Boom!
A massive explosion erupted in an instant.
The black smoke and shockwave from the blast turned the entire sky into a mess, sweeping away all the surrounding clouds.
"Hm?"
In the darkness, the shadow seemed somewhat surprised. "It actually—"
The fiery sphere of the explosion continued expanding, even swallowing several other pillars of light.
But from within that blazing sphere—
A shadow shot out, followed by a huge mass of shadows close behind him.
"AAAAAHHHHH!!"
Bright roared as he ran frantically.
High in the sky, he stepped on the clouds he had created and charged forward without stopping.
The crimson scales that had covered his body were now charred black, and great patches of them had vanished entirely.
Fortunately, his regenerative abilities were astonishing.
His scorched flesh rapidly turned pink again, while his missing scales grew back at high speed.
But the people he was dragging behind him were not so fortunate.
"Ah la la, I almost got completely melted."
Aokiji was scorched black as well. He lay limply atop a cloud, muttering softly.
Beside him was Akainu, whose body was equally charred.
It was far from just Aokiji and Akainu who had been burned. Everyone was almost in the same condition.
As for why people of vastly differing strength had ended up in similar states, it was probably because everyone had tacitly used Haki to protect the others while passing through the explosion.
But while everyone's injuries were similar, the amount of injury they could endure was completely different.
Screams and wails rang out once more.
Yet more voices would never sound again.
Bright remained silent. All he could do was return those voices that could no longer be heard to the sea.
Let them fall into the sea's embrace.
They had probably lost another half of their