Warship Withdrawal, One Sword to Settle It

The island was as silent as death.

The next second, the island instantly split in two, and vast amounts of seawater surged out from the crack.

Everyone witnessed the scene before them.

Kalifa unconsciously clenched her delicate hand.

At that moment, the phantom beside Zephyr came to Kalifa's side. "Kalifa, take them back to Marineford. I've completely stabilized Teacher Zephyr's body, but he needs more stable treatment conditions.

"Also, barring any surprises, this island will disappear from the map. To avoid involving you, I want you to return to Marineford immediately!"

"But you..."

"I'll be fine. After all, I'm Admiral White Dove!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the phantom shattered.

Then, the other phantoms shattered one after another.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

Ain came to Kalifa's side and asked, "Ma'am, what should we do now?"

Kalifa looked at the fierce battle on the island, then at Zephyr on the ground.

She took a deep breath, her eyes full of resolve. "I believe in Roya. We'll withdraw immediately and return to Marineford. Everyone who can move, come help me!"

The warship departed from the island.

During this time, Roya continuously dodged Weevil's attacks.

By now, the island had been battered beyond recognition by Weevil's assault.

Rainwater pooled in the uneven ground, turning it into a sea of mud.

More than half of the island had essentially been shattered.

It was even showing faint signs of sinking.

Yet Weevil still attacked Roya endlessly like a beast.

It was as though he would never tire!

Watching the warship gradually disappear from view, Roya's lips curled slightly upward.

At this point, only the two of them remained on the island.

The warship had already gone far away, which meant he could finally use his full strength!

Over this period, he had loosened up enough.

The power of the talismans activated!

Levitation!

Roya's body suddenly rose into the air, looking down at Whitebeard Jr. from the sky.

"It's been a long time since I really stretched my body. I hope you can withstand it!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a blazing flame bloomed in Roya's hand.

The flames continuously rose and condensed into an ancient katana.

Its blade was somewhat long and slender, gleaming with a cold light.

"You haven't come out to move around in a long time either, have you?"

Roya softly murmured to Ryujin Jakka, his Zanpakuto.

At that moment, Ryujin Jakka's blade trembled faintly in response.

"Then let's have a proper release!"

"Reduce all creation to ash, Ryujin Jakka!"

In an instant, Ryujin Jakka in Roya's hand erupted with heaven-shaking flames.

Towering fire swept forth once more.

Even heaven and earth changed color!

A huge hole was torn open in the dark clouds.

The torrential rain stopped, and the thunder dragons ceased their roars.

As the opening continued to spread, clear skies appeared above the island.

Faced with this situation, Weevil showed no reaction.

He still roared as he charged toward Roya.

Roya's lips hooked upward slightly.

He stroked the blade and said, "First Form: Caressing Slash!"

Blade light flashed, and spiritual pressure surged!

Towering flames roared forth!

The Peak Great Swordsman Realm and terrifying spiritual pressure akin to Conqueror's Haki intertwined.

Then, Roya swung his sword down!

Weevil watched the slash grow larger and larger in his vision.

He also swung his long-handled saber, trying to block it!

Bang!

Weevil gripped his saber and instinctively used Armament Haki, coating the weapon with it.

The terrifying long-handled saber, combined with Weevil's monstrous strength—

Filled the air with piercing howls.

The long-handled saber tore through the air with overwhelming force and slammed heavily into the slash.

The powerful recoil numbed Weevil's hand.

His muscles trembled violently. He gritted his teeth as blood unconsciously trickled from the corner of his mouth.

"Roar! Roar! Roar!"

A beast-like howl erupted from his mouth.

A harsh screech rang out alongside dazzling sparks.

Under Roya's slash, Weevil was forcibly pushed back hundreds of meters!

He gouged two deep trenches through the mud!

Bang!

At last, Weevil's long-handled saber could no longer bear the strain and was severed by Roya's slash.

Without Weevil's resistance, the slash continued onward without losing any of its power.

Mixed with fragments of the broken blade, it tore through Weevil's terrifying defenses.

It sent Weevil's hill-like body flying like a kite with its string cut.

Bang!

He crashed heavily into a mountain.

The bloody red color in Weevil's eyes gradually faded.

He only felt as if his internal organs had all been violently displaced.

His entire body felt like mush.

An ordinary person would have died beyond any possibility of recovery.

But his body possessed terrifying regenerative power. As long as he was given time, he could recover.

However, Roya slowly floated down in front of Weevil.

His cloak of justice snapped loudly in the howling gale.

Roya looked down at Weevil and saw panic in his eyes.

Although Weevil was not very smart, his body could remember pain.

Roya had inflicted such severe damage upon him.

Presumably, in Weevil's subconscious, Roya had already become an invincible existence.

If no one gave him further orders, he would probably turn around and run away next.

As though to confirm Roya's guess,

Weevil struggled out from the rubble and turned to flee.

But how could Roya let Weevil off so easily!

Soru!

In an instant, Roya appeared in front of Weevil.

With Weevil's mental state currently unstable and his emotions in turmoil,

Roya directly pulled Weevil into an illusion through the Illusion-Illusion Fruit.

The entire process passed without the slightest disturbance.

In just one second, Roya's illusion completely devoured Weevil's mind.

His consciousness would live within the illusion forever.

Through orders given from outside, Weevil's illusion would undergo corresponding changes as well.

In other words, Weevil now belonged to Roya as a war machine.

"Your strength and recovery ability truly are impressive. Rather than kill you, it would be better to have you serve me. I happen to have a use for you!"

Before Roya could finish speaking, the island began to collapse.

After the battle between Roya and Weevil, the island had finally reached the brink of destruction.

It was gradually swallowed by the seawater!

Without any hesitation, Roya directly took Noah's Ark out of the system.

The enormous Noah's Ark did not enter the sea. Instead, under the power of the talismans, it floated in the air...