Chapter 111: Divine Strike - Thunder Awakens, All is Destroyed

Sabaody Archipelago.

Island No. 1.

Amid worldwide attention, a high-ranking World Government official took out seven contracts.

The signatures of the Five Elders were on each one.

In front of the entire world, Sengoku also signed his own name.

The World Government's highest leader, the Fleet Admiral Sengoku.

The contracts were then handed to the seven Warlords of the Sea.

As soon as they signed, the Seven Warlords would be officially established under the eyes of the world.

Sengoku watched the seven take their pens, unable to suppress the smile at the corner of his mouth.

He felt immensely satisfied.

With Kuke dead and the Seven Warlords established, a balance of power with the Sea Emperors would keep the seas tranquil, leading to the most stable era under his rule as Fleet Admiral.

"Any sign of the remnants of the Sun and Moon Pirates?" Sengoku quietly asked Garp beside him.

Garp looked at Vice Admiral Yamakaji, who was responsible for intelligence.

Yamakaji shook his head.

The Navy had a large force stationed across Sabaody, monitoring all directions.

Not only were there no Sun and Moon Pirates, but even other pirate groups hadn't shown up. With the Fleet Admiral himself on the island, no pirates dared approach Sabaody during this period.

"They haven't come?" Sengoku frowned.

He had expected that today might lure the remnants of the Sun and Moon Pirates into action.

To the public, they claimed that Gion and the others had abandoned Kuke. Sengoku knew it was a lie; others might not know the truth, but Sengoku was certain that Gion was willing to die for Kuke's honor.

For Kuke's name.

Even if it meant death, she should have shown up.

He'd hoped to capture all the remnants in one swoop, but it seemed that plan would fall through.

Now that they missed this opportunity, Sengoku realized it might be nearly impossible to lure them out again.

Sengoku turned to the Visual Den Den Mushi.

Facing the world, he displayed a generous façade, announcing, "The remnants of the Sun and Moon Pirates have been misled. The chief culprit, Kuke, is dead. I am offering you a chance at redemption. If you surrender, I am willing to grant you a Warlord seat, giving you a fresh start and an opportunity to..."

"There's no need for that!"

A clear voice cut through Sengoku's triumphant smile.

"Who?"

The voice had come so suddenly.

The seven Warlords, who had been busy signing, jerked their heads up.

Hawk-Eyes Mihawk, who was perpetually emotionless, widened his eyes slightly, taken aback.

Did he mishear? Who had just interrupted the Fleet Admiral's speech?

"A woman's voice?"

Around the world, everyone stared at the screen.

All they could see was Sengoku's stunned expression on the Visual Den Den Mushi.

"How could this happen?"

Red-Haired Shanks stood up, his eyes glued to the screen as he turned to his crew: "Why? Why did Gion go?"

It was a path to certain death.

Going there meant certain doom.

"Boss, isn't it obvious?" Yasopp responded firmly. "With Sengoku trampling on Kuke's memory, his companions would never stay still. They'd be willing to die if it meant defending him."

"But…" Shanks clenched his teeth. She would die.

"Boss, if it were us, we'd make the same choice," Yasopp and the others declared firmly.

The Visual Den Den Mushi tilted upward.

Heavy clouds cloaked the blue sky.

Suddenly,

A burning red light tore through the clouds, creating a massive gap as a magnificent phoenix and a black bat descended from the sky, flying straight toward Sabaody Archipelago, Island No. 1.

Gion, Shakky—they had arrived.

The "remnants of the Sun and Moon Pirates," whispered of for months by the world's major powers, had come!

The sight of the phoenix descending left every eye fixated on it, on the one who was surely facing death yet flew forward without hesitation.

In the New World, Kaido cursed, "Damn it, no chance to recruit her now."

She was dead for sure.

After a year of effort to acquire Gion, the mythical Phoenix Zoan user, Kaido knew there was no hope left.

"She came, proving Sengoku's claim about Gion's indifference to Kuke's death was a lie," Whitebeard observed, amused by Sengoku's stunned expression.

A slap in the face.

"Tch," Kuma muttered, sighing quietly.

This was what he feared.

They'd come, but leaving would be the hard part.

Now he felt conflicted—should he reveal himself and help Gion and her team escape, or pretend not to know them?

"They've arrived. I underestimated you; it seems Kuke truly means much to you. Understandable, given Kuke's charm—who could resist?" Sengoku laughed aloud, unfazed.

Their arrival sealed their fate.

The Sun and Moon Pirates would be history.

Whitebeard nodded, impressed at Sengoku's quick recovery. His reaction was swift, twisting the situation to his advantage.

Such a masterful tactician.

A loud rumble echoed!

The phoenix descended.

The bat landed.

At the same time, Hancock leaped down from the phoenix, Stussy and Belo Betty jumped from the bat, and the phoenix and bat transformed back into their human forms—Gion and Shakky.

Five figures appeared.

Among them, Sengoku recognized Gion, Hancock, Stussy, and Belo Betty.

The World Government already knew these four were members of the Sun and Moon Pirates.

The only unfamiliar face was the youthful Shakky, whom they assumed to be a recently recruited crewmate with a typical Zoan bat fruit. Young and seemingly not strong, they dismissed her as unimportant.

"The Sun and Moon Pirates' remnants have some strength. So, it seems you're prepared to fight to the death."

Sengoku looked down at Gion and her team.

Aside from Gion, he dismissed the Queen of Pleasure District Stussy as well as the three others as weak rookies.

Everyone else regarded them with the look one reserves for the dead.

Just five of them.

There were nearly ten thousand marines on the island, ten vice admirals, and Tsuru, the chief of staff and a top-ranking vice admiral.

Most importantly, Sengoku himself was here.

No one doubted the Fleet Admiral's strength.

They believed he alone could easily crush these five suicidal pirates.

Moreover, the seven Warlords were present.

The disparity in strength was overwhelming. To everyone, the upcoming battle was a complete mismatch.

No miracles were expected.

"Since you're the Seven Warlords now, why not prove yourselves by dealing with them?" Sengoku remained seated, showing no intention of acting.

Instead, he glanced toward the seven Warlords.

"There was no such agreement today, and I haven't even signed yet," Mihawk replied coldly, uninterested.

Kuma put down his pen, having only written part of his name. "I have no interest either."

Jinbe was the same.

Crocodile chuckled, neither agreeing nor refusing.

"Gion and Stussy—I won't bother with them. The others, however, are mine," Doflamingo sneered.

He didn't dare provoke the first two.

The others, though, he didn't even consider a threat.

Most importantly, he suspected that the Op-Op Fruit, after the last attack on the Sun and Moon Pirates, had been eaten by Belo Betty. He intended to capture her while no one suspected it.

So, he readied himself to strike.

"Son, this is a prime opportunity to make a name for yourself," Bakkin coaxed the simple-minded Edward Weevil.

Edward Weevil's eyes gleamed red as he picked up the naginata at his side.

He rose, emitting a powerful and fierce aura. "Let me take them on."

He wasn't the smartest, but his strength was undeniable.

"Sengoku…" Gion gazed coldly at Sengoku.

"?" Sengoku instinctively looked at Gion.

Her gaze captured his attention.

At that moment—

A figure burst forth from beneath the sea, hundreds of meters behind Sengoku, breaking through the ice and leaping upward, cloaked in lightning, blazing like a scorching sun.

"Divine Strike—Thunder Awakens, All is Destroyed!"

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P/S: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 144+ at patreon.com/Emik01.

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