A flash of cold light streaked through the air at an incredible speed. Newgate, caught off guard, couldn't avoid it in ti. His chest was pierced through, leaving a bloody, gaping wound as the blade vanished.
Blood imdiately spilled from the corner of his mouth. Seizing the opportunity, Sakazuki delivered a powerful punch straight into Newgate's chest.
The scorching blow hit with devastating force, leaving a charred hole in Newgate's chest. The impact made Newgate stagger, his body leaning backward as though he might collapse.
But in the next mont, his feet planted firmly on the ground. Without hesitation, he swung his fist at Sakazuki.
Sakazuki made no move to dodge. The mont he attacked, he'd already given up the chance to evade. He quickly raised his arm to block, but Newgate's punch still sent him flying.
Blood spewed from Sakazuki's mouth as he crashed to the ground, rolling twice before coming to a stop.
Newgate could no longer suppress his injuries. He opened his mouth and coughed up a mouthful of blood.
From Sakazuki's strike to Claudius's follow-up and Newgate's counterattack, the seemingly complex exchange happened in just a few breaths.
As Newgate steadied himself, his gaze instinctively shifted toward Claudius only to find that Claudius, who had remained seated until Shiki appeared, had now vanished.
Alard, Newgate's eyes narrowed. He instinctively raised his fist and slamd it into the air, shattering the space around him.
Sure enough, as the cracks spread, a blade shimring with cold light grazed his waist but missed its mark.
If not for the fractured space distorting the blade's trajectory, Newgate would have been struck again.
His expression twisted with fury as he roared, "Get out here!!!"
A powerful shockwave erupted from beneath his feet, tearing through everything around him.
Three to five ters away, Claudius's figure materialized from thin air. He clicked his tongue regretfully. "Your reactions are sharp, Newgate..."
Newgate glared at him, voice low and irritated. "Save your flattery, Claudius."
This was the first ti the two n had t face to face. Though not strangers to each other, Newgate had seen Claudius in the newspapers, and Claudius certainly knew the legendary "Strongest Man in the World."
Claudius smiled faintly. "First ti eting... and the last, Edward Newgate."
"Arrogant brat!" Newgate growled. He slamd his foot into the ground, propelling himself toward Claudius with a vibration-coated fist.
Claudius stood his ground. White mist erupted from his hand as he stepped forward to et the strike.
The mont their fists collided, Claudius's arm shattered into fragnts. It looked like a clean hit for Newgate, but then a bitter chill spread across his knuckles. His skin turned pale and frostbitten.
Newgate's eyes widened in surprise. The freezing energy wasn't like Kuzan's, it was colder, deadlier.
anwhile, as Newgate battled Claudius and Sakazuki, Sengoku barked into a Den Den Mushi, "Activate the encircling wall—now!"
With his command, the port of Marineford transford. tallic walls rose from beneath the surface, encasing the harbor. Only the section blocked by the glacier remained open.
Artillery ports appeared along the walls, unleashing a relentless barrage on the pirates trapped in the ice.
The battle, which had briefly shifted in the Whitebeard Pirates' favor, was once again tilted toward the Marines.
Newgate recognized the trap. His forces were now cornered, funneled toward a single gap. He turned to aid his crew but was imdiately blocked by Claudius and Sakazuki.
Claudius pressed the attack. Nitrogen vapors coiled from his body as he relentlessly slashed at Newgate with the demon blade Shinbu. Forced onto the defensive, Newgate had no choice but to parry with his bare hands.
"Sakazuki! lt the harbor ice and drown those damn pirates!" Claudius ordered mid-fight.
Sakazuki didn't hesitate. He leaped back from the fight, his fists morphing into molten magma.
"Great Eruption!" he roared, launching fistfuls of magma skyward. The burning projectiles collided and then split apart, raining down like a fiery teor shower.
"teor Volcano!"
The molten barrage crashed into the frozen harbor, rapidly lting the ice. The Moby Dick, Newgate's beloved ship of many decades, was struck and engulfed in flas.
Newgate's heart sank. His eyes softened with pain as he watched his flagship burn.
"Sorry, old friend," he murmured.
On the execution platform, Thatch shouted desperately, "Don't worry about , Pops! Just go!!"
"Execute the prisoner!" Sengoku ordered.
The two executioners raised their blades, preparing to pierce Thatch's back.
Seeing this, Newgate's eyes turned bloodshot. His Conqueror's Haki exploded outward with terrifying intensity, shaking the battlefield.
But Claudius unleashed his own Haki to intercept it. Their wills clashed, sending shockwaves through Marineford.
"You're not interfering with this execution, Newgate!" Claudius roared.
The air between them crackled as their auras collided, stirring the sea and darkening the skies.
But even a montary delay was enough. With Newgate's Haki blocked, the executioners drove their swords into Thatch's chest.
Blood spilled from Thatch's lips. He turned his head slightly and shouted, "Run, Pops!"
"No! Thatch!!!" Newgate bellowed in anguish.
The entire Whitebeard Pirates wailed in sorrow.
Rage surged through Newgate's body. He coughed up another mouthful of blood, but this ti, his fury overwheld his pain.
His Conqueror's Haki surged again, pushing Claudius back. Newgate's injuries, age, and fatigue no longer mattered. He had nothing left to lose.
Without hesitation, he charged Claudius and slamd his fist into Claudius's skull.
The blow landed clean. Claudius's head shattered into icy shards, and his body was flung away like a broken puppet.
Newgate didn't pursue. Instead, he raised both arms high above his head. His muscles tensed, his face twisted with rage and sorrow.
With all his strength, he brought his fists down onto the ground.
***
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