Admiral Kong stood alone against the five titans of the Hell Pirates, unflinching. Brook's eerie Ghost Aura, Newgate's earth-shattering shockwaves, Shiki's stone lions, Charlotte Linlin's blazing thunder and fire—all unleashed in a storm of power.
Nearby, Redfield rejoined the fray, crackling with lightning, ready to teach this overconfident admiral a lesson alongside his crew.
"Admiral Kong, I've got your back!"
A navy officer with an explosive afro charged in, cloaked in a Justice coat. Golden light enveloped him as he transformed into a towering Buddha, standing firm beside Kong.
"Haha! That's the spirit, Sengoku! No matter the pirate, a marine faces them without fear. Crush these Hell Pirate scum, and I'll personally recommend you for Vice Admiral!"
Kong had high hopes for this generation's trio—Sengoku, Garp, and Tsuru. Each was a powerhouse with distinct strengths. Garp, a brawler like Kong, was his favorite, but the kid's stubborn streak was a headache. Garp's strength had skyrocketed, yet he was off chasing the Roger Pirates in the New World, ignoring orders.
Initially, Kong favored Garp for promotion, but Sengoku's mounting achievements were outpacing Garp's. At this rate, Sengoku would soon outrank him.
Sengoku and Tsuru, both Devil Fruit users, impressed Kong with their sharp minds—far surpassing Garp's bullheadedness. Even Kong admired their strategic brilliance.
Marine promotions hinged on performance, not just strength. Strong marines racked up achievements quickly, unless they crossed superiors, defied orders, or slacked off.
"No flattery needed, Admiral. Taking down pirates is my duty!"
Sengoku, the rising star of his generation, matched the strength of elite Vice Admirals. With enough victories, promotion was certain. He saw himself as no inferior to legends like Golden Lion Shiki or Whitebeard Newgate.
As a rare marine awakened with Conqueror's Haki, Sengoku's conviction was ironclad: the Navy would reign supreme, the sea's ultimate authority. Pirates wreaking havoc and disrupting civilian lives were anathema to his mission.
"Jahaha! A marine with Conqueror's Haki? Oi, Golden Boy, ditch the navy and join us! That shiny Buddha form and your Haki vibe are perfect for our crew! Why risk your life for a measly few hundred thousand Belly a month? Come dominate the New World with us!"
Shiki, eyeing Sengoku's Mythical Zoan Golden Buddha form, grinned. That lavish aura screamed Golden Island's aesthetic!
"Silence, filthy pirate! I, Sengoku, will never coexist with your kind! Today, I'll crush you all!"
Sengoku's face hardened. His Buddha form swelled, morphing into a majestic, 15-meter golden statue, radiating divine authority, untouchable and unyielding.
"Damn, that's a big bastard!"
Shiki and the others felt Sengoku's raw power—barely a step below their own. His Haki mastery, though, was an unknown.
"I'll handle this guy! I'll take him down fast!"
Whitebeard Newgate eyed Rear Admiral Sengoku, likely four or five years his senior. A Mythical Zoan Buddha, paired with Conqueror's Haki, made him a formidable foe.
That golden form screamed durability, but Newgate's Quake-Quake Fruit thrived against tanky opponents. A swift victory here would let him aid Brook against Admiral Kong.
Shiki and the others didn't object to Newgate's choice. In Shiki's mind, the strong should clash with the strong. He'd been itching to test himself against a Yonko or admiral, and now was his chance to measure the gap!
"Ha! You good, Sengoku? Take down that mini-giant, and the Vice Admiral spot's yours!"
Kong sized up Whitebeard Newgate, an 800-million-Belly bounty pirate. Few elite Vice Admirals could handle him.
Sengoku, a rising star touted as Vice Admiral-caliber, needed to prove himself with results. Defeating Newgate would cement his promotion.
"Don't worry, Admiral Kong. I'll bring him down, even if it costs me everything!"
Sengoku locked eyes with Newgate. His physical prowess trailed Garp's slightly, but his Buddha form bridged the gap, compensating for any shortcomings.
Newgate, a towering figure himself, faced the massive Buddha without feeling dwarfed. His fists glowed with quaking energy, and he lunged, hammering a punch toward the golden giant.
Sengoku's Buddha form met the challenge head-on, unleashing a massive shockwave from its palm, rivaling Newgate's quake in force.
Fist met palm in a relentless exchange, each clash shaking the island. They pulled away from the main battle, carving out their own arena, every strike sending tremors through the earth.
...
The island's residents fled in droves, ships crowding the harbor to escape the chaos. Earl Iron Shield, having rescued Viscount Nass, abandoned his homeland for the capital's island, where their clan held significant holdings.
Two wealthy merchants, desperate to flee with Nass, met a grim fate. Nass, seething with rage, lashed out and killed them.
Saved by an admiral, yet doomed by a noble's wrath—their wealth couldn't buy survival.
...
Watching Sengoku and Newgate duel in the distance, Brook stayed calm. His crew, stronger than their canon counterparts at this point, wielded Ryuo Haki—a terrifying edge.
Newgate likely outclassed Sengoku by a notch. After all, even Shiki, with a steering wheel lodged in his skull, needed both Sengoku and Garp to be defeated in a one-on-one fight, neither could overpower the other alone.
Brook's focus was on probing Admiral Kong's strength, then finding a chance to retreat. Killing an admiral, especially a pure brawler like Kong with sky-high durability and stamina, was a tall order.
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