The raging wind, mixed with fine rain, fell upon the scarred earth.
"Follow the guidance of the Wind of Destiny, Luffy!"
A tall figure appeared before Luffy without warning.
He was wearing a green cloak, with a bright red tattoo on his face, and his black hair was exceptionally sharp!
"Monkey D. Dragon!!!"
Akainu's gaze turned sharp, his clenched fists gradually glowed red, and black smoke began to rise.
"Long time no see, Sakazuki. You and I still don't get along! Borsalino, if I remember correctly, you should be off work by now! ...It really brings back memories!"
Dragon spoke eloquently, as if meeting an old friend he hadn't seen in a long time!
"There's nothing to be done! Your son, just like you, likes to kill Celestial Dragons. I don't want to work overtime either!"
Kizaru shrugged, his toad-like sunglasses reflecting a faint glow.
"Enough with the pleasantries. Since you're here too, let's settle the score!"
Akainu clenched his fist, and the crimson magma took on the color of hell.
"Sakazuki, in this state, you are no match for me!"
Dragon's right hand formed a claw, tightly wrapped in a cyan hurricane. Its force was so swift that it directly cut three thin white streaks in the air.
[Hellhound]
[Dragon Claw Fist]
The hurricane collided with the magma, powerfully suppressing it and instantly engulfing it!
Akainu flew backward like a cannonball, crashing through two buildings and spitting out a large mouthful of blood.
Dragon raised his arm, and a dark green hurricane began to gather rapidly in his palm.
The air, like a sharp blade that could cut through anything, began to spin in his palm at an alarming speed, constantly expanding.
Looking at his two Admiral friends, he smiled faintly, and the green hurricane was flung towards them.
A vast storm instantly formed, and the storm, having left Dragon's palm, seemed to lose its restraint, expanding wildly at an incredibly astonishing speed, with the eye of the storm rotating ever more furiously.
The surging hurricane crushed all obstacles in its path, and the earth was lifted like ocean waves.
Countless ruins were swept into the sky, like a natural disaster!
"Tsk tsk!"
Feeling the strong tearing sensation, Kizaru's mouth twitched slightly! He instantly transformed into countless light particles, taking Akainu with him, and rapidly fled the area!
Nearly ten minutes later, the storm ceased.
Sabaody Archipelago, the entire lawless zone was reduced to ruins, with layers upon layers of the very ground peeled away!
But Dragon, Rayleigh, and Luffy had long since disappeared!
Akainu's cold eyes were filled with ferocious and violent bloodshot veins.
"Buruburu!"
Kizaru held the den den mushi, which kept jumping, and tossed it to Akainu.
"I'm off work. I still need to go to the hospital for bandages! The reporting duty is yours, Sakazuki!"
Kizaru transformed into a golden light and vanished into the distance!
"Moshi Moshi, this is Sengoku!"
...Three days later,
Revolutionary Army Headquarters,
Baltigo, Infirmary!
A figure lay on the bed, sleeping soundly!
His body, with its distinct muscle contours, exuded a masculine aura.
A young Little Nurse gently wiped Luffy's body with a wet cloth, her face flushed, her mouth dry.
Suddenly, Luffy opened his eyes and stretched!
"Ah, that was a good sleep! I feel fully refreshed!"
Then, he saw the Little Nurse beside him, her face full of shyness and at a loss.
"Huh, who are you!"
Luffy looked confused, then suddenly felt a chill on his body—his upper body was... naked!
"Who... who exactly are you? What... what did you do to me?"
Luffy dragged the blanket, fumbling to cover his body!
"I... I'm just a Little Nurse!"
The Little Nurse was soft and weak, tears streaming down her face.
"Alright, alright, my mistake!"
Luffy sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"Grumble!"
Luffy awkwardly clutched his stomach... he was hungry!
...Marineford, Marineford!
Fleet Admiral's Office.
In the Fleet Admiral's office, the atmosphere was terribly oppressive, as if even the potted plants in the corner were holding their breath.
