When Sakazuki and Kai walked toward the training field together, Kai suddenly frowned.
His mist sensed something strange — heavy, cold, and unnatural. At the far corner of the field stood a massive stone, cracked as if it had been struck many times before. Beside it lay thick metal chains.
Kai slowed his steps.
He had never felt this place before.
As they approached, Sakazuki stopped.
"Kai," he said calmly, without emotion. "Put on the chains and stand in front of the stone."
Kai immediately understood what those chains were. His expression grew serious.
"Vice Admiral Sakazuki," he said calmly. "Those are seastone chains. If I put them on, I will lose my Devil Fruit powers. I won't be able to sense my mist. I will be completely blind."
Sakazuki looked at him coldly.
"That is exactly why you will wear them."
Kai paused, then asked:
"And if I refuse?"
"Then strike the stone with all your strength. Without the chains."
Kai clenched his fist and stepped forward. He punched the stone.
His arm instantly turned into mist and returned to normal. The stone remained unharmed.
Kai felt nothing.
"Did you feel pain?" Sakazuki asked.
Kai slowly shook his head.
"No."
"That is the problem," Sakazuki said. "You don't feel the price of your strength."
He continued:
"Do you know why Logia-type Devil Fruits are considered blessings?"
Kai remained silent.
"Because their users stop feeling pain. Without seastone or Haki, they become untouchable. They grow accustomed to it. And eventually, they start believing they are gods."
Sakazuki's voice hardened.
"I have seen dozens of Logia users. Strong. Talented. Arrogant. Every one of them believed they were invincible. And every one of them died the same way — because they forgot what pain was."
He turned to Kai.
"In the Four Blues, Logias are almost unbeatable. But the Grand Line and the New World break people like that. There, the arrogant die first."
Kai listened in silence.
An image crossed his mind — Enel.
"He thought he was a god too…"
"This lesson is for you," Sakazuki continued. "You are strong. But the moment you think you are special… you will die."
Silence followed.
Kai stepped forward and reached for the chains.
The moment the seastone touched his skin, everything changed.
Strength drained from his body. The world grew unbearably heavy. His legs trembled, his breathing faltered.
The connection to his mist vanished.
Darkness.
Kai grabbed the stone to keep himself standing.
"Good," Sakazuki said. "Now strike the stone."
Kai raised his trembling fist and punched.
CRACK.
A sharp pain tore through his arm.
Kai screamed, blood flowing between his fingers.
"Again," Sakazuki said coldly. "The other hand."
Kai struck again.
CRACK.
He fell to his knees, gasping for air, clutching his arms.
"Will you surrender?" Sakazuki asked.
Kai slowly stood up.
"No."
He struck again.
And again.
And again.
Each blow was hell.
His hands stopped responding. Bones shattered, flesh tore, blood soaked the ground. Tears streamed down his face, but he did not scream.
After the tenth strike, Sakazuki raised his hand.
"That's enough. Remove the chains."
Kai collapsed and shakily removed the seastone.
The mist burst out instantly, wrapping around him like a living shield.
The wounds began to heal, but slowly.
"Remember this pain," Sakazuki said. "Never forget it."
"That's enough for today. Go to the medics. We continue tomorrow."
Kai silently nodded and staggered toward the medical wing.
After he left, Momonga appeared beside Sakazuki.
"Vice Admiral… Wasn't this too early?"
"No," Sakazuki replied. "After spilling pirate blood, he needed to understand the cost of power."
Momonga was silent for a moment, then said:
"The World Government has approved the first Shichibukai."
Sakazuki slowly clenched his fists.
"Who?"
"Dracule Mihawk.
Gecko Moria.
Sir Crocodile.
And Donquixote Doflamingo."
In the next moment, Sakazuki struck the stone.
Nothing remained.