In the New World, aboard the ship of the Red Hair Pirates.
"Woo... Woo...!"
"Quickly, alert the surface forces to change course!"
"Stay vigilant, a tsunami is heading our way!"
"Report! We can't reach the Den Den Mushi! The magnetic field disturbance is disrupting our signals!"
"Curse it! Deploy signal flares immediately!"
"Yes, sir!"
The blaring alarm reverberated through the aircraft as the soldiers scrambled about. How insignificant were mere mortals? Faced with the mighty power of nature, no one could remain composed.
To be panicked yet organized was a testament to their well-drilled training.
Bald Zero didn't go to oversee the forces; instead, he strode to the front of the control room and peered out at the horizon through the window, his expression neutral.
"Sir, we've gathered some information."
At that moment, a white-suited special agent hurriedly approached him from behind and bowed respectfully.
"Speak..."
"Yes, sir!"
With a nod from Zero, the white-suited agent breathed a sigh of relief, retrieved a file, and promptly began his report.
"The Adrian Sea Tsunami, occurring every 10 to 20 years, reaches heights of up to 7000 meters at its peak, affecting at least three nearby seas within its range. The sheer weight of the seawater is immeasurable."
Cold sweat dripped from the forehead of the white-suited agent. Compared to this world-altering tsunami, Water 7's "Aqua Laguna" each year was insignificant!
Even in the New World, the Adrian Sea Tsunami was deemed a cataclysmic natural disaster!
"Understood. What's next? Have you determined the projected path of the tsunami?"
Bald Zero remained composed, his voice steady.
Gululu!
The white-suited agent's legs quivered, and he struggled to swallow his saliva, reporting, "According to the navigator's calculations, this Adrian Sea Tsunami will engulf the entire 10-22 area, with its peak hitting... hitting..."
"The 13th area!"
Swish!
A thick aura of foreboding filled the control room. Zero's eyes widened, his skin seeming to crawl as if countless ants were skittering beneath it, and his muscles tensed beneath his clothes.
"So that's the plan..."
Zero exhaled deeply.
No wonder Rayleigh hadn't attempted to break out earlier, allowing them time to regroup.
Initially, Zero suspected Rayleigh had allied with Shanks, and considering Shanks' influence, the Gorosei (Five Elder Stars) might hesitate to confront him directly.
But now it all made sense; Rayleigh was merely biding his time for this tsunami.
Just as they had planted bombs underwater, both sides had prepared their final gambits.
"Give me the sea map..."
After a moment's reflection, Zero extended his hand.
The white-suited agent hesitated briefly before handing over the sea map.
Zero traced his finger over the rough paper, studying the nearby seas, and continued his inquiry.
"How long until the tsunami reaches the 13th area?"
"Thirty minutes!"
The white-suited agent responded promptly, then couldn't help but voice his concern, "Sir, once the tsunami peaks, its speed will increase to over 1000 kilometers per hour. Once it overtakes us, there's no turning back!"
At a speed of 1000 kilometers per hour, even the fastest battleship stood no chance.
If they didn't evacuate early, why would they willingly subject themselves to such peril?
"Foolish!"
Zero's tone was sharp, chastising, "If we can't turn back, neither can Rayleigh!"
"Even a pirate is willing to risk his life against this tsunami. Am I to be intimidated by him?!"
Without giving his subordinates a chance to protest, Bald Zero waved his hand, "Inform everyone to retreat immediately and minimize casualties!"
"This time... I'll face it alone!"
"Sir!"
His subordinates called out anxiously, eager to argue, but Bald Zero had vanished from the control room.
Remembering something, he dashed to the window, only to glimpse a figure clad in white, darting through the stormy sky like a swift.
...
The tsunami loomed closer, but the trio on the unnamed island paid it no heed.
Just as Bald Zero had suspected, in the face of such a catastrophic natural disaster, survival was no easy feat. Rayleigh shared the sentiment; he didn't view it as an escape route, much like his mindset back in Sabaody.
He planned to utilize this calamity to inflict heavy casualties on the Marines and government soldiers attempting to capture him, using their lives as a somber melody at his own farewell.
Showing up this time, he had no intention of making it out alive!
"How could the Marines ever anticipate that Shakky's network would include a fortune teller capable of predicting death?"
"To be swallowed by the tsunami alongside numerous battleships, sinking into eternal darkness... Isn't that a grand way to meet one's end?"
Rayleigh mused silently.
Suddenly, a golden laser struck him square in the face, propelling him backward with a resounding bang.
Crash!
Caught off guard, Rayleigh winced at the unexpected explosion's pain as he crashed into the ground, carving a deep furrow.
"Well... How am I supposed to explain this to the higher-ups, Rayleigh?"
Kizaru appeared troubled, running a hand through his hair with one hand on his hip.
"This lad is under the protection of many esteemed figures. How could you contemplate his demise?"
"Cough cough... Well, forgive me but I'm a pirate!"
Rayleigh rose from the debris, shaking his right arm.
"Indeed, you're a pirate..."
Kizaru's gaze turned icy as he lowered his hand. "A band of troublemakers, fanning the flames of disorder, pirates!"
Yasakani no Magatama!
With those words, Kizaru transformed into light particles, soaring into the sky. His Justice cloak shimmered like golden sunlight.
Swish, swish, swish!
A deluge of light particle bombs descended, enveloping the entire island.
Whoosh...!
In a sudden blur, a dark silhouette streaked by as Rayleigh leaped high beside Kizaru, delivering a powerful downward punch.
Thunk!
"Think I'm so feeble in close combat that I can't handle you without your weapon?"
Kizaru remained composed as his dispersed form shattered under the blow, fragmenting into countless light particles, swiftly reconstituting in the blink of an eye.
"Hmm?"
Rayleigh frowned, noticing a leg protruding from the light particles, sweeping toward him.
Whoosh... Crash!
Kizaru's speed was unmatched. From movement to Elementalization, he was lightning-fast. Rayleigh, not as strong as he once was, found himself outmaneuvered by Kizaru, who had always been superior against ordinary pirates using Elementalization.
This kick came unexpectedly, already connecting as Rayleigh swung his fist. With no time to retreat or block, Kizaru's foot landed squarely on his waist.
"Pff!"
Before Rayleigh could react, Kizaru raised his foot again, delivering a heavy axe kick to Rayleigh's shoulder.
Thunk!
The impact was akin to a falling meteor, compressing the earth and sending debris flying.
"That last move must have drained your Haoshoku Haki, right?"
Kizaru descended from the sky, landing gracefully on a sturdy rock. "Haoshoku Haki, like Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki), has its limits."
"So... are you ready to meet your end?"
Buzz!
The air quivered, emitting a piercing hum.
A formidable force coalesced at the tip of Kizaru's foot, poised to unleash the Lightspeed Kick. But just then, both men sensed something and looked toward the distance.
"It's finally arrived!"
Rayleigh, trembling, struggled to rise from the ground, gasping for breath as he gazed seaward.
There, a dark line rapidly expanded.
After a few heartbeats, it became apparent that it wasn't merely a line but a towering wall of seawater over a thousand meters tall!
A Sea King-like creature, hundreds of meters in stature, thrashed about, its upper body exposed futilely attempting to flee the water. But it was met with the rising tide, which engulfed it entirely.
In an instant, the water wall surged once more, shrouding the vast expanse between sea and sky completely.
The Adrian Sea Tsunami had reached the thirteenth sea area!
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