One Piece: Starting at the War of the Best

In an instant, Katie's aura surged to its peak. The flames behind her rapidly contracted and focused entirely on her right fist.

Akainu stared uneasily at the fire engulfing Katie's fist—he could feel a terrifying level of danger from it. A danger so intense that even at his peak, he might not have been able to withstand it—let alone now, with his strength having declined so much. He truly didn't know how he could possibly endure this strike.

Yet, there was one thing Akainu was sure of—

He couldn't retreat.

This duel was being broadcast to the entire world. If a Marine Admiral like him were to flee without fighting, the prestige of the Marines would take a massive hit. It would also be a blow to the morale of the soldiers on the battlefield. That, in turn, would throw the war's outcome into complete uncertainty.

"Come at me. I'll take it head-on!"

At that moment, Akainu went all in—he summoned the last of his strength into his right hand. Magma surged like a volcano on the verge of eruption.

"Spear of the Hero!"

"Hellhound!"

Two figures clashed and disappeared in a blur, so fast that no one could keep track of them.

The next second, an explosion of blinding brilliance erupted from the point where their attacks met—so intense that the distant sun looked like a mere firefly in comparison.

"Retreat! Evacuate the entire bay and find cover!"

While others were still gazing up at the sky, waiting to see the outcome of the aerial battle, Garp—standing on the execution platform—suddenly shouted an order, his face filled with alarm.

"Fall back! Retreat now!"

Although many soldiers didn't understand what was happening, they obeyed without hesitation—because all the Vice Admirals at the front line had already turned and fled toward the rear without a second thought.

If even the Vice Admirals were fleeing, then ordinary soldiers naturally had no courage to stay. Tens of thousands of Marines surged backward like a receding tide, rushing toward the fortified rear defenses.

The same scene was playing out on the Whitebeard Pirates' side.

"Retreat! Everyone, back to the ships and get out of here now!"

Due to Katie and Akainu's battle, the ice that had once blocked the sea had already melted away, allowing ships to move freely once more.

In the blink of an eye, a battlefield that had once held over a hundred thousand people was suddenly empty. The evacuation was shockingly fast.

"Garp-san, don't worry, I'm here."

"Aokiji, I'm leaving this to you," Garp said seriously as the Admiral arrived beside him.

"Garp-san… are you planning to—?"

Aokiji's eyes narrowed, watching Garp closely. It had been ages since he'd seen this man fight.

Even Kizaru, usually indifferent to everything, turned his head. He knew all too well what Garp's fists felt like.

"Just take care of things here."

Garp didn't answer directly. Not because he wanted to hide anything—but because he hadn't yet decided whether to step in.

As a Marine, of course he had a duty to act. But the opponent was the one who had saved Ace's life. To repay kindness with betrayal… that was something Garp found difficult to accept. So he hesitated.

Not to mention—those two mysterious figures still hadn't shown up. If Garp acted recklessly, he might trigger a second war. Sengoku still hadn't returned, and their side was clearly at a disadvantage.

BOOM—!

A sound like the heavens splitting apart echoed across the distance. And then, people witnessed a scene they would never forget.

The sky, once familiar with blue and clouds, was now completely transformed—split into two distinct colors.

A serene bluish hue and a raging crimson.

But looking closer, it was clear—the bluish side was expanding, claiming more of the sky.

Yet no one had the heart to admire the surreal beauty—because this wasn't a dreamlike sight. It was more like hell on earth.

Flames fell from the sky, scorching everything below. Even the vast ocean struggled to withstand the intense heat.

Chunks of molten rock crashed into the sea with such force, it looked as if the ocean was boiling.

Everyone had the same words echoing in their minds:

"Burning the heavens, boiling the sea."

"Ice Age!"

"Seaquake!"

Even Aokiji and Whitebeard, mere spectators at first, were forced to act. The Marine positions couldn't withstand the shockwaves, and pirate ships were being pushed back dangerously far, nearly capsizing.

Four top-tier powerhouses unleashed their powers one after another. The entire bay transformed—the battlefield completely unrecognizable, as if everything had been wiped away.

"GET! LOST!!"

A deafening roar split the sky. The world in front of everyone's eyes changed once more. A streak of blue burst into the red magma.

This unexpected surge of blue signaled the turning point. The previously even standoff shifted drastically—Katie's blue flame surged forward, pushing the crimson magma back bit by bit.

One step back, then another—

The opening had already been made, and Katie's firestorm was now tearing into Akainu's magma with unstoppable momentum. The speed increased rapidly, and in moments, the magma-covered area had shrunk by half.

"GET OUT!"

With one final furious roar, the last of Akainu's magma shattered. A figure was sent flying backward, crashing into the ruins.

The storm of flames quickly receded. And when everything settled—only one figure remained in the sky.

A youthful face. Wild black hair.

There was no doubt—it was Katie.

The final victor—was Katie.

In that instant, Katie's image was broadcast across the entire world by every means possible.

Even decades later, anyone who brought up this moment would do so with awe. People were grateful to have witnessed the birth of a peerless powerhouse.

No one had expected this outcome—not when the battle began.

That was Admiral Akainu, known as the strongest force in the Marines. Countless pirates had fled in terror at the mention of his name.

The number of pirates he'd executed personally might not have reached a million, but it certainly exceeded a hundred thousand. His name echoed through every corner of the world.

And yet—he lost.

And not just to anyone, but to someone not even twenty years old.

At that moment, countless people fell silent, not knowing how to react.

"What a pity… Akainu is far from his prime."

Rayleigh shook his head and sighed.

"Hah! You, talking about pity?"

Bogart chuckled, clearly not buying Rayleigh's sympathy. "Don't pretend—you're loving this inside."

Though Akainu indeed wasn't at his peak anymore, he was still significantly younger than Rayleigh. The age difference gave Akainu the upper hand. If they had been the same age, he might have lost even more miserably.

"Haha! Once this is over, your Marines are going to be in deep trouble,"

Rayleigh laughed freely, no longer hiding his true feelings. But when he turned back to look at Katie, there was a flicker of complex light in his eyes.