Sakazuki's eyes swept across Kuzan, and after muttering grimly to himself, his gaze shifted downward, landing on the cannon beneath Kuzan's feet.
The ship's main battery had already been frozen solid by Kuzan's Devil Fruit powers. Through the transparent layer of ice, Sakazuki could clearly see a long fracture running along the barrel.
The steel cannon had been completely cracked by Kuzan's freezing.
His gaze returned to Kuzan, face visibly dark.
"Vice Admiral... Kuzan?" The Marines on deck stared at the figure before them in shock. They had no idea why he had suddenly appeared on this warship, or why he had frozen the cannon, stopping the Buster Call from being carried out.
Seeing the confusion and bewilderment on their faces, Kuzan frowned and spoke.
"Why were your cannons targeting the evacuation ships on the western coast?"
"Don't you know that's where the civilians are gathered?"
"The mission target is the scholars who illegally researched the Void Century. Did you even verify who your targets were?"
Although these words were addressed to all the Marines present, Kuzan's gaze barely swept across the others before locking firmly onto Sakazuki.
He knew full well, on this ship, only Sakazuki had the authority to give such an order. Sakazuki was strict, and his subordinates followed orders without question. No one would've acted without his permission.
Sensing Kuzan's piercing stare, Sakazuki didn't flinch. He raised his head and met Kuzan's eyes, letting out a cold snort.
"Hmph."
"The order to fire on the evacuation ship was mine."
"So what, Kuzan? Do you have a problem with that?"
"You saw the chaos for yourself. At that level of disarray, there's no way we can ensure the scholars haven't mingled in with the 'refugees.'"
"If even one of Ohara's scholars escapes, everything we've done here will be for nothing."
"The mission's goal isn't just the Buster Call."
"Our goal is to prevent unnecessary upheaval across the world!"
"You're the one who doesn't understand what this mission really means."
His voice rose as he spoke, until he was shouting. The moment he finished, Sakazuki turned toward his subordinates and barked a new command.
"The main cannon's out. Turn the ship. Use the side batteries!"
"SINK that evacuation ship!"
His tone left no room for argument.
At first, Kuzan was caught off guard. Somehow... Sakazuki's reasoning made sense. But after a second of stunned silence, he quickly came to his senses and shouted back, furious.
"Sakazuki! As a Marine, are you really prepared to slaughter innocent people?"
"If you're worried there might be scholars among them, then tighten the inspections!"
"This decision of yours, it's just a shortcut!"
Hearing Kuzan's words, the Marines who had already begun to act hesitated, their steps faltering. They looked between the two Vice Admirals. But ultimately, this was Sakazuki's ship, and he was the one in command.
"Innocents?" Sakazuki growled.
"This is for the greater good."
"For that, the sacrifice of a few is nothing. If I must give up even my own life to maintain peace and order in this world, so be it!"
He met Kuzan's fury head-on, completely unshaken.
"If you intend to stand in my way, to stop Marine Headquarters from carrying out the Buster Call..."
As he spoke, Sakazuki's right arm transformed into molten magma. Even several meters away, Kuzan could feel the searing heat. The thick stench of sulfur filled his nose, and his brows furrowed.
"I'm not stopping the Buster Call," Kuzan replied, voice unwavering. "I'm stopping you from slaughtering civilians!"
Mist spilled from his lips as he spoke. In the blink of an eye, a sheet of ice spread from beneath his feet, rapidly freezing the sea around the warship.
Not just the waters, the entire ship began to groan under the cold. All the ship's cannons and ammunition were sealed under thick layers of ice.
"You bastard!" Sakazuki roared.
Without hesitation, he hurled himself toward Kuzan at the bow, magma surging from his body as he swung a blazing punch forward.
"Kuzan!"
Kuzan drew Kogarashi from his waist, pointing the blade toward the airborne Sakazuki. Instead of dodging, he charged to meet the attack head-on. A towering ice pillar erupted from his sword, laced with Armament Haki, aimed directly at Sakazuki.
Spikes of ice branched out from the column, forming a massive lattice of spears closing in from all directions.
BOOM!!!
Ice and magma collided with explosive force. Steam and mist flooded the deck, obscuring the two Vice Admirals from view. But within that haze, razor-sharp ice spikes shot toward Sakazuki.
He could clearly sense the Haki infused into them.
"He's fused Haki into his Logia attacks?"
"He's grown stronger... both in understanding Haki and in controlling his Devil Fruit."
Sakazuki's pupils narrowed slightly as he prepared to counterattack, only to hear a calm voice behind him.
"Sakazuki. That's enough."
"I don't want to hurt my own comrades."
Sakazuki paused mid-transformation, his entire body already molten. The magma spilling from his feet melted through the ice and steel below. Slowly, he turned his head.
Somehow, Kuzan had already passed through the mist and appeared behind him, Kogarashi now encased in glistening ice. Hardened Haki had turned the blade into a lethal edge, its tip pressed against Sakazuki's back.
It was a clear opportunity for a finishing blow.
But Kuzan... held still.
