[With a single attack, the enormous, dreaded Thriller Bark was engulfed in towering flames, thick smoke, and lava! Explosions rolled on without pause as the ship's structure began to collapse and break apart!]
[Only a handful of the quickest and strongest figures leaped from the ship just before the attack struck. They hit the water in disarray and fled toward the open sea without looking back.]
[Among them was Blackbeard himself, his massive frame looking utterly panicked.]
[Sakazuki landed lightly on the bow of his warship, his lava-coated arm returning to normal. He cast a cold glance at the burning, rapidly sinking wreck and the fleeing specks in the distance, but did not pursue them.]
[His first priority was the safety of the Peace Tour and its passengers.]
["Boarding team, take control of the Peace Tour, treat the wounded, and secure the situation."]
["Communications, contact Konoha and Kumogakure. Report what happened."]
["Medical Team, prepare to receive the seriously wounded."]
[Orders went out in steady succession. Kirigakure's patrol ship slowly drew alongside the Peace Tour, which had finally steadied after its brush with disaster.]
[Sunlight pierced the smoke and shone upon the blue sea. Before overwhelming power, Blackbeard's ambitions and brutality melted away like snow in the sun.]
[The sea breeze carried the stench of charring and saltwater—and the signal that the chaos was over.]
[The Peace Tour's long nightmare finally came to a bloody close with Akainu's devastating lava fist and the Military Police Force's arrival on board.]
The Canopy Screen ended there.
Mist shrouded the Mizukage Office. Beyond the window lay Kirigakure's distinctive rain-blurred scenery, heavy with damp, salty air.
Mei Terumi, the Fifth Mizukage, leaned languidly against the window, absently twirling a lock of chestnut hair around her finger. Yet her brow held a trace of concern for