The other four Five Elders also heard the Den Den Mushi transmission, and their expressions turned grim.
"Five Elders, Caelan is utterly lawless. We must not let him go unpunished!"
Spandine knelt on the floor, speaking with righteous urgency.
"Shut up! You're just saying that now?!"
Saint Saturn roared.
Just moments ago, they had been discussing how to manipulate Caelan with Berries, even considering raising his bounty.
Now, they all looked like fools.
"He destroyed CP9 two days ago, and now he dares to openly collect a bounty from us?"
"What does he take us for, clowns?!"
Saint Mars trembled in rage.
"We haven't even issued a wanted notice yet, and he's already bold enough to rob the Celestial Dragons. He's clearly decided to oppose the World Government."
Saint Warcury's voice was deep and cold.
Caelan's actions didn't seem carefully planned, more like a sudden outburst. A final act of defiance.
"There's no need to discuss it anymore. He's now the World Government's greatest enemy."
"Order Kizaru and Garp to pursue him immediately. Let him learn what it means to challenge the World Government!"
Saint Saturn grabbed the Den Den Mushi and gave the command to Kizaru, Garp, and Akainu to encircle and eliminate Caelan.
The atmosphere in the hall was suffocating. Spandine, having accomplished his goal, knelt trembling on the floor, not daring to look up.
In his eyes, the Five Elders had transformed into terrifying monsters, each more savage than the last.
…
The dog-headed warship was speeding back toward the Sabaody Archipelago. On deck, both Garp and Kizaru wore grave expressions.
"After wiping out CP9, he acted like nothing happened. Caelan really has guts."
Garp had no energy left to scold his grandson. He could only sigh at how calm Caelan had looked earlier.
Just a while ago, he had been thinking it would've been fine if Luffy had become a bounty hunter instead of a pirate—someone like Caelan.
Who would've thought that Caelan would end up being even more troublesome.
When he acts, it's either all or nothing. And when he does act, it's always earth-shattering.
"Caelan is terrifying. He even dared to attack the Celestial Dragons..."
Kizaru adjusted his yellow sunglasses, clearly exasperated.
Capturing Rayleigh had already been exhausting. He hadn't expected Caelan to go after the Celestial Dragons next.
The mere thought of fighting Caelan gave him a headache.
Ugh… If only I were the one on medical leave in the hospital.
Kizaru thought enviously of Aokiji, who was currently "on vacation" due to injuries.
"Enough talking. Let's go find that brat and have a good fight.
"Hahaha!"
Garp laughed and patted Kizaru on the shoulder.
"Sigh. Such a pain."
Kizaru sighed, his reluctance obvious.
"Luffy, don't run off. Stay put until Grandpa finishes fighting."
Garp looked at his grandson seriously.
The coming battle would be intense, and the scale unpredictable.
Keeping Luffy on the warship was the only way to ensure his safety.
"No!"
Luffy shook his head defiantly.
Garp's brow twitched. This troublesome kid never listens.
Bang!
With one heavy punch, Luffy collapsed unconscious.
When words don't work, the Iron Fist of Love will.
Nearby, Rayleigh, still lying limp next to Bogard, sighed deeply.
So it turns out Caelan wiped out CP9 two days ago…
And they only realized it after handing him over for a bounty.
If he'd caused a scene earlier, Caelan wouldn't have been able to turn him in.
But now that it had come to this, there was no point in regret.
"Heh… fighting the Celestial Dragons? The bigger the mess, the better."
Rayleigh smirked inwardly, secretly rooting for Caelan.
The more chaos, the better his chance to escape.
…
The Celestial Dragons' ship had gone completely silent.
CP0, the supposed elite intelligence agency and strongest shield of the Celestial Dragons, had been incapacitated by Gecko Moria and were now mere resources for his zombie army.
"Haha, these shadows are top-tier!"
Moria was intoxicated with delight, enjoying the CP0 agents' shadows.
He'd clearly been led astray by Caelan and was starting to fear what he'd become.
The World Government? Ha, it's all meaningless!
"Should I form my own CP organization?"
Caelan rubbed his chin, finding the idea amusing.
The combat strength of Moria's zombie army now relied on the shadows of CP9 and CP0 agents.
If the opportunity arose, maybe he really could wipe out the rest of the CP network and build it into his own force.
Using the World Government's own lackeys against them… that would be satisfying.
Just as Caelan was mulling this over, Moria dragged out two Celestial Dragons wearing their ridiculous bubble hoods and brought them before him.
Behind them, the zombie army hauled the treasures from the cabin onto the deck.
"Old acquaintances!" Caelan chuckled as he looked at the Celestial Dragons in front of him.
They were none other than Saint Rosward and his bloated slug of a son, Saint Charlos.
"Lowly trash! Let us go at once! We, the noble Celestial Dragons, are not to be defiled!"
