Two days later, near the waters surrounding Feller Island, a flash of lightning cut across the sky. Ortoren's figure hung suspended in midair.
He pulled out a mirror, gave it a casual shake, and in the next instant, a beam of golden light shot from beyond the horizon, striking the mirror. The light refracted, and Borsalino's figure emerged.
"Think you can keep up, Kizaru?" Ortoren teased as Borsalino appeared.
"How many times have I told you not to shake that mirror? If my aim's off, I'll end up in the sea!" Borsalino snapped irritably.
"Hahaha, relax. I'm keeping an eye on you. No way I'd let you fall into the ocean," Ortoren laughed heartily.
Two days earlier, aboard a Marine warship, the final decision had been made: Ortoren would rush ahead to Feller Island to provide the fastest support possible to Fleet Admiral Kong.
Still, Garp had his concerns about Ortoren's safety, so he arranged for Borsalino to accompany him. With one wielding the Pika Pika no Mi and the other the Goro Goro no Mi, their speeds matched, allowing them to cover each other's backs across the vast sea.
But compared to Ortoren's lightning, Borsalino's power was far less convenient for travel. He needed constant refraction to move forward, forcing Ortoren into the role of guide—clearing the way and setting up mirrors to help Borsalino refract and teleport.
They didn't linger. In the next instant, Ortoren transformed into lightning and vanished. Borsalino's Observation Haki locked onto him, golden light flickered, and he disappeared as well.
Feller Island was no longer far. After another five or six long-range flashes, the two finally saw it on the horizon.
From a distance, they caught sight of the situation on the island. The commotion was clear: half the town lay in ruins, and the harbor was littered with the wreckage of sunken warships.
The two exchanged a glance, nodded silently, then triggered their abilities again and disappeared in a flash.
...
On the island, Marine casualties were heavy. Fallen soldiers lay scattered throughout the town. Yet on closer look, many were not dead but unconscious, most likely struck down by Conqueror's Haki.
Amid the ruins, Fleet Admiral Kong stood, breathing heavily. Blood ran down his forehead, and a deep wound cut into his arm, bone visible beneath the gash, bleeding relentlessly—a clear strike from a sharp blade.
In stark contrast, Patrick Redfield, standing not far away, looked almost composed, even carrying an air of elegance.
Flicking the blood from his sword, Redfield spoke coldly.
"How arrogant, Kong. If you hadn't tried to shield those worthless subordinates, you wouldn't be in this state. Those who can't keep up with you are nothing but dead weight. Even if you protect them, what good will it do?"
Kong tore a strip of cloth from his cloak, binding the wound on his arm. His voice was deep and unwavering.
"Arrogant? You're the one blinded by arrogance. Men like you will never understand. As Fleet Admiral, it is my duty to protect the Marines. And my subordinates are not worthless burdens—they are warriors who face blood and fire without fear!"
Redfield's lips curled into a grim smile.
"Then don't regret it when you lose to me."
"Heh..." Kong gave a cold laugh. "If you don't run now, you won't get another chance once my men arrive."
"I've already accounted for that," Redfield replied with absolute confidence. "According to the meteorologists' calculations, the range of this tsunami engulfs all nearby Marine bases. Even the sea lanes to Mary Geoise are blocked. Waiting for Marine reinforcements? You'll have to hold out until the tsunami subsides. And factoring in their sailing speed, that's at least ten days. There are still eight left—more than enough time for me to kill you here."
Fleet Admiral Kong's heart sank. Whether or not to kill wasn't the question for now—but at least Redfield's estimate of time matched his own!
Just then, Kong caught sight of a flash of lightning streaking across the distant sea. As if struck by a thought, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Being too confident is never a good thing, Red Count..."
Redfield's brow furrowed, and he was about to speak when a sudden roar of thunder boomed above his head. Startled, he looked up.
In the blazing flash, a figure clad in the Marine's cloak of justice descended, wielding a massive warhammer, bringing it down in a single crushing strike!
