Rumble…
A thunderous roar erupted from Enies Lobby.
At the center of Aokiji and Soifon's clash, power exploded in a violent storm. Spiritual pressure and Haki tore into each other, ripping apart the air. Even the clouds high above were blown open.
The port crumbled inch by inch under the rampaging energy, collapsing into complete ruin.
When the shockwave finally faded, a massive crater appeared before everyone.
"Feels like we don't even need a Buster Call. Those two alone could sink Enies Lobby," Oguro said under his breath.
An Admiral was a walking natural disaster… but his captain was much worse.
Inside the crater, Aokiji and Soifon faced each other from afar.
A layer of frost covered Soifon's right leg, numbing it completely.
Aokiji's left arm and chest were charred black. The intense paralysis made his head spin.
Just as expected… Kidō could injure Logia users.
"What a handful…"
Aokiji didn't think this mission would be such a hassle.
If they kept fighting, mutual destruction might be the best outcome.
He exhaled deeply, waved his hand, and said, "No more! I'm done!"
Soifon froze, frowning. "What do you mean?"
Aokiji returned to his usual lazy tone. "The World Government told me to capture you. I tried. Can't do it, so that's that."
Soifon's frown deepened.
For Shinigami, orders from above—especially from the Soul King—were absolute.
Even if they had to sacrifice their lives, they carried them out.
Someone like Aokiji suddenly giving up was completely incomprehensible to her.
She even suspected he was planning something… maybe waiting for her to lower her guard so he could strike.
"Alright, Soifon. Relax. He's always been like this."
Oguro stepped up beside her and patted her shoulder with a smile.
"If you knew what the World Government is actually like, you'd understand him."
She didn't understand what Oguro meant, but she understood that Aokiji wasn't fighting anymore.
She lowered her guard and called Yamada Hanatarō over for treatment.
Under Kaidō, Soifon's right leg gradually regained feeling.
Watching this, Aokiji sighed. "A Devil Fruit with healing properties? Your people really are full of surprises."
Oguro grinned. "If you're jealous, you could always join us."
Aokiji chuckled but didn't answer.
As if. He was one of the three Admirals.
Power, authority… all at the top.
Join Oguro? What would he gain from that?
Oguro spoke again. "You know better than anyone how rotten the World Government is. Don't tell me you've never thought about changing it."
That made Aokiji's expression grow serious.
He stared at Oguro. "Are you from the Revolutionary Army?"
Oguro rolled his eyes.
Why did everyone keep thinking that?
Those half-baked amateurs weren't worth comparing.
"I'm not," Oguro said, annoyed.
Aokiji lay back down. "Sorry. But I'm not becoming a pirate. A world ruled by pirates would be even worse than the World Government."
"I'm not a pirate either," Oguro sighed. "What I'm saying is… build a new order. Not like the Revolutionary Army, who just replace the worst ruler with someone slightly better."
"A complete order. From scratch."
Aokiji's eyes widened. "You want to build a new World Government?"
"More or less." Oguro shrugged. "Eight hundred years ago, the current one was built the same way."
Aokiji twitched. "You're insane."
Why was the World Government able to rise eight hundred years ago?
Because twenty powerful families united. Nineteen of those became the Celestial Dragons.
Oguro only had a handful of people… and he wanted to replicate that?
Did he think the past eight hundred years of history existed for decoration?
Oguro didn't mind. "At least when I see this broken world, I want to stitch it back together."
"Unlike you all, who just cover your eyes and pretend nothing's wrong."
Aokiji fell silent.
As a Marine Admiral, he understood better than anyone how the World Government and the Celestial Dragons operated.
Playing with human lives was just their everyday routine.
And the Marines, who claimed to uphold justice… what did they do?
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
Oguro was right. They covered their own eyes… and pretended not to see.
At this point, Hanatarō had finished treating Soifon. She only needed a few days of rest.
Oguro told him, "Hanatarō, treat Aokiji too."
Aokiji blinked. "Hey, hey! We're enemies! Aren't you worried I'll grab him as a hostage?"
Oguro shot him a glance. "Would you?"
Then he gestured for Hanatarō to continue.
"Tch. I get it now. No wonder someone like Soifon would follow someone weaker than her," Aokiji muttered.
That kind of heart wasn't something ordinary people possessed.
But he still refused treatment.
"If I go back without injuries, it'll be too hard to explain."
Aokiji stood up and lazily walked toward the Gate of Justice.
Just moments ago, a loud, metallic clang had echoed through the island.
The Gate of Justice had fully opened.
Because the Buster Call had summoned ten warships, the gate had to be completely open to let them pass.
"Get going. A Buster Call isn't a joke," Aokiji called without turning around.
"Aokiji… no, Kuzan! Are you really willing to watch the world fall completely into darkness while doing nothing?"
Oguro shouted at his retreating back.
Aokiji paused for a moment.
But he didn't respond.
He just kept walking.
...
Judicial Tower, Second Pillar
Spandam clutched his head, feeling like it was splitting open.
The Den Den Mushi from the Gate of Justice control room had awakened him—the Marine fleet had arrived, and the gate needed to be fully opened.
He saw the golden Den Den Mushi on the floor and instantly understood what had happened.
But it was too late to say anything. He could only go along with it, fighting through the pounding pain to open the gate.
"Useless! Useless! The Marines, the World Government, CP9… all useless!"
Spandam cursed endlessly.
A few measly pirates had slipped past them, and they even triggered the Buster Call by mistake.
If the World Government found out, he was done.
The moment he imagined the consequences, his headache worsened.
The aftermath of Conqueror's Haki: Soul Blade was finally catching up to him.
"No! This isn't my fault! It's those CP9 fools! They call themselves elites but couldn't stop a handful of pirates! I had no choice but to activate the Buster Call!"
Under the intense pain, Spandam instinctively shoved all the blame onto CP9.
At last… everything was moving exactly in the direction Oguro had planned.
***
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