In an instant, Ochoku, using the Teleportation Fruit, appeared right in front of Caesar.
"Success!"
He grinned and reached out to grab Caesar.
Just as he expected, once he chose the right moment, everything fell into place.
Just like in the Battle of God Valley years ago, when no one could catch him, no one would be able to catch him now.
Next, all he needed to do was teleport away with Caesar.
Ochoku silently activated his ability, preparing to teleport again.
"What the hell?"
Caelan's sharp senses picked up on something suddenly appearing in front of Caesar, and his eyes narrowed.
Without hesitation, the golden spear in his hand instantly condensed and was hurled forward.
"What the hell?!"
Ochoku's face twisted in horror.
Brilliant golden light filled his vision.
A massive sense of crisis surged into his mind.
In that instant, he knew the God Slayer had made his move.
And from the very first strike, it came with the force of thunder, leaving no room to escape.
Ochoku tried to activate his ability, but his body would not respond.
In his terrified and bewildered eyes, the bright golden light pierced his torso.
"Rustle… rustle…"
There was no explosive roar, only the sound of sand falling.
In an instant, his massive torso and lower body turned to ash, scattering to the ground.
Thump!
An armored head dropped to the floor.
"So… I'm dead!"
It was only when his head hit the ground that Ochoku realized the truth with horror.
No wonder he could not activate his powers. The moment the golden light appeared, everything below his head had turned to ash.
"How could it be so fast… so strong?"
Ochoku's mouth opened and closed in disbelief, though no sound came out.
He had attacked without warning, yet Caelan reacted to him instantly.
In reality, it had taken only one strike to kill him.
Without oxygen, Ochoku's brain quickly faded into darkness.
He did not even have time to regret before dying in pure shock.
…
Many in the auction hall were still confused.
It was not until they saw Caesar still standing and a golden spear lodged in the ground nearby that they realized what had happened.
"Someone tried to attack Caesar, but was killed by Caelan?!"
The conclusion quickly spread.
Caelan had just declared that no one was allowed to act in Dressrosa, and someone had immediately broken that rule. Wasn't it only natural for him to be killed?
What puzzled everyone was how the attacker had gotten there.
It was obvious this person had not been standing there before.
"Who is he?"
Caelan turned to Morgans.
Just now, he had only sensed someone appear and acted on instinct, not knowing the full situation.
Luckily, Morgans was beside him. As the king of news and intelligence, he would know.
"That head belongs to Ochoku, the great pirate of Hachinosu and former cadre of the Rocks Pirates!"
Morgans carefully examined the head and spoke in shock.
Ochoku was a well-known figure in the New World, his status second only to the Yonko.
So what happened?
Ochoku had tried to attack Caesar, only to be instantly killed by Caelan.
Morgans drew in a sharp breath and stared at Caelan.
He had not even seen how Ochoku appeared. All he had seen was the blinding golden light from Caelan's strike.
And in just that one blow, a legendary pirate had been reduced to nothing but a head.
To appear for only a second and then be reduced to this… it was terrifying.
Morgans glanced at his boss, feeling a sudden chill below his neck.
If he ever leaked gossip about Caelan, would a golden light suddenly appear for him too?
"Oh, it's him."
Caelan nodded in recognition.
No wonder he could not figure out how this man reached Caesar. So it was Ochoku.
Unexpectedly, he had been foolish enough to come here and practically commit suicide.
Caelan had just said no one was to act in Dressrosa. Clearly, this man had no intention of taking him seriously.
"Tell me, was I too merciful before, making people like this think I wouldn't kill them?"
Caelan stroked his chin and asked Morgans.
"Ah… well…"
Morgans was unsure how to respond.
This man had never been gentle, so how was he supposed to answer such a question?
"Forget it. Hang his head outside as a warning."
Caelan cut off the matter with a wave of his hand.
The head of a legendary pirate would be enough to suppress any reckless thoughts.
"Yes!"
Morgans immediately began making arrangements.
…
Among the audience.
"He's already dead?"
Aokiji and Borsalino muttered in disbelief.
They had watched Ochoku vanish from his seat, and by the time he appeared in front of Caesar, he was already just a head.
After surviving the Battle of God Valley and living well for decades, Ochoku had died here at Caelan's hands.
Death itself was not strange, but to die so quickly… that was something else.
"Why do I feel like Caelan is becoming more and more unfathomable?"
Aokiji frowned in thought.
It had not been that long, yet this man had grown into such an overwhelming presence, changing day by day.
Even in his battle with Monkey D. Dragon, Caelan had been so calm that it was impossible to gauge his full strength.
Now, after killing Ochoku with a single strike, it was even harder to measure.
"That's true. Even if we joined Akainu now, we wouldn't be his match."
Borsalino nodded, a faint unease in his eyes.
If the three Admirals together could not defeat Caelan, then now, as an enemy of both the Navy and the World Government, facing him again would mean certain defeat.
"If I fought him again, I think I'd be killed," he added half-jokingly, half-seriously.
"I almost feel like surrendering to the enemy."
Aokiji spoke quietly.
He still remembered the battle near the Florian Triangle when Caelan had invited him to join.
Looking back now, it seemed rather tempting.
Bringing his talents to the Neo Navy and becoming brothers with Caelan did not sound so bad.
No. No, Kuzan. You're supposed to be the Admiral, the man who will change the Navy.
Aokiji shook his head, pushing the thought away.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku had high hopes for him, and he still wanted to realize his own justice. He could not submit to Caelan.
"Mm?"
Borsalino looked at him curiously.
Had he just heard something dangerous?
No, no. Must have been his imagination.
(To be continued.)
***
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