One Piece: King of the World

The moment Enel's figure vanished, the space around Newgate distorted as if enveloped by an invisible force. There was no earth-shattering sound, just a faint shimmer that quickly faded.

As the distortion disappeared, a few golden specks drifted through the air, scattering like dust. Newgate's breathing grew noticeably heavier for a moment, suggesting that using this mysterious ability had taken a toll on him. But after a few deep breaths, he returned to his usual state.

"The answer's simple," Newgate said, a faint, arrogant smile tugging at his lips. "I let him foresee the date of his death."

Enel reappeared in the air some distance away, his body crackling with lightning. His eyes were now open, his expression grim. He glanced down at the golden staff in his hand — only half of it remained. The other half had disintegrated into the golden powder that had just fallen from the sky.

"Devil Fruit awakening..." Enel muttered, voice heavy.

In that brief moment, he'd seen it, the exact moment of his death, just as Newgate had said.

"Creepy, huh?" Newgate asked with a chuckle.

Enel's expression darkened slightly. "Not really. For the strongest man in the world, someone who's stood at the peak of the seas for decades, awakening your Devil Fruit is only natural."

Newgate's Gura Gura no Mi didn't operate like a typical Paramecia. Unlike others, who could assimilate or manipulate surrounding matter, Newgate's ability shattered reality at its core. His quakes originated from the most fundamental level of matter, making the environment itself bend to his will.

That was his deadliest technique, shattering space to create devastating earthquakes, seaquakes, and atmospheric shockwaves. However, the strain of using this power had always been immense. In his prime, he'd caused entire islands to sink. Now, age had taken its toll, forcing him to save this power as a trump card.

Foes like Sengoku, Garp, Roger, and Shiki were familiar with this power and instinctively guarded against it. But even top-tier combatants unfamiliar with its nuances could easily fall victim to it if they let their guard down.

Enel was fortunate to possess advanced Observation Haki, enabling him to predict the attack. Without that skill, he'd have been gravely injured, if not killed.

---

Meanwhile, beneath the execution platform, Claudius observed the duel with surprise.

"So this is the ability Sengoku warned me about," he murmured. "Didn't think Newgate could still use it."

Before the war began, Sengoku had shared everything about Newgate's powers, including his awakened Devil Fruit. Claudius had been shocked at the time, knowing how catastrophic such power could be.

In the original timeline, Newgate had never displayed this awakened ability, presumably because his body was too deteriorated by age, illness, and injuries.

But this war had been triggered years earlier than expected.

"Guess he's stronger than I thought," Claudius mused. "Still... I doubt he can use that move too many times."

---

Newgate also knew his body's limitations. While still formidable, he wasn't the man he used to be. His joints creaked, and his muscles strained. Enel, however, was a foe who warranted this level of power.

Newgate had never been one to hold back. He understood that fighters who hesitated often never got the chance to use their trump cards.

---

Just as Enel was calculating his next move, a roar erupted behind him.

"Brilliant Punk!"

Without hesitation, Enel shifted one leg into pure electricity and swung it backward. His crackling lightning-clad foot collided with a massive, diamond-encrusted shoulder.

The impact sent arcs of lightning in all directions.

"Diamond Jozu," Enel muttered through gritted teeth.

"Get lost!!!" Jozu bellowed.

He seized Enel's leg with both hands and hurled him across the battlefield.

Enel flipped through the air several times before regaining control. He raised his hand, lightning crackling at his fingertip as he prepared to retaliate, only for another figure to leap from the ice behind him.

"Fish-Man Karate: Kaiwa Seiken!"

Captain Namur of the Whitebeard Pirates' eighth division appeared out of nowhere, fist surging forward with the force of a tsunami.

Enel clicked his tongue in annoyance and swung the broken half of his golden staff backward. His staff, now coated in Armament Haki, intercepted Namur's punch perfectly, despite Enel never turning his head.

The moment their blows connected, Enel discharged a bolt of electricity toward Jozu.

But Jozu was a brawler through and through. He charged straight through the lightning, his diamond body crackling with residual energy, and joined Namuir in a coordinated attack.

"Persistent bastards," Enel growled.

Jozu and Namur weren't on his level individually, but together, they were more than capable of stalling him.

---

Newgate, watching the skirmish from a distance, gave an approving nod.

With Enel temporarily tied up, Newgate's path was clearer. He couldn't afford to get bogged down in endless duels.

His goal was straightforward: rescue Thatch and Weevil.

Once freed, they'd gain two powerful assets. Time was of the essence, if they dragged this battle out, Marine reinforcements would overwhelm them.

"Time to get serious," Newgate muttered.

He planted his feet firmly on the ice, grasped Murakumogiri with both hands, and shifted into a charging stance.

Until now, every attack he'd unleashed had been instantaneous quick, powerful blows without preparation. But now, he was gathering power.

---

This change didn't go unnoticed. Across the battlefield, seasoned veterans immediately grew alert.

"Ahahahaha! Here comes a big one," Garp chuckled, crunching on a rice cracker. "Oi, Tsuru, why not move back a bit?"

"What nonsense," Tsuru said, rolling her eyes. "Even if we ran to the ends of the world, that man's attacks would reach us. Retreating is pointless."

"Heh, true enough." Garp smirked and popped another cracker into his mouth.

"Shouldn't you be helping?" Tsuru pressed.

"Nah," Garp said nonchalantly. "We're winning for now. No need to jump in and steal the spotlight from the younger generation. Let them show what they're made of."

"You're surprisingly wise today," Tsuru remarked with a raised eyebrow.

---

On the execution platform, Claudius sat up straighter. His eyes gleamed with anticipation.

Suddenly, Newgate roared and swung his naginata downward.

The world shuddered.

The air rippled like glass struck by a sledgehammer, warping and bending unnaturally.

The ground cracked open with a deafening roar. The ice covering the harbor split apart, revealing a massive rift that snaked toward Marineford's main square.

The earthquake didn't stop there.

The very island of Marineford seemed to shift, as though an unseen hand pressed down at its center while the outer edges pushed upward.

The first to face this apocalyptic force?

The Shichibukai, standing at the frontlines.

***

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