At the Marine base in the East Blue, Cage had just hung up the Den Den Mushi.
"When it rains, it pours," Cage muttered, sprawling lazily across his desk.
Ain, beside him, glanced at Cage, retorting, "Now you understand the consequences of being impulsive, don't you? Should we ask Zephyr-sensei for help?"
"Help with what? That's unnecessary."
A savage grin spread across Cage's face. "Jinbe is practically delivering achievements to me. I should be thanking him!"
———
Three days later, the appointed day for Cage and Jinbe's duel arrived.
At the Marine base in the East Blue, the Sun Pirates had also arrived. They were all Fish-Men, and each one glared fiercely at Cage.
This was because some members of the Arlong Pirates, including a few officers, had once been part of the Sun Pirates. They were comrades, and upon learning they had been brutally killed by Cage, they were all filled with indignation.
Jinbe and Aladine, the vice-captain of the Sun Pirates, had all arrived. Zephyr and Kizaru accompanied them.
Zephyr and Kizaru were there to prevent any unforeseen circumstances. Kizaru had also received orders from Sengoku: if Cage found himself in a disadvantageous situation, Kizaru was to directly intervene and save him.
This alone showed how much Sengoku valued Cage.
"You've all traveled a long way. Why not rest today and fight tomorrow?" Cage said with a smile. "Lest I win and say I fought unfairly."
"Hmph... a mere Marine Commodore, arrogant fellow. No need to wait, let's start now."
Jinbe snorted heavily, then looked at Aladine, instructing him, "This guy killed our former comrades... Since this is a death match, don't hold back later."
"Captain, rest assured. Arlong and I used to be close. I absolutely won't let him die in vain," Aladine's voice was heavy with sorrow. When they worked together in the past, Arlong always called him "Aniki."
"Don't call me Captain anymore, Aladine..."
Jinbe waved his hand. "I am now a Warlord of the Sea. From today onwards, you are the new captain of the Sun Pirates."
"Understood."
Aladine puffed out his chest, solemnly promising again, "I absolutely won't allow anyone else to claim Cage's head."
Meanwhile, the Marines were holding their own pre-battle meeting.
"Are you confident, Cage?"
Zephyr asked worriedly. "You, Binz, and Ain are my only remaining three disciples from this generation. I don't want any misfortune to befall you."
"Hehe... Zephyr-sensei, rest assured. I have no intention of dying at the hands of such a nobody."
Cage bared his white teeth, smiling confidently and casually. "That guy is just another victim of my gun."
"By the way... will I get into trouble for killing Aladine this time? That guy Jinbe is really annoying," Cage interjected, asking an extra question. Ain beside him was utterly speechless. If he was afraid of trouble, couldn't he just let the guy live? Did he have to kill them to be satisfied?
"If it's a death match, then the opponent deserves to die. Who can they blame if their strength isn't enough?" Kizaru extinguished his cigarette, then looked at Cage, instructing him, "Fleet Admiral Sengoku told me that if you can't handle it, give me a signal, and I'll stop the duel."
From the very beginning, the Marines had no intention of fair play.
"I understand."
Cage expressed his gratitude. Although he probably wouldn't need it, he appreciated Sengoku's good intentions.
"I can't believe I'd ever become such a big shot..."
Cage sighed inwardly. The day he joined the Marines, he thought his fate was to be an ordinary soldier. Who knew that now... he had two Admirals protecting him, and even Sengoku, the Fleet Admiral.
Especially Admiral Akainu's support, which Cage never dreamed of.
"Perhaps Akainu thinks I'm like him," Cage mused. "Is this what they call kindred spirits?!"
"Kizaru, isn't the pre-battle meeting over? It's too late to sharpen skills on the battlefield now. Don't delay, let's begin," Jinbe urged.
Kizaru looked at Cage, who nodded.
Fifteen minutes later, at the Marine training ground, only Cage and Aladine remained in the center of the vast area. Everyone else stood outside the training ground, watching.
"Begin!"
With Zephyr's command, the atmosphere immediately grew tense.
The flowing air seemed to be sucked away, and a suffocating aura enveloped Cage and Aladine.
However, neither Cage nor Aladine made the first move.
"Boy... Jinbe-aniki's original intention in joining the Seven Warlords of the Sea was to maintain friendship between Fish-Men and humans. Yet you killed so many Fish-Men. All living beings struggle to survive, and you, at such a young age, are so ruthless, destroying the bond between humans and Fish-Men! Unforgivable!!!"
Aladine's voice was loud and sorrowful. One hand clutched his heart, as if in piercing pain, his face and arm trembling. He shouted, "Arlong, and Hachi, including Chew, every one of them was my former comrade! But they all ultimately died by your hand. Today, you must pay for your folly! The price is your life! I..."
BANG!
Cage directly pulled the trigger. A single bullet flew straight out.
Boom boom boom!!!
That bullet was like tens of thousands of tons of explosives, instantly detonating. The entire sky trembled violently, and a scorching blast of air spread outwards, forcing everyone back.
The raging flames in the sky were like the embodiment of the Grim Reaper, claiming everything.
The training ground... it was gone. Only a black crater, twenty to thirty meters in diameter, remained. As for Aladine... if the training ground itself was gone, could he possibly still be alive?
"You spoke for half a day, and I thought you were saying your last words. I even gave you the chance to continue, just as you said, to at least maintain harmony between the two races; a chance for last words should be given... But in the end, you wanted my life. Perhaps you haven't woken up yet."
"But sorry, I'm busy. Pirates are waiting for me to deal with them. I don't have time for your nonsense."
Cage walked expressionlessly towards Kizaru and the others.