On Drum Island, the afternoon clamor had been replaced by a heavy silence. Bright sunlight spilled across the chaotic scene, illuminating overturned stalls and scattered produce that littered the streets. Panic had rippled through the crowd moments before, but it was abruptly crushed by the rhythmic, heavy thud of Marine boots echoing from the direction of the port.
Like a white tide, teams of Marine soldiers surged onto the island. Their pristine uniforms reflected a cold, intimidating gleam in the sun. Without hesitation, the dark muzzles of their rifles were aimed at the terrified citizens who were still trying to make sense of the chaos.
"Everyone, halt! No one is allowed to leave this island without permission!" The voice of Marine Rear Admiral Akhend cut through the air like a steel bugle, carrying an authority that could not be denied.
A makeshift blockade was quickly formed, the cold barrels of their firearms creating a desperate barrier between the islanders and the sea.
"Why are you doing this? We're not pirates! Let us leave!" one of the citizens shouted, his voice filled with anger and confusion.
Bang!
The only reply was a bullet that struck the ground right at his feet. The puff of smoke that rose from the bullet hole seemed to freeze his blood, and a cold sweat broke out across his skin.
Akhend's eagle-like gaze swept over the now-silent crowd. His voice was cold and firm. "We have reason to believe that dangerous slaves might be hiding among you. By order of my superiors, no one is to leave Ambri Island until this entire incident has been resolved." He paused, his tone softening just enough to sound even more menacing. "Just cooperate with our investigation, and the innocent will not be harmed."
Under the absolute threat of force, the commotion was forcibly suppressed. Akhend left a contingent of soldiers behind to maintain order and then personally led his elite force toward the heart of the island's chaos—the slave market.
At that moment, the slave market was a frozen battlefield covered in dust. Takero sat cross-legged on a relatively clean stone, his Saiyan tail slapping impatiently against the ground, making soft pat-pat sounds. "Where is this Admiral? He's taking forever. I'm getting bored just sitting here."
In a nearby corner, the unconscious form of the Celestial Dragon, Roswald Saint, lay silently, his face swollen like a pig's head. His presence was a quiet testament to the violence that had occurred.
Just as Takero was halfway through a yawn, the silence was shattered.
Thump-thump-thump-thump!
The sound of dense, hurried footsteps, like a sudden downpour, echoed from all around. From behind broken walls, inside dark alleyways, and amidst the ruins, countless figures in white uniforms emerged. The shine of their bayonets and the dark openings of their gun muzzles formed a tight encirclement, locking Takero firmly in the center.
Takero looked around with genuine interest, a playful smile spreading across his lips. "Oh? I guess we're starting with an appetizer before the main course."
Akhend's sharp gaze cut through the dust. When his eyes finally landed on Takero, his pupils constricted in surprise. A profound sense of absurdity washed over him. The person responsible for attacking a Celestial Dragon… was just a young boy?
Shaking off his initial shock, Akhend glanced at the unconscious Celestial Dragon nearby, quickly assessed the situation, and gave a sharp order. "Attention, all units! Our primary mission is to ensure the safety of Roswald Saint! He must not suffer any further injury!"
His voice rose in volume as he pointed directly at Takero. "The target is confirmed! Take him down! Dead or alive, it doesn't matter!"
"Yes, sir!" the soldiers roared in unison.
With a unified battle cry, the Marine soldiers charged at Takero like a crashing wave.
Takero slowly got to his feet and casually brushed the dust from his pants. "Alright, I guess this can be a good warm-up."
Before he even finished his sentence, his figure vanished from where he stood, moving like a ghost. The next second, the center of the Marine formation erupted in chaos, as if a bomb had just been detonated in their midst.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Argh!"
"Gah!"
Bodies were sent flying through the air, screaming and tumbling as if they had been struck by an invisible giant hammer. The once-organized formation was instantly thrown into disarray, caught in what felt like a violent tornado. Screams of agony filled the air.
Watching from the edge of the battle, Akhend's brow furrowed tightly, his heart pounding with shock. A single youth was tearing through his elite forces like a tiger among sheep. This level of strength… it was far beyond ordinary.
No! This dangerous brat must be eliminated here and now! If he escapes, he'll become a great menace on the seas in the future! With that thought, a cold, murderous intent filled his chest.
