Marineford War: I Will Stand in the Sky

"As for the 'hero,' Yamato already possesses the power required as a prerequisite. What remains essential is the truth that can solidify the 'hero's' beliefs, followed by cultivating considerable power for the 'hero,' and endowing the 'hero' with the mission she needs to shoulder so that she can begin to shine."

"That's all... This is probably Yamato's dream. Isn't it her wish to become a samurai like Kozuki Oden who saves Wano Country? I'm probably fulfilling her wish in this way, killing two birds with one stone."

Listening to Arn's rather calm words, Corazon inexplicably felt a terrifying sensation emanating from Arn. In just a few words, he had already clearly laid out the future of Yamato, whose strength might be comparable to that of a Marine Admiral.

Compared to the timid and cautious Yaen of the past, the Yaen of today is far more terrifying…

Through the window of Little Golden Castle, Corazon gazed at Arn's profile and eyes, silently thinking to himself.

Was it because he received power from the Lord of Hueco Mundo and became the High Priest of the Hueco Mundo Organization?

[Chapter 529. The Result That Shocked the Ocean (Third Update)]

“Ya'en…”

Somewhat puzzled by Corazon's tone, Yann asked, "What's wrong?"

"Do you still remember your original ideal?" Corazon asked.

"certainly……"

Upon hearing this, Yann couldn't help but chuckle and say, "Speaking of which, my ideal back then was to find the strongest woman in the ocean to be my wife."

"However, I can only hope that Hancock can help me achieve this ideal now. Although Hancock is indeed powerful now, compared with 'BIG MOM' Charlotte Linlin, even if she fully unleashes the power of 'Blackwing Daimyo', she is probably still far from enough."

Upon hearing this, Corazon couldn't help but recall the old man's exasperated yet disappointed reaction when Yann confidently expressed this ideal during his childhood.

As for himself, Corazon clearly remembered that he had never had any ideals in the past, and only hoped to stop Doflamingo's evil deeds.

'Seriously, what am I thinking?'

Corazon couldn't help but laugh at himself.

"As people experience things, their thoughts naturally change. Didn't the person who once merely prayed to stop Doflamingo with their life also develop new ideals, hoping to witness that new era?"

'As for Yann, no matter how terrible he has become, he is still my brother. It would be ridiculous for an older brother to doubt his thoughts.'

Upon realizing this, Corazon couldn't help but smile and tease him.

"Speaking of which, if Yamato could be granted the power by the 'Lord of Hueco Mundo,' then given her current age and strength, she would probably have more potential to become the 'strongest woman in the sea' than Hancock."

Yone glanced at Corazon and warned, "Corazon, if Hancock heard that, you'd probably be killed on the spot, right?"

Instantly, Corazon imagined the seemingly predictable outcome in his mind, and cold sweat broke out in his head.

"It's alright, it's alright..."

Corazon immediately realized what was happening and spoke up.

"Hancock and the other Shichibukai have long since left Wano Country and returned to their own ships, making their mark on the high seas to distance themselves from the Wano Country incident. They won't hear about it at all."

“Idiot, you’ve overlooked a very important character,” Yann reminded him.

"Who?" Corazon asked, puzzled.

"Have you forgotten whose body you're currently in?" Yann reminded him.

In an instant, Corazon's expression froze completely, while Little Gold chirped a few times.

……

Meanwhile, after nearly two days of build-up, a newspaper was scattered across the sea, shocking the entire ocean.

"A great victory! The Navy has defeated 'Beasts' Kaido and 'Red-Haired' Shanks!"

Below the title is a lengthy text of several thousand words, explaining in detail how the Navy, in the name of justice on the seas and to curb the rampant arrogance of pirates, launched a war against the "Emperors of the Sea."

Of course, the fact that the pirates deliberately ambushed and surrounded the "Beasts Pirates" and the "Red-Haired Pirates" was omitted from the newspaper.

