Across the other regions of the Sabaody Archipelago, everyone stared in shock toward Area One.
Normally, the massive red mangroves blocked visibility between zones.
But now
A blazing sun had risen above Area One.
On the shores surrounding the archipelago, pirates and Marines who had been fighting suddenly halted, all turning toward the "sun" rising from Sabaody. Their faces went blank.
Rayleigh and Shakky stepped out of the Shakky's Rip-Off Bar, gazing up at that blazing sphere.
"So… when you fought Don before, was this how he fought you?"
Shakky's tone was strange.
"No. He never used anything like this."
Rayleigh shook his head.
Back then, Don had used his Devil Fruit too
But not on anything close to this level.
Then again, Logia fruits represent the terrifying forces of nature.
Perhaps this was the true power of this fruit.
"Should we leave?"
Shakky glanced once more toward Area One before asking.
"We should. No matter how Don ends up today, something big is definitely going to happen on Sabaody after this."
Rayleigh sighed.
The Marines ignored him because he'd retired and rarely set sail anymore.
But after what just happened—especially the fate of those Celestial Dragons
What would happen next on Sabaody?
The two exchanged a look, then silently walked away without returning to the bar.
On the battleship rushing toward Sabaody, Sengoku stared at the rising "sun," his expression grave.
"Can the Mera Mera no Mi really reach this level…?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru naturally knew who could unleash such power.
Don had already used this technique once before in the North Blue against Kizaru.
But according to Kizaru, back then, Don's technique had still been manageable.
Yet now…
Even from this distance, they could feel the heat and radiance.
"Increase speed!"
Sengoku ordered in a deep voice.
Sabaody Archipelago — Pangea's Flower Chamber.
Imu turned toward the direction of Sabaody, a hint of confusion flickering in the eyes exposed beneath the hood.
That power again?
The same one sensed last time?
But… weaker than before.
Meanwhile, the Five Elders stared silently at the remote-view broadcast.
"He won't be easy to deal with."
"Mera Mera no Mi can really reach this degree?"
"Unknown. The previous user never left records of this level of power."
"Kizaru and Akainu don't seem capable of taking him down."
"Sengoku is on his way."
"He may not make it in time."
"Then dispatch the Holy Knights."
The five looked at one another—
Then nodded.
"We need Lord Imu's permission."
The Holy Knights were Mary Geoise's final shield and blade.
Even the Five Elders could not move them freely.
The Knights acted only under Imu's direct order.
"I permit it."
Just as the Five Elders reached their decision, Imu's voice echoed through the chamber.
The five stood and bowed respectfully.
Then they stepped out of the Room of Authority to deploy the Holy Knights
To capture the one who had assassinated a Celestial Dragon.
"Preferably take him alive. His body is… unusual."
Jaygarcia Saturn, the Warrior Saint of Scientific Defense, spoke gravely.
The other four frowned slightly.
With power like what Don was displaying,
"Taking him alive" would not be simple.
High above Area One.
Don's Observation Haki locked onto Kizaru and Akainu.
The two Admirals were now extremely wary of his current state.
Before he approached, both would split apart and retreat, keeping their distance while launching long-range attacks.
Laser blasts and light bullets rained nonstop.
From above, magma poured down densely like raindrops
Only each raindrop was the size of a boulder.
The entire Area One had transformed into a sea of magma.
Then, as the mangroves collapsed, seawater flooded in, instantly turning into steam
Only to evaporate again under the intense heat.
10%!
His HP dropped to 10%.
Don stopped chasing the Admirals, turning instead toward the Red Line.
He unleashed his Observation Haki completely, barely making out the distant edge of the massive continent.
If he was going to do something
He might as well go big.
Kizaru and Akainu both sensed Don stop.
The giant fireball floating in the sky also became still.
Just as the two Admirals felt puzzled
The fireball suddenly contracted.
Don's body absorbed the flames as if swallowing them whole.
Golden flames danced behind him.
His hair transformed into strands of burning golden fire, swaying in the heat.
Then white flames began drifting around his body.
That clear, luminous blade hung effortlessly in his hand.
One ring of fire after another appeared behind him
Then vanished
Then appeared again.
9%!
Akainu and Kizaru grew even more tense.
This strange buildup meant one thing:
A devastating attack was coming.
"If the two of you aren't planning to continue, then I won't be staying here either."
The moment Don finished speaking, he became a streak of golden fire, shooting across the sky in an instant.
"He left?"
Kizaru froze
Then saw the direction the fireline was heading.
His pupils dilated violently.
That was the direction of Mary Geoise.
"Stop him!"
In a flash of gold, Kizaru disappeared.
The sky erupted in golden light as a beam of pure radiance shot outward, catching up to Don's fireline instantly.
He could fly using flames
But against the speed of light, he was still slower.
After all, light itself represented ultimate speed.
"Move!"
As Kizaru descended with a blazing kick, Don countered with a backward punch.
Gold collided with gold, black lightning crackling.
Kizaru was sent flying.
Don, still in his flaming form, continued straight toward Mary Geoise.
Whoosh!
Just as Don moved again, something black streaked rapidly along the sea surface
Then shot straight upward toward him.
He swung his blade down.
The black object twisted midair, wrapping around his blade, coiling upward—
Then in a heartbeat, encasing Don inside a black cocoon.
Kizaru froze mid-attack.
On the cocoon's surface, golden lines suddenly lit up
BOOM!
It exploded outward, and Don emerged.
He turned back toward Sabaody.
Through his Observation Haki, he recognized several silhouettes he vaguely remembered.
The one who had just attacked him
A young woman missing both arms.
She wore a black uniform.
Bandages wrapped her legs and face.
Black arrow-shaped constructs extended from the sleeves over her legs
And now, the arrowheads were aimed directly at Don.
Even from this far?
Did the Holy Knights possess this level of power?
Watching the black arrow thrust toward his face, Don had such a thought.
Although she had crushed the Straw Hat Crew's second tier…
Well
People who understood those guys' "combat strength" understood what that meant.
Don tilted his head.
The arrow grazed past his cheek
Then curved sharply around.
Right.
These things tracked their target.
Clang!
[HP: 3%]
END OF CHAPTER
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