"Big news! Huge news!"
At the headquarters of the World Economic Journal, aboard a peculiar flying ship shaped like a teapot and connected to a hot air balloon, Morgans, the "Big News" himself, paced back and forth in his office with an unmistakably arrogant bird-like gait. His right hand, now transformed into a wing, deftly clutched a faxed letter delivered through a secret channel.
"Impel Down has been attacked?"
"The attacker is suspected to be—Golden Lion II?"
"This is the kind of news that will shake the entire world! Kahahaha!"
Morgans tightly gripped the fax in his wing, closed his eyes, tilted his head back, and shuddered with excitement.
The thrill of unveiling such a "big news" to the world was utterly intoxicating.
But then, the instincts of a journalist surged within him.
"Impel Down has been 'attacked'... The word 'attacked' just doesn't pack enough punch!"
"Though Impel Down is known as an impregnable fortress, there have already been a few prisoners who escaped from it."
"So, 'attacked'... Should I change it to 'destroyed'? 'Wrecked'? 'Collapsed'? Yes, 'collapsed' sounds much better!"
In mere moments, a brand-new headline formed in Morgans' mind:
The World's Greatest Prison Collapses! The Culprit Behind It All—
"Perfect! This headline is fantastic! Just reading it makes you want to dive right in!"
Morgans sat back down at his desk, pulled out a quill, and began scribbling furiously.
With the rapid scratching of his pen, a sensational and eye-catching news report took shape under Morgans' wing.
Even though the World Economic Journal hadn't yet verified the authenticity of this news, it was simply too big to wait.
Timeliness was everything!
Morgans couldn't stand repeating the fiasco from before.
The World Government had inexplicably issued a bounty for a man named "Edward Teach."
Even more outrageous—
Not only had they set his bounty at a staggering two billion Belly, but they also dubbed him "Whitebeard Jr."!
And the worst part?
The World Economic Journal had no idea what earth-shattering deeds this "Whitebeard Jr." had committed to earn such a title!
The World Government had trampled all over the dignity of journalism!
How terrifying was that?
Morgans quickly sent the drafted article to the printing department, instructing his subordinates to polish the text, format it, and insert more illustrations of Impel Down.
"Chief! Is this news real?"
Just then, the editor in charge of proofreading knocked on the office door, sounding slightly nervous.
"Why is there only text? Where are the—"
"Because I haven't gotten pictures of Impel Down yet!"
Morgans cut him off impatiently and urged,
"Hurry up and publish this big news! I want the whole world to see my report!"
"But, Chief..."
The editor hesitated again.
"A major scoop of this magnitude would surely draw dissatisfaction from the government if reported, wouldn't it?"
"Hmm?"
Morgans was taken aback as he looked at the editor who had spoken up to caution him.
"Are you from the newspaper?"
The editor was confused. "Yes, Chairman!"
"Good."
Morgans nodded first, then coldly declared.
"You're fired!"
The editor was instantly dumbfounded.
"This is the World Economic Journal, not the World Government's news department!"
Morgans stood up, straightening his bowtie.
"I am the chairman of the World Economic Journal!
"What I choose to report is entirely up to me!"
Before the editor could react, Morgans suddenly spread his wings and swiftly flew to the editor's side, grabbing his collar with one hand before carrying him to the window of the chairman's office.
"Get lost! A coward with no guts for journalism!"
Morgans hurled the editor straight out of the airship, letting him plummet into the vast ocean below.
Immediately after.
Morgans quickly dashed out of his office.
The "Impel Down's Destruction" series could be turned into a long-term feature.
For the initial reports, the World Economic Journal could get by with text-only articles.
But later on, they'd need to deliver some real substance!
"Big news! Big news!"
Morgans barked orders throughout the World Economic Journal headquarters.
"Dispatch all the News Coos near Marine Headquarters and Enies Lobby.
"And equip them with extra Visual Den Den Mushi!