Saint Charlos spat venomously, snot dripping from his nose.
Even now, they still believed that their status would make everyone kneel before them, just like their countless slaves.
"Bastard! Who gave you the nerve to touch the Celestial Dragons?!"
"You'll die a miserable death, and the women beside you will be turned into the lowest of slaves!"
Saint Rosward screamed despite having his face stepped into the floor.
Caelan's expression darkened. He raised his foot and stomped down twice, not using full force.
Killing them instantly would be too easy.
Bang! Bang!
The arrogant Celestial Dragons were immediately reduced to bloody, swollen messes.
"You filthy commoners! How dare you hurt us! You're all dead!"
Saint Charlos glared at Caelan as if he could kill him with his eyes.
Saint Rosward glanced at his son in disbelief. Normally such a coward, why was he acting tough now?
"One stab per person. Don't let them die too quickly."
Caelan snorted coldly, his tone grim.
"What are you doing?! I'm a World Noble! You'll be punished by the heavens if you harm me!"
Saint Charlos was now truly panicking and shrieked in terror.
Nami and the other women stepped forward, grinning.
They no longer feared the so-called "World Nobles." They were already enemies, so why hesitate?
Slaves? The lowest?
In the terrified eyes of Saint Rosward and Saint Charlos, each woman stepped forward and stabbed once.
"Aaagh! Aahhh! AAAAAHH!"
The screams echoed like slaughtered pigs.
The two Celestial Dragons wept, completely broken by the pain and fear.
Soon, several more holes were opened in their bodies. With blood loss mounting, their shrieking stopped, and they finally quieted down.
"They look much better now." Caelan nodded in satisfaction.
"Caelan, here's everything we recovered."
Gecko Moria and his zombie army stacked all the treasures from the ship in front of Caelan, not missing a single item.
"There are four Devil Fruits, a hundred million Berries, and more than ten other treasures."
Moria presented the haul carefully, handing over a Devil Fruit encyclopedia.
It was a sizable loot, but the Berries weren't much—most of it had probably been spent back at Sabaody Archipelago. As for the so-called "treasures," they were just odd trinkets with no real value.
The only items worth noting were the four Devil Fruits.
Caelan took the encyclopedia and examined them one by one.
"Paramecia-type Bed-Bed Fruit? What kind of garbage is this?!"
It could turn people into various types of beds. Completely useless, though it did match the twisted preferences of the Celestial Dragons.
"Cat-Cat Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Model: Nekomata. Bird-Bird Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Model: Garuda. Logia-type Cloud-Cloud Fruit."
Caelan nodded, clearly pleased.
Compared to the joke that was the Bed-Bed Fruit, these three were genuine rarities.
The Nekomata and Garuda were top-tier Mythical Zoan-type Fruits, on par with what Kaido had stockpiled.
And the Cloud-Cloud Fruit? A weather-controlling Logia. Creating thunderclouds and manipulating weather patterns would be trivial with that power.
Honestly, those two Celestial Dragons had arrived just in time, as if they'd known Caelan needed more firepower and decided to personally deliver it.
"The Cloud-Cloud Fruit is for Nami. The Nekomata Fruit goes to Tashigi. The Garuda Fruit is Vivi's. Eat them. Now."
Caelan shoved the fruits into their hands, not leaving room for refusal.
"No way! These are way too valuable!"
Nami and the others hesitated.
Devil Fruits were treasures of the sea. Even the most ordinary ones started at 100 million Berries. These three? Easily worth over a billion each.
"There's no such thing as 'too valuable' between us. If eating them helps me, then that's all that matters."
Caelan frowned. His tone was resolute.
He still had 4.8 billion Berries on the Heroic Spirit Synchronization System—money wasn't an issue.
More importantly, a major battle was coming. These Devil Fruits could shift the balance.
It was better to use them now, turning them into actual strength.
"Alright!"
Vivi, Nami, and Tashigi exchanged glances and nodded firmly.
By eating the Devil Fruits, they'd be able to support Caelan in battle.
Later on, the value of those Fruits would be repaid many times over.
"Ugh!"
The three women each took a bite, then grimaced in pain at the awful taste.
But they forced it down, determined not to waste it.
Moments later, changes began to take place.
Tashigi transformed into a graceful black cat with two tails, her body shrouded in blue flames.
Vivi turned into a majestic golden roc, blazing with radiant light.
Nami was enveloped in clouds and mist, her body constantly shifting like vapor.
"So magical… so powerful!"
Moria felt a rare sense of security.
Watching Caelan casually hand out top-tier Devil Fruits made him feel safer than ever.
He even felt a strange urge to become a woman, just to boost his survival chances.
Soon, Nami, Vivi, and Tashigi returned to their original forms, having already gained a basic level of control over their new abilities.
"How do you feel?" Caelan asked with a grin.
