Chapter 123: The Demon-Slaying Order

He looked like a true fanatic. With a solemn expression that bordered on the devout, Sakazuki raised something high above his head. It was a golden Den Den Mushi. A deadly strike unleashed only when the World Government felt its authority was threatened. A command to mobilize all available forces and turn the target area into scorched earth. And now, at this very moment, Sakazuki was holding this terrifying weapon high above his head.

Kuzans's expression darkened instantly. "Sakazuki!!!" For the first time, the usually calm Kuzan was seething with rage. His eyes, suddenly bloodshot, glared at Sakazuki with murderous intensity. If looks could kill, Sakazuki would have been shredded to pieces by now. Kuzan never imagined this day would come. That he would become the target of a Buster Call. This was no longer a simple disagreement over the Navy's path—this was a declaration that he was a traitor, someone marked for elimination in the name of justice.

At that moment, Kuzan finally understood how the people of Ohara must have felt back then. The feeling of being sentenced to death. It was anything but something that could make one smile. "Even if I begged for mercy now, it wouldn't matter, would it?" Kuzan's eyes turned cold as he spoke to Sakazuki, the warmth completely gone. The situation had gone too far. Kuzanknew that any attempt to explain himself was useless. Now surrounded by the Navy, the only way out was through battle. And so, in the next instant, Kuzan moved.

"Ice Age!" Facing Sakazuki, his former comrade, Kuzan unleashed his full power! From this moment on, all ties between them were severed. Kuzan seemed to become the embodiment of ice. More than half of his body was already encased in solid ice. At the same time, a terrifying cold began to spread rapidly in all directions. The sea surface froze at an astonishing speed. The cold was so intense that even Sakazuki's magma couldn't resist it. This was Kuzan's true full strength. Against the relentless Sakazuki, Kuzan held nothing back. He unleashed everything he had. As a top-tier Logia Devil Fruit user, Kuzan's all-out attack was terrifying. In the blink of an eye, frost was closing in on the Navy fleet, threatening to engulf everything.

"This... this is..." Many of the Navy personnel on the ships were paralyzed with fear. But Sakazuki was unfazed—in fact, he seemed pleased. "So, you've finally dropped the act, Kuzan! But don't think for a second that after the higher-ups issued the Buster Call against you, I came alone!" "What...?" Kuzan's face changed again. And then, in the next moment... A blinding yellow flash accompanied by a thunderous roar descended, shattering the frozen sea with the force of lightning. Boom——! With a thunderous crash, the ice shattered effortlessly. Amidst the falling ice shards, a leisurely voice echoed. "Oh my, how terrifying..."

Admiral Kizaru, Borsalino, had arrived on the battlefield. "So, you've really spared no expense this time to take me down." Kuzan's expression grew increasingly grim. With Kizaru's arrival, he knew there would be no peaceful resolution today. Sakazuki alone was a formidable opponent. Even with the loss of one arm, Sakazuki was still a force to be reckoned with. And now, with the menacing presence of Kizaru added to the mix... Not to mention the tens of thousands of Navy soldiers and over twenty high-ranking officers, including vice admirals and rear admirals. This was a large-scale operation, indeed. The Navy and World Government were pulling out all the stops to ensure Kuzan's demise. If he were alone, there would be no escape today.

But... he wasn't standing alone. "Well, well... The Navy has really hit rock bottom, deploying so much force just to take down Kuzan. What, bullying him with numbers?" As the tense standoff between Sakazuki, Kizaru, and Kuzan continued, a voice suddenly echoed across the battlefield—a voice dripping with mockery. It was a blatant show of contempt for all the Navy personnel present. But no one dared to refute it. Because the man who had suddenly appeared on the battlefield was, in many ways, the Navy's nightmare. Whitebeard Pirates' 17th Division Captain, Lin Yan.

"Oh my, things are getting scarier by the minute..." The moment Lin Yan appeared, Sakazuki and Kizaru's pupils contracted to the size of needle points. Kizaru was the first to speak, his usual casual tone betraying a hint of unease. It was clear just how much Lin Yan intimidated them. "It's you!!!" Compared to Kizaru's reaction, Sakazuki's was far more intense. The moment he saw Lin Yan standing in midair, Sakazuki's eyes turned blood red with fury. He could never forget this man. This man was the reason for his current state. Not only had Sakazuki lost an arm, weakening his strength, but his status and reputation within the Navy had plummeted. Even as Fleet Admiral, there were countless within the Navy waiting for his downfall. It was all because of Lin Yan.

With a face contorted in rage, Sakazuki coldly stared at Lin Yan and Kuzan. "So, you've joined the Whitebeard Pirates. It seems our suspicions were correct—you have indeed become a threat to justice..." "..." Kuzan remained silent, too disdainful to reply. He knew that explaining himself to Sakazuki now would be pointless. But while Kuzan maintained his quiet defiance, Lin Yan was far more direct. A mocking smile played across Lin Yan's lips as he glanced at Sakazuki. "Don't bark, mad dog."