BOOM—
A violent explosion shattered part of the frozen island, turning it into a glittering blizzard of ice crystals. A massive chunk of the island had been completely blown away!
"Zheng—"
A savage, blood-red slash rampaged across the landscape, wantonly destroying the once-beautiful island. The ancient ruins where the Devil Fruit had once been stored were now nearly unrecognizable—nothing but scattered debris.
Even so, the two Admirals were still holding back somewhat, mindful that this island was home to the civilian town of Sleeping Ancient Town. Although Smoker had already mobilized warships to begin evacuating the residents, it would still take considerable time.
"Bah-hahaha! So? What do you think, youngsters?! This is the strength of youth!"
Red the Aloof—Patrick Redfield— laughed maniacally.
"I'm even stronger now than I was in my prime! The wisdom and experience of age, combined with the vigor of youth!"
"Even two Admirals aren't enough to stop me!"
"Mm~ I must say~ you're quite formidable, old-timer~"
Borsalino murmured, brushing his fingers across the bleeding gash on his chest.
As a speed-type Glint-Glint Fruit user, he'd finally encountered an opponent perfectly tailored to counter him—Redfield, a master swordsman with lightning speed, natural Observation Haki that could even read thoughts, and the ability to manipulate darkness to obscure vision.
Golden light burst between Borsalino's hands. He slowly drew them apart, forming a massive photon blade:
"Ama-no-Murakumo!"
"Swordplay, huh~? I can handle that too, old man~"
"Hah…"
Kuzan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. A sword of solid ice formed in his hand with a grinding crackle:
"Ice Saber."
"Looks like we'll have to get up close for this one…"
Redfield grinned wickedly, licking his sharp teeth with a blood-red tongue:
"If we keep going like this, it'll be a stalemate for quite some time…"
"Evacuating civilians? Hmph… typical Marines."
"But do you really think this fight has any meaning? If I want to leave, none of you can stop me."
"Geez~ so quick to run away~?"
Borsalino swung his photon blade again and again, but he couldn't land a decisive blow. Against Redfield's overwhelming combat prowess—fueled by experience, enhanced abilities, and sheer raw power—the Admirals were at a disadvantage.
"Huh?"
Redfield leapt back, widening the gap between them. As he faced the two Admirals—each brandishing a brilliant weapon of light and ice—his expression shifted.
"I overlooked something… what's that Vice Admiral doing?"
Whoosh—
Bang!
In a flash of golden light, Borsalino reappeared and kicked Redfield midair, sending him crashing into the ground with an explosion of smoke and debris:
"You're ignoring us? That's rude~"
Kuzan shook his head and raised a thick ice wall around Smoker's position—a temporary buffer, perhaps enough to buy a few precious seconds:
"You're not going anywhere today, old man."
"Tch!"
Redfield's body reformed in a blur of blood, and he reentered the fray, wiping the blood from his mouth with a scowl.
"Just what are you planning…?" he muttered darkly.
"That mere Vice Admiral… his spiritual discipline is astonishingly strong. I can read impressions of his foes and comrades, but not his memories…?"
"Such resistance should only be possible at Admiral-level Haki… but he's nowhere near that rank!"
"Hmm?! What's that?"
Just then, Smoker pulled out a small, exquisitely crafted box and placed it on the ground.
The box quickly transformed, unfolding into a tripod-like device. At its center pulsed a crystal glowing faintly with golden light.
"That light…"
Before Redfield could react, the crystal flared—brilliant, blinding gold. In the blink of an eye, a figure materialized before it.
"You!"
Redfield's eyes went wide in disbelief.
A young man appeared, cloaked in a Justice coat, golden-haired and sharp-eyed, wearing a pristine white suit with a long sword sheathed at his waist.
"Fleet Admiral 'Orange Horse' Wright!"
Redfield's jaw clenched. He spat the name through gritted teeth.
"It's been a while, old man," Wright said with an easy smile, waving casually.
"You've changed quite a bit. Took me a second to recognize you."
He tossed a Den Den Mushi to Smoker.
"Here. What you asked for. Don't forget to protect the girl… and the raccoon."
He eyed Pato, who was trembling violently, and stroked his chin:
"Hmm… Pato, your boss ditched you. Want to come work for me instead?"
"Huh?"
Pato blinked in shock.
This was the Fleet Admiral, and he had appeared out of nowhere.
"No way! I'm his partner! I—I'd never betray him!"
"Idiot. He already betrayed you."
Wright shook his head, though he didn't press the offer.
"Following a man who borrows power, borrows dreams, and in the end, even abandons his comrades and his humanity… what a pity."
"Pirate King? Old man, borrowed strength will always be borrowed. You've already given up your dream—so don't you dare speak of it so grandly."
"There's no place for you in this era of Marine dominance!"
"Don't you dare deny the boss's dream!"
Pato gritted his teeth and shouted, even though the Fleet Admiral's presence alone nearly crushed him.
He knew Wright could erase him with a flick of his wrist… and yet he still roared:
"He only said those things because… because there's more to it than that!"
"He didn't want to die without proving himself!"
"He hasn't truly given up on what's important!"
Wright's eyes softened.
"…Pato, the man you follow—Redfield—is a failure blinded by the illusion of youth."
He drew the sword at his waist—Ashes—and golden lightning began to crackle along its blade.
"I know everything that's happened here… even without the visuals, the voices were enough."
"You say Whitebeard hadn't shown his true strength?" Wright's voice rang with authority.
"Well, I was the one who healed Whitebeard. With my power, he fought at his peak—and died with a smile."
"As the one who personally ended Whitebeard's life, I can say this with certainty: he died with no regrets."
"I opposed him, and yet I admired him. He lived his life the way he wanted, achieved what he set out to do, and passed on his will even in death."
"Gol D. Roger was the same. He turned himself in. With a single sentence before his execution, he ignited the Great Pirate Era."
Redfield's face twisted in shock.
"Roger… turned himself in? He surrendered?!"
"Surprising, isn't it? But as Fleet Admiral, I have no reason to lie."
"No one can do it alone—not even Roger. He needed comrades. The 'Pirate King'… was never a solo act."
Wright activated his Avenging Wrath* state—vanishing and reappearing in front of Redfield in an instant.
Klang—
BOOM—!
Redfield didn't even have time to react. He was sent flying, crashing into Kuzan's ice wall with a thunderous impact.
Wright pointed his sword at him, voice cold and resolute:
"Try beating me first before you run your mouth."
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