With these three Devil Fruits, they would soon reach vice admiral-level combat strength.
With proper training, there was even a chance they could break into the admiral class.
"I feel amazing! The Cloud-Cloud Fruit suits me perfectly. We'll never have to worry about storms again!"
"I think... once I get the hang of it, I can even make our ship fly!"
Nami hugged Caelan tightly, her face brimming with excitement.
For a navigator, a weather-controlling Logia was a dream come true.
"I feel like my body is ten times stronger. This is a huge boost to my swordsmanship!"
Tashigi was equally excited.
She'd always lacked physical strength, but the Nekomata Fruit had changed that. Her coordination and power had soared. She finally saw a path to becoming a true master swordsman.
"Me too! I've never felt so powerful!"
"Judging by the time, the pursuers should be arriving soon. You all leave first," Caelan said, his expression serious.
"I don't want to leave. I want to stay and help you!"
Vivi immediately protested.
The other women followed suit, unwilling to part from him.
"Remember Aokiji? That one battle wiped out an entire island. This one's going to be even bigger. You staying here won't help. It'll only slow me down."
"Return to Alabasta. I'll meet you there."
Caelan gazed into the distance, as if he could already sense Akainu's approach.
The hawkish Akainu would definitely show up. After all, with the Celestial Dragons involved, he'd need to make a display of strength to earn the Five Elders' trust.
While he'd disobeyed them after becoming Fleet Admiral, Akainu had been very obedient back when he was an Admiral.
This battle would likely bring at least three admiral-level opponents: Kizaru, Garp, and Akainu.
Caelan wasn't afraid. But Nami and the others weren't ready.
"Alright. We'll go."
The women were reluctant, but they understood.
Staying would only be a distraction.
"You have to come back safely!"
Nami looked Caelan in the eyes, her tone serious.
"Don't worry. We'll meet again in Alabasta."
Caelan smiled and gently patted her head.
Soon, he watched as Nami and the others sailed away in a small boat. The Wind Rider and Moria's ship stayed behind.
"Let's go. Find a spot."
Caelan tossed the two Celestial Dragons onto the Wind Rider and spoke to Moria calmly.
He didn't expect Moria to fight Akainu. He just needed someone to come back and pick him up.
Moria's ship had someone who'd eaten the Door-Door Fruit. That alone was enough to guarantee a safe escape.
"Yes, Caelan-sama."
Moria ordered the zombie crew to sail both the Wind Rider and his own ship toward a nearby uninhabited island.
Back at the original site, the Celestial Dragons' ship was soaked in blood. Even the World Government flag was stained red.
(To be continued.)
Chapter 99: Buster Call
An uninhabited island near the Sabaody Archipelago.
The massive ships belonging to the Wind Rider and Gecko Moria were docked along the shore, completely exposed.
Saint Charlos and Saint Rosward were still unconscious, tied to a large tree in the center of the island. Blood dripped slowly from their bodies, and their breathing grew fainter by the minute.
"Moria, are you scared?"
Caelan sat cross-legged on the ground, his giant sword resting flat across his knees.
"Not scared."
Moria stiffened his neck and answered.
"You've got guts. This time, it's Garp, Borsalino, and Akainu."
Caelan casually spoke as he sensed several powerful presences approaching.
"That's… a little scary!"
Hearing those legendary names, cold sweat broke out across Moria's forehead.
Each of them was a top-tier powerhouse on the sea. Any one of them could flatten him. Even Kaido-sama had to tread carefully when facing all three together.
Now they'd all gathered just to deal with Caelan. That kind of attention was way too much.
"If you're scared, go hide. Come pick me up after I win."
Caelan lowered his gaze, fully confident in the outcome.
"Thank you, Caelan-sama!"
Moria glanced at him. Seeing that Caelan wasn't joking, he bowed in sincere gratitude.
At this level of battle, even being a bystander could be fatal. Trying to get involved would be suicide.
"Open the Air Door."
Bleuno activated the powers of the Door-Door Fruit, opening a gateway to a pocket dimension.
Moria led his men and the captured shadow materials through the door.
Moments later, the island fell silent again. Only the painful, ragged gasps of the two Celestial Dragons echoed in Caelan's ears.
Even though he was confident of victory, being in peak condition was still the best plan.
"System, consume 1.2 billion Berries to increase Synchronization Progress."
Caelan muttered under his breath as a surge of immense power poured into his body.
The energy twisted and expanded his muscles and bones. His physique strengthened instantly.
Then came a torrent of Heracles combat memories.
Twelve impossible mythological feats. The Berserker class template remained vague, but the combat experience of the Heroic Spirit was crystal clear.
Saber's sky-piercing sword strikes. The Hero King's overwhelming rain of treasures. Ancient magic from the Age of Gods...
And a certain blue lancer who never stopped spinning and stabbing?!
