The smoke of battle had yet to clear from Justice Island, formerly Hachinosu. Black smoke drifted skyward on the sea breeze, turning half the sky gray. The air reeked of choking gunpowder and blood, and the paving stones underfoot were still hot to the touch. Broken weapons and tattered flags lay everywhere. Members of the Blackbeard Pirates sprawled across the ground, while Empire soldiers carried the bodies to an open area by the island's edge, waiting to burn them.
The mysterious black Empire Dragon Flag had already been planted atop the Royal Palace, snapping in the wind, its dragon design gleaming coldly in the sunlight. The Million-Strong Army swept across the entire island like a tide. Some cleared the battlefield, some freed slaves, and others ransacked Blackbeard's Royal Palace, searching for treasure, intelligence, and weapons, missing nothing.
Chen Yu stood in the lookout tower atop the Royal Palace. His black dragon-patterned robe flapped in the sea breeze, his black hair drifting over his shoulders. His gaze was placid as he looked down at the stronghold they had just wiped out. His fingertips brushed the sword at his waist, the dragon pattern on its sheath glowing faintly. An imperial Haki radiated from him, and even the sea breeze seemed to slow.
Behind him, Bai Qi, Liu Bei, Guo Jia, Jia Xu, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and the others stood quietly, each still carrying a lingering fighting spirit.
Bai Qi's silver armor was covered in blood, and the Yveltal Fruit's dark energy still swirled around him. His red eyes held not a ripple, as though he had not been the one cutting down Blackbeard moments earlier.
Liu Bei wore a blue-green official's robe. The Xerneas Fruit's life energy flowed slowly, suppressing the violent aura around them.
Guo Jia waved his fan, a