Vista's pupils shrank sharply.
If Carl from before was an unsheathed blade, now he was the very embodiment of a honed, devastating edge!
With a single chant, twenty-four long swords of varying shapes materialized mid-air before abruptly spreading out. Twelve remained suspended, while the other twelve embedded themselves into the battlefield, forming a sword formation!
"This is…!" Cold sweat formed on Vista's forehead.
The swords surrounding him radiated such a sharp presence that they seemed to slice through even his Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki)! But more than that—when the formation completed, a crushing pressure descended upon him, paralyzing his movements.
With his Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki) at its peak, he still couldn't shake off this oppressive force!
"Extreme—Ghost Swordsmanship—Storm Style!"
Carl's indifferent voice rang through the battlefield.
If Wanjian Guizong was the pinnacle of the Sword God's inheritance and Extreme—Divine Swordsmanship—Instant Slash its most explosive technique… then Storm Style was its deadliest!
At this moment, the tide of battle had completely turned.
Whitebeard had just been struck through the chest by Akainu's magma fist, his life force waning.
Diamond Jozu—heavily injured—had been momentarily distracted by Whitebeard's injury, leaving an opening for Aokiji to freeze him solid with his "Ice Time Capsule".
Even Marco—caught off guard—was restrained mid-air by Vice Admiral Onigumo, who used seastone handcuffs, before being shot through by Kizaru's Yasakani no Magatama (Light Beads Barrage)!
The replacement executioners had already reached Ace. His fate seemed sealed.
The Whitebeard Pirates were on the verge of collapse!
"STOP IT FOR ME!!!"
A thunderous roar erupted across the battlefield!
An overwhelming, unseen force surged forth, sweeping across Marineford.
For an instant, time itself seemed to freeze.
It was Conqueror's Haki!
Aokiji's forehead dripped with cold sweat. "This presence… it's real."
Kizaru pouted in amusement. "Oya~ how troublesome~"
Even Carl's movements faltered. His twenty-four-sword formation, primed for an onslaught, remained momentarily frozen in time.
Soru!
A blurred figure dashed out from within the sword formation.
"You let your guard down!" Vista snarled, slashing both Sakura Ten and Murasaki Ten toward Carl's head in a cross pattern.
CLANG! CLANG!
A deafening clash rang out, akin to a giant hammer striking an iron bell.
BOOM!
The ground beneath Carl's feet exploded into crumbling debris, sending web-like cracks spreading across the battlefield.
Vista's strength was undeniable. He was a swordsman who had clashed evenly with Dracule Mihawk, the world's strongest swordsman!
Yet, his expression was far from triumphant.
Cold sweat dripped down his forehead.
"No way…!"
His swords—imbued with advanced Busoshoku Haki—failed to pierce Carl's defense?!
Was this Marine even human?
Crackle…
Black, snake-like lightning—characteristic of Advanced Armament Haki: Koka—surged around Carl's body. The menacing tendrils hissed, slithering toward Vista like living creatures, ready to strike.
"You can push Armament Haki to this level…?" Vista's pupils dilated as Carl slowly lifted his head.
His crimson right eye bore a sinister "5", while his body exuded a thick, ominous aura, black mist-like energy churning around him.
"One or two of you… really…" Carl's expression darkened. His voice was low and chilling, his words grinding out through clenched teeth, "…not bad. That Conqueror's Haki…."
The old man Rayleigh had pulled the same stunt against him back on Sabaody Archipelago.
A sudden Conqueror's Haki shockwave to stun his opponent, followed by a devastating full-power strike.
That exact strategy had just played out again.
If Carl's Haki and body weren't as absurdly resilient as they were, Vista's assault could have put him down for good.
Zzzzt!
Carl's black lightning coiled and hissed violently. His sheer killing intent seeped into the atmosphere, pressing down on Vista.
Even breathing became difficult.
"Huh?!"
In the distance, Whitebeard—who had been shielding Luffy—whipped his head around.
"That kid… Vista's in danger!"
Kizaru, watching from afar, rubbed his chin. "Oh~ Carl's really angry now. This level of Haki… I haven't seen him go all-out like this before, not even against Rayleigh at Sabaody."
Even Mihawk—watching from the execution platform—narrowed his sharp eyes.
This was an aura even he couldn't ignore.
BOOM!
The ground beneath Carl shattered.
His figure flickered—vanishing—only to reappear behind Vista.
BANG!
A black-cloaked fist slammed into Vista's gut.
The force was so overwhelming that Vista was blasted into the sky!
CRACK!
A massive diamond-plated figure intercepted Carl's follow-up strike.
Jozu turned stiffly, blood trickling from the corners of his mouth.
"I'm… the Whitebeard Pirates'… toughest shield…!"
Carl tilted his head slightly.
"Oh? That so?"
BOOM!
Carl's fist collided with Jozu's diamond-coated jaw.
For an instant, a monstrous Haki surge rippled outward.
CRACK!
With a chilling shatter, Jozu's massive body was launched skyward. His eyes rolled back—knocked unconscious in a single blow!
Carl shot into the air, positioning himself above Jozu's falling form.
"Vertical Slash."
BOOM!!!
Carl kicked downward, sending Jozu crashing into the battlefield, leaving behind a massive crater!
The surrounding area was in ruins.
"Jozu!" Vista—having been thrown back—sprinted toward him.
Carl exhaled slowly, retrieving a cigar from his coat. After lighting it, he blew a ring of smoke into the air.
"Hahh… much better."
His lips curled slightly.
"Having a punching bag really helps relieve stress."
Vista's veins bulged in rage. "What did you just say?!"
In his arms, Jozu's entire diamond-plated body was fractured—hairline cracks spreading across his once-indestructible armor like shattered glass.
"Vista—withdraw!"
Whitebeard's deep voice echoed across the battlefield.
HUM—
A shockwave rippled outward, colliding against Carl.
BOOM!
Vista's Sakura Ten absorbed part of the Gura Gura no Mi's shock force, but the residual impact still made Carl's fingers tremble.
Whitebeard—despite his injuries—had made the effort to launch an attack just to cover Vista's retreat.
Carl simply grinned.
Meanwhile, Kizaru—watching from a distance—pursed his lips. "Scary~ Carl, you're really something."
Aokiji's gaze darkened. "Jozu's diamond defense… was actually broken?"
Even he, who had fought Jozu before, knew how absurdly strong the man's durability was.
Yet Carl—with raw physical force alone—had shattered that defense.
Far across the battlefield, Akainu smiled coldly.
"This is how a Marine should fight. It is our duty to eradicate the filth of the sea."
BOOM!
Whitebeard—his grip tightening on his bisento—slammed his blade into the ground.
"Magma brat, don't get cocky."
Luffy, meanwhile, had reached the execution platform—only to find himself face-to-face with…
Vice Admiral Garp.
"GRANDPA! GET OUT OF THE WAY!"
JOIN MY PATREON TO READ ADVANCE 60+ CHAPTERS
Patreon.com/Kora_1