"I want firsthand coverage from Impel Down!"
...
Above Impel Down.
The battle between Golden Lion II and Kizaru raged on.
Through his clashes with top-tier fighters.
Golden Lion II had gradually mastered his eight-star [Observation Haki], fully honing his newfound ability to "read minds."
This "mind-reading" combat skill proved highly effective, whether in battle or other situations.
With this [Observation Haki], Golden Lion II fought with effortless ease.
Every move Kizaru made, every thought in battle, was instantly detected by Golden Lion II, allowing him to counter accordingly.
In practice, Golden Lion II's "mind-reading" wasn't quite [Foresight], but it achieved a similar effect.
Kizaru found himself struggling against an opponent who could see through his thoughts.
But his [Glint-Glint Fruit] was no joke either.
After that initial attack with the [Sea-stone Wooden Spike], Kizaru had raised his guard to the maximum, no longer blindly relying on his fruit's physical invulnerability.
If those [Sea-stone Wooden Spike] attacks happened a few more times, Kizaru feared he might actually lose…
From then on, Kizaru opted for a more cautious approach, using the [Glint-Glint Fruit]'s extreme speed and power to keep Golden Lion II engaged.
Golden Lion II could read his mind.
But Kizaru's speed was unmatched.
Even if Golden Lion II pulled off flashy maneuvers.
Kizaru could also rely on the extreme speed of his [Glint-Glint Fruit] to forcibly evade the opponent's attacks.
"Lion's Roar · Sea Dragon Twister!"
Golden Lion II raised his right hand, summoning endless seawater and shaping it into towering, colossal water tornadoes that surged toward Kizaru ahead.
Kizaru didn't even attempt to block the seawater attacks, nor did he bother to release light beams to destroy the water tornadoes. Instead, he instantly dodged them.
Before the seawater could fully encircle him, Kizaru had already flashed out of its range.
Once he retreated to a safe position, Kizaru unleashed "Yasakani no Magatama," sending a relentless barrage of golden light bullets raining down on Golden Lion II in the sky.
However, Golden Lion II had already anticipated Kizaru's intentions. He darted through the air at high speed, nimbly evading the range of the "Yasakani no Magatama" bombardment.
When the most violent wave of attacks subsided,
Golden Lion II swung his [Cherry Ten], slicing through the last remaining light bullet aimed at him. The sharp blade cleanly split the projectile in two.
The bisected light bullets continued flying backward before exploding mid-air, their destructive power no less than that of standard Marine artillery.
"Kizaru."
Golden Lion II floated freely in the sky, calling out to the admiral on the other side.
"If we keep fighting like this, neither of us will come out victorious."
Golden Lion II could read Kizaru's thoughts, allowing him to prepare countermeasures in advance for any move the admiral made.
Kizaru's [Observation Haki] lacked any special abilities, but he had the [Glint-Glint Fruit].
Against anyone who wasn't a speedster, Kizaru's [Glint-Glint Fruit] made him virtually untouchable.
From this perspective,
Kizaru acknowledged the "stalemate" argument.
After their earlier clash, Kizaru had already recognized Golden Lion II's strength.
His [Observation Haki] was unexpectedly powerful, combined with the [Float-Float Fruit] and his formidable [Swordsmanship]…
He seemed like a fusion of "Lone Red" and "Golden Lion Shiki."
A monster!
An absolute monster!
But Navy Admirals were monsters too.
Though it was a bit embarrassing to admit…
Kizaru had already prepared for a prolonged battle.
Golden Lion II had been using his Devil Fruit abilities at a high frequency during the fight, which undoubtedly came with a cost.
Moreover, he was continuously deploying advanced [Observation Haki], draining his stamina even further.
Kizaru only needed to wait until his opponent's stamina ran dry before effortlessly capturing him.
The advantage was his!
"That kind of thinking is truly shameful, Kizaru."
Though Kizaru hadn't spoken a word, Golden Lion II had already grasped his inner thoughts.
