The battle had already dragged on for a long time.
Area No. 1 was completely unrecognizable.
Hawk-Eye flashed back into view, landing lightly with a metal case in hand.
Rayleigh looked over as he opened it, revealing three Devil Fruits inside.
"These are the three Devil Fruits scheduled for auction?"
Rayleigh had heard rumors.
"Before things started, Don told me that if he couldn't spare a hand, I should help him out."
After saying that, Hawk-Eye closed the case and looked back toward the battlefield.
"They can't fight at full power."
Noticing his gaze, Rayleigh spoke.
After all, the only intact section in Area No. 1 was the space where the Celestial Dragons stood.
"I know."
Hawk-Eye could see that clearly as well.
The two Marine Admirals had to split their attention to protect the Celestial Dragons and couldn't use any large-scale attacks.
But what exactly was Don waiting for?
Hawk-Eye's face showed doubt — and Rayleigh understood why.
Hawk-Eye had already told him earlier: when Don sparred with him, he had held back. A lot.
So right now… was Don also holding back?
BOOM!
As the two pondered, a figure came crashing toward them, slamming into the ground nearby.
Sakazuki rose from the crater, smoke pouring from his body.
Right now, he looked nothing short of miserable.
Standing up, his eyes swept across Rayleigh and Hawk-Eye — solemn, heavy — before he instantly charged forward again.
Don kicked Sakazuki aside, then swung his left fist.
Borsalino blocked, but the force sent him flying as well.
[HP: 39%]
Don glanced at his health bar and looked relaxed.
His regeneration rate had increased recently.
If he weren't actively fighting, he might even be able to break even at full output.
But fighting these two… it was impossible to avoid getting hit.
"Great Eruption!!"
A furious shout erupted as the ground beneath Don surged upward, magma bursting out.
Sakazuki appeared beside Don mid-air, punching toward him.
Don countered with a Haki-clad fist.
The two collided, separated, and landed to disperse the force.
Borsalino stood near the Celestial Dragons, feeling the ache in his arms, staring at Don and Sakazuki locked in confrontation.
Amid the smoke, magma, and shattered wasteland, the three stood in a triangular standoff.
Don rested his blade on his shoulder and looked up at the sky.
The News Birds circling above had been thinned by the shockwaves earlier, but now there were even more — clearly, Morgans had dispatched reinforcements.
Don lowered his gaze, looking at the two Admirals.
Even in this state, he couldn't take either of them down.
Their experience, their Devil Fruits, their Haki — all polished to terrifying extremes.
Even with unlimited exertion and continuous Haki output… it wasn't enough.
Against one of them, maybe.
Part of this battle was Don confirming where he stood in the food chain in this state.
The results were… acceptable.
Unyielding State was ultimately just a safeguard.
Once it ended, he was at his weakest — even if he regenerated during it.
And the cooldown loomed over everything.
An opponent he couldn't defeat even after activating Unyielding…
Once it ended, that's when he'd truly be in danger.
That's why it was his trump card — his normal state was the real foundation.
"Don, what exactly are you trying to do?"
Borsalino finally spoke.
His voice echoed in the slightly calmer battlefield.
If Don wanted to kill the Celestial Dragons, he'd had dozens of chances.
He had demonstrated flame-based movement earlier — practically teleportation.
Even Borsalino and Sakazuki couldn't react in time.
So… his goal wasn't killing the Celestial Dragons.
Then was he after the three Devil Fruits?
But Hawk-Eye already took them.
Even while fighting, Borsalino's Observation Haki had picked up Hawk-Eye's movements earlier.
Don paused at Borsalino's words, then slowly turned his gaze behind him — toward the Celestial Dragons.
A smile spread across his face.
And he laughed.
His grin grew wider, the laughter louder.
Sakazuki and Borsalino's expressions grew increasingly grim.
Because they felt it.
Murderous intent.
Thick, suffocating killing intent.
Not directed at them.
But
Don raised his left hand… and made two gestures.
From afar, Hawk-Eye saw them.
He scanned the battlefield, then turned away.
"It's time to leave. Don's about to get serious."
Hawk-Eye's tone was grave as he spoke to Rayleigh.
"Huh?"
"The next exchange… even standing here, we'll be caught in it."
With that, Hawk-Eye kicked off the ground and vanished.
Rayleigh glanced at the battlefield.
Curiosity tugged at him — but he wasn't stupid.
If Hawk-Eye said leave… he'd leave.
He leapt away, following the same direction.
Sakazuki and Borsalino noticed, but they didn't relax.
Because Don's expression was becoming wilder, freer — unrestrained.
His Conqueror's Haki surged, influenced by the malice pouring out of him — darker, heavier.
In their Observation Haki, Don's Conqueror's Haki looked almost physical, coiling around him like living shadows.
Flames rose from his body.
They curled and twisted, drawn by his Conqueror's Haki, burning through the air and forming complex fiery rings.
His blade glowed, flame patterns flickering across its surface.
The glow sharpened — absorbing light itself.
The area around the blade dimmed, then the blade shone even brighter.
"Be careful," Sakazuki growled.
BANG!
A black bullet shot through the distance, slamming into Don's head.
His head tilted slightly.
He turned toward the direction the bullet had come from.
Reinforcements?
Flames burned in Don's eyes.
That bullet came from outside the range of his Observation Haki.
Even split between the Admirals, his Haki still covered an enormous radius.
But he hadn't sensed the shooter.
Sea-stone bullet, wrapped in Armament Haki.
Don released all restraints on his Observation Haki — and instantly located the attacker.
He raised his blade.
Flames condensed onto it.
Then Don swung a light, casual slash.
END OF CHAPTER
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