Something else had clearly slipped in.
[Host: Caelan Alaric]
[Template: Berserker Class · Heracles (New template unlocked, please activate in a secure location)]
[Synchronization Progress: 100%]
[Berries: 4.86 billion → 3.66 billion]
[Attributes]
Strength: A → A+
Durability: A
Agility: A
Magic: A
Luck: A
Noble Phantasm: A+
[Personal Skills]
Battle Continuation (B)
Mind's Eye (Fake) (B)
Valor (A+)
Divinity (A)
Madness Enhancement (B)
[Other Skills]
Swordsmanship: A
Armament Haki: A
Observation Haki: A
Conqueror's Haki: A
[Noble Phantasms]
God Hand: The Twelve Labors (B)
Nine Lives: Shooting the Hundred Heads (C–A+)
---
The panel showed his Synchronization Progress had reached 100%. All other attributes remained the same, except for his Strength, which had risen from A to A+.
That alone was enough to satisfy Caelan. His power had more than doubled. Now, he truly felt like a berserker.
More importantly, he had obtained a complete spiritual foundation.
He had gained a form of immortality. Even if critically injured, his body could quickly regenerate under the influence of magic.
Feeling the surging power within, Caelan couldn't wait for the battle ahead.
"Two Admirals and a legendary Vice Admiral. This island's about to get really lively."
Caelan narrowed his eyes as he sensed the three fierce presences.
He pulled out a golden Den Den Mushi from inside his coat. It was a trophy from killing Spandam. Perfect timing to use it.
"Since it's already chaos... why not add some more fuel to the fire?"
A sharp glint flickered in Caelan's eyes as he pressed the golden Den Den Mushi.
Time to make some real noise. Big enough to shake the entire world.
Now that he was no longer affiliated with the World Government, he needed overwhelming might to declare the rise of a new Emperor.
…
At Marine Headquarters, ten elite warships set sail, heading straight for Caelan's location.
"Gion, who do you think issued this Buster Call? And so close to HQ too?"
Tokikakke slicked back his hair, looking confused.
"No clue. It was issued directly to you and me. Even Fleet Admiral Sengoku wasn't notified. My guess? A CP higher-up."
Gion looked puzzled as well.
There were two types of Buster Calls. One required authorization from the Fleet Admiral and other senior officers, typically used to take down notorious pirates.
The other type was activated directly via a golden Den Den Mushi, bypassing all procedures and launching an all-out annihilation strike.
This was clearly the latter. They had the right to execute it—but not to question it.
"Eh, whatever. At least this one's on a deserted island. No civilians, no cleanup."
Tokikakke shrugged in relief.
Despite its name, a Buster Call usually caused more collateral damage than it solved.
But this time, with no civilians in sight, there were no such concerns.
"Admiral Akainu's ship was rerouted on short notice. Seems like he's headed the same way. Something's off."
Gion's eyes narrowed. The unease in her gut only grew stronger.
What kind of opponent would require a top Admiral and a full Buster Call?
"Maybe we're sailing straight into hell. If this is my last mission, Gion, will you marry me?"
Tokikakke suddenly pulled out a rose and proposed on the spot.
Even on the brink of war, he was committed to his hopeless romance streak.
Gion twitched, black lines appearing on her forehead.
"I refuse."
"And call me Vice Admiral."
She snapped the rose in half and flung it into the sea.
"Okay, Gion."
Tokikakke didn't look the least bit disappointed. He was used to it by now.
…
Even though Garp's warship was closing in fast, Akainu's ship reached the island first.
"Instead of running, he's just sitting here waiting for us."
Akainu frowned as he looked at the Wind Rider and Moria's ships on the shore.
Caelan could have easily escaped into the sea.
But instead, he had chosen to remain on a remote island and calmly await the Navy's arrival. This was a blatant provocation toward the World Government.
"Fine. Then let this island be your grave."
Akainu sneered and strode toward the island's center.
He walked at the front, flanked by Garp and Borsalino.
Any two of them working together could suppress even a Yonko.
Now, with all three assembled, Akainu couldn't imagine any way Caelan could survive.
Unless Caelan had nine lives… he was dead.
Akainu arrived at the center of the island and saw Caelan standing calmly beside the two Celestial Dragons, who were tied to a tree and still bleeding.
"How dare you! Let the Celestial Dragons go!"
Akainu glared at them, visibly anxious.
He had assumed the Celestial Dragons were already dead, but they were still alive.
If he could rescue them, he might gain even more favor from the Five Elders—his chances of becoming the next Fleet Admiral would increase significantly.
"Haha, beat me, and they're yours."
Caelan responded with a chuckle, ignoring Akainu's anger.
I'm lying. Even if you win, I'm not giving them up.
Akainu's face darkened.
"You came here alone without waiting for the other two? Sounds like you have a death wish."
