Just as the battle on Whole Cake Island was about to erupt, an unprecedented spectacle appeared in the skies over Dressrosa in the New World!
At the top of the royal castle, King Riku of Dressrosa, along with his royal guard Kyros and others, gazed up at the sky with pale faces.
Around them, Rebecca and Violet trembled, nearly collapsing to the ground.
Meanwhile, at the edge of Dressrosa in the Tontatta Kingdom's forest, the Straw Hat crew—who had come seeking treatment from the dwarf princess Mansherry—were equally shocked, staring in disbelief at the terrifying sight in the sky.
Above them, ten massive flaming meteors blazed like ten dazzling suns, densely covering the skies over Dressrosa and completely blocking any escape routes for those below.
Anyone with sharp eyesight could see that at the center of these ten suns stood an elderly man in a purple robe.
His white pupils, gleamed as he held a sword-cane, standing effortlessly on a floating rock.
This was none other than Admiral Fujitora of the Marine, sent to capture Sanji!
Beads of sweat dripped from Fujitora's forehead—whether from the heat or exhaustion, it was unclear.
His face was pale, tinged with resignation.
It wasn't that he wanted to target the civilians of Dressrosa, but the Straw Hat crew's recent exploits had grown too notorious.
Even Kaido, the so-called "Strongest Creature" had been toppled by them.
These same people had barely escaped his grasp just over two months ago, relying on the help of Dressrosa's citizens.
"How unpredictable fate is," Fujitora sighed deeply.
"It's not that I hate you, Straw Hat. In truth, I quite admire your character. But Sengoku-san was a man of great virtue and justice—someone I deeply respected. Whether for duty or personal reasons, I must retrieve his remains and give him a proper burial."
With a heavy heart, Fujitora cast aside his last shred of hesitation and raised a Marine-issued loudspeaker to his lips.
"Members of the Straw Hat crew, listen well. I am Admiral Fujitora, I have come today for one person. Hand this individual over and Dressrosa will remain unharmed. I will then cast these meteors into the sea."
Under the vast reach of Fujitora's Observation Haki, the entirety of Dressrosa was laid bare.
He easily pinpointed Luffy and the others.
Turning his gaze towards the Tontatta Kingdom's forest, he declared.
"That person is Vinsmoke Sanji."
"What? Me?"
In the forest, Sanji pointed at himself in stunned confusion, his face blank.
Beside him, Nami, Robin, Usopp, Franky in his Battle Franky form, Chopper, Jinbei and Zoro all wore expressions of shock.
The moment Fujitora appeared, they had sensed the impending danger.
But his power was too overwhelming.
Even in their fully recovered state, they stood no chance of escaping such a cataclysmic, all-encompassing attack.
Luffy who's still severely injured, was undergoing intensive treatment from Princess Mansherry.
The others, having sustained lighter injuries, had already begun to recover.
Among them, Sanji's vitality had been restored.
Jinbei chest had also fully recovered.
Robin's once healthy and vibrant skin, along with her voluptuous figure, had returned completely, with no trace of the severe burns from before.
"Sanji! Don't listen to him, you can't go!" Nami screamed, running over to grab Sanji, whose face was twisted in struggle.
"Nami-san, I... I should go." Sanji face was filled with immense sorrow and grief as his gaze swept over each of his crewmates.
"No! I won't allow it!" Nami collapsed to her knees, tears streaming down her face as she broke down crying once more.
Lately, Nami had been utterly exhausted, her days more bitter than even those years ago in Cocoyasi Village in the East Blue.
Every day, she watched her listless crewmates—Luffy unconscious from severe injuries, Zoro lost in despair and Sanji aged beyond his years and.
All of this weighed heavily on Nami emotional heart, often bringing her to tears.
Zoro, whose eyes had been hollow, suddenly shuddered.
His unfocused gaze sharpened as he stared at Sanji.
"Go if you must, shitty cook. I'll hold things down here." Zoro gripped the only remaining sword in his hand, Enma, with unprecedented seriousness.
"Hahaha, with those words, I can go in peace, moss-head! Pull yourself together—you're gonna be the world's greatest swordsman, after all. I don't have dreams as grand as yours."
Sanji fished out a cigarette from his pocket and tried to light it with his lighter, but his trembling hands made it impossible.
Not from fear—but reluctance.
Tears streamed down his cheeks as Zoro stepped forward, tossing Enma to the ground like trash and snatching the lighter from Sanji's hand.
With one hand, he lit the cigarette for him.
Sanji froze, staring at the sword on the ground, his voice hoarse.
"How could you treat your own sword like this?"
"This isn't my sword. Mine broke. Enma belonged to Oden—he couldn't even surpass himself. Wielding his weapon would only bury my future! I'll forge my own blade and cut down everything in my path to become the world's greatest swordsman!"
Zoro stomped on Enma, driving it deep into the dirt.
The sword seemed to have a will of its own, its blade trembling—whether in confusion or fury, it was unclear.
But Zoro paid it no mind.
Though he held no blade now, an inexplicable sword aura surged from him like a towering tree, growing ever stronger!
Hearing this, Sanji couldn't help but break into a radiant smile.
He punched Zoro's chest hard before turning to face the others.
"Everyone... goodbye."
"Sanji!"
"Sanji-kun!"
Whoosh!
Sanji didn't look back at Nami and Chopper, trembling in anguish—not because he didn't want to, but because he didn't dare.
He feared his resolve would waver, feared dragging them all down.
"Nami-san, when Luffy wakes up... tell him to find a new cook. This time... I might not return to the Sunny. Take care, all of you. The time I spent with you... was the happiest of my life."
Sanji stepped into the air, ascending towards Fujitora location.
When he arrived, Fujitora "looked" at him for a long moment before sighing.
"My apologies, young man."
Sanji, on the other hand, looked quite relaxed and asked with a carefree smile.
"Go on, tell me who exactly wants me. If it were the Marines, you wouldn't just capture me alone. Luffy and the others are severely injured—with your strength, capturing them wouldn't take much effort."
Fujitora sighed lightly and nodded.
"You're a smart man. Indeed, it's Caesar—yes, that very demon you're thinking of. He specifically asked for you."
"Hahahaha!" Sanji burst into laughter as if he'd heard the funniest joke, doubling over with mirth.
"Since when does a distinguished Marine Admiral like you work for a pirates?"
"No choice. Fleet Admiral Sengoku's remains are still in his hands. You're just one of the bargaining chips he wants in exchange." Fujitora didn't hide the truth, speaking plainly.
Sanji froze for a moment, then shook his head with a bitter smile.
Taking a drag from his cigarette, he fell silent.
Fujitora turned his gaze silently towards the Forest for a while before manipulating ten massive meteorites away from Dressrosa's skies, slowly dropping them into the sea.
"Why not rest on this rock of mine for a while?" Fujitora offered, making some space.
Sanji nodded and leaped onto it.
Their figures streaked across the sky, vanishing swiftly into the horizon.
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