The story then shifts to how, under Fleet Admiral Sengoku's command, the Navy, upon receiving accurate intelligence that the Beasts Pirates and the Red-Haired Pirates had met, decisively assembled its fleet for an attack.

Subsequently, under the on-the-spot command of Vice Admiral Tsuru, and led by Admiral "Kizaru" Borsalino and Vice Admiral "Marine Hero" Yann, they successfully captured "Red-Haired" Shanks and annihilated most of the "Beasts Pirates'" fighting force, leaving only "Beasts" Kaido and a few of his officers to flee in panic.

Finally, it was mentioned with regret that "Red-Haired" Shanks unexpectedly escaped during his escort, suspected to be the work of "Hawkeye" Mihawk, and the Navy is doing everything in its power to capture him.

……

"Nonsense..."

Mihawk slammed the newspaper in his hand to the ground and said with dissatisfaction.

Beside Mihawk stood Shanks and many of the Red-Haired Pirates' officers. Shanks handed Mihawk a bowl of sake and patted him on the shoulder.

"Don't worry about it, Mihawk. Didn't you want to save me too? You just didn't expect me to escape first."

"Hmph, in fact, I didn't set off because I heard that the Navy had surrounded you. I was just thinking about whether I should take the opportunity to join the Navy and force you to have a proper duel with me."

Mihawk explained with a disdainful tone, "You bastard, get your injuries healed and then you can duel me right away."

"Yes Yes Yes……"

Shanks laughed heartily at Mihawk's almost self-admission-like explanation, patted Mihawk on the shoulder, and then started gulping down his drink.

Seeing this, Mihawk said in a nonchalant tone, "With such serious injuries, you shouldn't drink alcohol. Don't die before you can duel me."

"It's alright, fine wine is the best medicine for pain."

Shanks put down the bowl of sake he had just finished drinking, his expression gradually turning serious as he spoke. "However, in this battle, it wasn't just me; the entire 'Red-Haired Pirates' nearly perished."

After saying that, Shanks glanced at the many crew members in front of him. Almost every one of them was wrapped in a lot of bandages and was in a state of serious injury.

As for Shanks himself, he was completely wrapped up like a dumpling.

It can be said that the Red-Haired Pirates are currently in their weakest state. Not to mention pirate crews of the same level, they are probably powerless to deal with pirate crews similar to the Don Quixote Pirates.

That's why Shanks understood perfectly why Mihawk, who usually only stayed with him briefly before leaving, had remained with the Red-Haired Pirates this time—to avoid the Red-Haired Pirates' powerful enemies coming after them.

This led the news agency to take photos of Mihawk appearing among the "Red-Haired Pirates," speculating that it was "Hawkeye" Mihawk who rescued "Red-Haired" Shanks.

Upon hearing this, Mihawk's expression shifted slightly as he asked, "Who in the Navy has driven you to this point?"

"Who else could it be?"

"Red-haired" Shanks twirled the wine bowl in his hand and said, enunciating each word clearly, "Tefier Yone."

"It's him?" Mihawk asked gravely.

"That's right, that guy is strong... extremely strong!!"

"Red-haired" Shanks said with certainty.

"You might not believe it, but I was at the 'pinnacle of pirate power' when I was dragged down by Vice Admiral Yann, and I have a gut feeling..."

[Chapter 530. Death?!]

"I have a gut feeling..."

At this point, Shanks paused, even stopping the hand that was turning the wine bowl, and narrowed his eyes slightly, as if recalling the details of the battle.

"Although Lieutenant General Yann never truly clashed with me during the battle, seemingly because he knew he was no match for me in a direct confrontation, my intuition tells me that he... simply didn't want to."

Upon hearing Shanks's assessment, Hawkeye Mihawk's expression turned completely serious, and he asked...

"Shanks, isn't this assessment a bit too exaggerated? If so, then Vice Admiral Yann's strength is terrifying, perhaps even capable of killing any of the 'Four Emperors' in a head-on confrontation?"