Caelan looked up, sneering.
He had anticipated fighting all three of them at once. Just Akainu wasn't enough to enjoy himself.
Akainu was furious, magma flowing faintly across his body.
"Well, a warm-up before everyone else arrives isn't bad. Akainu, just don't die too quickly."
Caelan stood, a trace of excitement flashing in his eyes.
As a Marine Admiral, he had never been looked down on like this. Did this guy think he had surpassed even the Four Emperors?
The next moment, he was fully engulfed in magma, like a demon emerging from the depths of hell.
The surrounding greenery scorched yellow under the intense heat, and even the sun seemed crueler.
The ground beneath him melted, and dark red magma flowed freely.
"Hellhound!"
His magma-covered right arm smashed toward Caelan.
Caelan didn't dodge. Instead, he stabbed his giant sword into the ground and threw a punch with his right hand, wanting to test his newly gained strength.
Bang!
The moment his fist met the magma, the result was immediate and overwhelming.
Akainu's entire magma arm shattered from the impact, splashing into countless droplets of molten rock.
"What… impossible!"
Even with elementalization, Akainu's face was frozen in disbelief as he reformed his arm. His expression turned from rage to fear.
One punch had shattered both his magma and his ambition.
He had come thinking he could take Caelan down solo. That dream shattered alongside his right arm.
That kind of power… he had never seen anything like it.
Not even Kaido, who had barged into Marineford seven times, could match this level of brute force. This was at least 30% more terrifying.
As their clash continued, the two Celestial Dragons were roasted awake. They stared at Akainu in stunned disbelief.
"You're really resilient."
Caelan narrowed his eyes and muttered softly.
They were descendants of the original nineteen kings from 800 years ago. Their bloodlines really did come with absurd physical durability.
Even with injuries like theirs, they were already starting to recover.
"Akainu, kill this sinner!"
Saint Charlos yelled in panic.
"Akainu, kill that pariah!"
Saint Rosward barked an order without hesitation.
In their minds, now that a Marine Admiral had arrived, Caelan's end was guaranteed.
"…"
Akainu frowned, suppressing the urge to curse aloud.
He had just taken a punch and hadn't even recovered yet.
Now these two idiots were provoking Caelan right in front of him. Were they trying to get themselves killed?
"Haha, morons."
Caelan sneered, kicked two clumps of dirt into the air, and shot them clean into the Celestial Dragons' mouths.
Crack!
Teeth shattered, blood filled their mouths, and soil choked their throats.
"Mm! Mm! Mm!"
The two Celestial Dragons looked at Caelan in terror, whimpering through blood and dirt.
They had never imagined Caelan would be so brazen, even in front of a Marine Admiral.
Akainu's face darkened further. He charged with his lava fist, hurling himself at Caelan again.
Caelan didn't hold back. He met him with bare fists.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Every blow from Caelan shattered part of Akainu's body into magma, which then reformed quickly.
The splashes of magma scorched the surroundings, burning holes into trees and setting the air alight.
The Celestial Dragons screamed as magma splattered onto them, writhing in agony.
"AAAH! AAH! AAH!"
Saint Charlos and Saint Rosward looked at Akainu in horror, their faces turning pale.
Is this what you call rescuing? It would've been better if you hadn't come!
They were being roasted alive!
And this so-called Admiral was clearly promoted through backdoor connections. He couldn't even put up a fight against Caelan.
They dangled from the tree like salted fish, hopeless.
If not even a Marine Admiral could defeat Caelan, all they could do was wait to die.
"Huff... huff..."
Akainu had no energy to care what the Celestial Dragons thought. His face was a dark shade of green from exhaustion.
Each of Caelan's punches could crush his magma body. Though he could recover quickly, the physical toll was real.
He had previously mocked Aokiji for needing two months of rest after fighting Caelan for five days and five nights. He thought Aokiji was just lazy.
Now, he realized Aokiji had actually gotten lucky.
Fighting a monster like Caelan for five days and nights and surviving was practically a miracle.
At this rate, Akainu would be lucky to last one day before getting beaten to death.
Is Aokiji really that much stronger than me?
Akainu couldn't help but question himself.
The possibility that Caelan had simply grown this much in such a short time?
He didn't even consider it.
He would never believe that Caelan could rise from Admiral-level to beyond Admiral in just a dozen days. That kind of growth rate was faster than Kizaru flying at full speed.
Just then, Garp and Borsalino finally arrived.
With two powerful reinforcements, Akainu finally felt a sense of relief.
Akainu panted heavily, but a smile crept across his face.
Defeating one Admiral was one thing. Facing all three? Not even the Four Emperors would stick around for that.
"Afraid of three of you together? Me?"
Caelan pulled his massive sword from the ground, his fighting spirit erupting sky-high.
"To have pushed Sakazuki this far... Caelan's strength is truly terrifying."
