The thunderous clash between Sengoku, Rayleigh, and Scopper Gaban roared across the battlefield like a raging storm. The ship beneath their feet trembled under the force of each blow, groaning as wood splintered and cracked. Sengoku, his frame bathed in golden light, kept his arms crossed in front of him defensively, eyes sharp as he scanned his opponents.
Scopper Gaban darted in from the side, his twin axes glinting in the dimming sky. With an acrobatic leap, he twisted his body midair and roared,
{AERIAL SPLINTER}
He swung downward, his axe trailing with a streak of silver, aiming to cleave Sengoku's defenses apart.
Sengoku's senses flared, his observation of Haki kicking in, but not fast enough to fully counter. He blocked the strike with his forearm, and the impact echoed across the battlefield like a cannon blast. Splinters of wood burst from beneath his feet, and his arm tingled from the raw power of the blow.
"Not quick enough," Scopper grinned through clenched teeth as his weapon bit into Sengoku's golden skin.
Just as Sengoku raised a hand to retaliate, another silhouette flickered in his side view, Rayleigh, moving with terrifying speed. Rayleigh's sword slashed horizontally, a deadly arc filled with blackened Haki. His strike was precise and spotted the weak spot quickly.
Sengoku could see the intent behind the blow-a strike not to subdue but to kill. Red and yellow Haki burst from the clash of wills, the auras wrapping around them like rival storms, crackling with raw power. Sengoku's lips curled into a snarl as he braced for the impact.
{NIRVANA-
Sengoku called out, his voice booming like thunder.
At the moment Rayleigh's blade struck, Sengoku's body stilled, his form unmoving as if frozen. With his arms crossed in front of him, the blows from Rayleigh and Scopper landed on his golden figure—but instead of injuring him, the energy of their attacks seemed to fold inwards.
And then Sengoku unleashed.
-COUNTER}, he roared, a violent burst of air pressure erupting from his body.
The shockwave surged outward with unstoppable force, sending both Rayleigh and Scopper flying backward. Rayleigh grunted, blood splattering from his lips as a gash tore across his ribs—the exact same place where his sword had struck Sengoku. Scopper staggered, his forearm split open in the same spot where his axe had connected.
Both fighters hit the deck hard, coughing and grimacing from the mirrored wounds. Sengoku's Counter had reflected their own attacks back upon them.
Rayleigh clutched his side, cursing under his breath. "Damn it, what an annoying Devil Fruit!"
Scopper groaned as he tried to stand, blood dripping from his arm. "It's like fighting a fortress."
Sengoku stood panting; his golden form flickered faintly as exhaustion began to creep in. He spread his Haki outward again, a wave of focused energy that swept across the warship. Through the chaos and carnage, his senses registered something strange—the ship was eerily quiet.
"They've evacuated," Sengoku muttered to himself, realizing that the marines had already abandoned the ship, likely retreating to shore, thankfully. The battle that happened here wasn't a field they could survive on.
He raised his hand one last time.
{NIRVANA IMPACT}
A brilliant, golden aura surged around him as his palm struck the ground with a deafening boom. The ship shuddered violently, wooden planks exploding into the air as the entire vessel cracked in half and began to sink.
Rayleigh and Scopper leaped from the collapsing ship, landing on the frozen shore just as the warship began to disappear beneath the waves. They looked back, just to see, looming in the sky above them, was Sengoku.
Sengoku hovered midair, arms outstretched in a fearsome stance, his golden aura blazing brighter than ever. With a single thrust of his hand, he unleashed another powerful shockwave.
{VAYU IMPACT}
The air shimmered, distorting from the sheer force of the attack as the wave tore through the sky, racing toward Rayleigh and Scopper. Scopper stumbled, trying to evade the blast, but Rayleigh was faster.
With a grim expression, Rayleigh grabbed Scopper by the collar and hurled him clear of the shockwave. "Get out of here!" he shouted, planting his feet firmly in the frozen shore.
Veins showed from Rayleigh's temple as he gripped his sword with both hands. Haki flooded his blade, the blackened edge glowing ominously as the shockwave barreled toward him.
{DARK ARC}
Rayleigh roared, swinging his blade vertically in a mighty arc.
