A/N:
Dear Readers,
As we celebrate reaching the monumental milestone of Chapter 100, I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for your unwavering support. Your enthusiasm and encouragement have been the driving force behind every word written, and it's because of you that this story has come to life in such a meaningful way.
From the very first chapter to this significant hundredth, your comments, likes, and messages have made this journey incredibly rewarding. Your passion for the story and its characters inspires me daily, and I'm thrilled to see how deeply invested you are in the world we've built together.
As we move forward, I hope to continue to earn your support and trust. Your feedback and engagement are invaluable, and I'm excited to share even more thrilling adventures and heartfelt moments with you.
For those eager to dive deeper into the story and enjoy advanced chapters, you can do so on my Patreon. Your support there will not only give you early access but also help sustain the creative process that brings this story to life.
Thank you once again for your incredible support. Here's to many more chapters and adventures together!
With heartfelt gratitude,
[Silent_stiele]
Patreon : www.patreon.com/Silent_stiele
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As a special treat for this milestone, I'm thrilled to share a spoiler in the comments: a list of the Shichibukai and their bounty posters. I hope you enjoy this exclusive peek into the story's future!
[WANTED]
DRACULE MIHAWK
DEAD OR ALIVE
645,200,000 Belly
*
[WANTED]
SIR CROCODILE
DEAD OR ALIVE
381,000,000 Belly
*
[WANTED]
HECTOR BARBAROSSA
DEAD OR ALIVE
789,900,000 Belly
*
[WANTED]
ANNE BONNEY
DEAD OR ALIVE
888,000,000 Belly
*
[WANTED]
GECKO MORIA
DEAD OR ALIVE
310,000,000 Belly
*
[WANTED]
OCHOKU IRONJAW
DEAD OR ALIVE
729,600,000 Belly
*
[WANTED]
EMPRESS SHAKUYAKU
DEAD OR ALIVE
940,000,000 Belly
--
I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE IMAGES USED IN THE POSTER. IN CASE ANYONE WOULD LIKE ME TO TAKE THEM DOWN, PLEASE DO NOTIFY ME.
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"Inugami Guren!" Akainu launched a massive wave of magma shaped like a fanged dog's head, aiming it directly at Doffy. The current Akainu was a formidable force, someone who could match Issho.
Perhaps the current Issho, after his hellish training, would triumph over Akainu in a life-and-death battle, but the difference wouldn't be that great. As for Doffy, he was not yet at Issho's level, so he was clearly struggling against Akainu's relentless attacks. Although Doffy's blue flames were superior to the magma, Akainu seemed to overpower him with sheer brute strength.
"I will make sure to bury you beneath the waves today, you pirate scum!" Akainu roared, sending an even bigger magma dragon after seeing Doffy manage to defend against the previous attack.
"Hehehehe, Akainu, your time's up! Take care not to be struck by lightning!!!" Doffy taunted as he retracted his flames despite the incoming attack. This left Akainu confused for a moment. Then, lightning flashed, lighting up the entire night sky. Thunder rumbled as if announcing the descent of a god.
"Lightning Dragon!!!" I roared as I traversed through the sky, aiming at the magma dragon closing in on the ship.
A massive black lightning dragon, almost ten times the size of the magma dragon, manifested from the clouds. It clashed with the magma dragon, enveloping it as if swallowing it whole. The sheer force of the collision sent shockwaves through the air and sea, lighting up the night in a blinding display of power; however, the attack did not stop there and rushed towards the Marine ship, picking up more speed.
Akainu's eyes widened in shock, but his resolve didn't waver. He braced himself, ready for the incoming move. "You think you can intimidate me with your tricks? I am justice incarnate!" he roared, his magma fist transforming into a massive, burning claw.
"What in God's name is that? Is that what an ancient weapon looks like?" A Marine soldier fell to the ground in terror as the massive black dragon, made of crackling lightning, poised itself to strike them.
"Marine! Stand your ground! As long as we have Vice Admiral Akainu by our side, we do not have to fear anyone!" A captain roared, trying to rebuild morale among his troops. The sheer display of power sent chills down his spine, but he comforted himself with the thought that Akainu was still there, a bastion of strength and resolve.
The captain's words seemed to steady the ranks, though fear still lingered in the eyes of many. The immense power of the lightning dragon was unlike anything they had ever faced. It wasn't just a display of strength; it was a manifestation of raw, untamed elemental fury.
