known for their tough hides and thick flesh, which allowed him to endure it.
But this blow also served to wake him up.
“Thank you, Admiral Kizaru.”
Kain looked up, a bloody smile gracing his lips, and sincerely said, “You made me realize how weak I still am.”
Within the Beasts Pirates, his status as the strongest below Kaido and King had made him somewhat complacent.
How many strong individuals are there in this world?
“Ah, ah, what a terrifying fellow.”
In the air, Kizaru stroked his slightly stubbled chin with interest, his body slowly returning to normal.
“I have a feeling that if I let you continue to grow, it will be very detrimental to the world’s peace.”
“Then come and try to stop me.”
The flames behind King’s head suddenly vanished.
As a Lunarian, he possessed the ability to actively extinguish his flames, sacrificing defense for extreme speed.
In the next instant, King disappeared from his original spot.
A dark blade suddenly cut through the air, transforming into an afterimage as it slashed towards Kizaru, leaving even the sound far behind.
So fast!
No time to dodge.
Kizaru’s pupils contracted as the deadly blade gradually grew larger in his vision.
Years of combat experience made Kizaru instinctively cross his arms in front of him.
Although he was a Shinny-man who ate the Shinny Berry, possessing the speed of light, his human reaction speed limited the Berry’s full potential.
Bang!
A dull sound exploded.
The blade, imbued with immense force, instantly sent Kizaru flying.
“Oh, it seems this is as far as it goes.”
Kizaru maintained his backward-flying posture, leisurely contemplating, “When I go back, Mr. Sengoku shouldn’t blame me.”
After all, King and Katakuri were joining forces; even he couldn’t guarantee a victory.
If he dragged it out until Kaido or Charlotte Linlin arrived, then it would truly be dangerous.
“Eh? Am I going to fall into the sea?”
Kizaru’s body was about to touch the sea surface, but he suddenly executed a nimble turn, and a dazzling light emanated from his hand.
“Yata no Kagami.”
A dazzling light suddenly shot out, using the reflection of the sea surface, soaring straight into the sky, forming a brilliant path of light.
In the next instant, he transformed into countless streams of light and merged into it.
In just the blink of an eye, Kizaru appeared in the sky.
“It’s time to go back. I need to inform Mr. Sengoku and the others about the situation here.”
Kizaru transformed into a beam of light and left without looking back.
Braed Island battlefield.
The flames behind King’s head silently reignited, and Katakuri also disengaged from his combat stance, his trident planted on the ground.
The two tacitly chose not to pursue.
Of course, they couldn’t catch him anyway.
This was the rogue nature of the Shinny Berry; you could fight when you wanted, retreat when you wanted, advancing and retreating freely.
As long as Kizaru wanted to run, even if Kaido and Charlotte Linlin personally arrived, they wouldn’t be able to stop him.
Kain breathed a sigh of relief. As he was now, he truly had no initiative against Kizaru; he couldn’t defeat him, nor could he escape.
Suddenly, a white shadow flashed before his eyes, followed by a sharp pain in his chest, and he was involuntarily knocked to the ground.
“Kain, are you alright! Why are you down?!”
Yamato, teary-eyed, gripped Kain’s shoulders with both hands, shaking him repeatedly.
“Stu-stu-stupid, stop, stop shaking, I can’t breathe,” Kain said with difficulty.
“Eh?! Really?” Yamato widened her mouth in surprise and obediently stopped.
Looking at the weeping Yamato, Kain sighed softly, then raised his hand to wipe away Yamato’s tears.
“Don’t worry, I won’t fall before we achieve our dreams.”
Yamato blinked: “Really?”
“Of course!” Kain replied with a smile.
“Then pinky promise!” Yamato extended her pinky finger.
Kain also extended his pinky, hooking it.
“Pinky promise, cross my heart, never change for a hundred years!”
The contract was formed.
King ignored the children’s play on this side. He turned to Katakuri: “Continue?”
At this point, due to Kizaru’s disruption, both sides had ceased their actions.
Katakuri scanned the battlefield, looking at his brothers and sisters.
Cracker, groaning on the ground, Smoothie, panting heavily, Snack, with blood constantly oozing from his nose and mouth…
Finally, his gaze rested on Oven, who was far away, his fate unknown, looking utterly miserable.
Katakuri was silent for a moment, then said in a deep voice, “Let’s stop here. This sea area is yours.”
Although he didn’t want to admit it, if they continued to fight, the Charlotte Family’s chances of winning were already slim.
His brothers’ and sisters’ lives were more important than the outcome of a war.
King faced the battlefield and loudly declared, “We won!”
The war was over.
“Oh!!!”
The Beasts Pirates cheered with raised arms.
The Big Mom Pirates’ faces turned ashen.
This battle not only declared the ownership of Braed Island but also solemnly announced to the New World that the Beasts Pirates were stronger than the Big Mom Pirates!
Before leaving, Katakuri took a deep look at Kain.
“I’ll remember you.”
If Kain hadn’t suddenly appeared on the battlefield, successively taking down three important family executives, they would never have lost so easily.
Oh, it seems Katakuri has set his sights on me.
Kain shrugged, unconcerned.
At sea, the fleet brought by the Charlotte Family was also mostly destroyed.
In this battle, they suffered heavy losses.
But Katakuri was not interested in any of that.
“How are Oven’s injuries?”
Katakuri stared at a Doctor in a white coat, his gaze icy.
The Doctor swallowed, trembling as he replied, “Lord Oven has comminuted fractures all over his body, plus asphyxiation and cerebral edema caused by falling into the water…”
Katakuri grabbed the Doctor by the collar and said coldly, “Shut up, I don’t want to hear these useless things. Just tell me if he can be treated!”
The Doctor stammered, “W-we’ll do our best. But, but Lord Oven’s injuries are really too severe.”
The other Doctors were silent, simply focusing on rescuing Oven.
“Remember, if Oven lives, you live. If Oven dies… I don don’t need to say it, do I?” Katakuri threw the Doctor down.
“Understood, Lord Katakuri.”
The Doctors nodded frantically.
They knew that this man’s tenderness was only reserved for his family.
Compared to the Big Mom Pirates’ Doctors, who were terrified, the Beasts Pirates’ Doctors felt incredibly fortunate.
None of the important executives needed their treatment; they only needed to be responsible for treating the middle and lower-level personnel.
The lives of those people didn’t affect their KPIs.