Akhend's hand moved silently to the hilt of his sword. As Takero turned to deal with another group of soldiers attacking from his side, a cold glint flashed in the Rear Admiral's eyes.
"Soru!"
His body blurred, moving as fast as a phantom. The cold steel of his blade, accompanied by a sharp whistle, silently slashed toward Takero's undefended neck. This single strike contained all his years of training; with this much power behind it, he was confident he could cut through steel.
I've got him!
Akhend celebrated inwardly, putting even more force into his swing. But things did not go as he had planned.
Clang—!!!
A deafening sound, like metal striking metal, erupted in the slave market. Akhend's triumphant sneer froze on his face. The spray of blood he had anticipated never came. The feedback from his blade felt… like he had just struck a wall of finely tempered steel.
What terrified him even more was the grating crunch that followed. His own finely crafted sword began to crack, the fractures spreading from the edge of the blade up toward the hilt.
"Wh-what?!" Akhend's mind went blank. Is he a Devil Fruit user? Is he immune to blades?!
Before he could process the thought, an extreme sense of danger washed over him, rising from the very bottom of his soul.
"Tsk, that actually tickled a little," a voice filled with a wild energy sounded right next to his ear.
Akhend snapped his head up and met Takero's calm, golden eyes and the mocking curve of his lips. A chilling fear, born from the depths of his soul, instantly gripped him.
"Ugh, ah—!!!"
He didn't even see his opponent move. All he felt was an irresistible, immense force striking him violently in the chest. It was as if he had been hit head-on by a full-speed Marine battleship. Akhend's body was launched backward like a cannonball, crashing through several broken walls before finally being buried under a pile of rubble, his fate unknown.
[Combat Power + 5]
Takero retracted his fist and nodded with satisfaction. "Not bad. That was worth the wait. I gained five points of combat power."
Their commander had been defeated in an instant. The remaining Marine soldiers froze as if they had been placed under a freezing spell. Their movements became stiff, and their faces were filled with a mixture of disbelief and a deep, bone-chilling fear. In their eyes, the figure who had so effortlessly defeated a Rear Admiral was no different from a demon god risen from the depths of hell.
"Why did you stop?" Takero's arrogant laughter echoed across the silent battlefield like a devil's whisper. "Keep going! Don't let the party die down! I'm not finished having fun yet!"
His voice pierced the air, reaching the ears of every single Marine soldier.
"M-Monster! He's a monster!" A soldier finally broke under the pressure, shrieking as tears and snot streamed down his face. They had been fighting for what felt like an eternity, but their opponent was completely unharmed while their side had suffered heavy losses. Now, even their commander was defeated. How could they not be terrified?
His cry was the fuse that ignited the panic that had been building in the hearts of the Marines. Their morale completely collapsed, and a wave of fear washed over the battlefield.
However, just as they were sinking into despair—
Buzz—!!!
A dazzling golden beam of light descended from the sky without any warning, striking the ground precisely ten meters in front of Takero. There was no deafening explosion, only the piercing sizzle of extreme heat scorching the air. The rocky ground where the beam hit instantly vaporized into white smoke.
As the light dissipated, a tall, thin figure quietly emerged from the swirling dust. He stood in a lazy pose, with one foot casually placed in front of the other. He wore a yellow-and-white striped suit and a large white Marine coat with the kanji for "Justice" on the back. His iconic toad-shaped sunglasses rested on his face. The newcomer seemed to have a halo of light around him, and his very presence dispelled the gloom in the hearts of the Marines, igniting a new spark of hope.
"It's Vice Ad… Vice Admiral Borsalino!!!"
"That's great! It's Vice Admiral Borsalino! We're saved!"
The sheer ecstasy of surviving their ordeal nearly made the Marine soldiers cry out in relief.
Borsalino slowly pushed up his sunglasses, and his characteristic, drawn-out voice filled the air. "Ooh dear~ how very scary~" He spoke as if he had just woken up from a nap. His lazy gaze fell on the young man surrounded in the center. "So many of you… and you couldn't even handle one little brat? Young people these days are just something else~"
But at that moment, Takero's eyes were shining even more intensely than the golden beam of light that had announced the Admiral's arrival.
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