The Whitebeard Pirates had set their sights on a Marine rising star: Sakazuki, wielder of the Mag-Mag Fruit.
Their route through the New World was no accident.
Marine informants quickly traced the Moby Dick's movements and realized the pirates' course would bring them straight into Sakazuki's patrol waters. At first it looked like coincidence. But the truth was far more dangerous, Whitebeard was targeting the Marines directly.
At Marine Headquarters, Vice Admiral Tsuru delivered the report to Sengoku. "Should we engage them, or withdraw?"
Sengoku set aside his paperwork, his brow creasing. To flee from pirates, even from Whitebeard, would disgrace the Marines. But to face him, they needed overwhelming strength. "Who's available to reinforce Sakazuki?"
Tsuru already had the options prepared. "You could go, but you're tied down monitoring Shiki. The Flying Pirates are expanding faster than Whitebeard, and Shiki's ambitions are… excessive. You clashed with him last month already. If you left your post now, it would be a risk."
Sengoku's frown deepened. Tsuru continued. "The other option is Garp. Roger has vanished for now, and Garp's ship is idle. Kuzan is with him. We could dispatch them both."
Sengoku didn't hesitate. "Send Garp. Let Sakazuki and Kuzan gain experience—they'll need it."
Far out in the New World, Sakazuki had already received word of the approaching enemy. His fists clenched as magma bubbled from his skin, dripping to the deck in heavy, glowing chunks that hissed against steel. "Whitebeard Pirates, huh? Good. I'll bury you at sea."
The molten droplets ate holes in the planks until a nervous officer blurted out, "Vice Admiral Sakazuki! Please restrain yourself. Damage to the ship outside combat will be charged against your own salary."
Sakazuki stiffened, then reluctantly retracted his magma. His personal warship—his first—couldn't be squandered. Headquarters reimbursed battle damage, but unnecessary repairs came out of his pocket. Too much of his pay had already gone into fines from spontaneous outbursts. Headquarters had even assigned this officer specifically to monitor him. Sure enough, the man scribbled today's incident into a little notebook, face expressionless.
Sakazuki turned away, jaw tight. Tch. A soldier shouldn't have to watch his wallet in the middle of war.
Meanwhile, Garp roared with laughter aboard his own vessel. "Hohoho! Whitebeard, eh? Perfect—I was getting bored! Let's use him for practice!"
Kuzan, still a young Marine but already a formidable fighter, gazed at him in awe. To use Whitebeard as a sparring partner… as expected of Vice Admiral Garp.
"Helm! Set course for Sakazuki's waters!" Garp shouted. "Whitebeard won't know what hit him!"
"Aye, Vice Admiral!" the Marines chorused, their warship cutting a sharp arc toward the coming storm.
Days later, the Moby Dick crested the waves into Sakazuki's patrol zone.
"Pops! Warship spotted, northwest!" a lookout shouted, telescope trained on the horizon.
At once, the previously idle Whitebeard Pirates stirred, stretching and grinning in anticipation.
"Gurararara!" Whitebeard rose from his throne, hefting his enormous bisento. "So the brat is here already? Then we'll give him a lesson before his friends arrive."
The Moby Dick surged forward, its speed uncanny for such a massive ship. Whitebeard himself altered the ocean currents with his quake powers, conjuring towering waves that hurled the ship toward its prey.
On the warship, Sakazuki's adjutant snapped to attention. "Vice Admiral, Whitebeard Pirates approaching!"
Sakazuki narrowed his eyes. So they really came for me. He wasn't reckless, he knew a lone warship couldn't withstand the full Whitebeard Pirates. He would have to delay until Garp arrived. "Signal Headquarters. Maintain distance. We hold them off until reinforcements come."
But he couldn't resist giving them a taste first. "Load the cannons. Fire!"
The first barrage screamed through the sky, cannonballs arcing toward the Moby Dick.
Marco spread his wings, body cloaked in blue flames. With a single kick, he sent one cannonball spinning into the sea, extinguished.
Vista laughed as he drew his twin blades, his slashes scattering like flower petals—each petal a lethal blade of air that cleaved cannonballs apart, detonating them harmlessly in midair.
Jozu's arm glittered into diamond. He swung once, shattering an incoming shell, the explosion bursting against his unyielding armor without leaving a mark.
On deck, Teach sat apart, leaning against the mast, pistol in hand. He spun it lazily, grin sharp beneath his beard. He had no intention of moving. No sense showing the Marines my hand yet.
From afar, Sakazuki seethed. The Whitebeard Pirates swatted aside his warship's firepower like children batting toys. He knew he had to stall—but his blood demanded violence.
"Great Eruption!"
His arm transformed into molten rock, swelling into a colossal magma fist. The air shimmered with searing heat as Marines scrambled back, terrified of their own commander's attack. They knew too well—Sakazuki's battles spared no one, friend or foe.
The blazing fist roared skyward before hurtling toward the Moby Dick, enough destructive force to vaporize glaciers.
Whitebeard only laughed. "Gurarara! Not bad, Magma Brat!" Planting his bisento against the deck, he drew back a quake-powered fist, silver shockwaves wrapping his arm.
From his perch, Teach's eyes narrowed. His Observation Haki prickled—he felt the magma's unstable energy. "Pops, that thing's going to blow."
Whitebeard smirked. "I know."
The quake-punch shattered the sky. Space itself cracked, the impact colliding with the magma fist. For a moment they held—then Whitebeard's tremor power overwhelmed it, blasting the molten mass upward.
High above, the giant fist detonated with a thunderous BOOM. Magma scattered in a fiery rain, streaking down like volcanic fireworks.
From miles away, aboard Garp's warship, Marines pointed at the eruption lighting the sky. "There! The battle's started!"
"Hahaha! Just in time!" Garp roared, fists pumping in excitement.
On the battlefield, Whitebeard's laughter rolled across the sea. "Oi, Magma Brat! Are you trying to light candles for my birthday?"
The Whitebeard Pirates erupted in their own laughter, mocking Sakazuki as molten meteors splashed into the sea.
But Sakazuki's fury only burned hotter. His body glowed, half-elementalized into bubbling magma, steam rising in waves. The air itself grew stifling. His men edged away, terrified, but they held their weapons ready.
Teach's grin faded. His gaze turned calculating. Too weak? No… Pops is just too strong. Still, that pressure… far beyond Erik's Acid powers. Against Sakazuki now, I wouldn't stand a chance.
He clenched his jaw, silent as the battle escalated. Sakazuki wasn't yet an Admiral but with time, he would be.
And Teach would be ready.