The clash was catastrophic. Waves of energy rippled outward from the point of impact, shattering ice and cracking the earth beneath Rayleigh's feet. The sheer force of the collision caused both Roger and Garp—locked in battle further inland—to pause.
Roger glanced toward the shore with a serious expression. "Sengoku…"
Garp gritted his teeth, sensing the shift in momentum. "He's rushing things," Garp muttered under his breath, frustration flickering in his eyes. "He can't stay long in that form..."
They were so close to capturing Roger, but now everything was spiraling out of control. Garp cursed under his breath, realizing they might have to abandon the chase after all.
[The Battle Ship]
Draco stood with a sinister grin, towering over the broken form of Akainu, his hands methodically tearing off Akainu's limbs one by one. Each time, Draco would heal the wounds, only to repeat the process again. Akainu's screams had quieted now, his voice hoarse from the agony, his consciousness slipping in and out from the overwhelming pain.
Nearby, Kizaru glared at Draco, fury burning in his usually carefree eyes. Injured from Homer's heavy attack, Kizaru's gaze flicked toward the top of the quarterdeck, where a familiar figure emerged—a tall, lean man with dark, curly hair that flared at the tips and tanned skin. He wore a marine coat that fluttered in the cold wind.
Kuzan. The future Admiral Aokiji had arrived.
Kizaru raised a brow and gave a sarcastic chuckle. "Kuzan… how considerate of you to finally show up. Things are a bit... heated down here."
Kuzan let out a weary sigh. "Yeah, yeah… I know. Let's cool things off."
Without another word, Aokiji bent his knees and launched himself toward the center of the chaos, his marine coat billowing behind him. He landed near Akainu and Draco, his hands covered with a freezing aura.
{ICE AGE}
he yelled, slamming both palms against the ground.
Saint Homer noticing this leaped up in the to dodge the devil fruit's ability.
"Watch out!"
Frost spread rapidly across the battlefield, coating everything in a thick layer of ice. Draco stood motionless as the frost climbed up his legs, encasing his entire body in solid ice.
For a moment, everything seemed still.
But then cracks appeared along Draco's frozen form, spreading quickly until the ice shattered entirely. He emerged unscathed, his cold eyes locking onto Aokiji.
Before anyone could react further, the battlefield trembled again, this time from a distant blast of air pressure. Sengoku's earlier attack on Rayleigh had finally reached the sinking ship, tilting it violently onto its side.
Everyone still aboard the wreck leaped toward the frozen shore, landing near Draco, Akainu, and the others. Draco, still holding onto the limp form of Akainu like a toy, looked toward Rayleigh, who stood with labored breath, grinning despite the blood trickling from his mouth.
"You still got more, huh? Keep 'em coming!" Rayleigh yelled towards Sengoku, readying his sword again.
Sengoku, with a stern expression, readied his strike and still in the air, blitzed towards Rayleigh, both ready to clash.
But before Sengoku could strike, Draco moved with incomprehensible speed, appearing between them in an instant. He caught Rayleigh's sword with one hand and Sengoku's wrist with the other, stopping both attacks cold.
Both confused and about to comment on what just happened, Draco sighed and hurled Sengoku into the forest with a flick of his wrist. "Oops... meant to throw him a little closer," he muttered, watching Sengoku crash through trees and boulders.
Sengoku bloodied but furious, scrambled to his feet and returned to the shore—only to find Akainu lying broken and helpless beneath Draco's foot.
Sengoku stood amidst the chaos, his golden aura flickering like a candle caught in a tempest. His eyes narrowed, a deep glare locking onto Draco, who stood at the edge of the fray, nonchalant yet ominously calm. Sengoku's heart raced; the tide of battle had shifted unexpectedly, and his mind was ablaze with questions.
"What's the meaning of this?" Sengoku demanded, his voice a low growl, echoing through the remnants of the battlefield. His throat felt constricted, the urgency of the moment clawing at him like a cat scratching at a door, desperate to escape.
Draco met Sengoku's intense gaze with an unsettling calmness. Draco's demeanor was almost unnerving, radiating confidence that seemed to not match his age. "I want to negotiate," he replied smoothly, his voice steady. "Retreat now, and you might get to help Sakazuki before he bleeds out."
