"Borsalino, it's been quite a while," Michael said with an amused smile as he regarded his former colleague.
"Speaking of which, why didn't you join the last operation to capture me? Were you scared?"
"Ahh, of course I was scared," Borsalino nodded with apparent nonchalance.
"You gave Sakazuki and Kuzan such a hard time back then... Thanks to you injuring them both, their longstanding conflict actually diminished considerably because of it."
A faint smile played on Michael's lips as he listened.
It seemed Sakazuki still possessed considerable political acumen.
In contrast, Kuzan, who appeared more level-headed, actually fell short in this regard.
If Michael had to choose between the two to replace Sengoku as Fleet Admiral, he'd pick Sakazuki too.
However...
This was only because the person he considered most suitable for the next Fleet Admiral position had never shown any ambition for further promotion...
Indeed, it was the "Kizaru" Borsalino standing before him.
In terms of capability, wisdom, and attitude, Borsalino was actually the most qualified among the Three Admirals to become Fleet Admiral.
But this man simply had no interest in power... the very embodiment of keeping a low profile.
Even as an Admiral stationed at Sabaody, he'd completely delegated command authority to Nico Robin, who was still just a Rear Admiral.
That spoke volumes.
"Michael, that's enough. What exactly do you want?" Tokikake interrupted the conversation between Michael and Borsalino.
"Don't tell me you're leading the Revolutionary Army to attack Sabaody—"
"No no, I'm just here to collect someone," Michael shook his head before continuing.
"So please calm down, old friend. I have no intention of doing anything to Sabaody at this time."
Meanwhile, Gion watched Michael with concern.
Ever since she'd roughly understood Michael's intentions, her longing for him had grown stronger each day.
And her worries had deepened month by month.
She'd only breathed easier after Michael reappeared at Egghead.
But she never expected they'd meet again so soon.
"Enough talk, Michael. If you want someone, you'll have to step over our corpses first."
Gion sighed softly as she slowly drew Konpira.
Her stance made clear she was prepared for a fight to the death.
Though she knew Michael wasn't truly opposed to the Marines, still...This was her persistence as a Marine.
"Ah, no need to get so worked up. Fighting is so tiresome," Michael chuckled as he drew Oto and Kogarashi.
"But... I don't mind sparring with you all. After all, we were once comrades standing in the same trench... Consider this a free bonus."
As he spoke, the Wings on Michael's back suddenly unfurled, lifting him into mid-air.
The two short broadswords, Oto and Kogarashi, gleamed coldly in his grip under the sunlight.
Borsalino sighed.
In the end... they still had to fight.
"Everyone! Fall back! As far as you can!"
Though usually uninvolved in daily affairs, when an Admiral gave orders at critical moments, no one dared disobey.
Thus the encircling Marine soldiers and officers began retreating backward.
They understood the Admiral's intention perfectly well...
In such high-stakes battles, they stood no chance of survival.
There was no need to waste their lives here.
"Tsk tsk, if it were Sakazuki, he'd definitely order everyone to attack me..." Michael glanced at Borsalino.
"If only I could transplant your temperament into Sakazuki..."
"Do you always talk this much, Michael?" Borsalino pressed his right hand against his left palm, then made a "drawing" motion, pulling out a golden beam of light from his left hand.
"Seems you've changed quite a bit."
"Or perhaps... this is my true nature?" Michael tilted his head slightly, a trace of inexplicable madness curling at the corners of his lips—eerily reminiscent of...
Shiki.
"Lion... Thousand Slashes."
With a casual lift of his hand, Michael unleashed Shiki's signature technique without hesitation.
During his final battle with Shiki, Michael had already mastered all of the latter's martial arts.
After all... real combat was the best teacher.
And wielding Oto and Kogarashi to execute "Lion... Thousand Slashes" felt oddly smooth.
Perhaps it was because the short broadswords allowed for faster slashing frequency?
Regardless, the storm of slashes—indistinguishable from Shiki's, if not even more concentrated—surged toward Borsalino, Tokikake, and Gion.
In an instant, the vast open space before them erupted into a thick cloud of dust and smoke...
But as the saying goes...
Smoke without injury.
Amid the towering dust, a blinding flash of light erupted.
Michael jerked his head aside just as the intense laser beam grazed past his ear and shot into the sky.
"Whoa, that was close. Almost got hurt there." Michael chuckled.
Then, two figures burst out from the smoke.
Tokikake and Gion, one from the left, the other from the right, charged straight at Michael.
Tokikake's fists were sheathed in flowing Armament Haki.
Meanwhile, Gion's Konpira had already transformed into a slender black blade.
"Michael, I've been waiting for this day," Tokikake said calmly. "I told you—I would bring you back to the right path."
"Why can't you understand... What if my path is the so-called 'right' one?" Michael raised Oto, blocking Tokikake's fists.
"Give it some time, and I'll really give you all a surprise."
"That doesn't matter... It's better not to talk during a fight."
Gion's Konpira slashed upward at Michael, only to be deflected by Kogarashi in his other hand.
"Gion..."
Michael's lips parted, but all that came out was her name—nothing more.
"Ama no Murakumo!"
At that moment, Kizaru's voice rang out.
The sheer speed granted by the Pika Pika no Mi allowed him to close the distance in an instant, swinging his beam sword straight at Michael.
The overwhelming force of his fruit-enhanced speed delivered a blow far beyond ordinary limits.
Michael instantly crossed Oto and Kogarashi, barely managing to parry Kizaru's attack in the split second before impact.
"Oh? You talk tough, but after getting scolded by Instructor Zephyr, you actually improved your swordsmanship, huh?"
"You really are getting annoying, Michael."
The moment Kizaru finished speaking, the two of them engaged in a flurry of blows at speeds nearly imperceptible to the human eye.
Yet, all the while...
Michael wielded two swords.
In an almost imperceptible opening, Michael swung Oto horizontally, striking directly at Kizaru's waist.
At that moment, a voice came from below—it was Nico Robin.
"Enough!"
"Vice Admiral Michael, let's talk."