When Admiral Kizaru soared above Enies Lobby, the sight that greeted him left even a man of his caliber shaken to the core.
The island itself was gone.
Only a fragment of the fore-island remained—nothing but a desolate ruin where once stood the proud judicial stronghold of the World Government.
That attack… was that Souta Kiryuu's doing?
He couldn't believe it. An entire island erased from the map, wiped out as if it had never existed.
So the so-called "Subject No. 88"… has already grown this powerful?
Without wasting another thought, Kizaru transformed into particles of light and streaked toward the rear island, where remnants of the Navy fleet had gathered.
But what awaited him there was even more tragic than what he had seen before.
The fore-island and the main island had been obliterated instantly, leaving nothing to witness. But here, at the rear island, the sea was littered with shattered hulls and the floating corpses of fallen marines.
Through the smoke and debris, he spotted the handful of surviving warships that Fleet Admiral Sengoku had managed to shield. Kizaru swallowed hard, his usually lazy demeanor overshadowed by a rare grimness as he descended onto the flagship's deck.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku… Vice Admiral Tsuru…"
Kizaru's body solidified out of photons, his sandals clicking against the scorched planks. His sharp eyes studied Sengoku, who bore visible wounds. For once, words failed him.
This "rescue mission" had been nothing short of a massacre.
Not only had they failed to defend Enies Lobby, but the Navy had lost far too many men. Even if Sengoku, Kizaru, and Aokiji all bore the burden together, it was too much to shoulder.
The loss was catastrophic. The kind of wound that the Navy had only suffered a handful of times in its entire history.
From the moment Souta Kiryuu had escaped Punk Hazard, Kizaru had known this experiment was dangerous. But never had he imagined the boy would become a greater menace than even Kaidou of the Beasts.
The devastation here had surpassed that of the Yonko.
A synthetic Azure Dragon form combined with the Paw-Paw Fruit's abilities—already a terrifying matchup. But now Souta's crew boasted an airborne warship and a Rumble-Rumble Fruit user. This was no longer just a rising threat—it was the makings of a Yonko-level power. Perhaps even something worse.
If Souta Kiryuu was allowed to grow unchecked, in time it wouldn't just be Warlords like Doflamingo being swatted aside. Every Navy branch outside Marineford itself would be vulnerable.
"Rescue the survivors…"
Sengoku's voice was low and ragged, seething with suppressed fury and hatred for Souta Kiryuu. He forced the words out through clenched teeth, holding back the urge to roar.
Not long after, the golden warship of Saint Mamaye Fosse arrived off the coast. For once, the arrogant Celestial Dragon's expression grew dark as his eyes fell upon the void where Enies Lobby had once stood.
"This wretched experiment… has surpassed even my imagination," Fosse spat, his fists trembling with rage. Once again, an insect had crawled beyond the reach of their control.
Later still, Aokiji brought reinforcements aboard the Sea Train. When officers like T-Bone, Xiuen, and Tashigi disembarked, the sight froze them in place.
If Souta Kiryuu unleashed that kind of island-erasing attack in Water 7… we'd all be dead.
The horror silenced them, but only for a moment. Shaken to their cores, they dove into rescue efforts.
Yet a seed of fear had already taken root.
This wasn't just a pirate crew. This was an evil force capable of appearing anywhere in the world, at any time, and erasing an island from existence.
While the Admirals and Fleet Admiral busied themselves at Enies Lobby, the Kiryuu Pirates had already made their way to Sabaody Archipelago—
that bustling cluster of islands so close to both Marineford and Mary Geoise itself.
"Captain," Lafitte said with an eerie gleam in his eyes, "the defenses at Marineford are weaker than they've ever been. Perhaps we should…"
Having slain Enies Lobby's Chief Justice, Lafitte's madness only seemed to deepen. Now he dared suggest striking directly at Marineford itself. His audacity bordered on suicidal—but then again, this was the man who once walked into Marineford alone to demand a Warlord's seat for Blackbeard.
And his reasoning wasn't entirely wrong. Sengoku, Kizaru, and Aokiji were all absent. Akainu was still engaged in the New World. Garp was rumored to be on leave in the East Blue.
On paper, Marineford's defenses had never looked weaker.
Of course, there were still powerful Vice Admirals like Gion (Peach Rabbit), Tokikake (Tea Dolphin), and Tensei (Black Horse). And if Sengoku and Kizaru returned quickly, an assault could prove disastrous.
Still… a single raid. A fiery Dragon's Breath unleashed upon Marineford itself, if only as provocation… that was tempting.
Even Enel's curiosity was piqued. The self-proclaimed god wanted to see Marineford—the strongest military fortress in the world—with his own eyes.
Capone Bege, on the other hand, was sweating bullets as he listened to these maniacs plot. They weren't satisfied until they had declared war on the entire World Government itself.
If the Navy ever tracks Sky Island, no height will save us. They'll climb into the heavens just to burn us alive.
Compared to these lunatics, Bege thought grimly, I'm practically a saint. A philanthropist.
Sabaody Archipelago, Grove 1 – Human Auction House
"BOOM!"
The deafening blast shattered the calm of the archipelago.
A golden airship loomed above the Auction House, lightning raining down in endless pillars.
"Run for your lives!"
"Who's attacking?!"
"They're striking Doflamingo's property!"
"Protect the Celestial Dragon! Call for an Admiral at once!"
Panic consumed the grove. Nobles and wealthy merchants scrambled over one another to flee.
Just minutes earlier—
"Gyahahaha! Kuma, look! Do you see it? That massive golden warship with the lion's head—there's no mistaking it. A Celestial Dragon's personal vessel!"
Souta Kiryuu's eyes burned with excitement as he pointed it out from the harbor.
"This is fate! Another chance to strike down a Celestial Dragon. The perfect moment for you to avenge Ginny—and for us to declare war!"
Transforming into a colossal dragon, Souta soared into the skies above Sabaody, his gaze sweeping for his prey.
Dragging terrified citizens and pirates into his claws, he pried out the truth of the Celestial Dragon's whereabouts. All signs pointed to the Human Auction House.
And soon enough, they cornered one of the "lucky" World Nobles.
"Are we really… killing a Celestial Dragon? Again?"
Capone Bege's cigar trembled between his fingers as Enel's lightning obliterated the guards spilling from the Auction House. The scale of the day's chaos defied words.
Too much. This is too much madness even for pirates.
The next moment, a gigantic transparent paw-print slammed down, collapsing an entire wall of the Auction House.
Inside, chaos reigned. CP agents in black suits and armored knights scrambled to shield a figure in a transparent bubble helmet—one of the so-called "gods."
"Insolence! You vermin dare to show disrespect to the descendants of the divine?!"
The Celestial Dragon roared, voice cracking with fear as dust rained down around him. The fallen wall had nearly scared the life out of him.
But he puffed out his chest all the same.
"I am of the great Jagarcia family! Saint Saturn of the Five Elders himself is my ancestor! How dare you frighten me—you wretches must all perish!"
His trembling fury only made Souta's grin widen.