"Can't you see the News Coos surrounding us?
"A Navy Admiral, resorting to stalling tactics just to defeat a rookie pirate…
"Wouldn't that completely tarnish the reputation of the 'World Government's Greatest Military Power'?"
"A rookie? Don't joke around."
Kizaru glanced indifferently at the distant News Coos—he had indeed noticed the presence of the seagulls.
But he also spotted the Den Den Mushi cameras strapped to their bodies.
That must be one of those "news birds" specially dispatched after the "Big News" received word!
This time.
The events at Impel Down could no longer be easily covered up by the government like last time.
Kizaru merely glanced at the flock of "news birds" before looking away.
"As for the dignity of a Navy Admiral..."
Kizaru spoke gravely, with none of his usual slippery nonchalance.
"If I let you escape, that's when my dignity would truly be lost!"
"What a nuisance. Fast enemies like you are the worst," Golden Lion II remarked carelessly.
"Can't land a hit, can't drive you away."
"How unfortunate~"
Kizaru pinched his fingers into an orchid gesture as another cross-shaped light bloomed at his fingertips.
"This is my [Glint-Glint Fruit]!"
Golden Lion II's earlier taunt seemed to still echo in Kizaru's ears.
So what if Observation Haki can read minds and foresee the future?
What gives you the right to look down on those of us who rely on Devil Fruit powers?
Damn brat!
Who do you think you are?!
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
"Not this again!"
Golden Lion II's lips twitched slightly as he reached out to grasp the surrounding seawater. He didn't bother shaping it this time, simply pulling up a massive volume of water—though "massive" might be an understatement.
Utilizing his incredible speed, Golden Lion II weaved through the saturation bombardment of light bullets from "Yasakani no Magatama," while the sea below erupted with deafening explosions.
Whoosh—whoosh—
The waters of the Calm Belt, drawn by the [Float-Float Fruit], soared into the sky.
The most astonishing part?
This volume of water rivaled Impel Down itself in size.
Golden Lion II lifted the seawater into the air before sending it crashing down with tremendous force.
"Undersea Hell!"
The near-endless seawater transformed into a colossal "water island" that blotted out the sky, surging toward Kizaru with overwhelming force, threatening to bury both the Navy Admiral and Impel Down beneath the waves.
Kizaru's expression shifted slightly.
Having fought Golden Lion II for so long, he'd almost forgotten that the [Float-Float Fruit] was a terrifying power capable of unleashing natural disasters at any moment.
While Kizaru could easily evade this descending "water island" with his [Glint-Glint Fruit] abilities, Impel Down below had no such luxury.
If Impel Down were destroyed, all of Kizaru's efforts up to this point would be for nothing.
Taking a deep breath, Kizaru no longer dodged as before. Instead, he concentrated his Devil Fruit power into his right foot, transforming his leg once more into a radiant "Golden Leg."
"Ama no Iwato!"
A devastating high-energy beam erupted from Kizaru's right leg, piercing straight through the entire "water island" with unstoppable force. The moment it made contact with the seawater, it triggered a chain reaction of explosions.
BOOM!!!—
With an earth-shaking roar.
Golden Lion II's "Undersea Hell" was instantly obliterated by Kizaru's "Ama no Iwato."
Ordinary seawater couldn't withstand the high-energy bombardment of the [Glint-Glint Fruit], instantly vaporizing into mist that filled the sky.
Steam continuously rose from the ocean's surface, accumulating high above.
The surroundings of Impel Down grew increasingly gloomy and dark.
Boom—
Brilliant flashes of lightning streaked across the sky, followed by rolling thunder.
Just a moment ago, Kizaru, who had expended tremendous effort to completely destroy the "Undersea Hell," allowed himself a brief sigh of relief.
But in the very next instant, his expression turned grave.
The sudden thunderclap reminded him of another old acquaintance.
