The pirates sat and forgot, and they really believed the nine truths and one lie.

Most people's eyes remained fixed on the towering lava demon for a long time.

The scorching, violent, and seemingly all-consuming aura made his skin sting even from a distance.

"Sakaski..."

Marshal Steelbone repeated the name in a low voice, and a spark of almost obsessive hope rekindled in his eyes, which had been dimmed by his serious injuries.

Despite the uncontrollable destructive power of this force, at this moment, Akainu represents the possibility of victory for the Navy.

He placed all his hopes on this young man who had transformed into a lava demon; the justice of the navy and the order of the world must not collapse at this moment.

With difficulty, Gang Gu Kong turned his head and looked at the two hospital beds placed side by side inside the temporary medical tent.

The strong smell of medicine and the rhythmic ticking of the instruments contrasted eerily and cruelly with the devastating roar outside the tent.

His two old friends, two former pillars of the Navy—former Admiral "Black Arm" Zephyr and Navy hero "Iron Fist" Garp—were lying there silently.

Their bodies were covered with various life-sustaining tubes connected to sophisticated instruments, and the fluctuating curves on the screens showed how fragile their lives were.

Their uniforms had already been cut open, revealing terrible wounds underneath, wrapped in thick bandages but still constantly oozing blood; some wounds were even deep enough to expose bone.

The two old men were as pale as paper, and their breathing was so weak that it was almost imperceptible.

Marshal Kong's heart sank suddenly, and a mixture of grief, anger, and endless bitterness surged into his throat, almost suffocating him.

The three old men are no longer young. Once upon a time, they fought side by side, upholding the glory of the old navy.

But now, seeing his old subordinates paying such a heavy price for this war, and possibly never waking up again, Marshal Kong clenched his fists tightly.

"Zeff, Garp"

The former marshal's voice was hoarse and trembling. He reached out his hand, as if wanting to touch his old friend, but fearing to disturb their fragile vital signs, he could only let it hang down helplessly.

"You two old bastards, you have to hold on! Neither of you can die!"

Outside the tent, the Lava Demon God brought a roar and heat that seemed to be reshaping the world; inside the tent, two legends of the era, their life signs weak yet tenacious.

The tide of the new era crashes in with the most brutal force, while the banner of the old era is battered and dying. The cruel world will never stop for any one person.

Everyone on the battlefield of Marineford was terrified, thinking that Sakazuki, who had transformed into the Lava Demon, would indiscriminately destroy everything in his path.

Even when some pessimistic naval commanders had secretly ordered a retreat of the defensive line and preparations for the worst, the towering lava giant displayed astonishing restraint.

His enormous head, formed from flowing lava, slowly turned, his crimson-gold eyes, formed from lava, resembling two miniature suns.

Precisely locking onto Shiki the Golden Lion, who was suspended in mid-air and had also caused a cataclysmic change in the heavens and earth, a deep, rumbling sound, like the movement of the earth's crust, resounded between heaven and earth, carrying an undeniable sense of impending doom:

"The era of pirates... it's time to end!"

These words, like a final judgment, struck the hearts of every pirate and invigorated the spirits of all the marines.

The demon god belonging to the Navy has not lost his mind; his target is still pirates, and Admiral Akainu still upholds the absolute justice in his heart.

"The era Roger ushered in can never end. Take your sense of justice and be buried with Marineford."

With a ferocious expression, Shiki the Golden Lion unleashed the full power of his Float-Float Fruit, causing the giant meteorite he had pulled from outer space to crash down with even greater ferocity, intending to drag everyone down with him.

The sea beside the Lava Demon God suddenly exploded, and a giant hand made entirely of dark red lava with flowing golden patterns seemed to emerge from the depths of hell and break through the waves.

Soaring straight into the sky with overwhelming force, this hand was almost the same size as the meteorite that blotted out the sun.

The meteorite, trailing a ghostly green flame from friction with the atmosphere, carried immense kinetic energy and was about to crash into Marineford, crushing the surrounding seas.

The scientists watching were well aware that if this celestial body were to crash down, it would cause more than just an explosion.

It would be a catastrophe powerful enough to alter tectonic plate structure, trigger global tsunamis and climate disasters, and all life in Marineford and the surrounding waters would be instantly wiped out.

At this critical moment, the giant lava hand precisely and steadily held up the falling meteorite.

Om-!

A deafening roar, deep and muffled, resounded. It was the terrifying sonic boom generated by the collision of energy between the giant hand and the meteorite. The powerful shockwave spread out in a ring, completely tearing apart the remaining clouds in the high sky.

The anticipated cataclysmic impact did not occur; the meteorite, capable of destroying everything, was abruptly halted in mid-air.

Magma churned above the giant hand, unleashing boundless power, acting as the most solid foundation to firmly hold back the meteorite, preventing it from falling even an inch further.

From the perspective of the people of Marineford below, this scene was filled with an indescribable divine awe:

Under the dim sky (although the volcanic ash had been washed away, the sunlight was still partially blocked), the towering lava demon stood between the sea and the sky.

One of his arms transformed into a giant, sky-supporting hand, steadily holding up the massive, burning meteorite that seemed to have fallen from a crack in the sky.

The magma flowing from the demon god's body was like golden blood, emitting a red light that illuminated the dim battlefield, firmly keeping the destructive celestial body above all living beings.

He no longer seemed like a demon bringing destruction, but rather more like a god who stepped out of ancient mythology, supporting the heavens and protecting the earth.

With his own strength, he fought against natural disasters and protected all the tiny creatures on the ravaged battlefield beneath him.

"He blocked it...he blocked the meteorite!"

"General Sakazuki...he...he's protecting us!"

"General...is this a god?!"

The cries of survivors, filled with sobs and profound awe, echoed throughout the naval camp.

Even many pirates stared in disbelief at this miraculous scene, their hearts filled with indescribable shock and fear.

The arrogance on Shiki the Golden Lion's face vanished completely, replaced by a near-dumbfounded look of horror.

His ultimate, world-destroying technique, which he was so proud of, was actually held back by the opponent in such an absolutely forceful way?!

This scene, which was enough to shake the world, was quickly broadcast around the world by Yamato's camera team, appearing on all broadcast screens after a half-minute delay.

This allowed all the spectators from various races to witness this visually stunning spectacle.