"Haha, who knows..."

Upon hearing this, "Red-Haired" Shanks burst into laughter, making it unclear whether he was serious or joking.

In fact, Shanks, the "Red-Haired" man, also realized that his intuition-based deduction was far too terrifying.

The posture of "standing at the pinnacle of piracy" means exactly what it says: it is an ability that only those who have almost reached the pinnacle of "Conqueror's Haki" have the opportunity to master, and the price to pay for each use is extremely heavy.

This time, the Red-Haired Pirates were in dire straits, so Shanks had no choice but to use this form. Even so, he still couldn't defeat Arn and escape by taking Arn hostage.

In the end, "Red-Haired" Shanks was worn down by Yann and had no choice but to reveal his Celestial Dragon identity to the Navy's high command in exchange for his freedom.

Even so, the combat power that Aon displayed was already quite exaggerated. The countless blades formed by cherry blossoms and maintained with "Conqueror's Haki" were quite troublesome, and Aon's speed was among the best in the ocean.

If, on this basis, Yann also possesses terrifying destructive power capable of continuously clashing with those who "stand at the pinnacle of the pirate world," then Yann is likely the strongest Marine in history, even more terrifying than Vice Admiral Garp, who was once hailed as the "strongest Marine."

'And...why can't I hear any sound inside Lieutenant General Yann's body? Could it really be because of the fruit Lieutenant General Yann ate...?'

"Red-haired" Shanks thought to himself, but his attention to Yann had reached an unprecedented level.

Just then, Shanks' Den Den Mushi, which he had placed to the side, rang. Shanks casually picked up the Den Den Mushi and listened to it for a moment. His expression immediately became extremely strange, as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world.

Seeing this, Mihawk asked, "What happened?"

Shanks, the "Red-Haired" man, slowly turned his head with a stiff neck and looked at Mihawk, asking in a rigid tone.

"Kaido is dead..."

"What? That monster that was supposedly unkillable... is dead?" Hawkeye Mihawk looked utterly astonished upon hearing this.

If the news is that Kaido of the Beasts has been defeated, then it is not something to be surprised about.

After all, Kaido of the Beasts often challenged the Navy alone, or forces such as the Whitebeard Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates, which often led to Kaido of the Beasts being exhausted and captured when surrounded.

Even so, Kaido, the "Beasts," relying on his monstrous body and vitality, allowed himself to be attacked by enemies, yet he was always able to recover his strength and easily break free from any restraints, including the "Seastone" chains, and escape.

Therefore, almost everyone has to acknowledge Kaido's title as the "strongest creature in the sea, land, and air."

Not only Hawkeye Mihawk, but also the other Red-Haired Pirates officers who were scattered on both sides drinking and feasting all showed expressions of disbelief.

“Incredible intelligence, is it reliable?” Beckman asked, frowning.

"What's even more unbelievable is yet to come..."

"Red-Haired" Shanks took a deep breath and slowly said, "Lieutenant General Yann is also dead."

In an instant, the tavern, which had been taken over by the "Red-Haired Pirates," fell into a deathly silence, with everyone staring motionlessly at "Red-Haired" Shanks.

"Huh???"

The next moment, almost all the members of the "Red-Haired Pirates" exclaimed in unison.

"You're kidding, right? How could that be?"

"Lieutenant General Yann, who even Shanks couldn't handle, is also dead?"

"Has some major event occurred again?"

……

The heated discussion echoed throughout the tavern, fully demonstrating the extreme shock felt by the crew of the "Red-Haired Pirates".

After all, in the battle a few days ago, what impressed the Red-Haired Pirates the most, besides the power of Kaido the Beasts, was Vice Admiral Yann, who seemed gentle and lazy but actually easily manipulated the entire Red-Haired Pirates with his words and whose strength was extremely terrifying.