The area where the Obelisk array had stood was completely destroyed. Nothing remained but sand and rubble.
A huge conical block of ice gave off faint cracking sounds. Then it shattered across the ground.
"...Oh my."
Kuzan emerged from the shattered ice and surveyed the devastation before him. Whitebeard stood in his Nioh Stance, looking up at the sky.
Kuzan looked up as well and saw Shining poke his head out of the black sun, his face twisted into a "hideous grimace." He relaxed slightly.
A small "volcanic eruption" suddenly burst from a molten cavity in the ruined ground. The surging magma gathered into Akainu.
"...Damn it. Every last one of them does whatever he pleases."
Once Akainu had fully regained his human form, he walked over to Kuzan, his expression dark.
"It looks like Bondrewd has changed his strategy."
Kuzan noticed that Bondrewd had suddenly broken away from Garp to confront Sengoku, leaving Red Count free to act.
"Red Count...Cerberus..."
Akainu furrowed his brows.
From experience, that bastard Bondrewd was very likely to have several contingencies ready.
Now that the Obelisks had lost their effect and Shining was about to break free, Bondrewd had chosen to release Red Count into the fight rather than salvage the situation.
"-Could it be-!"
Akainu understood what Kuzan meant and immediately used Soru, racing toward Red Count.
As for Whitebeard, he was clearly about to die.
Akainu was a very pragmatic man. Since Whitebeard was certain to die here, they could add some publicity afterward. There was no need to risk injury now by provoking a dying Whitebeard.
But if they let Red Count pull something off, it would be too late for regrets.
Kuzan glanced at Whitebeard's back, then turned and left as well.
The two Admirals charged straight toward Red Count,