"There's no such thing as impossible. How else do you think Katie got the powers of the Flame-Flame Fruit?"
This time, it wasn't Sengoku speaking, but Tsuru—her words sharp and irrefutable, leaving no room for debate.
There had been far too many unbelievable things happening around Katie, to the point where they had completely forgotten she somehow possessed the exact same Devil Fruit ability as Ace.
With Tsuru's reminder, everyone suddenly realized that Sengoku's theory wasn't so far-fetched after all—in fact, it now seemed very plausible. Even Katie's motive for showing up made sense: to take the powers of others.
With so many powerful individuals involved in the battle, if Katie truly possessed such an ability, she would never pass up the chance to claim more.
However, just as they began to accept this unsettling possibility, a new question arose:
If Katie really could copy the abilities of others, just how many different powers had she taken by now? And how powerful had she become?
Thinking back on the various abilities that had shown up during the battle, the high-ranking Marine officers all felt a chill run down their spines. None of them dared to imagine further—because if their fears were true, they had no idea how to even begin dealing with her.
"The situation isn't as dire as you think," Sengoku said, noticing the tension among his subordinates. "We don't know exactly how Katie gains others' abilities, but there must be a limit. Otherwise, Marineford would've been reduced to ashes by now."
Sengoku had to keep morale stable—this was not the time for panic.
"Fleet Admiral, what should we do?" asked Aokiji, who had served beside Sengoku for over a decade and understood his intentions. He quickly helped redirect the discussion.
Sengoku gave Aokiji a subtle nod of approval, then continued.
"The best way to deal with a threat... is to destroy it in its infancy!"
A chilling aura burst from Sengoku—pure, unmistakable killing intent directed at Katie.
Although they had braced themselves for such a decision, the others still felt a wave of shock. Had it been Akainu giving this order, it would've come as no surprise. But this was Sengoku—not known for ruthlessness.
Sengoku was never bloodthirsty. Even when Barret slaughtered countless innocents, Sengoku hadn't executed him on the spot. In fact, no one could recall the last time Sengoku issued such a deadly directive.
Then again, Katie's talent and potential made him a worthy exception.
"This operation won't involve just the Marines. The CP organizations will be assisting as well. They'll be in charge of tracking Katie's movements—we will handle the combat personnel."
His gaze sharpened, and everyone in the room instantly focused. Things were about to get serious.
Akainu was the perfect example—he was still lying in a hospital bed. And no one even knew how powerful Katie truly was. If they sent in anyone less than top-tier, it'd be suicide. For safety, only those with admiral-level or admiral-candidate strength should even be considered.
And among such powerhouses, the Navy had fewer than ten. More than half of them were already tied up with essential duties, leaving only a few possible candidates.
"Kizaru, receive your orders!"
"If Katie is spotted, drop everything immediately and head to the battlefield. Kill her on sight—no need to capture alive!"
"Understood."
Kizaru had expected this outcome and was mentally prepared.
His unusually serious demeanor surprised many. The typically lazy, aloof Kizaru was suddenly full of urgency—he even skipped his usual "how troublesome" catchphrase.
Just when everyone thought the meeting was wrapping up, Sengoku spoke again.
"Aokiji, receive your orders!"
"Your mission is the same as Kizaru's. If Katie is located, mobilize at once and cooperate with Kizaru to bring him down!"
Aokiji paused, momentarily surprised—he had assumed he was off the hook. But realizing the gravity of the situation, he didn't object. He stood up, ready to accept the command.
"Hold on—I request to join the operation!"
The tightly shut doors to the meeting room suddenly burst open, cutting Aokiji off.
"Akainu?! What are you doing here? Are your injuries healed?"
Aokiji was shocked to see him appear at this moment.
"It's just a scratch. Nothing to worry about. Fleet Admiral, I request to replace Aokiji on this mission!"
Sengoku hesitated. He knew exactly what Akainu was thinking—he wanted to prove himself. Prove that he was stronger than Katie. Prove that his Magma-Magma Fruit was superior to the Flame-Flame Fruit.
Being defeated by Katie in front of the whole world had been a massive blow to Akainu's pride. The best way to redeem himself? Defeat his enemy. Spill his blood.
"Akainu, you're not in the right condition. This mission is about eliminating Katie—not your personal revenge. I can't approve your request."
"Fleet Admiral, I won't let emotions cloud my judgment. I'm confident I can kill Katie!"
As he spoke, an intense aura surged from his body—parts of him turning into molten lava. It felt as if a monstrous beast was about to erupt from within, carrying the power to destroy the world.
If the previous Akainu was like a volcano on the verge of eruption, the current Akainu was a volcano that had already exploded—radiating destruction.
"Akainu, what's your point? Are you saying I'm not good enough?"
Aokiji, who had been indifferent until now, suddenly responded with competitive fire. An icy chill filled the room. Even though he sensed Akainu had changed, he still chose to confront him head-on.
As the two opposing auras clashed and surged wildly, even the vice admirals nearby were filled with dread.
"Idiots! Calm down!"
"You think this is a dual ring?! If either of you is itching for a fight, come find me! I'll spar with you myself!"
Garp's voice rang out—loud, firm, and domineering—accompanied by a crushing aura that silenced the entire room.
Sensing Garp's anger, Aokiji was the first to back down, quickly withdrawing his aura. Akainu followed suit, though his eyes remained just as resolute—he had no intention of giving in.
"Tch. You awaken your fruit and suddenly think you're invincible? If you'd listened to Zephyr earlier, I wouldn't have had to drag your sorry ass out of there!"
Others might hold back out of respect for Akainu's rank, but Garp didn't care at all. He went straight for the jugular, hitting Akainu where it hurt.
Akainu's face turned red with frustration, but he didn't argue—because Garp was right. He deeply regretted not listening to Zephyr's guidance back then.
His battle with Katie had forced him to re-evaluate the Magma-Magma Fruit—and by some twist of fate, the fight had triggered its awakening. Now, with a surge of newfound power, Akainu's first thought was simple:
Avenge himself. Kill Katie.