When the giant named Jaguar D. Saul appeared on O'Hara, Rain who had been seated cross-legged, quietly training his Haki...suddenly opened his eyes.
"What's wrong, Rain?"
Mira tilted her head curiously. She didn't keep her Observation Haki constantly active unless absolutely necessary, so she hadn't sensed what Rain did.
"A giant just landed on O'Hara," Rain said calmly. "He's urging the scholars to flee—telling them the Buster Call is on its way."
Mira's eyes widened, then gleamed with anticipation. "So it's finally coming?"
Her lips curved into an eager smile.
The last time she had felt this same hunger was after Rain encouraged her to test the limits of her "Take Over" magic.
Together, they had dived into the depths near Fishman Island and slain a solitary, colossal Sea King.
Mira had absorbed it...her body fusing with the monstrous strength of a "super-giant" creature that possessed raw physical might but no strong soul to resist her.
From that day, her body had been transformed.
Her stamina, her Armament Haki, her magic—all surged to new heights. Mira now stood in a league that could easily overwhelm her past self.
But that power came with a frustration: at only four meters tall in her current form, she had no sparring partner strong enough to truly push her. No challenge. No release.
But this time would be different.
The Navy's elite—five Vice-Admiral and maybe an Admiral were coming.
She licked her lips unconsciously, eyes burning with feverish anticipation.
"Hurry up and get here already, Marines," Mira whispered, a fanatic's smile tugging at her lips.
Rain chuckled at her expression. "I don't think you'll be disappointed."
Meanwhile, Robin did not come to the forest that day.
Instead, she stayed near the giant, listening wide-eyed as Saul explained what was about to befall O'Hara.
The words chilled her to the core.
And so, panicked, Robin turned and ran toward the Tree of Knowledge, desperate to warn Doctor Clover and the others.
But by the time she arrived… she was too late.
Figures in black had already appeared, the insignia of Cipher Pol glinting under their cloaks.
The agents of the World Government had arrived.
"The Navy's coming."
Rain and Mira rose to their feet at the same time, their gazes fixed on the horizon where massive warships cut through the waves.
Mira's eyes narrowed. "…This presence… two of them feel different. Stronger."
Rain's expression was still casual. "Admiral candidates. That means they've already reached the minimum threshold to stand among the three Admirals."
Mira's lips curled into a grin. "Then how about one each?"
Rain smirked back. "Fine. And I'll take the other three Vice-Admirals while I'm at it."
There was no hesitation. Mira knew her own limits. Against an admiral-level opponent, she could unleash herself freely.
But adding several Vice-Admirals on top of that would stretch even her too thin. Rain taking the rest was only natural.
As for Hiyori, she had already been sent away to a nearby island before the battle. A child had no place in the storm that was about to descend on O'Hara.
Meanwhile, in the Tree of Knowledge—
"Spandine. Erase O'Hara."
The Five Elders' command came sharp and final.
"Yes!"
Spandine, trembling with both fear and excitement, slammed down the golden Den-Den Mushi. His shout echoed across the warships.
"Buster Call—activated!!!"
At once, ten of the Navy's strongest battleships opened fire.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A single volley sent hundreds of shells screaming through the sky, raining down upon the island.
Explosions tore through the coast, the ground quaking as fire and smoke swallowed O'Hara.
High above, Mira watched from a tree branch, arms folded. Despite the destruction, a strange light danced in her eyes.
"…Spectacular." She exhaled with a small laugh. "Only the Navy would make such a show of power turning war into a declaration."
"Then let's begin."
Rain stepped forward to the cliff's edge, his blade gleaming in the firelight. His voice was calm, but his aura pressed outward like a storm.
"Right."
Mira's grin widened. With a single leap, she dropped down toward the first of the warships, excitement burning in her veins.
The true battle for O'Hara had begun.
"Why are we letting that ship go? What if one of the scholars slips aboard?"
On the deck of a massive battleship, Vice Admiral Sakazuki's voice thundered like a cannon itself. His sharp gaze locked on the lone refugee ship slowly sailing from the coast.
"Open fire. Sink them."
"Vice Admiral Sakazuki!"
The Rear Admiral commanding the vessel stiffened in alarm. "That's a refugee ship. Everyone aboard has already been verified by Cipher Pol!"
"I don't want to say it twice."
Sakazuki's eyes burned like magma, his words cold as iron. "We cannot gamble. If even a single scholar escapes… the damage to the world would be irreversible."
His fists clenched.
"Everything—for justice."
"...Yes, sir!"
The Rear Admiral's face twisted, but he dared not resist.
"Fire!!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The warship's triple-mounted cannon roared, three shells screaming across the sky toward the refugee vessel.
"...That's a bit much."
On the shore, Rain's eyes narrowed. With a smooth motion, he drew his blade.
"Cleave."
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Three slashes arced out, detonating each cannonball mid-air. The explosions lit up the clouds, scattering shrapnel harmlessly into the sea.
"...What?!"
The sudden interference drew every eye.
From the decks of the warships, four Vice Admirals—Sakazuki, Stainless, Doberman, and Onigumo all turned sharply toward the beach.
Their gazes fixed on the lone figure standing there, sword lowered casually at his side, cloak fluttering in the sea breeze.
"It's him…"
Recognition flashed across their faces. Rain wasn't an unknown. His feats as a bounty hunter, the massive bounties he had claimed, had already reached Marine Headquarters.
"Rain…"
Sakazuki's voice dropped into a low growl. His body radiated heat like a living furnace.
"Why are you here?"
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