The raging winds swept across the island, and no one cared about the chaos of the night anymore. People rushed back into their homes, sealing doors and windows tightly, waiting for the storm to pass.
Sakazuki pressed his foot on the two bodies beneath him to keep them from being blown away. "Not willing to show yourself, huh."
Boom!
A violent surge of Conqueror's Haki exploded outward from him, flooding the island and the skies above. Every creature on the island collapsed into unconsciousness. Even the howling winds seemed to falter and pushed back.
* * *
Far away, so distant that Gagao Island was nothing more than a dark speck seen from the sky and Sakazuki's Haki no longer reached, the retreating gale condensed into a human form.
Dragon appeared in midair, his brow furrowed. "Such a massive range..."
Powerful Haki could suppress Devil Fruit abilities. That was why he didn't dare clash with Sakazuki head-on. They had crossed paths more than once, and if he were exposed under that Haki, his identity would be revealed instantly.
Only at this distance did the pressure finally fade. But the reach of that Conqueror's Haki was… troublesome. It was not the time for open war yet.
Taking a deep breath, his figure dissolved into the gale.
A gigantic waterspout formed on the sea, drawing up the ocean, until a towering pillar of water rose toward the heavens. At the very top, half of Dragon's body melted into the sky as he forced out even more power. The waterspout spun with such inertia that he began to lose control.
With a sudden push, he hurled it toward Gagao Island. The colossal column, so tall it disappeared into the clouds, rushed straight at its target. Its roar echoed across the sea without obstruction.
From afar, beyond the range of his Haki, Sakazuki could also sense the threat looming.
Dragon, now one with the storm, circled the waterspout. Whether the attempt succeeded or failed would be decided by this strike…
* * *
Sakazuki's Observation Haki picked up the rushing waterspout. "Quite the move."
If it struck the island, the force could split it clean in half. More likely, it would sink it altogether.
"Trying to save them, are you."
His words fell as his body transformed in an instant. A magma giant, more than thirty meters tall, stood where he had been. He clasped his hands and pulled them apart, forming a pitch-black magma spear coated in Armament Haki, flooding it with energy. Compressed again and again, the weapon glowed faintly red despite the Haki surrounding it.
Locking onto the center of the waterspout, he threw the spear forward with all his strength.
Swoosh!
The air split with a sharp whistle as it streaked across the sky like a blazing red meteor. In the blink of an eye, it pierced the raging waterspout.
BOOM!
The spear's Armament Haki tore through the storm and walls of water, punching into the calm eye of the vortex before erupting.
The explosion swelled like a bubble, tearing outward, and the whirling waters drew it in. Dragon could command the wind, but not the mass of the ocean itself.
As magma flooded the vortex, its rotation slowed. The molten rock churned with it, growing in volume while stretching down toward the sea floor.
After surging forward for nearly a kilometer more, the tornado halted completely. What appeared now was a towering column of molten rock, climbing into the heavens. All the water had already been boiled away, pressed out of existence by the magma.
Cloaked in storm winds, Dragon gave up on his attempt of rescue. There was nothing more he could do. If his move had struck the island, he might have had a chance. But it hadn't even reached before being broken.
The surface of the magma slowly hardened, turning black as if it had cooled.
He let out a quiet sigh. 'Still failed. He's truly strong.'
Right then, cracks began to spread across the magma column.
Boom!
It suddenly burst apart. A shockwave rippled outward in a ring, flinging countless shards of molten rock in every direction.
Dragon, caught in the violent blast, was swept away with the storm he had conjured, tumbling out of sight.
* * *
No one knew how far he had been blown before Dragon finally reformed his body. "Such terrifying power."
He pulled out his Log Pose, but the needle barely twitched. Shaking his head, he followed the faint signal in search of the nearest island to determine his location.
* * *
At dawn on Gagao Island, six black dots rose on the horizon, growing larger by the moment. They were warships, rushing nonstop through day and night.
Before long, the ships anchored at the shore. The first to disembark were men in black suits. Members of CP walked up to Sakazuki and bowed respectfully. "Admiral Akainu."
He nodded. "Mm."
Rising to his feet, he nudged the two captives lying at his feet with his boot. "See that they're treated quickly. Don't let them die."
"Yes, sir," an agent replied at once. He waved his hand, and several men rushed forward, lifting the two prisoners away.
Sakazuki made his way toward the warship. Just as he stepped aboard, he cast one last glance back at the island and unleashed a flicker of Conqueror's Haki that swept across it before vanishing.
Ignoring the puzzled looks of those around him, he continued into the cabin to rest.
* * *
Inside Gagao Island.
The residents, who had been struck unconscious by the previous burst of Haki, had long since slipped into a deep slumber.
But as Sakazuki's controlled wave swept over them again, their bodies jolted awake.
"What's going on..."
"Why am I on the ground?"
"Was last night just a dream?"
"Hey! Look at that mountain in the distance!"
The towering peak, its surface sealed in magma, was proof that last night had been no dream. Something had truly happened, though none of them knew what.
Fear spread through the island as many began packing their belongings, ready to flee.
By the afternoon, after the kingdom had contacted the World Government, the people finally learned the truth of the night's ordeal.
Terrified nobles heaped praise upon the government and sent a fortune in gratitude to the Marines. Money could be earned again, but without them, they would not have survived.
* * *
Days later, Marineford.
The moment Sakazuki stepped into port, he sensed a different atmosphere. "So full of life."
The base bustled, its numbers several times greater than usual. In just a few days, Sengoku would ascend as Fleet Admiral.
Everything was moving toward a brighter future. The soldiers brimmed with fighting spirit as they prepared for what was to come...
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