Rosinante wasn't surprised by Sakazuki's appearance at all. In fact, with his Observation Haki, he had long since sensed Sakazuki's approach. Considering the Gorosei were aware of his presence in Ohara, it was inevitable they'd alert the Navy.
After all, Bins' Hole-Hole Fruit ability had already been exposed during the battle with Garp, and both the Navy and World Government were now familiar with its capabilities. Knowing that Rosinante was on Ohara, the Gorosei could easily deduce that his subordinates—including the Hole-Hole user—might be here too. If that were the case, then the scholars of Ohara could be spirited away in complete silence.
That was precisely why the Gorosei had spent so long trying to persuade Rosinante not to intervene in Ohara. If Rosinante successfully evacuated the scholars, the entire Buster Call would become a joke.
What did surprise Rosinante, though, was that Sakazuki was the first to arrive—instead of Kuzan.
"Sakazuki!" Saul's voice deepened when he saw the man.
"You've already betrayed justice. Then I'll cleanse you with it as well," Sakazuki said coldly as he cast a glance at Saul.
"Sakazuki, I follow the justice in my heart. To carry out so-called justice by launching a devastating bombardment on a group of unarmed scholars—is that really the justice of the Navy?" Saul asked solemnly.
"Ohara's scholars have committed crimes. We are here to enforce justice. What's wrong with that?" Sakazuki responded with an iron tone.
"Stop lying to yourself. You know full well this operation is nothing more than a public execution meant to scare others into submission. The World Government wants to erase Ohara just to make an example. Do you really think that's something to be proud of?" Saul growled.
"For the sake of the world's future, Ohara must be erased. This is a decision made by both the Navy and the World Government. Sacrifices must be made—for justice," Sakazuki said coolly.
Saul stared in disbelief. He hadn't expected Sakazuki to actually admit to such logic.
"Are you the only one who came? Because if it's just you, I doubt you'll be able to carry out this so-called justice," Rosinante said with a calm smile.
"How arrogant. None of you are leaving today," Sakazuki sneered. As he spoke, his arm transformed into searing magma.
"I'll hold him off! You all go!" Saul roared and charged, fist raised, straight at Sakazuki.
"Though we're both Vice Admirals, that doesn't mean you're my equal! Great Eruption!" Sakazuki shouted. His fist became a giant magma-covered punch and shot toward Saul.
"Saul!" Robin screamed as she saw the blazing magma surge toward her giant friend.
Saul wasn't weak—in fact, among Vice Admirals, he ranked pretty high, especially as a giant with inhuman strength. But compared to Sakazuki, he was clearly outmatched.
Their fists collided. The scorching magma of Sakazuki's Great Eruption instantly overwhelmed Saul's massive arm.
"Argh! Drrrr-ha-ha-ha!" Saul roared in pain, the searing heat burning through him—but he held his ground.
"Protect Robin!" Rosinante shouted and dashed forward.
"Akainu, it seems you've been ignoring me entirely," Rosinante said coldly as he rushed in.
"I've been waiting for you," Sakazuki snorted. He didn't understand why Rosinante wasn't using his usual stealthy assassination techniques, but that suited him just fine.
Sakazuki swung his magma arm. The magma fist originally targeting Saul suddenly redirected and surged toward Rosinante.
Rosinante didn't dodge. He allowed Sakazuki's magma to engulf him completely.
"Rosinante-nii!!" Robin cried out in panic.
Even Sakazuki looked startled—he hadn't expected to defeat Rosinante so easily. But his Observation Haki confirmed it—it really was Rosinante inside the magma, no illusion or decoy.
However, Sakazuki's face suddenly changed again. He realized his magma was being rapidly neutralized.
"Akainu... ever been hit by your own magma before?" Rosinante's voice rang out calmly.
As he spoke, Rosinante thrust his fist forward. His knuckles shimmered with a molten glow—lava-like energy, dense and compressed, exploded outward with his punch and tore toward Sakazuki.
"Impossible... That's my magma...!" Sakazuki exclaimed, shocked.
Before he could finish his sentence, Rosinante's attack landed squarely, blasting Sakazuki backward like a cannonball.
"That's right—it's not just your magma anymore," Rosinante said casually.
"You've gotten stronger..." Sakazuki coughed up blood, gritting his teeth.
"So have you. That magma burns hotter than before. But too bad... I'm even stronger now," Rosinante replied, calm but deadly.
"Don't be so sure!" Sakazuki retorted. Magma churned violently beneath his feet, and in an instant, the ground around him became a molten field.
"You know, Logia types are called natural disasters. And magma? It represents destruction—the greatest disaster of all. Whether on sea or land, I'm never allowed to unleash its full power. But here in Ohara, it doesn't matter. It's already marked for annihilation. I don't need to hold back," Sakazuki declared coldly.
As he finished speaking, the scorching magma surged toward Rosinante, transforming the surroundings into a fiery inferno—a living hell.
"Damn you, Sakazuki! Shaxia, take Robin and the others and get out of here! The fight coming up is not something you can be part of!" Rosinante shouted.
"Understood!" Shaxia replied.
Clouds gathered in an instant. With a gust of wind, she whisked Robin and the Ohara scholars toward the Tree of Knowledge.
"You should go too. Akainu's not holding back today," Rosinante said to Saul.
"Don't worry. I can still hang in there. Besides, the Navy didn't come with just one man. I'll stay to help you. Drrrr-ha-ha-ha!" Saul laughed heartily.
"I didn't expect one of your subordinates to have a Logia ability... but don't think you'll escape! Meteor Volcano!!" Sakazuki bellowed. His arms turned into erupting volcanoes, launching magma fists into the sky.
"Damn that Sakazuki! He goes all out right from the start," Rosinante cursed and pulled out a Den Den Mushi.
"Bins, how's it going on your end?" Rosinante asked.
"Your Majesty, there are so many books... We still need a bit more time to finish moving everything!" Bins replied.
"Shaxia's already evacuating the scholars. Go help her. And finish up quickly—we're about to have a meteor shower from hell!" Rosinante said.
Before Bins could respond, Rosinante shut the Den Den Mushi and pocketed it.
"You know, Sakazuki... you really are full of yourself!" Rosinante said, his voice ice-cold as he looked skyward.
Then—Flash!
Rosinante vanished, reappearing instantly in front of Sakazuki like a streak of light. A burst of power slammed into Sakazuki, sending him flying through the air before he could react.
"To think you were still trying to attack others in front of me... Where the hell did you get the guts? From your magma fruit?" Rosinante's voice thundered as waves of Conqueror's Haki exploded from his body, shaking the heavens. The clouds above twisted and churned under the pressure.
"Unbelievable... Conqueror's Haki... and at that speed... What monstrous power!" Saul gasped, awestruck.
"You've grown powerful, Rosinante... But even so, you can't stop my justice!" Sakazuki yelled back.
At that moment, hundreds of magma fists, burning like miniature suns, rained down from the sky—a meteor storm of destruction targeting the Tree of Knowledge.
There were too many. Even if Rosinante tried, there was no way to block them all.
"No... no way... Robin!" Saul's face turned pale as he looked up. The sky itself was falling. A disaster from the heavens. A judgment of flame.