Meanwhile, Akainu stood firm at the forefront, his eyes burning with determination. "You think your parlor tricks can intimidate the Marines?" he shouted, his voice booming over the roaring storm. "I will bring you down, no matter what it takes!"
Akainu's magma fist transformed into a blazing inferno, ready to clash with the lightning dragon. The intense heat radiating from his body created a visible distortion in the air around him, a testament to his overwhelming power.
But I was ready. "Akainu, you underestimate what you're up against," I said, my voice echoing with the thunder that rumbled above.
With a roar, I commanded the lightning dragon to strike. It surged forward with incredible speed, a blinding streak of light aiming straight for Akainu. The air crackled with electricity, and the sea below churned violently from the immense energy.
"Dai Funka!!!"
Akainu met the attack head-on, his magma fist colliding with the lightning dragon in a spectacular explosion of fire and lightning. The resulting shockwave was so powerful that it sent waves crashing against the nearby shores and caused the very air to vibrate.
But then, despite Akainu's efforts, the lightning tore through him, but he managed to elementalize himself to divert most of the damage and save the ship he was standing on. Magma splashed around and started reforming.
The Marine soldiers watched in awe and terror as the two forces clashed. Some shielded their eyes from the blinding light, while others braced themselves against the powerful gusts of wind that followed each collision.
"Hold your positions!" the captain shouted, his voice barely audible over the cacophony of battle. "Do not let your fear control you!"
But before Akainu could recover from the last attack, I descended upon him with the force of a tempest. "Akainu, your brute strength won't save you here," I declared, my voice crackling with the power of the storm.
As I closed in, I could see the determination in Akainu's eyes. He wasn't going to back down. The next moment, our clash shook the very foundation of the sea around us. The lightning dragon and the magma claw collided, creating a burst of energy that rippled outward in waves of raw power.
The battle was intense. Akainu's magma burned with relentless fury, but my lightning surged with unparalleled intensity. Each strike was a test of endurance and will. The air around us crackled and hissed with the force of our clashing elements.
Doffy, now free from Akainu's immediate assault, took the opportunity to rally his own strength. His blue flames danced around him as he prepared to join the fray once more. "Hehehehe, it looks like it's time for me to turn up the heat," he chuckled, his eyes glinting with a mix of excitement and determination.
He took advantage of the chaos. "Hehehehe, it seems like the tables have turned," he smirked, his flames dancing around him as he moved to support me. Despite his earlier struggles, he now found openings to strike at Akainu, adding to the Vice Admiral's mounting difficulties.
As the battle raged on, the sea boiled and the sky roared. The clash of titans was a sight to behold, a testament to the power and resolve of those who stood at the pinnacle of strength. The Fish-Man leader, now steering the galleon to safety, watched in awe and fear, realizing the true scale of the conflict they had become entangled in.
Amidst this turmoil, the Fish-Man leader continued to steer the galleon away from the conflict, his eyes wide with a mix of fear and determination. "We must get to safety," he urged his crew, glancing back at the titanic struggle. "Our fight is over for now. Let's leave this to them."
As the galleon moved further away, the sounds of battle slowly faded, but the sight of the lightning dragon and magma fist remained etched in their minds. It was a reminder of the sheer power that existed in the world and the formidable opponents they might face in the future.
"Doffy, get the ship ready for departure . We're going to dive under," I commanded, manifesting a few meters away from the ship and tossing the unconscious form of Katakuri onto the deck. The crew stared in shock.
"Little Brother, you sure are confident, fighting while carrying him?" Doffy remarked with a chuckle, gesturing comically to the broken form of Katakuri. He still had the mind to jest amidst all this chaos.
"Make the preparations to dive under, NOW!" I bellowed, returning to the clash with Akainu, while Doffy barked orders for immediate departure. Even he understood this was not the time to get entangled with the Marines, especially so close to Marineford and Mary Geoise.
I transformed into lightning and appeared on top of the Marine warship under the shocked gazes of the Marines. Akainu had recovered from the earlier attack, but he seemed to be straining as residual lightning still coursed through him, causing discomfort.
"Donquixote Rosinante! I will kill you," Akainu declared, stepping up to prepare for his next attack. But I chuckled, a smile forming as massive thunderclouds gathered above. I knew he wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice every Marine on this ship, but the same couldn't be said for the World Government ship that was sailing in.
Akainu saw me smirk and instinctively turned to see the approaching ship, his realization hitting him hard. "You bastard, what do you think you're doing? There's a Tenryubito on board!" he roared. But before he could make a move, a massive lightning bolt descended on the World Government's ship.