Borsalino adjusted his glasses and spoke with emotion.
Akainu hadn't even been here long, yet he already looked like a mess.
"Haha! Akainu, not bad. Couldn't even hold your ground for a few minutes!"
Garp cracked his knuckles and laughed.
Even though he didn't agree with Akainu's beliefs, he couldn't deny his strength—he was certainly stronger than Aokiji.
But now, even Garp couldn't help feeling serious as he looked at Caelan.
Akainu's face darkened further. Why were his teammates mocking him?
"What's wrong? Backing out before we even start?"
Caelan smirked, his tone relaxed.
"That's not it. I don't want to fight you, but I can't ignore orders from above."
Borsalino looked at Caelan with a slight headache forming.
Caelan was still filled with fighting spirit despite being outnumbered three to one. There were only two explanations.
Either he was extremely confident and didn't fear fighting three Admirals at once...
Or he was a lunatic ready to go down swinging.
Either way, it was going to be a nightmare.
Seeing Borsalino and Garp dawdling, Akainu couldn't help but frown.
I was just beaten half to death, and you two come here acting like it's a reunion.
"Borsalino, Garp, stop wasting time and deal with him already!"
Akainu's magma fist surged, his eyes fierce as he stared at Caelan.
He had been badly beaten earlier. Now that it was three against one, he was finally getting his pride back.
Garp and Borsalino exchanged glances and attacked simultaneously.
"Hmph! Hmph! Hmph!"
The two Celestial Dragons nearby were elated. They saw hope once again.
Three against one—the advantage was obvious.
But their joy didn't last. The battle between three top-tier powerhouses, even when they deliberately avoided harming the bystanders, still caused enough destruction to make the Celestial Dragons wish they'd never been born.
"Fist Impact!"
Garp's expression turned serious in an instant. He leapt into the air like lightning, slamming his iron fist, reinforced with advanced Armament Haki, down at Caelan.
The sheer force of the punch, combined with top-level Haki, instantly shattered the very air around it.
"This is more like it!"
Facing a punch strong enough to destroy a mountain, Caelan grew excited.
Gripping his massive sword with both hands, he channeled mountain-splitting strength into his counterattack and slashed toward Garp.
Boom!
The giant sword and the iron fist collided with the force of a missile explosion.
The entire island trembled as the deafening roar rang out, shaking everyone's eardrums. The two Celestial Dragons nearby bled from the shock.
"What terrifying power!"
Garp stared at Caelan, deeply shocked.
In the moment of impact, he could clearly feel that Caelan's strength exceeded even that of a Mythical Zoan user. In terms of raw power, Garp wasn't Caelan's equal.
"Let's go again!"
Garp's fighting spirit surged.
Since Roger, no one had given him such a satisfying battle in a long time.
The next moment, the two clashed once more.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Sword swings wide and forceful, each strike deadly.
Garp's punches were solid and overwhelming.
The two figures blurred in the sky as they fought fiercely.
But from the perspective of Borsalino and Akainu, it was obvious—Garp was being pushed back. He was clearly at a disadvantage.
"Even Vice Admiral Garp can't hold him off?"
Both Borsalino and Akainu were stunned.
Garp had once chased Roger across the seas with his bare fists, yet now he was unable to gain the upper hand against Caelan.
The two exchanged a glance and launched their attacks at once.
"Great Eruption!"
Massive lava, like a small mountain, condensed and crashed down on Caelan with ferocious force, venting the humiliation Akainu had just endured.
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
Dazzling golden beams, guided like missiles, rained down on Caelan with pinpoint precision.
"Haha, pretty accurate, huh?"
As Caelan continued clashing with Garp, he noticed Borsalino's laser barrage. The corners of his mouth twitched.
Yasakani no Magatama, huh?
The golden beams not only avoided Garp, but also completely boxed Caelan in.
Even with Observation Haki capable of glimpsing the future, it was nearly impossible to dodge such a dense barrage.
Caelan could only keep swinging his massive sword to block as many beams as he could.
The unending laser rain, Akainu's overwhelming magma, and Garp's iron fists all converged on Caelan.
He used his left hand to block Garp's punch, his right to slice through the magma.
But many of Borsalino's lasers slipped through. He had no choice but to take them head-on.
Crack!
Unable to anchor himself, Caelan was blasted back and crashed into a forest.
"Haha, now that's what I'm talking about!"
Caelan stood up, brimming with fighting spirit.
Whether it was the inheritance of his Heroic Spirit or the ancient wildness in his blood, his fighting will only burned brighter.
Press forward fearlessly, fight harder!
Though Caelan had been blown back, it was Garp and the others who looked worse for wear.
"What kind of defense is that?!"
Borsalino stared at the red mark on Caelan's chest in disbelief.
A dozen lasers had hit him squarely in the chest, yet they left only a few shallow red marks.
