"It's you again… that terrifying brat."
Kizaru raised an eyebrow, peering through the haze of dust. The moment his eyes locked onto Jiang Lin's figure, his mocking, drawling smile returned.
"Let me go! O–old man, I have to… I have to—!"
Luffy thrashed wildly in Whitebeard's grasp, having just regained consciousness. He struggled with every ounce of strength, desperate to break free.
"This one's already done more than enough. Treat his injuries."
With a grunt, Whitebeard tossed Luffy backward to his men and turned his towering frame toward Jiang Lin and Kizaru.
"Whitebeard, leave this one to me."
Jiang Lin spared Luffy a glance, then focused squarely on the glowing admiral before him.
"Don't you dare die on me, brat. Your journey's far longer than you realize."
Whitebeard's eyes softened for a fleeting moment as he shifted his bisento.
Jiang Lin only chuckled, lips curling faintly. Of course, he knew where his path led—the New World's wonders, battles, and trials awaited. He had no intention of throwing his life away so easily.
"I have to save him… Don't stop me! Ace… Ace is my only brother left in this world!"
"I'll save him… I swear I'll save him!"
Breaking free from the pirates tending his wounds, Luffy staggered forward. His legs gave out, sending him crashing to the ground right beside Jiang Lin.
"You idiot."
Jiang Lin shook his head, sighing. He pressed his palm against Luffy's chest.
"Shadow-Healing Burst."
With a sharp pop, a red, translucent dome of energy expanded around Luffy's body.
"All talk and reckless to the bone. Still wet behind the ears. But… that's exactly the kind of fool I like."
Whitebeard's gaze drifted upward, from Luffy to the execution platform where Ace still awaited his fate.
"Anyone who doesn't value their own life—follow me!"
As Jiang Lin shielded Luffy, Whitebeard swung his massive blade, unleashing a shockwave that tore through the front ranks of the Marines.
"It's Whitebeard! He's charging!"
The square erupted in panicked shouts as the quake-forged shockwave exploded forward, swallowing dozens of Marines.
But before the destruction could spread further, magma surged. Akainu stepped into the blast, his leg molten as he ground Whitebeard's bisento underfoot.
"If we let you rampage any further, this entire island will collapse!"
The admiral's voice rumbled like volcanic thunder, his cloak of Justice billowing furiously in the gale.
"Gurararara… Then you'd better hold the line!"
Whitebeard's eyes burned with the same unyielding fire. He answered Akainu's glare with a booming laugh before their fists collided—quake against magma.
Red and white shockwaves clashed, locking the two titans in a deadlock. Marines at the frontline paled, scrambling for their lives.
And then—chaos. Explosions thundered across the plaza as pirates and Marines alike plunged into a full-scale melee.
Amidst the carnage, Kizaru loosed beams of golden light with lazy precision, each flash detonating in violent bursts across the battlefield.
"Kizaru! How about you play with me instead?"
Jiang Lin's voice rang out like a challenge from the far side of the square. A rose-colored sandstorm swept through, tearing apart the smoke and surging straight for the admiral.
"Sand-Sand Fruit—augmented by the Love-Love Fruit. Duration: ten minutes. Cooldown: thirty seconds."
The system's voice chimed in Jiang Lin's mind.
Kizaru's face twisted as the storm bore down on him. His body blurred into a streak of light, vanishing an instant before it struck.
"Now that was dangerous, terribly dangerous."
He reappeared at a safer distance, his usual drawl masking the edge of unease in his eyes.
"Dark-Dark Fruit—loaded. Duration: ten minutes. Cooldown: thirty seconds."
Jiang Lin's hand snapped open. A wave of crushing gravity roared out from behind Kizaru, dragging the admiral helplessly toward him.
"Get over here!"
Kizaru barely had time to lift his palm before Jiang Lin caught it in his grasp. The admiral's haki-coated strike aimed straight for Jiang Lin's head, meant to force him to let go.
But Jiang Lin only clenched harder.
"Absorb!"
Agony shot through his arm. Pain twisted Jiang Lin's face as blood spurted from his lips, sweat streaming down his brow. Yet he refused to release his grip.
"Become a… new you, Kizaru."
His smile widened despite the blood.
"Horm-Horm Fruit—loaded. Duration: ten minutes. Cooldown: thirty seconds."
His other hand shifted, fingers lengthening into cruel, needle-like points. A flash of crimson, and he drove them deep into Kizaru's flesh.
Gush. Gush. Gush.
The injection was swift and merciless.
Kizaru's body trembled. His once-broad frame slimmed rapidly, his uniform sagging loose around him. His chest swelled, his lips softened, his skin smoothed to porcelain perfection.
"What… what's happening to me?!"
His voice cracked, now high and strangely delicate.
The Marines froze. They stared in shock as their admiral's body twisted into something unrecognizable, fear and disbelief etched across their faces.
"Borsalino… sir?"
Their words quavered.
All around, men who had once fought without hesitation now looked upon Jiang Lin with terror. After this, none would dare face him so lightly again.
Jiang Lin wiped blood from his mouth, chuckling despite his wounds.
"Kizaru… you're looking rather good like this, don't you think?"