To hold another's sword energy in one's hand without it dispersing, and able to crush it with a mere squeeze... such power seemed utterly inconceivable.
But being done by Hui, it felt almost expected. After all, there was a reason he called himself a "god."
"Let me show you what true sword energy is." Hui spoke, his sword, Zhi Yi materializing in his hand.
"This sword is named 'Zhi Yi,' meaning 'supreme and unique.' When I forged it, I promised to make it the ultimate, the one and only among all swords. Sadly, after its creation, my power was already unmatched, leaving Zhi Yi lonely for far too long. Today, we'll let it finally have some fun."
With those words, Hui swung Zhi Yi.
In an instant, a dazzling sword energy erupted from the blade, a breathtaking crescent moon, a river of shimmering silver.
This was terrifying. The river scoured everything in its path. None below could withstand its cleansing torrent. All were swept away, swallowed by the terrifying deluge.
A single flash of silver birthed a vast, shimmering Milky Way. For a moment, Marineford was bathed in brilliance.
But at the same time Marineford was also in ruins. Under the onslaught of the terrifying sword energy, even the strongest were forced to exert their full might to resist, let alone the ordinary Marine soldiers.
Countless lives were extinguished, washed away beneath this beautiful galaxy.
It resembled not a celestial river, but the yellow river of hell.
Life,... so much life was lost. Ordinary soldiers perished, low-ranking officers died, lieutenants, captains, even Rear Admirals...
In that single moment, their lives were snuffed out. Their deaths seemed meaningless, for in this war, they hadn't even had a chance to fight.
This couldn't even be called a war, for their enemy was but one.
Yet, it was more terrifying than any war. For their opponent was known as a god. Thus, this battle could only be called... a battle against a God!
"What do you think of this sword strike?" Hui addressed the survivors below, his tone calm, betraying no hint of having acknowledged the carnage he had just unleashed.
Indeed, under that single strike, over ten thousand Marines had perished. Marine Headquarters had only mustered a little over twenty thousand personnel for this occasion.
A single sword strike, and half were gone.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku stood frozen in his giant Buddha form, golden light emanating from his massive body. Huddled beneath him were a handful of Marines he had managed to protect, a mere two or three.
This was the most he could save.
All he could see now was a scene of utter devastation, a heartbreaking hellscape. A chilling silence fell over Marineford, as if time itself had frozen, capturing the moment in a photograph.
Countless figures stood motionless, their faces contorted in terror, yet frozen in place. The life force within them had been utterly extinguished.
Their seemingly intact bodies were, in reality, riddled with countless unseen wounds. The beautiful river of galaxy that unfolded, amidst its brilliance, had wrought unparalleled slaughter.
This terrifying massacre claimed far too many lives.
Sengoku's breath came in ragged gasps, his body trembling.
"Die! Go to Hell!!!"
Suddenly, a crazed scream pierced the air.
A man, driven to the brink of madness, leaped from the ground, his blade slashing furiously towards Hui. His face was contorted in a grimace, his eyes bloodshot and wide.
He was a Rear Admiral, a powerful one.
A Rear Admiral born and bred into the Marines; his family had a long and proud history of service. Young, strong, and with a bright future, this Rear Admiral had seemingly had it all.
But moments ago, his brother, his girlfriend, his father, his mother... all were killed. All perished before his very eyes, right beside him. He had tried to save them, but he couldn't.
He himself had barely survived.
Everything was ruined, shattered. His very soul had been cleaved in two by that single devastating sword strike.
And so, he snapped. Disregarding the vast difference in their power, he launched a furious attack against Hui. He wanted revenge, even if he knew it was likely a futile endeavor.
Hui sensed the young Rear Admiral's burning hatred, but he remained indifferent. His heart was cold, or perhaps, still. A tranquil stillness, devoid of emotional.
He had activated his Celestial Eye, granting him a different perspective, transforming his very nature, imbuing him with a divine essence that set him apart from ordinary mortals.
The whole nature of his very person changed at that moment.
This personality wasn't good, not at all.
But Hui couldn't be solely light and warmth; he also needed to embrace darkness and coldness.
Just like his days in the Anbu, during the Cold War.
Back then, he was Konoha's light, a light which set the path toward its future forward. But at the same time, he was the world's darkness, a fear of the world which they hoped to extinguish.
A true leader needs to be capable of assuming both roles.
And so, Hui merely glanced at the Rear Admiral. He activated his life-controlling ability, instantly stripping the Rear Admiral of his life force. The Rear Admiral's airborne body, now devoid of strength, fell in an uncontrolled arc, plummeting to the ground long before reaching Hui.
This sobering sight snapped many out of their rage-fueled frenzy.
They stared at the lifeless Rear Admiral, a chill running down their spines.
It was yet another new ability, one they had never witnessed before. This realization sank their hearts even further.
However, not everyone's fury could be so easily quenched. Witnessing the death of loved ones was a trauma few could endure. And so, more attacks were launched against Hui. All were powerful Marines as the weak had already perished.
The World Government agents, however, remained frozen, bound by the Elder's inaction.
The Five Elders, now stripped of their earlier confidence, remained silent, allowing the Marines to test Hui's strength and abilities, allowing them to draw out even one more of Hui's abilities.
Faced with the onslaught, Hui moved.
Sword in hand, he plunged into the fray. If Zhi Yi was to taste blood, it would be the blood of the strong. And those who remained alive were undoubtedly strong.
Hui's power was undeniable, evident in his one-hit K.O. of Kong and his sending Garp flying with a single punch.
If he could effortlessly defeat Admiral-level opponents, these Rear Admirals and Vice Admirals were no match for him.
He slaughtered them without mercy.
But as the massacre continued, someone finally intervened. Ice and magma converged on Hui from both sides, Akainu(Sakazuki) and Kuzan had joined the battle.
join my patreon for 150+ advanced chapters: patreon.com/HyppoTL