Akainu had been the escort for the Celestial Dragon, but he had moved ahead after getting reports from the Marine base on Sabaody, leaving the Tenryubito behind. Now, the criminal before him was directly targeting the Celestial Dragon's ship.
The lightning struck the ship squarely, but it was meant to cripple, not kill. This forced Akainu to either rescue the sinking ship or at least save the sinking Celestial Dragon. During this time, our galleon was already enclosed in a bubble and still within my observation Haki's range.
"Marines, defend the ship! I'll deal with him," Akainu ordered, his voice thunderous and filled with fury.
With Akainu momentarily distracted, I took the opportunity to survey the battlefield. The warship's deck was a chaotic scene, with Marines scrambling to their posts, some firing cannons in a desperate attempt to hit our retreating ship, while the rest frantically turned their ship towards the sinking World Government's ship. The air was thick with tension, and the smell of ozone from the lightning strike.
"Doffy, now's our chance. Dive!" I shouted through the storm, my voice reaching him across the distance.
Doffy didn't hesitate. "All hands, prepare for submersion! We're diving now!" he commanded, his voice cutting through the chaos. The Fish-Men quickly adjusted the ship's mechanisms, and the bubble surrounding the galleon began to submerge into the safety of the ocean's depths.
As I prepared to make my next move, Akainu's voice boomed again, filled with rage and determination. "You won't escape, Rosinante!" He launched himself toward me, his magma fist glowing with deadly heat.
But I was ready. "You underestimate me, Akainu," I said, my voice calm despite the storm raging around us. I gathered the energy within me, the air crackling with anticipation. "Let me show you the true power of the Donquixote family."
With a roar, I unleashed a torrent of lightning, meeting Akainu's magma head-on. The clash was spectacular, a dazzling display of elemental fury that lit up the night sky and sent shockwaves rippling across the ocean.
Despite the intensity of the clash, I could see the tide turning in our favor. The galleon was now fully submerged, safely out of the immediate danger zone. I no longer needed to stall with one last mast discharge aimed at the sinking World Government ship. I retreated, manifesting back inside the safety of the buble on the deck of our ship.
As I reappeared on the ship, everyone except for Doffy stared in shock. As Fish-Men, they were well aware of Devil Fruits and the inherent weakness that came alongside them. Seeing me traverse through nearly a hundred meters of seawater in my lightning form defied everything they knew.
Panting and a bit pale, I could feel the toll the effort had taken on me. The stamina drain from using my lightning powers under the sea's influence was immense, but I was satisfied with my progress.
"It seems like your resistance to the sea has increased yet again, brother," Doffy remarked with a chuckle, tapping me on the shoulder. "I wonder when I can become like you and not fear the sea with a Devil Fruit power. That's something I would like to achieve someday."
His words held a mix of admiration and ambition, a testament to our shared dreams and the challenges we faced. As the seconds passed, our ship descended deeper and deeper into the sea, making its way toward Fish-Man Island. The waters around us grew darker, the pressure increasing, but the fishmen navigated expertly, ensuring our safe passage.
"Prepare for arrival at Fish-Man Island," Doffy announced to the crew. "We will have to depart Fishmen Island right after we arrive on the island."
The Fish-Men crew, despite their earlier shock, moved with purpose and precision. They very much wanted to host us at Fishmen Island, but Doffy refused their offer as we had to make haste to Dressrosa. They adjusted the mechanisms of the bubble that surrounded the ship, ensuring it remained intact as we plunged into the depths. The deeper we went, the more serene the surroundings became; the chaos of the surface world was left far behind.
I took a moment to steady myself, focusing on my breathing. The confrontation with Akainu had been intense, and the escape even more so. Yet, we had succeeded, and now we were heading towards a sanctuary of sorts.
"Ross Kun, your control over your powers is truly remarkable," said the Fish-Man leader, his voice filled with awe. "We owe you our lives. The way you fought and then traversed the sea, it's beyond anything we've ever seen. I swear on my daughter's life that I will keep what I saw a secret, and so will the others." He very much wanted to know how I achieved it, but then wisely chose not to delve into that matter.
I nodded, acknowledging his words. "Thank you. But this is just the beginning. We have a long road ahead, and I hope you haven't forgotten what you promised me in exchange."
As we descended the depths towards Fish-Man Island, the scene of the underwater life began to illuminate the dark waters, creating a beautiful and welcoming sight. It was a stark contrast to the earlier destruction and chaos. The crew, despite their exhaustion, couldn't help but feel a sense of relief and anticipation.