The training grounds at Marineford were usually filled with sweat, shouts, and the sounds of intense clashes—a symbol of passion and strength. However, recently an incongruous "blemish" had appeared in this area. Centered around the corner where Levi often sunbathed, a considerable section had been privately dubbed the "Fatigue Zone" or "Sloth Zone" by the Marines. Training there yielded minimal results, spirits sagged, and even the instructors subconsciously avoided it.
This "unhealthy trend" naturally reached Akainu Sakazuki's ears.
At this moment, he stood at the edge of the training grounds, arms crossed, his stern face carved from granite. His gaze, as sharp as an eagle's, was fixed on the figure leaning against the wall, wrapped in a Marine greatcoat, dozing—Levi.
In Akainu's view, this individual was a disgrace to Marine discipline and Absolute Justice. Idle, slacking off, enjoying special treatment due to some bizarre ability, and even subtly eroding the morale of other Marines—such a cancerous growth could not be allowed to remain at Marineford. Especially when he learned that Sengoku and Tsuru not only condoned this but even regarded him as a "strategic resource," the fury in his heart burned even more fiercely.
"Justice cannot be defiled by such a lazy individual!"
Akainu snorted coldly and began to take heavy steps, like a moving volcano, walking directly towards Levi. As he passed, the training Marines stopped, saluting respectfully while also feeling the almost palpable pressure and anger.
"Vice Admiral Akainu!"
"Sir!"
The Marines' voices carried a new tension. Akainu seemed not to hear them; he had only one target. The atmosphere in the training grounds instantly became charged; everyone sensed that something was about to happen.
Levi was dreaming of unlimited barbecue flying before him, just about to bite into the biggest, most fragrant piece, when an extremely strong, aggressive, and "troublesome" oppressive sensation suddenly approached, roughly yanking him from his sweet dream.
He very impatiently and slowly opened his eyes just a slit. What met his gaze was Akainu's tall, imposing figure, seemingly brimming with endless rage, and those eyes that looked as if they were about to erupt with lava.
"…Tsk…" Levi made a displeased clicking sound, his brows furrowed tightly. "…The light… is blocked… so troublesome…" He completely ignored Akainu's terrifying aura, only caring that the other man was blocking his sun.
Several veins instantly popped on Akainu's forehead. This brat didn't even acknowledge him!
"Captain Levi!" Akainu's voice was deep and full of menace, like a volcano on the verge of eruption. "As a Marine, spending your days in idleness here—what kind of decorum is that! Get up at once!"
Levi's eyes remained vacant, filled with heavy sleepiness and the annoyance of being disturbed. "...It's Vice Admiral Akainu… Is there something you need?… If not… could you please move aside?… You're blocking the sun…" His tone was as flat as if he were complaining about the weather, completely devoid of reverence for one of Marineford's top combatants.
"You scoundrel!" Akainu finally roared, the sound wave making the ears of nearby Marines ring. "Where is your Justice?! You have completely shamed the Marine's reputation!"
"...Justice?…" Levi blinked in confusion, as if he had heard an extremely unfamiliar and complex word. "...Upholding Justice… sounds so troublesome… That's your job, isn't it?…" He let out a huge yawn, tears welling in the corners of his eyes. "...Can't you… just leave me alone… Can't everyone… just be well… without bothering each other?"
"Stubborn fool!" Akainu completely lost his patience. He decided to use his strength to make this lazy individual face reality. "Since you won't move, then I'll 'help' you move!"
Before he finished speaking, Akainu's right arm instantly swelled, turned pitch black with Armament Haki, and began to emit a scorching heat as it transformed into lava. "Great Eruption!"
He didn't use his full power, but this strike was enough to easily destroy a large sailing ship. The massive lava fist, carrying a destructive aura, slammed fiercely towards Levi, who was still sitting on the ground.
A gasp echoed through the training grounds. No one expected Vice Admiral Akainu to directly attack a captain with such a ruthless attack.
However, facing this terrifying blow, Levi's reaction was merely… his brows furrowing a little more.
"...So hot… so noisy… and… it looks super troublesome…"
His thoughts were pure and intense. The next second, something happened that left everyone, especially Akainu himself, dumbfounded.
The immensely powerful lava fist, when it reached about a meter in front of Levi, saw its fierce and violent momentum inexplicably and strangely decay without any warning. It was as if the lava itself had suddenly "gotten lazy" to burn, "gotten lazy" to advance, "gotten lazy" to erupt. The Armament Haki covering it seemed to lose its will to "condense," becoming loose and dim. The scorching lava rapidly cooled, blackened, and solidified at a visible speed, finally turning into a pile of lifeless black volcanic rock fragments that scattered with a clatter on the ground, just a few centimeters from Levi's toes.
The attack… was ineffective? No, it was more like the attack itself had "given up" midway.
Akainu maintained his punching posture, his pupils slightly contracted, his face filled with disbelief. His attack, a blow imbued with powerful Armament Haki and his Devil Fruit ability, had been defused in such an absurd way? Without even touching his opponent's clothes?
"W-what kind of sorcery is this?!" Akainu was both shocked and enraged.
Levi looked at the pile of still-smoking stones in front of his feet and distastefully shrank his feet back. "...Making a mess everywhere… It'll be so troublesome… to clean up…" he complained, as if Akainu had merely knocked over a trash can.
"Shut up!" Akainu's rage was completely ignited, his reason burned away. He didn't believe it. He fully activated his Armament Haki, both fists simultaneously turning into lava, the even more terrifying heat distorting the surrounding air.
"Meteor Volcano!"
He roared, wildly punching his fists into the air. Countless gigantic lava fists shot skyward, then, with the destructive power of falling meteors, rained down from all directions, overwhelmingly smashing into the small area where Levi was. It was an indiscriminate saturation strike. Let's see how he'd dodge this, how he'd block it.