Half his body had already shifted into his icy Logia form, and his breath misted into the cold air.
"A man who disobeys orders isn't my comrade."
Sakazuki's molten face betrayed no emotion. With a growl, he accelerated his transformation, letting magma pour from his body. The deck split open, and his form vanished into the ship.
BOOM!
A thunderous crash rang from within. A moment later, a figure burst through the hull and landed on the frozen sea, Sakazuki.
The instant he touched the ice, he kicked off again, body surging forward, heading straight for the evacuation ship.
Even though he was a Logia-type user, Sakazuki had once trained under Zephyr. He had long since mastered the Rokushiki techniques.
Though after eating his Devil Fruit he seldom used them, today, he brought them out once again.
The demon of magma streaked across the sky. With a sharp sonic boom, he accelerated.
Great Eruption!
Molten lava condensed on his arm, forming a colossal magma fist stretching over ten meters long. He brought it down toward the evacuation ship anchored at the shore.
Aboard that ship were not only Ohara's civilians, but also Vice Admiral Burning Mountain's Marines, and several CP9 agents in black suits.
But Sakazuki didn't care.
His mission was to destroy that ship, no one from Ohara was to be allowed to escape.
Only total annihilation would erase all risk.
"What is that?!"
"Is that Vice Admiral Sakazuki?! Why is he attacking us?!"
"Vice Admiral! We're Marines!"
People on the ship, civilians, soldiers alike, screamed in horror as the massive magma fist loomed overhead. Some Marines raised their arms, waving frantically to signal.
But all that greeted them... was that unstoppable punch.
Globs of magma splashed onto the deck, scorching holes into the wood, burning through the planks and down into the lower decks.
And just as the magma fist was about to crash down,
An overwhelming gravitational force slammed into Sakazuki's body.
Caught off guard, he missed the strike and crashed hard onto the shore.
The force of the impact left him breathless.
"What... was that?"
Returning to physical form, Sakazuki felt a terrible strain. A sharp, metallic taste filled his mouth.
A sea breeze passed.
Kuzan's figure slowly reformed before him, sword in hand.
"Vice Admiral Sakazuki," Kuzan said coldly, pointing at him. "I will not allow you to attack the evacuation ships again."
"If you insist, then you'll have to walk over my corpse."
"I won't hold back anymore."
Staring at Kuzan's unwavering expression, Sakazuki slowly got to his feet. No words, just heat, magma boiled from his arms. In an instant, the ground beneath him was a field of lava.
He was like a volcano ready to erupt.
Kuzan sighed softly. Frost spilled from his lips. The ground beneath his feet glazed over with thick ice.
Lava and ice clashed.
Steam exploded upward.
Just as Sakazuki prepared to strike again, a thunderous sound echoed across the sea.
A figure dashed across hundreds of meters of ocean, closing in rapidly.
Soon, a tall Marine appeared on the shore.
Though it was midwinter, the man wore wooden sandals, his steps crisp on the ice.
Sakazuki narrowed his eyes. He recognized the man immediately.
"You... you're that Marine from Tsugikuni Yoriichi's ship."
"Issho!"
Memories surfaced. The gravity he had just experienced, it had been this man's ability.
"My apologies," Issho said calmly, tapping his cane on the ice as he walked up beside Kuzan.
"But Vice Admiral Sakazuki... I ask you, please spare these innocent civilians."
Though his words were polite, his stance made it clear. If Sakazuki moved forward... he would face not one, but two.
Sakazuki's expression darkened.
He remembered well, years ago in the South Blue, during that first encounter with Yoriichi, he had sensed Issho's terrifying powers.
After being knocked into the sea by Yoriichi and rescued by his men, Sakazuki had investigated Yoriichi's Marines.
Issho had been one of them.
After leaving the Dawn Blade division, Issho had partnered with Kuzan, becoming active in the Four Blues. This was the second time in years that Sakazuki faced him.
"You realize what your actions might bring upon this world?"
For once, Sakazuki's tone softened slightly. But his voice still thundered with conviction.
"I only know this," Kuzan replied. "To kill civilians over a vague 'possibility', that is not justice!"
"You and I, Sakazuki, walk different paths."
His voice was firm. His gaze never wavered.
Issho didn't speak. He simply smiled faintly, then stepped behind Kuzan, raising his cane and gripping the sword's hilt.
His meaning... was unmistakable.
Sakazuki looked between them, face shifting between rage and disbelief. His eyes passed over the two, landing on the evacuation ship.
He fell silent.
Slowly, his body returned from magma to flesh.
He walked past Kuzan and Issho.
"Your naivety will bring disaster to this world," Sakazuki said.
"When that day comes... I hope you stand firm as you do now."
"I'll report this to Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
He stopped at the edge of the shore, cast one last glance at the evacuation ship, then leapt, disappearing from Ohara.
Kuzan watched him leave, hands in his trouser pockets, and murmured to himself,
"I'll never regret this."
"True justice may be hard... but I won't give up. Not with Issho. Not with that guy, either."
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100 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter
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