Sailing: A Retired Veteran Awakens with Genryusai Template

"Unable to effectively stagnate time..."

"Can't get close to..."

"Why is this 'inferior creature' so powerful?!"

Im felt the warmth of the man rushing toward him like the sun itself.

Subconsciously, he merged his body into the 'space wall,' his pupils flickering with disbelief.

At this moment, Im was utterly convinced.

If not for the power of the Space Fruit, which could create a barrier isolating the world—separating all objects or people except himself—he would already be reduced to ashes.

He felt the scorching heat, nearly equal to the core of the sun.

Im had no doubts.

If he remained in Mariejois for more than a few minutes—no, perhaps just tens of seconds—his entire body would be incinerated, just like Mariejois at this very moment!

A flicker of emotion crossed Im's face.

Seeing Bai Ye approaching in a flash, Im's nerves trembled. Gritting his teeth, he teleported just before the original space was engulfed by endless flames, his figure appearing high above Pangu City.

Im's crimson eyes locked onto the 'monster' cloaked in a scorching sun in the distance. Without hesitation, he raised his left hand.

Suddenly, the nearly sundered sky above Mariejois began to shift.

Countless bolts of lightning surged forth, illuminating the heavens in a dazzling glow.

A massive beam of destructive light, hundreds of meters wide, descended from the sky!

Boom...!

"Die!" Im snarled, staring intently at his opponent.

"Useless!"

As the devastating attack from 'Uranus' rained down, Bai Ye remained unmoved.

His figure sank slightly in midair, gripping the Remnant Fire Sword tightly.

In the instant when the blinding beam expanded in his pupils—

Slash!

Bai Ye swung the Remnant Fire Sword straight toward the sky!

BOOM!!!

A terrifying sight unfolded.

The colossal beam, powerful enough to obliterate entire sea regions—even Mariejois itself—was split in two!

It hadn't even reached the ground yet.

With a deafening roar, two-thirds of its mass was instantly consumed by the flames surging from the Remnant Fire Sword, reduced to nothingness.

And beneath the chaotic destruction, Bai Ye stood unfazed—his powerful figure wreathed in the infernal flames of the Scorching Sun Flame.

"How... how is this possible?!"

Im's pupils contracted as he stood atop Pangu City.

At that moment, Bai Ye held the scorched-looking Remnant Fire Sword before him.

The Sword of Mighty Fire!

This was another name given to the Ryūjin Jakka upon achieving Bankai.

Now, it contained an interior heat equal to the sun's core—15 million degrees.

Ryūjin Jakka was a remnant sword that burned anything its blade touched.

At the same time—

The Remnant Fire Sword was also a sword of immense fire, capable of completely incinerating anything it struck!

In other words—

Whether near or far, none of Im's abilities mattered now.

Im was trapped in a desperate situation.

And this moment—

Across the Grand Line, the entire world watched in speechless shock.

Only one thought echoed in their minds.

The man standing atop Mariejois, forcing 'God' to the brink of defeat—

His image was burned indelibly into their memories!

Approaching him? Impossible.

The 'scorching sun' surrounding his body would incinerate everything.

Attacking from afar? Futile.

The explosive flames from his charred sword would devour any assault.

"Then... how could anyone possibly defeat a man like that?!"

All over the world, people trembled as Mariejois' scorching heat evaporated the Grand Line itself.

Some fell to their knees in disbelief.

Pirates who had once ruled the seas would forever remember that figure.

If they ever encountered him—

They must never provoke him.

No—wherever that man walked—

They must never tread!

Otherwise... death.

Absolute death.

No screams. No chance to resist.

Only ashes.

Gulp.

Back on Mariejois, Im's expression darkened.

Feeling the Red Line melting away, witnessing the Grand Line itself nearly evaporating—

Im clenched his teeth and hissed:

"Such power... Don't be ridiculous!"

"I am a God! And you, an inferior creature—weren't you driven by revenge against the World Government?!"

"If that's the case..."

Im extended his finger outward.

With a furious voice, he declared:

"At this temperature, are you planning to destroy the entire world?!"

"Destroy the world?"

Bai Ye's cold gaze flickered with disdain.

"'God' suddenly worried about the lives of 'inferior creatures'... Since the World Government's founding, how many 'innocent people' have been slaughtered at its whim?"

He recalled the countless atrocities—entire cities reduced to purgatory.

With an indifferent voice, he continued:

"As for this world... 'God' has no need to worry about it. Because I will end this battle—quickly."

…!!!

Hearing this, Im clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles cracked.

Feeling the immense pressure intensify, his expression twisted in fury.

"Stop joking! I am 'God'! I will never lose to an 'inferior creature'!"

"A god's nobility, a god's power! You know nothing!"

Im suddenly let out a furious roar.

Then—

He raised his left hand, his crimson pupils flashing ominously.

"Since I cannot approach you… Since my distant attacks are futile…"

"Then witness the true power of a God!"

His voice thundered across the world.

Countless people trembled in fear.

Did the hidden ruler of the world, the one who controlled everything from the shadows, still have another trump card?

At that moment—

High above Mariejois, the world beheld the so-called true power of a god.

Im pressed his left hand against Mariejois' surface.

In the next second—

A suffocating breath of death engulfed the land.

Then—

BOOM!

The unmelted ground beneath Pangu City trembled violently, as if an ancient beast had awakened.

And then—

An ominous black gate materialized.

Towering a hundred meters high, its surface swirled with dark, deathly energy—an abyss exuding endless dread.

The moment it appeared—

Dozens of islands surrounding Mariejois felt an inexplicable chill.

"That... what is that?!"

"A door...?"

"Why does merely looking at it feel like my soul is being sucked in?!"

Throughout the Grand Line, countless people staggered in horror.

Above Mariejois, Im's cold voice echoed:

"Gate of Hell."

Then, staring at Bai Ye, he spoke with utter certainty:

"Beyond this gate lies true damnation… Since you wish to challenge God, you shall pay with your soul."