That level of durability… it was almost on par with Kaido.
"If it were just one of us, we'd be running for our lives right now."
Garp shook his head with a wry smile.
"But with three of us, we're grinding him down bit by bit!"
"This dangerous criminal must be eliminated here and now!"
Akainu's expression darkened, his tone resolute.
He didn't know why Caelan had trapped him on this island, but today might be their only chance.
If Caelan survived, the world would know no peace.
"Go!"
Akainu roared and launched another magma fist at Caelan.
The scorching punch burned the air, and a rain of fire fell on Caelan's head, engulfing him in magma.
"Iron Fist: Galaxy Impact!"
Garp once again leaped high and punched at Caelan's face with all his strength.
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
Not to be outdone, Borsalino followed up with another wave of golden beams, bombarding Caelan in a saturation assault.
"Come at me!"
Caelan gripped his massive sword in both hands and let out a deafening roar.
In that moment, he truly looked like a berserker.
The number of enemies didn't matter—he would fight them all!
Boom!
He clashed with Garp first. Each exchange created shockwaves that shattered rock and splintered trees.
Meanwhile, Akainu and Borsalino continued their ranged attacks, pelting Caelan with lava and lasers.
After a few rounds, Garp's arms began to tremble. He was already exhausted.
"I'll take over!"
Akainu growled, stepping in for Garp.
His magma body was repeatedly shattered by Caelan's attacks, but he used his Logia intangibility to stay in the fight.
"Come on, then!"
Caelan bellowed and slashed with a powerful blow.
The sword strike was like a landslide, threatening to cleave everything in two.
Swish!
Akainu's hair stood on end. Alarm bells blared in his Observation Haki.
He instantly turned into magma and barely managed to dodge.
His body was sliced in half and then exploded under the pressure.
A hundred meters away, a pool of magma reformed and quickly took shape.
Akainu gasped, narrowly avoiding death, and turned to glare at Borsalino, who was still sniping from the side.
Damn it. Based on our plan, this guy should've taken the front by now.
"Oh no…"
Borsalino wore a bitter expression and reluctantly moved in.
He was stunned by Caelan's ferocity. The three of them had ganged up on him, but they were still being pushed back.
Relying on the speed of the Glint-Glint Fruit, Borsalino avoided direct confrontation and played hit-and-run.
The trio cooperated well—one engaged Caelan directly while the other two attacked from a distance.
After one intense exchange, they finally landed a solid hit.
Caelan now had a half-inch deep wound on his chest, the flesh around it charred black from magma. He looked quite battered.
"He can't last much longer! Just a couple more rounds and he'll go down with serious injuries!"
Akainu looked at Caelan's condition and finally saw a glimmer of hope.
Can't last? Who says so?
Hearing Akainu's words, a mocking smile tugged at Caelan's lips.
His Personal Skill, [Battle Continuation], allowed him to stay at his peak until the very moment of death.
Borsalino and Garp saw Caelan's battered condition and assumed he wouldn't last much longer.
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
"Fist Impact!"
"Hellhound!"
After two more rounds of fighting, Akainu was slapped away by Caelan, flying twenty meters through the air. He looked at Caelan with a trace of confusion.
By now, Caelan's injuries had worsened significantly. The wound on his chest was so deep that the bone was visible. Blood gushed out like a stream—he was clearly critically injured.
"This doesn't make sense. How is he still fighting so fiercely with injuries like that?"
Akainu touched his swollen face, three question marks practically floating above his head.
His strength hadn't dropped at all from when the battle began.
"Akainu, what are you doing?! Come help me!"
Garp, who was struggling to hold off Caelan, roared.
This Caelan was a true monster. He had endless strength in his body. As an old man in his seventies, Garp hadn't felt this thrill since fighting Roger.
"Hellhound!"
Akainu stopped thinking and rushed back into the fight against Caelan.
He simply didn't believe it. With injuries that severe, how much longer could Caelan hold out?
Boom boom boom!
Another massive explosion echoed, shaking the entire island.
"Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!"
The two Celestial Dragons trembled in terror from the battle playing out in front of them.
That Caelan was like a monster, beating the three top Marine officers into retreat.
They were convinced their lives would end here.
Boom boom boom!
Lasers flew, magma burst forth.
Soon, two more rounds passed.
Caelan slashed Garp away with a sword, kicked Borsalino flying with one leg, and sent Akainu crashing down with a slap, standing alone like a god of war.
At this moment, Caelan's face was pale like gold leaf. His chest had been scorched black, and his internal organs had begun to rupture.
"Hold on, this is his final madness. He's about to die!"
Akainu gritted his teeth and encouraged Garp and Borsalino.
The two nodded. They too believed Caelan was on his last breath.
They weren't wrong. Caelan silently agreed—he could only last three more rounds.
