In midair
Carl enveloped Morley's enormous head in haki, then launched it with a powerful kick.
Dragon, who was struggling to fend off the assault from both Kuzan and Aramaki, suddenly felt a chill down his spine. The next second, he was struck squarely by the massive head, coughing up a mouthful of blood. The impact sent him hurtling toward Kuzan and Aramaki.
Aramaki's face lit up with excitement. In his tree-form state, he swung a massive blackened fist at the incoming Dragon.
Boom!
With a thunderous explosion, Morley's head shattered, and Dragon's body crashed to the ground like a ragdoll.
As Dragon struggled to get back on his feet, Kuzan instantly appeared by his side. He conjured an ice spear radiating cold air and drove it mercilessly into Dragon's remaining right hand, pinning him to the ground.
Dragon let out a pained scream, but Kuzan showed no mercy. He created two more ice spears and drove them into Dragon's legs, immobilizing him completely.
Severely injured, Dragon could no longer use his Devil Fruit powers to escape.
Seeing this, Sabo rushed to save Dragon but was caught off guard. Two bullets, coated in haki, struck his legs, fired by Ginny, causing him to collapse to his knees.
The surrounding Marines seized the opportunity, swarming to subdue Sabo.
Refusing to give up, Sabo roared in defiance, dragging his bloodied legs as he faced the onslaught.
Moments later...
Thud!
Sabo collapsed to the ground once more, his eyes wide open and vacant.
A gory bullet wound marred his forehead, while deep sword cuts covered his body. Internal organs spilled from his torn flesh.
Not far away, Ginny lightly blew the smoke from her gun barrel, while Momonga and Onigumo stood nearby, wiping the blood from their swords.
Since Carl took over as Fleet Admiral, the Marines' approach had shifted dramatically.
When dealing with Revolutionaries or Yonko crews—both deemed high-level threats—their philosophy was summed up in one word: kill.
On the other side of the battlefield, Carl shifted his gaze from Ginny and turned to Dragon, who lay beneath his foot. Looking down at him, Carl asked coldly,
"Monkey D. Dragon, do you regret it now?"
Dragon struggled to lift his head, gritting his teeth.
"I... do not..."
Crunch!
Carl stomped on Dragon's back, crushing his heart into pulp.
Dragon's eyes widened in his final moments, a choked gasp escaping his lips before he coughed up blood and fell silent.
Nearby, even Kuzan and Aramaki flinched slightly at the sight.
Lifting his blood-stained boot, Carl gave Dragon no further thought. He glanced at Kuzan and ordered,
"Kuzan, freeze him."
Without hesitation, Kuzan unleashed a bone-chilling wave of cold, encasing Dragon's body in solid ice.
Carl nodded, then vanished in a flash. Kuzan and Aramaki turned their attention to the remaining pirates and Revolutionaries.
With Whitebeard and Dragon both defeated, only Big Mom remained among the major players.
Despite her disheveled appearance, Big Mom's unyielding body—the "iron balloon"—allowed her to endure the combined assault of two Admirals. Her pink dress had been burned into a makeshift skirt by Lucia's flames, exposing her in a less-than-dignified state.
On her massive face, a paw-shaped burn mark stood out prominently, courtesy of Kuma.
Kuma's Paw-Paw Fruit powers were as bizarre as ever, and with Lucia providing powerful support, even Big Mom found herself in a precarious position.
Clang!
Zui Ming clashed with Napoleon, the two swords engulfed in violet and crimson flames, haki radiating wildly.
Lucia's expression was icy, her long hair transformed into dancing purple flames. She pressed against Big Mom's defense.
Seizing the moment, Kuma clasped his palms together, forming a miniature paw-shaped bubble between them.
In a flash, he appeared behind Big Mom and pressed the bubble into her back.
The paw detonated within Big Mom, releasing a blinding white light. She let out a grunt, her grip on Napoleon weakening.
A strange purple gleam flickered in Lucia's eyes as she slashed Napoleon out of Big Mom's grasp.
Momentarily stunned by Kuma's attack, Big Mom was wide open. Lucia unleashed a rapid barrage of strikes, each one landing on Big Mom's chest.
Under this onslaught, Big Mom's defenses finally gave way. Her chest was marred by a gruesome wound, the spraying blood instantly vaporized by searing purple flames.
The intense pain snapped Big Mom back to her senses. With a roar, she raised a massive blackened hand and grabbed the blade, hurling Lucia away.
Mid-flight, Lucia spread her wings to regain balance, only to collide into a warm embrace.
Recognizing the familiar presence, she instinctively retracted her wings and turned, whispering softly,
"Young Master."
Carl smiled faintly. With a gentle flap of his wings, he descended with Lucia in his arms.
Lucia bit her lip. "I'm sorry, Young Master. My strength still isn't enough..."
Carl raised a finger to his lips, signaling silence with a smile.
"What nonsense. You've already turned Big Mom into that... mess. How could that not be enough?"
Among the Yonko, Whitebeard and Dragon were far from their prime—one debilitated by age and injuries, the other missing an arm.
Big Mom, on the other hand, was in much better condition. Aside from her occasional mental lapses, she was far from an easy opponent for two Admirals.
After reassuring Lucia, Carl turned his gaze to the melee between Kuma and Big Mom. A moment later, his body dissolved into a swarm of black bats, scattering across the battlefield.
For the first time in ages, Big Mom felt a pang of deep regret.
She regretted her carelessness at the Valley of Gods, allowing the Paw-Paw Fruit to fall into Kuma's hands.
And she rued letting Carl and Kuma escape her clutches back then.
Who would have thought that those two insignificant figures would rise to such heights?
Especially Carl—now the world's greatest monster!
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+250 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg