"Red-haired brat! If you've got the guts, take this head-on!"
"Rising Dragon: Flame Bagua!"
Kaido's entire body was wrapped in crimson flames as he let out a long, feral howl. Blazing heat gathered around his head, as if a second sun had appeared in the sky. A colossal dragon head made of fire, coated with Haki, dived straight toward Shanks.
The pirate curled his lips in disdain. "Tch… like hell I'm taking that. I told you already. Your moves are way too old-fashioned."
Such an obvious provocation. Who would actually take the bait? He might be strong, but he wasn't stupid. Going head-to-head with that enormous flaming dragon was pointless.
He pushed off the ground lightly, his body flashing through the air, leaving a streak of red behind.
Kaido, mid-dive, locked his eyes on Shanks and gave chase. He had no choice. He'd realized earlier that this damn brat couldn't be sensed with Observation Haki.
On the seas, there were plenty of monsters with ridiculous talent. But someone who could block even his Observation Haki? That was absurd.
As the distance between dragon and man rapidly closed, a sharp glint flashed in Kaido's eyes. His speed exploded.
Just as he was about to collide with his target, Shanks suddenly turned his head, flashed him a grin, and vanished in a burst of speed that was several times faster than before.
Kaido's eyes widened in fury.
Boom!
* * *
At the heart of the island, a crimson sun rose.
Lightning erupted outward, crackling wildly in every direction. The shockwave was so intense that even the Red Hair Pirates gathered along the shore had to squint against the blinding light.
Lucky Roux bit into a chunk of meat and mumbled through his mouthful, "That's some crazy power. Boss will be fine, right?"
Yasopp replied calmly, "Of course. With his speed, even if he can't win, he can definitely dodge. But that guy is an Emperor of the Sea. He's terrifying. How does the Marines keep people like him in check with just admirals and a fleet admiral?"
Watching the explosion deep within the island, he thought back to Borsalino, who had fought with them for a while before retreating. The difference in power between the two sides was hard to imagine.
Beckman lit a cigarette, took a slow drag, and said, "Kizaru just got promoted to admiral. He might not look that strong; none of his attacks landed on us, but none of ours hit him either. We had so many people, and he was alone. Just like the intel says, he's a sly one. In a situation where he doesn't have absolute advantage, a guy like that will never fight to the death."
Yasopp chuckled. "So that was your real aim, testing him, huh."
Beckman nodded. "If the reports are accurate, then the other new admiral, Aokiji, should be the same kind of person. Sengoku's taken the position of Fleet Admiral to stabilize headquarters. Garp's running wild around the world. The only real problem right now is Akainu. That guy's a pure mad dog. If he were the one who showed up today, things wouldn't have ended so peacefully."
Yasopp muttered, "Akainu… is he really that troublesome?"
Beckman narrowed his eyes. "Of course. If every admiral were like Kizaru, the Marines could never suppress the giants of the New World. The last generation of pirates is almost gone. But their marine counterparts? They're still alive and kicking.
"Rocks, who once ruled the seas, died at God Valley. Sengoku crushed the New World back then. Garp chased Roger, the Pirate King, all across the seas. Whitebeard and Shiki both died at Akainu's hands. Red Count fought the former Fleet Admiral Kong and was later defeated by Garp and captured.
"All four legendary pirates of that era fell to the Marines, without exception. Even Kaido… the records show he was once defeated by Akainu. Though no one knows how he escaped afterward, that doesn't change the fact that the Marines' strength is real.
"What's frightening is that over time, people seem to have forgotten these victories. Those monsters are still alive, yet more and more pirates treat the Marines lightly. Tell me… why do you think that is?"
Yasopp inhaled sharply. "Yeah… why?"
Such terrifying achievements. How had he never felt their weight before?
Beckman's gaze turned distant as he looked toward the island. "It's time."
Most of the new generation of pirates are young. In this information-starved sea, the only source of news is the newspaper. But who remembers every story on every page? These feats shook the world when they happened, but that was decades ago: ten, twenty years past. Who remembers every headline from that far back?
Beckman was older, and he made an effort to collect information. But Yasopp, only three years younger, had spent his early life on a small island. Even at the same age, he wouldn't remember any of that. He wasn't a pirate or a marine at the time. Whatever he read, he quickly forgot.
The only event that truly happened after they set sail was the fall of Golden Lion. Everyone had been surprised at the time, but it hadn't left a lasting impression.
Click.
Beckman loaded his gun. "Get ready to back him up. Looks like the boss is having trouble."
On the island, a furious fire dragon chased after something, heading straight toward their ship.
It wasn't hard to guess who it was chasing.
* * *
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Outside the Fleet Admiral's office.
Tap, tap, tap.
Crisp footsteps echoed as a figure of light coalesced in the hallway. Borsalino let out a long sigh. "Finally back~"
Through the wooden door, Sengoku's voice rang out. "What's the situation in the New World, Borsalino?"
He slid the door open and stepped into the office. "Nothing much, Fleet Admiral~ The two sides aren't working together~ Looked more like they were clashing~ I'd guess the island's already sunk by now~"
Sengoku frowned. "Guess?"
He sighed dramatically. "Yeah~ I was going to keep an eye on them~ But the Red Hair Pirates are all monsters~ I couldn't get close at all~"
Sengoku took a deep breath, waved his hand, and suppressed his rising irritation. "I understand. Go get some rest."
Borsalino straightened slightly, sensing the mood. "Aye~"
He turned and left the office.
Sengoku stared down at the files in his hands. They listed several nations the Revolutionary Army had expanded into. He rubbed his temples. "Troublesome times…"
He had barely taken the position and was already facing such problems. Picking up the Den Den Mushi, he dialed. After a few rings, he spoke. "Get me the latest reports on Bitter Island."
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