"Navy?"
Creed felt a twinge of interest—who was coming?
Right now the Marines only kept a G-5 base in the New World; after G-K merged in, half the staff were Creed's former subordinates. He'd heard Fujitora had even been promoted to base commander—a local lord in his own right. If they ran into each other today, Creed would feel a little wistful… and a little hopeful.
And Ain—how was she doing now? If she happened to be aboard, that would be nice.
Robin, however, quickly crushed the pleasant thought. "Oh no—it looks like Admiral Akainu!"
"Sakazuki? Then this won't be friendly. Redfield, pick up speed."
If it was Akainu, he was obviously here to exterminate them. No other possibility.
If it were Aokiji, Creed could at least stop and chat.
"Rest easy, Captain. They won't catch us," Redfield replied from the helm.
"But why would a Marine Admiral be in the New World? Didn't the Marines already execute a strategic withdrawal?"
Creed was puzzled.
What he didn't know was this: if Akainu and Aokiji hadn't been dispatched to the New World on official business, then after Creed's grand face-slap of the World Government at Enies Lobby—founding a pirate crew right under their noses—Akainu would've stormed his doorstep long ago.
Creed didn't bother guessing further. The ship under his feet—built from Adam Wood—was one of Galley-La Company's finest works. In speed, aside from a few specially made speedboats, no large ship could run neck and neck with it.
So when Creed ordered full throttle, they steadily opened the gap.
Two to three kilometers astern, three Marine warships were running at full power to close distance—but as Creed's side went "all engines ahead," the gap only yawned wider.
On the foredeck of the lead warship stood a broad-shouldered man in the white Admiral's coat, features hard as cut stone, staring at Creed's vessel alongside several elite Vice Admirals.
Sakazuki—Admiral Akainu.
"What's going on? Weren't our ships specially tuned? Why are we slower?"
As the distance stretched, Sakazuki's temper flared.
"Admiral, Creed's ship is Adam-built by Galley-La—top-tier shipwright work. Our warships are a step behind…" explained the elite Vice Admiral Doberman.
"Hmph. I fail to see why the World Government allows a company that colludes with pirates to exist. If I were Fleet Admiral, they'd be the first I erased," Sakazuki said coldly.
He rose to his feet and tossed back a line: "Don't close in too much. I'll go after them."
The meaning was clear—he'd handle Creed alone.
The elite Vice Admirals traded looks, stunned.
After the Water 7 incident, the Marines had a detailed dossier on Creed: besides Creed himself, that ship carried the troublesome legendary pirate Redfield. Was Akainu planning to 1-v-2?
"We move up—notify Admiral Aokiji immediately and ping our position," Doberman decided. The others could only comply.
If Aokiji arrived, two Admirals against Creed would be a proper fight.
Boom! Boom!
Sakazuki vaulted skyward, using Geppo (Moonwalk) to streak toward Creed's ship. Mid-air, he hammered out both fists—magma roared, shaping into two colossal fists that howled toward the vessel.
On deck, Creed flicked two fingers—twin laser lances snapped out, bursting the magma fists apart. Shards of light and gouts of molten rock rained down, blasting the sea into rolling boil and towering steam.
"Tch!"
Akainu burst through the smoke, now only seven or eight hundred meters away. His body fully magmatized, heat boiling off him in waves—his next move would be a big one.
Seeing that, Creed didn't dawdle; he flashed into living lightning and barred the Admiral's path.
"Admiral Sakazuki—long time," Creed squinted, then shifted tone. "First time we meet in a while and you open by wrecking my ship? That's a bit much."
"What words are there for pirates? And you've offended the Celestial Dragons!" Akainu snapped. "Creed—today I'm arresting you. Level 6 of Impel Down—the Eternal Hell—will be the grave of the so-called Fifth Emperor."
He drove a fist straight in.
"Magma, is it? How about a little ice."
Unfazed, Creed counter-punched.
Craack!
No thunderclap—only the brittle ring of ice forming and shattering.
"What—?"
The stabbing chill in his knuckles made Sakazuki's eyes narrow. His magmatized fist had been freeze-locked on contact. It broke an instant later, but the feeling was… unpleasant.
"You copied Aokiji's power? Even so, that alone won't restrain me."
Akainu's temper spiked. His body fully liquefied into magma; scorching heat bled out for a kilometer around.
"Hoh?"
Sensing the spike, Creed quietly probed his opponent.
As expected.
[Stats]: Strength SSSS-, Agility SSS, Endurance (Defense) SSS+, Willpower SSS+
[Abilities]: Busoshoku Haki SSSS- (Armament), Kenbunshoku Haki SSS+ (Observation), Hand-to-Hand SSS+, Taijutsu SSS+, Rokushiki SSS (Six Styles), Swordsmanship SSS+ …
[Devil Fruit]: Magu Magu no Mi SSSS- (Magma; awakened)
[Overall]: SSSS-
"He's advanced to SSSS- as well? From 'incipient awakening' to fully awakened fruit… So you're the first of the three Admirals to break into SSSS-, huh? Good for you, Sakazuki."
Creed was a little surprised.
It meant that after Mary Geoise, Akainu had driven himself through brutal training and deep fruit development.
"A foe you can't take lightly—and one worthy of respect."
The easygoing air left Creed's eyes.
Silently, he began extracting Akainu's Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki). Kaido's was SSSS and needed ten hours to pull; Akainu's SSSS- should take three.
Except—no. Something was off…
(End of Chapter)
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