Calm Belt, Uninhabited Island.
All the Naval vice admirals had now retreated to the outermost perimeter.
Leaving the battlefield to three men.
"Akainu" Sakazuki.
"Aokiji" Kuzan.
"Silver Falcon" Michael.
This scene was the Naval Headquarters' classic two-on-one justice.
In the past, Sengoku and Garp had ganged up on Golden Lion.
Now, Akainu and Aokiji were ganging up on Silver Falcon.
"Michael, any last words?" Sakazuki gave Michael a deep look.
"Though Fleet Admiral Sengoku ordered us to capture you alive… we all know that's far harder than killing you."
"Killing me? That's fine too."
Michael smiled and nodded.
Holy Flame, Holy Light—everything receded.
The next moment, a colossal, six-winged angel, as solid as reality itself, descended amidst radiant Holy Light.
Meanwhile, the distant sun finally breached the horizon, casting its light across the vast sea.
"Ascend… to Divinity!"
The last time he had unleashed this full-powered form was during the battle against Whitebeard on Fish-Man Island.
Now, facing Akainu and Aokiji simultaneously, Michael didn't hesitate to unleash his ultimate move.
Even if this was all an act, he wouldn't hold back.
Besides, Issho and Garp were watching intently from the sidelines.
Though neither would go for the kill, they would certainly use some real skill to make the act convincing.
Thus, Holy Light liquefied, and three flames—pure white, pale blue, and crimson—swirled around him as Michael descended once more in his armored angelic form, inscribed with divine runes.
Every vice admiral watching from the perimeter, Sakazuki and Aokiji, even Issho—all stared at Michael in disbelief.
The sheer oppressive aura alone was proof of his overwhelming power.
Only Garp, who had witnessed this scene firsthand back on Fishman Island, remained unfazed.
As the Marine who had spent the most time with Michael, he had somewhat grown accustomed to Michael's absurdities.
No matter how strong Michael became, Garp wouldn't be the least bit surprised.
At this moment, Michael wasn't the slightest bit interested in the others' inner thoughts.
Instead, he curled his finger at Akainu and Aokiji.
"Well, what are you two waiting for?"
"Hmph… Meteor Volcano!"
"Ice Block: Pheasant Beak!"
The elemental powers of magma and ice surged toward Michael.
Yet, with just a casual raise of his hand, Michael blocked the attack.
"Stop testing me. It's boring."
With that, he swung Morning Star horizontally, unleashing a sky-splitting Flying Slash imbued with Armament Haki.
But just as the two prepared to counter, a massive shockwave from the side instantly reduced the Flying Slash to nothing.
Garp's fist was slightly smoking as he fixed his determined gaze on Michael.
"Michael... I hope you don't mind me joining in?"
"Old man Garp... I couldn't ask for more."
Michael glanced around before suddenly bursting into laughter.
"Two Admirals and a Marine Hero... I wonder if you can handle my full power?"
As his words faded, black lightning streaked across the sky.
The overwhelming pressure of Conqueror's Haki swept in all directions.
The Morning Star trembled slightly as the power of Conqueror's Haki Coating poured forth.
"Paradise Lost!"
...
Five days later...
"Sea Calendar 1512: The identity of Naval Headquarters' Grand Inspector, 'Silver Falcon' Michael, is revealed as the Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff."
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku was furious, mobilizing all Vice Admirals under the leadership of Admirals Akainu and Aokiji, with Marine Hero Garp providing support, to capture Michael."
"The two sides met in the Calm Belt and engaged in battle on a deserted island."
"Details remain unclear as all Vice Admirals have remained tight-lipped."
"However, sources reveal all Vice Admirals sustained significant injuries... while Admirals Akainu and Aokiji required three days and nights of intensive medical treatment before being out of danger."
"Michael's whereabouts remain unknown, and he has been officially discharged from the Marines... This newspaper will continue follow-up coverage!"
Today's front-page headline in the World Economic Times sent shockwaves across the seas.
The revelation that the Marine's Grand Inspector was actually from the Revolutionary Army became secondary news.
The fact that two Admirals and a Marine Hero leading all Vice Admirals failed to capture Michael...
Now the entire world is abuzz with unprecedented discussions about Michael.
His allegiance matters less than just how powerful he truly is.
But while amateurs watch the spectacle, professionals discern the deeper implications.
Those with keen instincts already sense troubling undercurrents...
After a long period of calm, the seas are about to witness even greater turbulence.
...
"Gurararara! That Michael boy was hiding his true colors all along! A Revolutionary Army member? No wonder he never acted like those stuffy Marines!" Whitebeard laughed heartily while holding the World Economic Times.
"What a shame Michael couldn't have been part of my Whitebeard Pirates instead!"
"Pops, now that Michael's no longer with the Marines... what about our contract with him? And his proposal about establishing a kingdom..." Marco, though shocked by Michael's identity, remained more concerned about their practical interests.
"These developments still benefit us—no need to stop anything..." Whitebeard shook his head.
"And my gut tells me that boy Michael isn't just some ordinary Revolutionary... Mark my words, we might yet see a day when Marines and Revolutionaries coexist peacefully—perhaps even unite as one."
...
"Hey! Yamato! Where do you think you're going?"
Jack intercepted Yamato at Naval Headquarters' port, catching them mid-escape with numerous bags in tow.
"Shh! Keep your voice down!'?" Yamato yanked Jack closer, whispering urgently.
"Don't interfere, and don't tell Ulti and Page One I'm leaving!"
"Leaving? Where to?"
"I'm going to join the Revolutionary Army!" Yamato said with a matter-of-fact expression.
"If it weren't for following Vice Admiral Michael, I wouldn't have bothered becoming a Marine in the first place!"
"You—you—you! You're actually betraying the Marines?!" Jack's face was full of shock.
"Unless you take me with you, I'll report you to the Headquarters right now!"
"...So you want to desert too!?"
"Ahahaha, of course, wherever Vice Admiral Michael goes, I go!" Jack said, stretching out his massive palm toward Yamato.
"I even brought the keys to the Seraphim Ship's hatch!"
"...If anyone dares call you a dumb oaf again, I, Yamato, will be the first to disagree!"
The two instantly reached an agreement and scurried sneakily toward the harbor.
....
High above in the sky, on a patch of Island Cloud, several vice admirals of the SWORD Classified Special Forces, along with Garp, looked down at Jack and Yamato.
"Vice Admiral Garp, is it really alright to let them go like this?" Stella's face was etched with concern.
"Michael needs a few people by his side to help him out, doesn't he?" Garp glanced at Stella, then at Crocodile and the others.
"All of you are Marine vice admirals now, key pieces in Michael's plans. Of course, you can't leave the Marines with him... The same goes for Hancock and the others. So Jack and Yamato are the most suitable choices."
Garp sighed.
"Who knows when we'll see each other next."
-----------------------------
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