"What the hell is that thing?!"
Akainu glared behind Sengoku, his intense gaze radiating an overwhelming pressure.
"Hm?"
Sengoku frowned and looked over his shoulder.
"What are you talking about?"
"You don't see it?! That black shadow, what the hell is that?!"
"You're seeing things," Sengoku snapped. "Have you been under too much stress lately?"
"No…"
Sakazuki opened his mouth, disbelief written all over his face.
He squinted at the air behind Sengoku. He was sure of it, there really was a faint, misty black figure lingering there.
And then, that shadow scratched its head… with unmistakable human-like behavior.
This ability is interesting, Yato mused, completely ignoring the two men.
Sengoku can't see me, but Akainu can. Which means… only the "target" can't perceive the Shadow Wraith? Everyone else can?
The implications were chilling.
If each glowing star he had seen in the darkness represented a person,
And there had been billions of them…
Then that meant the Shadow Wraith could teleport to anyone's shadow… instantly.
Still needs more testing, Yato thought.
I think I can teleport back to Amazon Lily at will. But first, let's try out some of this form's other tricks.
As he thought that, his shadowy figure rose into the air and began to slowly reform into a humanoid shape.
"What the- ?!"
Akainu's eyes bulged.
Right before his eyes, that formless wraith took shape… and then casually sat on Sengoku's desk, legs crossed like he owned the place, staring straight at him.
Even someone as battle-hardened as Akainu was thoroughly creeped out.
"Why are you twitching?" Sengoku said gruffly.
"Report. You were saying something about a sea dragon?"
"...Yes."
Akainu forced down the urge to react, swallowing his alarm.
"According to intel, I led the fleet to intercept the Kuja Pirates' return voyage… During the negotiation with Empress Boa Hancock, a sea dragon emerged from beneath the waves. It possessed the ability to manipulate ocean currents. The people of Amazon Lily referred to it as their 'Guardian Deity.'"
He tried to focus, but his eyes kept flicking toward the shadowy figure on the desk…
Which now had its middle finger up.
A perfect, elegant, unmistakable middle finger, directed right at him.
Akainu could practically feel the disdain radiating off it.
And then, the wraith jumped down, took off one of its shadowy shoes, and lifted it toward Sengoku's nose, like it wanted him to smell it.
"The sea dragon attempted to obstruct- "
"IMPUDENT!"
Akainu couldn't take it anymore.
He roared in fury, cutting himself off mid-report.
Even Yato was caught off guard by the outburst.
So was Sengoku, who jolted slightly.
"What did you say?"
"N-No, I meant… the shadow," Akainu stammered.
"What shadow?" Sengoku's face darkened. "There's no shadow. Are you sure you don't need time off?"
"No… I'm fine."
Akainu bit his tongue and swallowed his words.
He had no way to explain what he was seeing.
But then… the wraith moved again.
It casually hurled the shoe at him and followed up with a flying kick straight to Akainu's chest.
"YOU DAMN THING!"
Akainu finally snapped.
He lashed out with a blazing punch, Haki and fury exploding together.
This wasn't a warning shot, he intended to obliterate the entity in one blow.
But just as the fist connected…
His expression froze.
His fist went straight through the shadow.
No impact. No resistance. Nothing.
And then,
BOOM!!
His punch slammed into Sengoku's desk, blasting it into splinters.
Wood flew everywhere. The office was instantly wrecked.
"Have you lost your mind?!"
Sengoku jumped to his feet, eyes blazing with rage.
"Sakazuki! What the hell are you doing?!"
"I… HE- !"
Akainu hesitated. He looked completely stunned.
The shadow stepped forward again, calm and unhurried.
Akainu instinctively tensed, muscles flexing, posture defensive.
But all the shadow did…
was raise its middle finger right in his face, again.
"You son of a…!"
Akainu's forehead pulsed with fury.
He was a Marine Admiral now, one of the most powerful men in the world.
A symbol of absolute authority.
First a sea dragon mocked him in broad daylight…
Now this mysterious, intangible entity was treating him like a joke?!
Before he could explode again, the office door burst open.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"
"What happened?!"
"Admiral Akainu!"
A squad of Marines rushed in and froze at the scene before them.
Destroyed furniture. Furious faces. Tension thick in the air.
Akainu turned quickly.
"Good, you're here. There's something in this office, a shadow !"
He pointed toward where the wraith had been.
But the words died in his throat.
There was nothing there.
Just splintered wood… and silence.
"A… a shadow?" one soldier asked nervously. "Sir, are you feeling alright?"
"...Forget it."
Akainu's face darkened, jaw clenched. He had no defense.
"Hmph."
Sengoku snorted and crossed his arms.
"You clearly need a break. Take a week off. And don't worry about the Warlord business. I'll assign someone else."
Akainu stood frozen for a beat… then finally gritted his teeth and nodded.
"Understood."
…
A faint swirl of dizziness.
When Yato opened his eyes again, he was back in his room on Amazon Lily.
He scanned the area, no one else was around.
"So it's true. I'm completely immune to physical attacks in that form. No sound. No scent. That's insanely powerful.
Akainu must be fuming. I wonder how Sengoku's gonna scold him…"
Yato chuckled.
"Still, the data I've gathered so far isn't enough. I need to keep testing this ability further…"
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200 P.S = 1 Extra Chapters