The clash between three taishō-level (admiral-level) fighters had shattered a third of Sphinx Island. Seawater poured inland, and extreme weather caused by Devil Fruit abilities blanketed the entire island, raising sea levels around it.
Sebas was not in a good mood.
It had been a long battle, yet he had failed to take down Roya and Lili, former members of the White Wolf Pirates. Worse still, the fierce fight had disrupted his breathing and spiritual rhythm.
"Huff... huff..."
Sebas tried to steady his breath, unwilling to let the trio from the White Wolf Pirates notice his exhaustion. But his chest heaved like a bellows, greedily sucking in air to recover.
"Hahaha, Sebas, you really are getting old!"
After half a day of battle, Magnus was soaked in blood, large portions of his body bruised purple and blue. Not even the mighty recovery of his zōon (zoan)-type Devil Fruit could fully restore him.
But he laughed.
In the past half-day, while fending off Kong, Magnus frequently withstood attacks from him just to strike at Sebas and relieve pressure off Roya and Lili. The cost: most of his stamina and considerable injury.
Still, Kong and Sebas weren't faring well either.
Especially Kong, Magnus's primary target. Though Magnus sometimes had to endure pincer attacks from both Kong and Sebas, whenever Roya and Lili were safe, he would prioritize striking Kong. Just having reached taishō-level, Kong quickly fell into a disadvantage.
"Taishō Jōma, are you holding on?"
"Still standing!"
Even with blood trailing from his lips, Sebas could not retreat. His pride as a Navy Admiral wouldn't allow it.
Having been on the verge of retirement, Sebas's fighting spirit had waned. If he lost to Magnus now, he wouldn't even need Magnus to finish him. His Haōshoku no Haki (Conqueror's Haki) would collapse.
He could still fight!
He would not lose to a mere pirate!
"Captain, can you still go on?"
"Hah, another half-day should be fine. Worst case, we run."
"To stand toe-to-toe with a Navy Admiral and a candidate, even retreating wouldn't be shameful."
The trio of White Wolf Pirates laughed. Though worse for wear, they treated Kong and Sebas with complete disregard.
Magnus noticed Lili give a subtle hand sign—he instantly understood. The battle had reached its endgame.
Standing before sniper Lili was the White Wolf Pirates' first mate: Roya.
Zōon Inu Inu no Mi: Yamainu Model (Dog-Dog Fruit: Dhole Model).
Half-transformed, Roya resembled Magnus in jūjin-ka (beast-human form): a wolf-headed beastman covered in fur, standing tall like a werewolf from a movie.
But Magnus's Devil Fruit was a mystical zōon, while Roya's was a common one.
To outsiders, they were both just wolf-themed pirates.
Calling them rōbai (wolves in collusion) couldn't be more apt.
Roya had taken the brunt of Sebas's attacks over the last hours. Now, his fur was scorched, one arm twisted grotesquely, half his face a bloody mess.
No one said it, but just as Sebas was an aged Navy Admiral, Roya was an old pirate.
After half a day, not only Sebas but also Roya was spent—kept going by sheer will.
This was a Navy Admiral!
Roya's one remaining eye glimmered with longing. He had never beaten one in his entire life—not Magnus, not any of them.
This time, he wanted a win.
He didn't care how Magnus had grown strong again, becoming young once more.
The seas were filled with miracles. Perhaps Magnus had simply found one.
If that miracle could be shared—Magnus wouldn't deny it to old comrades.
And if it couldn't, then why burden the captain with it?
This might be the last time.
His last battle beside his captain.
And their enemy—an admiral they had never once defeated.
But this time...
Look at them!
The two admirals looked pathetic, eyes wide with fear and fury, as if betrayed by their own servants.
He had once been a slave.
This life had been saved by Magnus.
So if it must be given up for Magnus—so be it.
"Magnus!!!"
The bloodied werewolf roared.
This time, Roya charged toward Sebas.
Kong realized something was off—Roya had the look of a pirate ready to die.
But before he could act—
Magnus stood before him.
"My brother dreamed of punching those heavenly Tenryūbito (Celestial Dragons). I was useless then and couldn't help."
"So let me pay some interest—starting with Sebas, loyal dog of the Tenryūbito."
Kong's Kenbunshoku no Haki (Observation Haki) foresaw it—Magnus dropped all defense.
He poured Haōshoku no Haki into his blade, unleashing a full-force slash.
At Sebas.
Magnus would block Kong's support with his body and use his swordsman's advantage to attack Sebas with Roya.
"If not me, then who?"
"This slash is called... Dragon Slayer!"
Not a literal dragon, but the Celestial Dragons—those who looked down like gods.
The moment Magnus made that vow, he felt his Haōshoku no Haki surge.
No teacher.
Instinctively.
His Conqueror's Haki wrapped around his blade.
One slash.
Heaven and earth split.
Sebas felt an overwhelming sharpness approach—eyes widening in terror, rage, disbelief.
"Impossible!"
"You can't possibly use Haōshoku—"
He never finished.
Magnus's slash landed. All of Sebas's defenses melted like snow in the sun.
His Busōshoku no Haki (Armament Haki) was drained.
And then—Roya struck.
Leaping skyward, staff overhead, his final strength focused into one blow.
Sebas's body slammed into the island's shattered ground, breaking it into rubble.
Yet still, Sebas did not fall.
"Don't look down on me!!!"
No time to regret slacking off, losing his edge, or indulging in women.
All Sebas could think:
"I'm a Navy Admiral!!!"
His final Haōshoku no Haki erupted—black lightning splitting the storm clouds.
But compared to Magnus, even Kong, it was pitiful.
Lili wouldn't waste the chance.
This chance Magnus and Roya created.
"A bullet?"
Bloody and barely conscious, Sebas scoffed at Lili.
"Correct."
Lili smiled, unbothered by his disdain.
"But this one? Took me forever to make—infused with concentrated Bakuyaku Iwa (Explosive Rock)."
"To take down an admiral? Worth it."
The bullet crossed over a kilometer—striking Sebas.
It didn't pierce his armored, scarred skin.
But it cracked—releasing a liquid.
Pink liquid met oxygen.
The world froze.
Kong tried to push past Magnus, but Magnus held him tight.
Then the explosion—
Over a thousand meters of devastation.
The island shook.
BOOOOM————————!
(End of Chapter)
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