Marineford, Marine Headquarters Academy.
In the principal's office, a surge of Conqueror's Haki clashing from the fortress was felt.
Zephyr and Ward Morris abruptly stood up, exchanging a glance:
"Not good!"
"Something's about to happen!"
They rushed out immediately.
...
Everyone in Headquarters raised their heads toward the central fortress.
The oppressive aura and killing intent radiating from there made all the soldiers uneasy:
"What's going on..."
"Over there..."
"Don't tell me they're really going to fight."
"No way..."
"This is..."
...
On a warship faintly able to make out the outline of Headquarters.
Vice Admiral Tsuru felt the faint waves of two Conqueror's Haki colliding, and her heart sank:
"Full speed ahead."
After giving the order to her adjutant, she kicked off with Geppo, dashing rapidly toward Marineford.
Behind her... a blue figure blazing with ferocious aura streaked across the sky like a meteor.
In an instant, it overtook Vice Admiral Tsuru and vanished into the air.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, and her pace quickened:
"Bullet..."
...
Marineford, inside the Fleet Admiral's office.
Other than Borsalino, everyone had risen to their feet, the row on the left instinctively gripping their weapons.
It was as if the moment Sakazuki made a move, they would erupt.
Borsalino looked at everyone standing and seemed troubled, but finally rose slowly himself, glancing at the two figures locked in a Conqueror's Haki clash across the Fleet Admiral's desk:
"Now then~~"
But sparks of lightning flashed in Enel's hand, his golden bracelets melted into a short staff that pointed straight at Borsalino:
"Hm?"
Borsalino helplessly raised his hands:
"Ah~ ah~"
Sakazuki glared at Sengoku, his voice heavy with suppressed fury:
"As Fleet Admiral of the Marines."
"What you should be considering is how to annihilate every enemy at the lowest possible cost in lives."
"Not letting your sympathy for those enemies run rampant."
"War inevitably brings casualties, that can't be denied—but many of our men didn't have to die. They could have fallen bravely while crushing pirates."
"But instead, because of the stupidity and betrayal of the Commander-in-Chief, they died in vain."
"Are our soldiers' lives not worthy of pity?"
"When you leaked secrets to the Revolutionary Army, did you ever consider the lives of Marine officers and men?"
Everyone in the office froze, staring at Sengoku in shock.
Sengoku said nothing, but his breath caught for an instant under Sakazuki's pressure.
Garp's expression twisted with struggle as he spoke:
"Sa..."
Enel's golden staff shifted, pointing at Garp:
"Don't move, old man."
Borsalino let out a long sigh of relief, lowering his raised hands...
Garp's face darkened as he stared at Enel.
Boom—
The main hall of the Fleet Admiral's office was blasted open.
Bullet, in his Demon Form, revealed his body as he stepped out.
With the More-More Fruit's boost, almost the very moment Tsuru saw Bullet vanish, he had already arrived here.
He looked at Enel pointing his weapon at Garp and grinned wickedly:
"What, you looking to fight?"
"Old man, I've had enough of you."
"More-More... Tenfold Speed."
Before the horrified eyes of everyone, Bullet's arm coated in Armament Haki condensed into the phantom of a demon and slammed down at Garp.
Boom—
The entire fortress of Headquarters shuddered.
Half of the building containing the Fleet Admiral's office was gone in an instant, and Bullet and Garp were locked in a clash, tearing off toward the back mountain.
The thunderous booms continued, while the others still hadn't had time to react.
At this moment, Sakazuki's arm suddenly transformed into magma, thick black smoke billowing:
"The leader of the Revolutionary Army is Dragon."
"Garp's son is also named Dragon."
"The Government just held talks and devised a new strategy."
"The Revolutionary Army in the Grand Line immediately began to withdraw."
"And so many other things... Is that just a coincidence?"
"Sengoku."
By the end, his tone was icy and terrifying.
Sengoku drew a deep breath, closed his eyes, and spoke slowly:
"What do you want, Sakazuki?"
Sakazuki replied indifferently:
"What do I want?"
The black smoke on his arm suddenly multiplied, a violent gust exploding outward.
In a flash, his fist was before Sengoku:
"Dark Hound!!!"
Dong—
A deafening bell-like crash rang out.
At some point, Sengoku's body had transformed into his great golden Buddha form.
His right fist collided with Sakazuki's.
The shockwave blasted everyone in the room back several steps.
The two glared at each other, stomping hard underfoot.
Red and gold lights shot upward, bursting through the office ceiling, hurtling into the sky.
Kuzan moved his foot, taking a step forward.
Zzz—
Enel's staff crackled with lightning, the arcs sparking across his body as he swung at Kuzan:
"Don't seek death."
Kuzan's arm hardened with Armament Haki, blocking the staff as he looked at Enel:
"What's the meaning of this?"
Lightning blazed even brighter over Enel's body, his voice chilling:
"Exactly what it sounds like."
Their gazes grew colder, staring each other down...
Boom—
Borsalino watched the two vanish, shook his head, his whole body glowing as he shot upward through the broken ceiling and disappeared.
Only a few Vice Admirals remained in the room, unsure what to do.
But on Sakazuki's side, Doberman, Momonga and others glanced at Yamakaji's side, slowly drawing their weapons:
"How about we test each other?"
Yamakaji and his companions looked troubled:
"Do we really need to..."
But seeing the others draw, their hands too went to their weapons...
"All of you, stop this!!!"
With an enraged roar, Zephyr appeared, fury on his face:
"What are you idiots doing adding fuel to this fire!"
"Every last one of you, get out there and organize the troops—calm their nerves!"
"What are you standing around for! Move!"
Zephyr's authority and command were still potent.
Even Sakazuki's more unruly men lowered their weapons and turned away.
It had all exploded too quickly, before anyone could stop it.
Morris had already turned back on his way here to organize manpower.
Once the room emptied, Zephyr sensed the three clashing battles and rubbed his temples. After a moment's thought, he decided to stop Enel and Kuzan first.
Those two would be the easiest to pull apart—and it would be simpler to mediate after...
Just as he turned to leave, his eyes caught a Den Den Mushi lying scattered on the floor:
"Almost forgot..."
He picked it up...
...
Holy Land, Mary Geoise.
Commander-in-Chief's office.
Through the glass, countless points of light gathered.
Borsalino appeared, walked over to the sofa, poured himself a cup of tea, and sat down:
"Phew—"
"Truly leisurely here, eh, Commander-in-Chief~"
Commander-in-Chief Kong chuckled:
"What brings you here all of a sudden, brat? What's the matter?"
Borsalino looked troubled:
"Well~ how should I put it~"
"It's just~~~"
Buru buru~ buru buru~
The Den Den Mushi began ringing.
Borsalino let out a breath of relief:
"Guess I don't need to explain~"
Commander-in-Chief Kong looked puzzled, picked up the Den Den Mushi:
"Hello, Sengoku."
"Hm?"
"Zephyr?"
"WHAT!!!!"
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The fanfic is Finished on p@treon/tambeerg. 414 chapters in total