Akainu roared in fury, leaping into the air as molten magma surged from his fists like a volcano erupting.
"Dragon!" his voice thundered across the battlefield. "You and your son will die here!"
Before the torrent could reach them, a violent gale howled from the east. Dragon raised his hand, summoning a blast of wind that tore through the sky and deflected the magma.
"Not today," Dragon said calmly, his voice steady even amid the chaos.
Akainu molten fist met Dragon forearm with an earth-shaking boom. The impact sent shockwaves across the island, shattering the ground and forcing Luffy and the others to shield their faces from the blinding light.
"That's my father!" Luffy grinned proudly.
Dragon wasn't using his Devil Fruit. Instead, he was testing the limits of his combat suit, pushing it to its absolute edge. The armor glowed crimson from Akainu's heat, yet Dragon felt no pain. His right hand gripped Yubashiri, the once-ordinary sword now reforged with Uru metal.
Steam hissed as molten magma meet Vibranium suit.
With a swift motion, Dragon swung Yubashiri in a wide arc. A burst of compressed haki and wind exploded outward, slamming into Akainu chest and forcing him back several steps. Akainu blocked the slash with his armament haki, magma bubbling across his body as the ground beneath his feet cracked and burned.
The two man clashed again, blow for blow. Dragon movements were lightning-fast, each strike sharp and precise. Akainu countered with pure, volcanic rage. Every impact shook the remains of Whiskey Peak, fiery gusts tearing through what was left of the island.
"Move, men!" a Vice Admiral shouted. "Support Admiral Akainu!"
Rear Admirals and Vice Admirals rushed through the smoke, splitting up. Some engaged the Straw Hats, others tried to flank Dragon.
Zoro stepped forward, drawing his swords with a grin. "Guess it's my turn," he said, gripping the replacement blade Jack had forged for him.
....
Meanwhile, Jack's eyes glowed faintly as his visor streamed data across his HUD. His built-in Iris System scanned the battlefield, tracking Dragon haki readings and suit performance in real time.
Jack couldn't use haki himself, but his technology more than compensated. Then, a new alert flashed across his display, a transmission from Jarvis.
His expression darkened. "No way…"
Through the smoke and chaos, two figures emerged on the far side of the coast, walking calmly amid the wreckage of burning Marine ships. The sea itself seemed to part around them.
It was Saint Figarland and Saint Shamrock, the Holy Knights and the most hated family in one piece.
"What are they doing here?" Jack muttered. "They shouldn't have appeared this early."
The father and son strode forward in gleaming battle attire. When Luffy saw Shamrock face from a far, he froze.
"Shanks?" he whispered, heart pounding. But then he noticed something, the man had both arms.
"Wait… that's not him."
Jack exhaled sharply. "No. That's Saint Shamrock, Shanks twin brother. And the old man beside him is Saint Figarland, Shanks's father. They're monsters. Not just that, Garling killed Shanks mother himself. They call themselves the Holy Knights, the so-called guardians of the Celestial Dragons."
"Wait shanks has brother and father?" asked Luffy shocked and then he asked."Holy… Knights, what is that?"
"In simple words," Jack said dryly, "they're bad guys who kill and steal people's meat."
"WHAT?!" Luffy shouted, eyes blazing. "Stealing meat? Those monsters need to be kicked!"
Down below, the battle between Dragon and Akainu continued to tear the island apart. But as the Saints drew closer, Jack's systems triggered an urgent warning, two catastrophic-level lifeforms approaching combat range.
He opened a comm channel. "Dragon."
Dragon earpiece clicked. "Jack? This suit has a comm channel?"
"Yes and listen carefully. Swap with Luffy. The Holy Knights have arrived."
"Holy Knights? Swap?" Dragon grunted, deflecting another molten strike.
"Yes. Luffy can handle Akainu with the suit, but he's not ready to face the Holy Knights yet. Swap with him now."
"Understood," Dragon said, pushing Akainu back with a powerful slash.
"Luffy," Jack called through another channel, "go help your father."
"Huh? Why?"
"Because fighting that magma man will make you stronger," Jack said quickly.
"Oh! Okay!" Luffy replied, dashing off toward the battlefield.
"I'm activating your suit," Jack warned. "Your haki alone can't block magma yet."
"Father!" Luffy shouted as he arrived. Both Dragon and Akainu turned to see him.
"Luffy," Dragon said, voice steady amid the roar of magma, "your turn."
"Huh? Aren't we fighting together?" Luffy blinked.
Dragon smirked, raising Yubashiri one last time. "You said you'll be Pirate King. Then prove it, stand against this Marine."
With that, Dragon vanished in a swirl of wind, leaving Akainu facing a new opponent.
Luffy stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "Alright then," he said with a grin. "Let's see how tough this red-hot guy really is!"
Above, Jack's sensors locked onto the approaching saints as they drew their weapons.
The Holy Knights had entered the war.
Author Notes: There is 10 advanced chapter on my patreon.
-patreon.com/zerelix