"Mariejois has never suffered like this before. This is a bigger catastrophe than the last time… How long has it been since then? Over a decade ago, during Fisher Tiger's rebellion?"

Aokiji stared in shock. Although he couldn't see all of Mariejois, the portion visible to him was completely ravaged.

"Fisher Tiger? He doesn't even compare." Akainu's voice was filled with disdain. His right fist glowed molten red, already transformed into magma and ready to strike.

Fisher Tiger had stormed Mariejois years ago to liberate his fellow Fish-Men. But he'd never harmed a Celestial Dragon. Despite hating them, Tiger had still been afraid of them. That rebellion, in the end, left the system intact.

This time, it was different.

Vane and his forces had invaded boldly, and no one could count how many Celestial Dragons had died—directly or indirectly.

Vane didn't hesitate to cut down any Celestial Dragon who crossed his path. No mercy. No fear. Just judgment.

"They look angry," Kaido muttered, his tone unreadable.

"Of course they are," Vane said with a smirk. "Wouldn't you be?"

"The Five Elders probably haven't even recovered yet."

Leaving Kaido's side, Vane shot through the air, heading straight for Garp and the others.

"I still don't have enough numbers here."

On his side, it was only him, Kaido, and the Kyuubi. The Navy had rallied not only their top Admirals but also elite Vice Admirals and battle-hardened veterans.

"Mariejois… it's a nightmare."

Countless Marines stared up at Vane, their faces a blend of dread and awe. Most of them had spent their lives in service, and yet none had seen destruction like this.

"That's Vane… and Kaido! Is that Kaido's mythical dragon form?"

The sight of Kaido hovering in the sky, scales glinting like steel, sent chills down their spines. Many forgot they were supposed to stop the slave uprising. Their legs trembled. Some simply collapsed from fear.

The sky above twisted with storm clouds. Thunder rolled and lightning flashed. Dawn should have broken by now—it was already past four in the morning—but there was no light.

Only chaos.

Kaido landed beside Vane again, resuming his human form. They stood shoulder to shoulder, glaring down at the Navy formation.

"They're approaching," someone shouted. Garp and the others immediately went on alert. Garp removed his cloak for mobility.

"Is this what it means to protect the Celestial Dragons?" Garp muttered bitterly to himself. "Let's not let this happen again."

Standing beside him, Tsuru spoke coldly, "If we don't stop him now, he'll become the world's greatest threat. Maybe he started out righteous, but he's no hero now."

"He's still under sixteen," Aokiji replied quietly.

Sengoku suddenly shouted, "Restrain this chaos! Round up every last slave!"

Even as he yelled, Sengoku knew the words were hollow. It was protocol, nothing more. Like Garp's claims to protect the Celestial Dragons, it was the script they were expected to read, even if their hearts disagreed.

"Garp, I'm going to assist Kong. He's not doing so well."

Sengoku glanced toward Kong, whose battle with the Kyuubi was visibly wearing him down.

In a flash, Sengoku vanished, using Soru to move at blinding speed. Within seconds, he reappeared beside Kong.

"Damn it, what even is this thing?"

Kong, panting heavily, stared at the Kyuubi in disbelief. At that moment, the creature struck him square in the chest. Blood trickled from Kong's mouth, his tattered vest falling away to reveal a war-hardened body, carved with scars and muscle.

"Marshal Kong, I've got your back!"

Sengoku tossed aside his cloak. A golden aura erupted from his body as he transformed into his Great Buddha form—his legendary Zoan fruit granting him a giant, shining figure of divine fury.

Kong wiped his mouth and shouted, "Sengoku, don't underestimate this thing! It's an ancient monster—and it can fire some kind of explosive orb!"

"I'm not taking any chances. I haven't fought seriously since Golden Lion, twenty years ago."

Sengoku raised a massive palm toward the Kyuubi. "Another powerful creature… interesting," the beast growled.

"You can speak?" Sengoku narrowed his eyes.

"Surprised?" Kyuubi rumbled. "You're not the only evolved ones."

"You're an animal-type user, huh? Doesn't matter. If you stand with Vane, then you're staying here—permanently."

"Shockwave!"

A golden energy blast tore from Sengoku's palm, ripping the ground apart. The shockwave slammed into the Kyuubi, blasting it back more than thirty meters before it crashed and tumbled to a halt.

"Kong! Let's double-team him!" Sengoku shouted.

"Agreed."

"We'll split up and flank him!"

The two vanished, moving with veteran precision.

Meanwhile, Vane hovered in the air, watching the confrontation below. He was about eight meters off the ground, Kaido silently beside him. Beneath them, terrified slaves continued fleeing, their chance bought by the chaos Vane had unleashed.

"Vane! Where is Gion? That's the female officer you abducted!"

Tsuru's voice rang out, laced with fury and desperation.

"Gion?" Vane raised a brow and chuckled. "She's mine now. She's with me, and she'll remain with me."

"You…"

Tsuru's fists clenched in rage. The thought of Gion—a fellow Navy woman—being toyed with by a pirate made her blood boil. She had seen too much cruelty in her career to accept that.

If only she knew how content Gion was now…

"Enough talk," Akainu snarled. "There's no point reasoning with scum!"

Without warning, he shot forward, magma fist blazing. Kizaru followed, his right leg flashing with light as he launched a powerful beam kick.

As both Admirals surged toward them, Kaido cracked his knuckles, his face grim.

"Hellhound!"

Akainu roared, his magma fist tearing through the air.

"I'm still here," Kaido muttered as he jumped forward. His punch collided directly with Akainu's flaming blow, magma meeting brute force in a thunderous explosion. Despite his size, Kaido moved with shocking speed.

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