Even in that split-second glimpse, Redfield caught sight of the shoulder insignia—Commodore!?
What kind of trash thinks he can interfere in my fight?
Sneering inwardly, Redfield raised his cane-sword to block.
It all happened in a heartbeat, but Ortoren's thoughts moved even faster. His ambush had been sudden, but with the Red Count's strength and terrifying Observation Haki, he should have been able to dodge. Ortoren was already considering how he'd pursue once Redfield evaded.
And yet, though Redfield detected him immediately, though he had clearly locked onto him... he actually tried to block with his blade?
"You've got to be kidding me—who the hell do you think you're looking down on!?" Ortoren's fury exploded. Even Kaidou never dared to treat him with such contempt!
Fueled by rage, his grip tightened, and he brought the hammer crashing down on Redfield.
Precisely because Ortoren was unknown, Redfield dismissed him outright. To him, a mere Commodore wasn't worth acknowledging. Arrogant as ever, he only cloaked his blade in a shallow layer of Haki, treating the incoming warhammer as if it were nothing.
But on this sea, tigers walk their path and dogs theirs—weakness isn't what dooms a man. Arrogance is.
And it was arrogance that cost the Red Count dearly.
The instant Ortoren's warhammer smashed into his sword, Redfield's eyes widened in disbelief. Impossible—how could there be so much power behind it!?
Aren't you just a Commodore? You don't even look like someone of renown!
He tried to reinforce his defense, but it was already too late. Ortoren wasn't about to give him the chance.
"Righteous Lightning: Sinking Anger Lightning Axe!!!"
With a roar, Ortoren's hammer erupted in a storm of lightning, dazzling and violent.
The thin veil of Haki on Redfield's sword shattered instantly. Without its protection, the fragile cane-blade was scorched red by the current, twisted under the crushing weight of the warhammer, and lost all power to resist.
Desperate, Redfield finally hardened his arm with Haki to protect himself. But it was far too late.
With a bone-splintering crack, Ortoren's hammer smashed into his arm, bending it grotesquely.
Blood sprayed. Shards of bone tore through flesh, jutting out pale and jagged into the open air. The sheer force of the blow hurled Redfield away like a ragdoll.
The impact tore through his body, leaving him gravely wounded. He vomited a mouthful of dark blood.
Even so, Redfield was no ordinary fighter. Twisting midair, he tried to roll and dissipate the force. But in the next instant, Borsalino appeared beside him like a flash of light, voice calm as ever.
"Light Speed Kick."
His boot drove into Redfield's stomach, sending him flying again, body completely out of control.
Lightning flared once more. Though Ortoren and Borsalino had never fought side by side, their timing meshed perfectly.
The moment Redfield's body was launched, Ortoren was already behind him. Just as he had done to Kaidou, he snaked his arms under Redfield's armpits, locked them behind his neck, and cinched tight in a chokehold.
"Lightning Self Bomb!!!"
BOOM!
A blinding flash of lightning swallowed the battlefield, the explosion shaking the entire town. Buildings already half-destroyed collapsed outright under the force.
At the heart of the storm, Ortoren felt it—the Red Count, head slammed to the ground and body bound in his grip, had lost consciousness.
"That's it? Red Count?" Ortoren was almost disappointed.
But then he understood. It made sense. Redfield's gift lay in his Observation, not his body. His physique was only average. In the original story, he had to escape prison to seek out the Batto Batto no Mi, Model: Vampire just to restore himself. Sure, age played a role, but just look at his fellow inmate, Douglas Bullet—the difference was night and day.
Kaidou, with his monster body, had to suffer a brief blackout from this same move before staggering back up. For Redfield, taking it head-on was impossible.
"As I thought... weakness isn't what kills a man. Arrogance is." Ortoren released his hold, letting Redfield's limp form drop.
All because of a careless moment of arrogance, the Red Count—who should have been a formidable foe—was taken down in an instant.