The words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of implication. Sengoku's throat felt tight, like the cats got his tongue, deep within as he grappled with the implications of Draco's proposal.
In that moment, there was a long silence. Sengoku's eyes flickered with a mix of fury and confusion, struggling to process this unexpected turn of events.
Across the battlefield, Garp, bloodied but still standing tall, stepped forward, his forearms crossed firmly over his chest. The Marine still in his prime, looked weary, lines etched deep in his face, yet his spirit remained unbroken. "We'll retreat," he announced, this cut the tension of the silence completely.
Sengoku turned his head quickly, caught off guard by Garp's swift acquiescence. "What?!" he yelled, frustration flaring within him. But before he could protest further, Garp continued, "What's your name, kid?"
"Draco," his tone was unwavering.
"You in Roger's crew?"
"no, I'm just an ally, looking to travel on his journey. Not officially part of his crew."
Garp furrowed his brow, absorbing the information. A mix of relief and curiosity washed over him. How strong is this kid? he wondered, glancing at Draco's child features. The youth had effortlessly defeated an admiral candidate, and yet there were no scratches on him. The more he considered it, the more he felt a stirring of respect.
"Great, nice meeting you, Draco," Garp said, his voice warm despite the circumstances. "We'll head out now. Just give us Akainu."
With a swift, casual motion, Draco lifted Akainu's limp body and tossed it towards Garp. Sakazuki flopped like a ragdoll, his features pale and contorted in pain. Garp caught him effortlessly, slinging Akainu over his shoulder as if he were a mere sack of potatoes.
As Garp began to turn, Sengoku finally found his voice, his frustration boiling over. "Garp! We were so close to catching Roger!" His shout echoed, desperate and filled with helplessness.
But Garp, now burdened by Akainu's unconscious form, yelled back, "We have to save him before he dies! It's for the future of the Marines! If we lose Sakazuki, we lose a significant part of our fighting force! Think about all the resources and time invested in training him. It would be a waste!"
Sengoku opened his mouth to retort but paused, his expression faltering. He glanced down at the ground, his fists clenching tightly. A burst of emotions coursed through him: anger, frustration, and the bitter taste of defeat.
"Alright," he finally muttered, his voice low and filled with anger and helplessness. His angered eyes remained glued to the ground, unable to show his disrespectable side of him.
Draco observed them, the dynamic between Sengoku and Garp intriguing him. He felt a strange mix of admiration and frustration as he watched the two legendary Marines grapple with their decision.
Kuzan and Borsalino stood back, their expressions cautious, hesitant to take action without the acknowledgment of their superiors. They exchanged glances before both putting their shoulders up as if confused.
As the Marines began to retreat, Draco's thoughts turned inward. He hoped that Akainu had learned his lesson today. The stakes were high, and more importantly, Draco knew that he wanted the Marines to retreat—not just for Akainu's sake, but for a greater reason.
He couldn't allow Roger to be captured. The One Piece was out there, a mystery that dragged him on like a pig to a carrot stick. Draco wanted to see it, to understand the treasure that had shaped the very world around him. He couldn't stall Roger's journey any more than it already was.
He stood on the edge of the battlefield, watching the retreating figures of the Marines fade into the distance. Killing Akainu would only lead to more chaos and nuisance for him. He could end the World Government and the Marines himself, but that would be pure stupidity to take such an action.
The world required balance, a system in place to maintain order. Without it, there would be chaos a rampant spread of lawlessness, almost to a world without justice where greed took over and morality wasn't there anymore. Draco understood that all too well, being a special force gave him the experience needed. He saw so many things that could harm the human eyes, wishing to dig them out but with that came the necessary skills to survive on the battlefield.
Draco couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope amidst the uncertainty. Perhaps, through his actions today, he had preserved not only the course of history but also the balance of power. The world wasn't ready for a drastic change yet, not while there was still so much at stake.
As the ship disappeared from view, he sighed deeply, his gaze lingering on the horizon. The journey was far from over, and he was determined to see it, the ONE PIECE.