There weren't many people in the office: Sengoku, Aokiji, Staff Officer Tsuru! And Akainu and Kizaru, both bandaged!
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, the situation is as follows... Because I overestimated the strength of Rayleigh and Straw Hat, coupled with Dragon's sudden intrusion into the battlefield, Straw Hat escaped!"
Sakazuki bit down on his lit cigar, his expression gloomy and pale.
Beneath his crimson shirt, his chest was covered in bandages!
The terrifying Haki from Silvers Rayleigh, the "Dark King", even after three days, had not fully healed!
Kizaru, on the other hand, although covered in bandages, his leisurely manner of clipping his nails... didn't look like someone who was injured at all!
Listening to Sakazuki's report, Sengoku's face was extremely grim.
"So, not only did Straw Hat Luffy not get captured, but not a single crew member was caught either! Even among the Supernovas, only 2 died! (Apoo, Urouge)"
Sengoku slammed the table, his eyes fixed on Kizaru.
"Borsalino, tell me... how did the Straw Hat escape!"
At these words, Kizaru's body froze, his toad-like glasses emitting a faint, eerie glow.
"I don't know, Mr. Sengoku. My attention was entirely on Straw Hat, and I couldn't concern myself with others!"
"This operation, my command was inadequate! ...I personally am willing to take full responsibility for this incident!"
Akainu's tone was cold, his eyes exceptionally firm!
Sengoku sighed heavily at his words, and said in a deep voice,
"You made no mistakes in this operation; the responsibility is not yours."
"The situation was urgent, and the battlefield changed rapidly. If anything, it should be my responsibility. I made things too simple!"
"Alright, meeting dismissed! Everyone get some good rest; a major battle is coming soon!"
The three Admirals left the office simultaneously!
Sengoku slumped in the Fleet Admiral's chair, looking somewhat powerless at Staff Officer Tsuru, who was deep in thought.
He slowly opened his mouth, "Tsuru, do you think Borsalino... went easy this time?"
Tsuru: "Do you think he's the kind of person who would rather get injured than go easy? Why? Garp?"
Sengoku: "I just can't believe... that such a genius has appeared in this world!"
Sengoku pinched his forehead; too many things had happened recently!
"Just two months ago, he was an unknown figure, yet now he has reached such a level... a level that countless people spend their entire lives trying to achieve!"
"Alright, don't think so much. Let's prepare for the upcoming war!" Tsuru gently tapped the table. This time, they must keep that legendary pirate crew forever in... Marineford!
"It's just a bit difficult for Garp!"
"There's no other way, the Marine's Justice is simply too heavy!"
...The three Marine Admirals walked side by side, their tall figures seemingly forming a solid barrier!
Akainu walked towards the port.
Aokiji: "Sakazuki, what are you going to do?"
"Morgans should have already received the intel; today's newspaper should have explosive news!"
Akainu continued walking without stopping.
"Those pirate scum must be feeling smug and eager to set sail!"
Akainu ripped off his bandages with a sinister smile.
"I'm going to show them... what hell is!"
Aokiji stood still like a statue.
"Arara, he's still so extreme!"
"Indeed!" Kizaru's glasses reflected a golden light!
This was his [Absolute Justice].
"Admiral Akainu!"
On the warship, Doberman saluted!
Akainu stopped at the bow, the salty sea breeze Brushing his pale face, "Depart, patrol Paradise!"
The seagull flag, symbolizing peace, flew high, and the giant steel warship cut through the waves!
...Newspaper Headquarters,
A bird-man with a large beak, small eyes, and white feathers, wing-like hands, wearing a black top hat with feathers, a blue shirt, checkered trousers, and a black cloak, was overjoyed!
"Hahaha, this is news that will turn the sea upside down!"
"Speed up the printing! Today, I want the entire sea to boil over!"
"I am Morgans, the News King!"
(Sabaody Archipelago Arc — End)