The instant the pillar of light dissipated, pirates across the island saw the clear blue sky.
That golden lightning had torn through the thick fog, pierced the clouds, and illuminated a sky that had been gloomy for who knew how many years.
A moment later, the pillar contracted like a giant withdrawing its arm, leaving only the hole in the clouds faintly glowing.
Sunlight spilled through that hole. Though only a narrow beam, it was dazzling enough.
Zoro stood in the courtyard, his hand on his sword hilt, watching that beam of light.
Dozens of zombies lay sprawled around him, every last one with its head split open.
"Is it over?" Zoro suddenly asked.
No one answered him.
But a few breaths later, Sanosuke slid out of the shadows, the blood staining the black wings on his back giving them an eerie red hue.
Gin emerged from the basement stairwell, bracing himself on his iron tonfas. He had three more wounds than when he had entered, but he still stood reasonably straight.
Behind him, the zombie general's head rolled aside, its mouth still moving.
Dalton had also led his men to the clearing outside, where everyone looked up at the tower.
Smoke rose from its summit. Golden lightning and black shadow energy flashed in turn, like two crazed beasts tearing into each other.
"Captain," an Elgy warrior murmured, "can that Skypiean... beat a Shichibukai?"
Dalton did not answer, silently watching the top of the tower.
The hall atop the tower no longer looked like a hall. Half its dome had collapsed, revealing the blue sky above. More than a dozen deep trenches split the floor, and crystal chandelier fragments lay scattered everywhere, crunching underfoot.
Moria stood amid the ruins, panting heavily. He looked down at his chest, where a charred