Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Inside the plain conference room, only Admiral Kizaru, Sengoku, and Vice Admiral Tsuru were present, currently stationed at the headquarters.
A recognizable figure occupied the back chair, arms folded, right leg casually resting on the left. His gaze roamed, deep in contemplation, seemingly pondering something crucial.
Yet, as you approach, faint whispers become audible.
Seriously, when will this meeting wrap up...'
'What's a good meal option after this?'
"..."
Sengoku, seated at the head table, shifted uncomfortably, feigning ignorance to Atlas's complaint, and nonchalantly tossed out a freshly printed newspaper.
A headline in bold text was prominently displayed for everyone to see.
——World Destroyer appears, what will be the fate of this world?
Beneath it, a series of indistinct photos captured naval battles.
However, one thing was clear – the defeated party unmistakably belonged to the Marines.
"Bang——!! That Morgans is just a sensationalist. He likely stumbled upon some information about Byrnndi World and started flaunting it."
Atlas glanced at it, giving it little importance.
The More-More Fruit is indeed a potent Devil Fruit. If Garp were to consume it, it might grab his attention.
But Byrnndi World...
Forget about it.
"I seem to recall something~~ I believe I was just a recruit back then~~~" Kizaru furrowed his brow, expressing with a hint of discontent.
During the time when Byrnndi World wreaked havoc, Kizaru, although not exactly a recruit, didn't boast significant power either.
"Yes, even though this guy is now held in Impel Down, the unique detention method there hasn't affected his physical prowess much. His strength remains at its peak."
Sengoku nodded. Observing the seemingly nonchalant expressions around the room, he couldn't resist adding a bit more urgency to his tone.
"So…"
"I still need to ensure the safety of the Holy Land, or else he might target Marineford~~~"
Sensing Sengoku's gaze lingering on him for a moment, Kizaru hastily raised his hands in a gesture of refusal.
Are you kidding me? Wouldn't it be much more comfortable to stay relaxed in Mariejois?
There's no need for a life-or-death battle with that kind of guy, he's the one known as the World Destroyer~~~
"Then the responsibility this time falls on you, Atlas."
"Jinbei and the others haven't left Mariejois yet?" Sengoku directed a questioning look at Atlas with a furrowed brow.
This time, the Shichibukai summoning order appeared to be a routine one, and only a handful responded, with Jinbei being the only one brought back by Atlas himself.
There are no updates on Pirate Empress and Hawkeye, leaving them clueless.
And as for Bartholomew Kuma? He is a good guy!
"I'm in the dark too. After dispatching them to their posts, I made my way back to Marineford," Atlas remarked, placing his hands behind his head, settling into a more relaxed posture.
He didn't turn down Sengoku's assignments.
Regarding the incident at Fish-Man Island, he wasn't directly involved. It seemed the five elders weren't particularly eager to see him since the Summit War.
He paid no attention to discomfort.
"So, what's my mission now? Should I stick around the headquarters and wait for that guy to show up?"
"I've heard that he's threatened to destroy Marine Headquarters and Mariejois. Perhaps it's safer to stay put here," Kizaru suggested.
Sengoku shook his head. Passively waiting for doom was never his approach.
"We just received fresh intel. Byrnndi World is heading towards Amazon Lily, and his likely target is Boa Hancock."
"In that case, I'd better handle it myself."
.....
Above the square, with the crescent-shaped port behind.
Smoker and Enel faced each other, with Kyros on the side, seemingly amused by the spectacle. The surroundings were deserted, except for the patrolling Marines in the distance, casting occasional curious glances.
"You two... really itching for a fight?" Kyros stepped back, eyes shifting between the pair.
Smoker tightened his lips, shooting a somewhat scornful look at Enel. "You can blame this kid for that. He's the one who insisted on dragging me into a competition."
"Even though we're both Logia users, your strength falls a bit short. It's almost embarrassing for a Logia user!"
Enel remained as proud as ever.
When they first crossed paths, Smoker and he were quite uneven in strength. However, after an extensive period of devil fruit training, Enel's prowess has steadily improved.
The Rumble-Rumble Fruit has exhibited glimpses of its formidable power, with its notable performance in the recent Summit War standing as compelling evidence.
Even aboard the Hakuryu, Enel persistently challenged Atlas multiple times, learning from the experience.
Since overpowering that man proved elusive, why not aim to become the second-strongest on the ship for now! !
"You still have a few years to go before you can surpass me!!"
Smoker, of course, wasn't about to be overshadowed. Despite Enel's visible progress, Smoker refused to concede that this guy's strength could match his own!
Swish——! ! !
Thunder surged, and echoing roars filled the air as Enel's figure vanished in an instant before Smoker.
Boom! ! !
Electric light enveloped the massive fist, piercing through Smoker in an instant. A burst of smoke erupted, shrouding Enel entirely, rendering anything unseen.
Crackling——! ! !
Thunder and lightning intertwined, electric arcs dancing like the beats of war drums, resonating throughout the entire area! ! !
After the thunder and lightning entwined with the smoke for a moment, a considerable amount of smoke swiftly condensed not far away, eventually taking the shape of Smoker.
"30,000,000 V Hino (Thirty Million Volts Thunder Bird)!!!"
As Smoker materialized, a phoenix-shaped thunderbird soared towards him, hitting him directly at the core.
The speed of the thunder and lightning left little time for him to react! !
A smoke barrier surged from the ground, instantly shielding Smoker.
....
Rushing out of the conference room door, Atlas collided with Smoker, who was concealed in the corner, casually smoking a cigarette.
"What's up? You look a bit down, Smoker."
Snap—!
Emerging from the shadows, a transformed Smoker caught Atlas's gaze.
——White hair with streaks of burnt black extended in all directions, resembling a tangle of weeds suspended in the air.
"Yo! Smoker, did you get a perm or something?!"
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