No one truly knew the full extent of Nagli's strength—the man who once challenged the Pirate King and wielded Conqueror's Haki.
But Fujitora, recognized by Fleet Admiral Sengoku as a combatant on par with an Admiral, was a known quantity.
His strength was undeniable.
BOOM!
The tangible wave of Conqueror's Haki surged like a raging tsunami, crashing down on both Fujitora and Nagli.
The overwhelming pressure felt like a mountain bearing down, suffocating and inescapable.
Below, both men's expressions shifted dramatically.
This was their second time witnessing Luo Yu's Haki.
And yet, it still left them shaken.
Across the entire sea, perhaps only Rocks D. Xebec had ever wielded such terrifying might.
"Nagli! Go! I'll buy you time!"
Fujitora's cane-sword flashed from its sheath.
A ribbon of purple gravity slashed behind him, carving a path through the air.
BOOM!
A violent shockwave erupted, sand and wind spiraling into a blinding storm.
Doll was caught off guard.
Just moments ago, Fujitora had attacked Nagli without hesitation.
Now he was shielding him?
Before she could process it, Smoker shouted:
"Rescue the civilians! Prepare to evacuate!"
Evacuate?
Doll's face twitched.
She had been ready to leap into battle.
But the first command she heard was to run.
Still, as she turned and saw Luo Yu unleashing another apocalyptic attack, she didn't hesitate.
Now she understood why Smoker had honed his rescue skills to perfection.
He'd been forced to.
When Luo Yu fought, it was all or nothing—earth-shattering from the first move.
In such battles, the only way to contribute… was to save lives.
HUMMMM…
The air itself trembled.
A beast-shaped Haki manifestation coiled in the sky.
Above, a nine-layered magic circle—Super-Tier Spell: Heavenfall—blazed into existence.
Behind Luo Yu, the Hundred-Armed Kannon unfurled once more.
The triple finisher was unleashed again.
Nagli, who had just turned to flee, froze as he looked skyward.
His weathered face twitched.
Clenching his pipe and gripping his warhammer, he turned back to Fujitora with a sigh.
"I only came to see you one last time, little brother. I never expected to be recognized."
"But I won't let you cover my escape. That would be a disgrace."
"Still… I have to ask. Why is this Admiral so insane? Did negotiations break down before they even started?"
Fujitora smiled faintly.
"Nagli, if you hadn't spared me back then, I wouldn't be alive today."
"I came to this country to see the damage the Warlords left behind. Instead, I found a man who dares to destroy the Warlords themselves."
"Compared to other Marines, I actually respect him. Whether it's a Warlord or a special combatant—if you cross his line, he strikes without hesitation."
"He's unpredictable… but principled."
Nagli blinked.
"Didn't expect you to speak so highly of him."
"But why is he chasing us so relentlessly?"
He had never imagined being on the special combatant list.
But even after refusing, why wouldn't Luo Yu let it go?
"Why?"
Fujitora paused, then laughed.
"Rumor has it… we're worth 20 million Berries each."
"Twenty million?"
Nagli was stunned.
He had imagined many reasons—but not that he'd been priced like a cheap bounty.
His weathered face twitched with embarrassment.
Looking up at the looming attack, he gripped his hammer tightly.
"This is ridiculous. Fujitora, let's tear the sky apart together."
"Gravity Blade: Fierce Dragon!"
"Warhammer: Flowing Sakura Bind!"
BOOM!
The sky rained destruction.
Two massive shockwaves collided, exploding outward like twin hurricanes.
Far away, Smoker and the others turned pale.
The sandstorm engulfed the entire harbor.
Everyone's spine went cold.
The only thing that saved them was Smoker's uncanny talent for retreat.
Without him, they might not have made it.
No one knew how long the storm lasted.
Eventually, the dust settled.
The harbor was gone—flattened, erased by the sea.
Everyone's eyes darted toward the ruins.
And there, still standing, was Luo Yu—enshrouded in the Thousand-Armed Kannon.
But this time, it was different.
His entire body was cloaked in jet-black Armament Haki, radiating an aura of unbreakable might.
Despite the cataclysmic impact, Luo Yu remained untouched.
Beneath his feet, a single patch of unscathed ground remained.
If someone claimed he hadn't even moved during the clash—
No one would doubt it.
Even Fujitora and Nagli, covered in dust a hundred meters away, were shaken.
The suffocating pressure from that moment still lingered in their chests.
Staring at Luo Yu, Nagli finally spoke:
"Admiral… why won't you let me go? Do you really think I'll submit to brute force?"
"Brute force?"
Luo Yu took a sip of his liquor and smiled.
"Of course not, Lord Nagli."
"But I believe in fate."
"For example, I had fate with Garp. That's why his grandson is still alive."
"If I have fate with you… who knows what good might come of it?"
"Garp?"
Nagli froze.
He hadn't forgotten that bastard.
Years ago, at the junkyard at the end of the world, he'd met Luffy and the others—sent there by Garp for training.
What had seemed like coincidence… was a setup all along.