Kizaru's gaze snapped toward Golden Lion II, only to see a towering, burly figure standing beside him—someone who hadn't been there before.
"Whitebeard Jr.…"
A bead of cold sweat trickled down Kizaru's forehead as he uttered the name with difficulty.
"Edward Teach!"
"Kizaru, don't accuse us of ganging up on you. You are a Navy Admiral of Marine Headquarters, after all."
Golden Lion II stood beside Whitebeard Jr., looking down at Kizaru with a faint smirk.
"Now, it's time for a change."
Crack!
The moment Golden Lion II finished speaking—
Whitebeard Jr. transformed into lightning, streaking through the air with blinding speed, appearing right in front of Kizaru in an instant.
Current Drive · Lightning Kick!
Whitebeard Jr.'s right leg radiated dazzling electric light, carrying the force of a thunderstorm as it slammed toward Kizaru.
[More-More Fruit: Hundredfold Strength]!
Kizaru barely managed to raise his arms in defense.
Boom!
Whitebeard Jr.'s kick connected with Kizaru's guard, and the collision between the two unleashed a shockwave that rippled outward, sending visible white pressure waves in all directions.
Kizaru held out for only a brief moment.
The overwhelming force transmitted from Whitebeard Jr.'s leg sent him hurtling downward like a beam of light, crashing straight into the ocean below.
Boom—!
Under the stunned gazes of Magellan and Shiryu, a massive Knock-Up Stream erupted from the sea around Impel Down.
Kizaru had been sent plunging into the depths—his fate unknown.
A Navy Admiral… defeated in a single strike by Whitebeard Jr.?
Magellan shuddered, wasting no time in activating his [Venom-Venom Fruit] ability. He immediately entered his [Awakening] state, transforming into a towering, nightmarish Poison Giant Soldier.
Meanwhile, Shiryu of the Rain unsheathed his famed blade [Thunderclap Rain], channeling dense [Armament Haki] into its edge, temporarily forging it into a [Black Blade].
The twin pillars of Impel Down had simultaneously prepared their defenses.
But Whitebeard Jr. merely spared them a fleeting glance—as if they were nothing more than air—before turning into lightning once more and returning to Golden Lion II's side.
The sheer arrogance in that glance replayed endlessly in Magellan and Shiryu's minds, filling both Warden Directors with humiliation.
Had Whitebeard Jr. at least bothered to attack them, the sting wouldn't have been so bitter.
But the enemy hadn't even deemed them worth striking…
To Whitebeard Jr., the so-called "twin pillars" of Impel Down might as well have been invisible.
As Whitebeard Jr. rejoined Golden Lion II, a dazzling, dreamlike Grand Prize Trophy materialized in the void.
[Lunar Glory Trophy: Kizaru·Borsalino]
[Trophy Rating: ★★★★★★★★]
Golden Lion II maneuvered several warships that hadn't been completely destroyed in the battle, soaring toward the distant horizon.
Only after those flying warships had vanished from sight did Magellan finally withdraw from his "Poison Giant Soldier" state, though he remained deeply shaken.
Yet in the next instant, Magellan suddenly realized something.
"Shiryu! Save him!"
Shiryu of the Rain twitched his lips slightly before reluctantly diving into the sea.
A few crimson slashes of his blade erupted from the depths.
Shiryu emerged from the water, carrying Kizaru with him.
"Admiral Kizaru!"
Magellan hurried to Kizaru's side, pressing his hands against the admiral's chest.
Kizaru coughed up several mouthfuls of seawater before slowly opening his eyes.
"Magellan... I'm so glad the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was you."
Magellan remained silent for a moment before pointing toward the nearly vanished black dots on the horizon.
"Shall we pursue?"
"We'd die."
Kizaru lay sprawled out unceremoniously on the Maritime First Level floor of Impel Down.
"Whitebeard Jr. and Golden Lion II have joined forces."
"Let the government's big shots deal with that headache!"
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