"Hahahahaha…"
A joyful, carefree laugh echoed through the air.
Few had witnessed the absurd yet striking scene of a Marine turning his weapon against an Admiral. But for Shirogai Yamikuro, who had come here for exactly this kind of spectacle, nothing escaped his notice.
"Interesting… what an intriguing scene!"
Shirogai chuckled, merrily cracking melon seeds and tossing the shells aside to drift on the wind.
"Whether it's the Marines or the Admiral, both sides feel betrayed. And the fascinating part is the Marines who witnessed this are already planting seeds of doubt, fear, and reflection. I wonder what kind of Marine will emerge from this unpredictable environment. A crimson ocean, or the dictator's mustache…"
Shirogai's curiosity was genuine.
An intriguing thought arose: perhaps during these two years, as his companions grew stronger, he could temporarily take on the role of a Marine. He wanted to observe what kind of individuals, shaken, healed, and transformed internally, would eventually emerge from this chaos. By then, he might erase his own thoughts and memories entirely, embarking on another strange adventure as a native of the Pirate World. Perhaps even rising to Admiral could be an entertaining choice.
…
On the blood-soaked, icy battlefield, large sheets of ice had shattered into irregular floes, drifting across the surface.
"Big Brother World!!!"
Luffy roared, shouting at the "World Destroyer" World, who was currently engaged with Hawkeye, the World's Greatest Swordsman.
"Can you make me bigger! I want to become a giant and stride over that iron wall!"
"If you do that, you'll become a target!"
World's Armament Haki-coated fist accelerated a hundredfold, deflecting Hawkeye's blade, and he warned Luffy in a deep, steady voice.
"I don't care!"
Luffy dodged the Vice Admiral's swing, gritting his teeth.
"As long as I can save Ace, I don't care!"
"Then go! Remember, your enlargement only lasts briefly!"
World flashed beside him, punching the Vice Admiral aside, then grabbed Luffy with his other hand and flung him through the air like a shot put.
"Go! Multiply · Hundredfold Rubber Man!"
Luffy soared toward the Marineford plaza.
"You left your back exposed to me?"
Hawkeye's calm voice cut behind World as the sword energy from the Black Blade [Yoru] struck World's back.
"Then I won't be polite!"
Pfft!
A bloody wound appeared. Though he had reinforced his enlarged body with Armament Haki, Hawkeye still cut through.
"World's Greatest Swordsman? An ambush?"
World clutched his back, grimacing, glaring through gritted teeth.
"I face every enemy head-on. You turned your back on me, not me on you," Hawkeye replied coldly.
"Brat, you've angered me!"
World charged again, eager to strike. Hawkeye enjoyed a powerful, resilient target for his blade. He already understood "where the heart desires, the sword energy can go," as Shirogai had once noted. Yet here, he held back. This battlefield wasn't his choice. He awaited the battle destiny had reserved for him. A premonition told him it would soon unfold with the arrival of the Arrogant Emperor Shirogai.
…
"Ace!!!"
Luffy surged toward the [Iron Wall], growing larger midair, drawing astonished eyes.
"Straw Hat Boy Luffy!"
"He's actually getting bigger?!"
"Is he becoming a giant? No, taller than a giant!"
As pirates and Marines gawked, Luffy's body expanded, aided by air inflating him and Bone Balloon. His towering form rivaled even Little Oars Jr.
"I'm coming!"
The massive Luffy advanced toward the iron wall, ready to climb.
On the other side, a figure radiating searing magma waited—Admiral Akainu.
"The son of Dragon, the Revolutionary Army's commander," he muttered, eyes burning with lethal intent at the colossal figure approaching the plaza.
"This is the Captain of Arrogant Emperor Shirogai, wielder of a fruit crowned with a god's name…"
Akainu's gaze pierced the air, as if to devour Luffy.
"Shirogai… why serve as Vice Captain of a Pirate Crew unless something aboard demands your attention?"
He knew now: Luffy's Rubber Fruit concealed a divine legacy—Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, the mythical Sun God Nika, warrior of liberation. Once, the World Government fought its previous wielder at a great cost, then renamed it Gum-Gum Fruit to mask its true power. Now, Shirogai's presence had exposed it again.
"You must be eradicated here, now, before everyone!"
Killing intent surged in Akainu's eyes as he advanced, magma trailing behind him, his rose boutonnière trembling lightly.
Gurgle!
The lava in his fist swelled, then violently expanded.
"Die! Great Eruption!"
The fist enlarged rapidly, aiming for Luffy's back.
Pfft!
Suddenly, the massive figure deflated. On Luffy's body, a subtle, transparent thread squirmed.
"What a troublesome Captain," Shirogai chuckled from the viewing stand.
"Ah! Oh no! I'm leaking!"
Luffy flailed, gas escaping from his body, narrowly dodging the magma fist in an erratic arc.
"Ah ah ah ah…"
He became an even larger spectacle midair.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Sea Stone bullets rained from the Marines, but Luffy's unpredictable trajectory made them all miss.
"He dodged a fatal blow… unbelievable," Akainu muttered, frowning.
Boom!
Igniting his hands again, Akainu unleashed magma, targeting Luffy precisely.
"This time, you die for sure!"
Observation Haki guided his magma fists like lethal turrets, each shot fired toward the airborne Straw Hat.
"Such killing intent, Akainu…"
From the stands, Shirogai observed with a low, amused smile.
"Hey! Stop slacking off, come out and play."
"What's the rush? Let the kid play first!"
An arrogant laugh rang out from Marineford's armory. Eyes burning, a figure rose among firearms and ammunition, stretching with sinister precision.
"I'm ready to make a big mess!"
Boom!
Cannonballs flew from him, soaring into the distant sky.
"Die, Straw Hat Boy Luffy!"
Just as Luffy faced the approaching lava, steel cannonballs suddenly intercepted the magma, exploding midair and neutralizing it.
Boom!!!
"Hey, you idiot spewing magma!"
A sneering, mocking voice rang behind Akainu.
"Your opponent is me!"
[Demon Heir] Bullet.
___
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