"Nico Robin? I didn't expect you here too. A dangerous element—needs to be eliminated." Akainu flanked them and finally realized that the woman giving orders was none other than the Devil's Child, Nico Robin.
He remembered her from the Buster Call, in which he participated. She was the only survivor. Though he didn't recognize her right away, he now recalled her clearly.
"Akainu!!" Robin felt that terrifying, violent aura lock onto her from behind. She froze in fear.
Akainu had originally intended to ambush the unconscious Enel to prevent future trouble.
But since he was already down, Akainu wouldn't let this rare opportunity go to waste. Robin, a wanted criminal of the World Government, was also a priority target.
"Inugami Guren!" Akainu launched a magma hound straight at Robin's back.
"I'll kill you, Red Dog!!" Rosen's eyes narrowed instantly.
An attack on his crew meant major loss. It had taken great effort to form his core crew, and they had already lost several members in this battle. Rosen could not allow another to die. As long as he was aboard, he wouldn't let it happen. He shot forward like molten sand, blazing like lightning.
But he was still a step too late. Robin's scream rang out as magma seared her back. Her clothes melted, her flesh burned.
One more inch and it would have pierced her heart and killed her instantly.
Akainu remained expressionless. Killing was routine to him.
Boom!
At the last second, Rosen arrived and kicked the magma hound away, his rage boiling over.
Robin collapsed. Though the magma hadn't pierced her, the impact alone left her paralyzed. Residual magma still burned her, and she was barely conscious, on the verge of death.
Rosen controlled sand to extinguish the magma clinging to her. But it left a deep, visible scar on her back.
"Annoying," Akainu said coldly. But attacking again wouldn't be easy. Crocodile's aura seemed... off. That roar earlier—was it laced with Conqueror's Haki?
Akainu was surprised, but not shocked. Rosen's potential had already shown he had the makings of a future Emperor. Though still only qualifying for that stage, it was a level most pirates could never hope to reach.
"Hathaway, take them and go. Meet at the agreed location." Rosen spoke. Akainu was pressing too hard. If no one stayed behind, none of them would escape. And only Rosen had the power to hold him off.
Even Hathaway couldn't. No matter her swordsmanship, against a top-tier monster like Akainu, she could only stall him briefly, if at all.
"Boss?" In her daze, Robin saw a towering figure shielding her. Dying like this… didn't feel so bad, she thought. At least someone cared.
She hadn't been much help. Maybe the Boss just needed a bit more strength...
"Understood," Hathaway nodded.
"Stay alive. Don't give up. I'll come back," Rosen said softly, looking down at Robin. Then the sand that made up his body began to grind violently—not just his right hand, but his whole body.
Pushed past his limits, vibrating at high frequency, he gripped his golden sand blade in his left hand. All forms of Haki—Conqueror's and Armament—were unleashed at full force.
Boom!
His Conqueror's Haki burst out, furious and violent, casting golden waves across the sea. Many Haki users nearby felt it.
"Conqueror's Haki? But it's so wild…"
"Infernal Sandstorm Dragon!" A sand tornado erupted beneath Akainu's feet. Just as he moved to dodge, Rosen was already there, striking furiously. Akainu frowned—Rosen still had this much strength left?
It had to be his last burst.
"Instant Erosion Bullets!" Rosen fired eleven Haki-infused sand grains, each carrying his withering power.
"Volcanic Barrage!" Akainu countered. Rosen charged into the sandstorm, engaging in close combat.
Boom!
Rosen landed a heavy kick, sending Akainu flying hundreds of meters—but in exchange, he took Akainu's full eruption head-on.
"Trading hits? No… you're staying behind?" Akainu realized it. Rosen had taken the hit just to send him flying off the Dawn.
Akainu was far stronger, but at this level, killing someone wasn't easy. Rosen couldn't win—but he could buy time.
Sizzling, magma burned all over Rosen's body. He doused the flames with sand, looking like a man suffering from massive burns.
"How long can you keep going after taking so many hits? I'll finish you first, then chase the others," Akainu judged. Rosen's condition was dire. His power was still dangerous, but wouldn't last much longer.
Just a dying struggle.
"Hell Black Hole: Sand Devour!" Rosen's body exploded into sand, forming a dome-like space that trapped them both. Akainu frowned.
Swirling sand vortexes formed around them, each one emitting black hole-like suction—draining water from him?
"Great Eruption!" Akainu struck upward. Magma burst through the sand barrier but was quickly restored.
"Sand Bind!" Hundreds of sand ropes extended from the dome, all laced with Haki and erosion.
Akainu shattered many of them with a punch, but they kept coming. One latched onto his leg and tried to drain him, but he used Rankyaku: Earthquake to break free.
"Sand powers?" Akainu felt increasingly uncomfortable inside the space—as if he could be consumed at any moment.
The barrier was made mostly from Rosen's body, but not entirely. Crocodile was hiding in the sand dome.
"You think this can hold me? Meteor Volcano!" Lava fists blasted holes through the dome, tearing it open.
As Akainu moved to escape, the sand formed into Rosen's shape and struck.
Akainu scoffed and punched back—but Rosen didn't retreat. He was stunned for a moment—Rosen's punch carried multiple sand ropes, wrapping around his arm.
"Armament Iron Body: Annihilation!" Rosen activated full-body Haki and grappled him.
His withering power surged at full strength. The sand shook violently. Rosen's face twisted—his body was barely holding together.
But his body was still active—not collapsing yet. His defense and physical resilience were outstanding.
"Break!" Akainu shook him off, magma and Haki surging. Rosen's technique was broken—but Akainu's fingers were partially withered, though not completely. His Haki had blocked most of it.
They fought for a long time. Shockwaves rippled through the sky.
Meanwhile, the Dawn sailed farther away, fading from the view of Marines and onlookers alike.
At that moment, Akainu finally felt a bit of urgency. Rosen still had strength left. Though his body was battered and scorched, he clung to life like an unkillable monster.
(End of Chapter)