At this moment, inside the Marine Headquarters at Marineford.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku, the "Buddha," had just received shocking news: Souta Kiryuu had stormed Judicial Island.
The news left him stunned. Souta Kiryuu had not only escaped safely from Water 7, but now he was already striking Judicial Island at full force.
"Let's go! Tsuru, we head for Judicial Island immediately!!!"
Without hesitation, Sengoku summoned every Vice Admiral present at Marineford to set sail for Judicial Island. With Kizaru and Aokiji unable to arrive in time, their only chance to provide support lay in using the exclusive sea current connecting Marineford to Judicial Island.
"Souta Kiryuu at Judicial Island?"
Advisor Tsuru's eyes widened in shock. She, too, was rattled by Souta's speed and sudden choice of target.
"There's no time—move out!"
Personally leading the force, Sengoku assembled Tsuru and six other Vice Admirals, forming a massive fleet of over twenty warships. The sight alone eclipsed even the dreaded Buster Call.
Somewhere between the Devil's Triangle and Water 7, a massive golden battleship cut through the waves, flanked by an Admiral-level Marine fleet.
"What!! Souta Kiryuu at Judicial Island?!"
Mamaye Fos Saint, carrying his golden dragon-engraved sniper rifle on his shoulder, crushed the Den Den Mushi in rage. Even Kizaru, standing nearby, fell silent at the news.
This Souta Kiryuu truly was a thorn in their side.
"Aokiji, that useless fool—this is all his fault! Couldn't even stop a single experimental subject!"
"What are you waiting for?! Change course—head for Judicial Island now!!"
Fos Saint roared, his massive golden crown trembling with fury. Obeying his order, Kizaru immediately signaled his fleet to turn, accelerating toward Judicial Island.
Back in Water 7, Aokiji Kuzan's expression hardened the moment he learned Souta Kiryuu had appeared at Judicial Island.
So that was it—Judicial Island had been Souta's true target all along.
"This is bad…"
Captains Shuon, Very Good, Sharin Kur, and T-Bone all felt the same heavy dread. Their sectors covered the sea train routes stretching between Water 7 and Judicial Island. In particular, Shuon and Sharin Kur bore a direct duty to safeguard Judicial Island.
But now Sengoku's emergency order had pulled them to Water 7, leaving their own jurisdiction exposed. If anything happened to Judicial Island, they feared punishment would surely fall on them.
"Enough worrying! We'll board the sea train and reinforce Judicial Island directly!"
Pressing his hand to his temple, Aokiji gave the order with weary resignation. The Souta Kiryuu Pirates were every bit as troublesome as the Flying Armada—impossible to catch, impossible to pin down.
"Yes, sir!"
The Marine captains could only follow Aokiji, racing once more toward Judicial Island. Whether Souta Kiryuu's crew would still be there upon arrival was another matter entirely.
Inside the Judicial Tower.
Souta Kiryuu came across a grievously injured and unconscious Spandam.
"Enel's handiwork?"
Souta smirked at the sight of the man charred by lightning. "Trash like this… what value is there in keeping you alive?"
Enel had failed to finish the job—his work always left flaws. A man like Spandam, with a life as stubborn as a cockroach's, simply refused to die.
But under Souta's hand, there would be no second chances.
A ball of flame ignited in his palm, ready to hurl at Spandam.
"W-wait! Don't kill me! I can take you to the storeroom in the Judicial Tower—there are Devil Fruits there!!!"
Spandam awoke in terror, shouting desperately as he felt Souta's killing intent.
"Oh? Where exactly? Satisfy me, and maybe I'll let you live."
The flames shrank as Souta eyed him with mocking amusement.
"Don't kill me! My father, Spandain, is still a CP5 chief! He has Devil Fruits too—he'll ransom me back for sure, just don't kill me!"
Quaking with fear, Spandam dragged his battered body toward the storeroom, hoping to prove his worth. Otherwise, Souta's murderous aura made it clear—death was inevitable.
For leverage, he even revealed his father's hidden stash, gambling on the chance that Souta's greed might outweigh his urge to kill.
Souta narrowed his eyes. He had intended to execute Spandam the moment the Devil Fruits were in his hands. But this pathetic CP9 commander's offer had given him pause.
A leader without strength who still survived in the upper echelons? Clearly, Spandam was adept at groveling and seizing opportunities.
"What kind of Devil Fruit does your father have?"
"My father has… an Ancient Zoan! I know he's kept one in his collection!!" Spandam stammered, trembling violently as he produced two Devil Fruits from Judicial Island's vault.
These fruits had originally been reserved for CP9 as a reward for completing the blueprints of Pluton.
"Excellent. You've bought yourself some time. For now, I'll let you live."
Grinning, Souta took the fruit chests. For the sake of the Ancient Zoan, he would spare Spandam—for now.
But first, Law would take his heart. That way, Spandam's life would remain firmly in Souta's grasp.
Perhaps he could even turn this coward into a puppet within the World Government.
"Th-thank you, sir…"
Relief overwhelmed Spandam as he collapsed to the floor, his bandages soaked through with sweat and blood.
Standing atop the Judicial Tower, Souta gazed at the massive Gates of Justice looming over the island. The colossal blue cross of the World Government painted on its surface radiated suffocating oppression.
Beyond that gate lay the exclusive current leading straight to Marineford and Impel Down.
No doubt the Navy's fleets were already rushing through it to reinforce Judicial Island.
Elsewhere on the island, battles raged.
The werewolf Jabra had been crushed effortlessly beneath Kuma's power. The lion Lucci had been sliced apart into several pieces by Trafalgar Law. Owldman, the gossiping blabbermouth, clashed head-on with Capone Bege—only to be caught off guard by Jewelry Bonney's sneak attack, transforming him into a helpless three-year-old.
Meanwhile, Lafitte, eyes burning with savage delight, seized the Chief Judge of Judicial Island—a bizarre figure with three heads, a grotesque combination of three old men crammed into one set of robes. To kill such a man, a figure ranked higher than kings of allied nations, thrilled Lafitte beyond measure.
These so-called judges had sentenced countless souls, never caring for truth or falsehood—only enforcing the World Government's twisted "absolute justice."
In their eyes, guilt or innocence was irrelevant. Their judgment was law.
And today, even that judgment would crumble.
...
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