Chapter 90: The Conclusion of the Paramount War

Lin Yan stood alone against the elite naval force, a sea of tens of thousands of marines. Everyone was stunned by his audacity.

How arrogant was he?

They recognized Lin's formidable strength, powerful enough to defeat Sengoku and Garp together with his extraordinary abilities. However, after a prolonged battle, even this division commander was nearing his limit.

Yet, despite his exhaustion, he still planned to hold off the entire naval force of one hundred thousand marines on his own. Was he intending to perish along with them?

"Friendly reminder, if you don't act now, the Whitebeard Pirates will escape!"

While they hesitated, Lin Yan took the initiative to remind them.

In the bay of Marineford, only the sails of the Whitebeard Pirates' ships were now visible.

"Attack together, take him down!"

Blackbeard was the first to act, unleashing his Dark-Dark Fruit power, aiming a Dark Hole attack at Susanoo. Akainu followed closely behind, shouting, "Die!" Behind Akainu were Kizaru, Aokiji, Sengoku, and the Seven Warlords of the Sea. The entire naval high command joined the assault, attacking Lin Yan from all directions.

For Lin Yan, this was akin to being besieged from all sides. His stamina was nearly depleted, and his Mangekyo Sharingan was bleeding profusely. Fortunately, while Lin Yan was near exhaustion, the navy was also weakened. Both sides were running on fumes, with the navy simply having more numbers.

As the Whitebeard Pirates sailed further away, Sengoku's led navy grew increasingly desperate. But the more anxious they became, the more resolutely Lin Yan held his ground, preventing them from advancing.

The battle lasted for over ten minutes. Eventually, Lin Yan's stamina was entirely spent. His eyes lost their light, Susanoo dissipated, and he could no longer use his Rumble-Rumble Fruit.

"Look, he's at his limit!"

"Finally, we've worn him down!"

"Though it's disgraceful to fight with such numbers, he deserves to be hailed as a god for holding us off this long. Who will finish him?"

Seeing the exhausted Lin Yan, some marines were overjoyed. They had finally broken this tough opponent. Marines surrounded Lin Yan, excitement barely contained in their eyes, eager for the chance to claim credit for his defeat.

"Are you finished?" Blackbeard, whose strength remained mostly intact, mocked Lin Yan. Despite facing an exhausted Lin Yan, Blackbeard was increasingly cautious, now understanding why Lin Yan had been able to defeat Sengoku and Garp.

Seeing Lin Yan completely spent, Blackbeard laughed mockingly.

"Look at you, feeling proud for ganging up on me with the entire navy. Are you proud, Blackbeard?" Lin Yan retorted.

"It's over!" Sengoku stepped forward, pointing at Lin Yan. Over ten minutes had passed, and Lin Yan had successfully delayed the entire navy. His objective was achieved, but this also signaled the Whitebeard Pirates' complete departure from Marineford's Gates of Justice. The war ended with the navy's defeat.

Thinking of the bitter aftermath and the challenges the navy would face, Sengoku's fists clenched tightly. Now, they could only vent their remaining anger on the exhausted division commander.

"Indeed, it's over," Lin Yan replied bitterly.

"How do you want to die?" Akainu, nearly seething with rage, glared at Lin Yan. His eyes were filled with murderous intent.

"Do whatever you want to me," Lin Yan, extremely weak, barely lifted his eyelids.

"Hahaha, even now you keep talking tough!" Blackbeard sneered, suggesting to Sengoku, "Finish him, Fleet Admiral. You've seen his power. He's a future threat to the navy if allowed to live!"

Hearing Blackbeard, Lin Yan felt a chill. Was this the fate of a pirate? He closed his eyes, surrounded by mocking voices and noises.

Though the marines disliked Blackbeard, they had to agree with him. Lin Yan, the Whitebeard Pirates' seventeenth division commander, could not be allowed to live.

"In that case, let me kill you," Aokiji said, forming an ice blade in his hand.

As he raised his weapon to strike, Lin Yan, lying weakly on the ground, began to laugh.

"Ha... hahaha..."

Hearing Lin Yan laugh, Aokiji paused, "Why are you laughing?"

Facing death, Aokiji was curious about Lin Yan's final words.

"I laugh because I thank you for not killing me immediately, giving me a chance to talk," Lin Yan said, eyes closed. Since he had been on the brink of exhaustion, over a minute had passed.

Don't underestimate these sixty seconds. Lin Yan's strength was rapidly recovering.

"Talk?" Aokiji frowned, not understanding.

"No matter. Because now, you can't kill me!" Lin Yan's smile widened.

Though sixty seconds wasn't much, it was enough to use his Mangekyo Sharingan one last time.

"Kuzan, finish him off!" Sengoku shouted, sensing something amiss.

Too late. Aokiji prepared to strike, but Lin Yan used his restored power on his Mangekyo Sharingan.

"Kamui!"

A vortex appeared beside Lin Yan, swallowing him whole. Surrounded by tens of thousands of marines and the entire naval high command, Lin Yan vanished into thin air.

Sengoku, Akainu, Aokiji, Kizaru, Blackbeard, Mihawk, Doflamingo, and others were stunned, their eyes widening. Activating their Observation Haki to the maximum, they searched Marineford but found no trace of Lin Yan.

He had... disappeared?

Why?

Why did this happen?

Sengoku, Garp, the three Admirals, and others were all taken aback, their hearts filled with shock.