"Meteor Volcano!"
"Iron Fist!"
"Yata Mirror!"
In the blink of an eye, three rounds passed, and the three Marines looked like they had seen a ghost.
By now, the entire island was nearly destroyed from the battle, with only the area around the Celestial Dragons left intact due to the trio's deliberate protection.
Akainu had six broken ribs, and his body was covered in burns and wounds. Garp suffered internal injuries, blood trickling from the corners of his mouth. Borsalino's stamina was nearly depleted, his clothes filthy.
Caelan's condition was even worse. His entire chest had been blown through, and all his internal organs had been charred. There was a gaping hole in his body.
If it were a one-on-one fight, he might have only suffered external injuries.
But with the three of them concentrating their attacks on a single point in such a short time, even Caelan couldn't hold out.
"Is this guy even human? His internal organs are completely destroyed, but he's still fighting at full strength!?"
Akainu stared at Caelan in disbelief.
Caelan was covered in mortal wounds, yet was still pummeling them like they were children.
"His vitality is terrifying."
Garp and Borsalino were equally stunned.
With those kinds of injuries, any of them would've been dead already.
"But he has to die eventually."
Akainu couldn't believe anyone could survive with a hollowed-out chest.
Akainu, Garp, and Borsalino circled the dying warrior cautiously.
"Caelan, why are you so determined to go against the World Government?"
Garp took a deep breath and asked, sighing.
Such a shame. Caelan was clearly powerful and, at heart, a decent man. Yet he had become the government's enemy.
"No particular reason."
Caelan grinned, answering calmly.
Though his body was falling apart and he couldn't last much longer, there was no trace of fear in his expression.
" You're about to die!"
Akainu was breathing heavily as he looked at Caelan. Even someone as ruthless as him couldn't help but feel a sliver of respect for the man.
"Hahaha!"
"You really think you can kill me!?"
Caelan burst into laughter, as if he'd just heard the funniest joke in the world. Tears almost welled in his eyes.
All they'd managed to do was knock his sword away. He still had eleven layers of resurrection armor left!
"I want to see how long you can keep up the act!"
Akainu snorted coldly. Lava condensed in his hands.
"Great Eruption!"
The searing lava struck Caelan's chest, pouring through his previous wound, blasting straight through him, and delivering the final blow to his already dying body.
"Hah, finally dead."
Akainu pulled his fist back and exhaled deeply.
This man, who had fought like a god or a demon, had kept pushing harder the closer he was to death. He'd left Akainu with deep psychological scars.
Akainu didn't understand why Caelan hadn't dodged that final attack. But whatever the reason, he was just glad the man was finally dead.
Borsalino and Garp looked silently at Caelan's body, filled with regret.
"To die under siege by the three of us... it's still an honorable end."
Garp held his aching waist and sighed.
Since the Pirate King Roger, Caelan was the first man to make him feel as if a new era could be born.
"We survived?"
The two Celestial Dragons cried with joy, convinced they had been blessed by the gods.
They were World Nobles. Of course, they were meant to live forever.
Just as Garp, Akainu, Borsalino, and the Celestial Dragons were caught in surprise and relief, a deep, resounding voice echoed out.
"It's too early to be celebrating."
Everyone's pupils shrank. They stared at Caelan in shock.
There was a gaping hole in his chest. All his internal organs had been charred.
And yet the man who was clearly pronounced dead… stood up again!
His entire body was intact. No wounds in sight.
He was brimming with energy, showing no sign of fatigue.
"I was just making conversation earlier. You didn't need to take it so seriously."
Garp looked downcast and gave a bitter smile.
He had genuinely mourned Caelan's death. But now that the man was back on his feet, fighting again… they were in real trouble.
"This is terrifying. He's crossed the line between life and death."
Borsalino took off his sunglasses and wiped them carefully, hoping it was all a hallucination.
But Caelan was standing there, looking exactly the same as he did at the start of the battle.
The two Celestial Dragons were plunged into despair. Seeing Caelan resurrected was more painful than losing a parent.
They had thought the gods favored them. But it turned out the gods favored him.
How could anyone defeat a monster who comes back from the dead?!
"You really don't want to die, do you?"
Akainu's face was grim, as if the sky had just collapsed.
They had poured everything into killing Caelan. They hadn't even had a minute to celebrate before he returned, completely restored.
He'd fought even harder after being fatally injured. That was one thing.
But to resurrect? How could that even be possible?
This was ridiculous. Just shut it all down!
"Alright everyone, I think you've rested long enough. Let's continue where we left off."
Caelan raised his massive sword again and declared war once more.
"Fine! I don't believe you can come back twice!"
Akainu gritted his teeth and growled.
If they could kill Caelan once, they could kill him a second time.
He refused to believe there were no consequences to Caelan's resurrection ability.
He refused to believe Caelan could revive twice in a row!