CHAPTER 164 — Celestial Dragon?
The docks stretched out in long wooden platforms, waves lapping gently against the sides of ships tied in neat rows. A few bubbles drifted up from the mangroves, popping softly in the air. Normally, this side of the island would still be busy even during chaos, workers moving cargo, sailors shouting, civilians running errands.
Today, it was quiet.
Vice Admiral Gion stood near the edge of the dock, her pink hair tied back, her posture straight. She watched the sea with a composed expression, one hand resting near her sword. To anyone looking from afar, she appeared relaxed.
Inside, she was alert.
Marineford was at war with the Whitebeard pirates. That much she knew. Whitebeard had entered the battlefield. Admirals were fully engaged. The balance of the world was shaking.
And now, Sabaody had gone silent.
Behind her, inside one of the Marine ships, raised voices echoed from the communications room.
"That's not right."
A Marine officer leaned over a table filled with Den Den Mushi of different sizes. He tapped one. Nothing. He tried another. Still nothing.
"Try the backup line," another Marine said.
"I did. Twice."
The officer wiped sweat from his brow. He picked up a third Den Den Mushi, one connected directly to the ship's internal relay. He squeezed it gently.
No response.
The Den Den Mushi's eyes were dull. Lifeless.
"That's impossible…" the Marine muttered.
Den Den Mushi didn't just fail. Not like this. Not all at once.
He turned sharply and rushed out of the room.
Gion heard his footsteps before she saw him.
"Vice Admiral!" the Marine shouted as he approached, nearly stumbling as he stopped in front of her. He saluted quickly, breath uneven. "All Den Den Mushi are down. None of them are responding. We can't send or receive any signals."
Gion's eyes narrowed just a little.
"How many did you check?" she asked calmly.
"All of them," he answered. "Primary. Backup. Personal. Even the long-range ones. Nothing works."
That was enough.
Gion turned her gaze toward the island itself. Toward the tall mangroves. Toward the distant shapes of buildings barely visible beyond the mist.
This wasn't damage.
This was intentional.
Someone had blocked communications.
Her thoughts moved quickly, controlled but sharp. If Den Den Mushi were down across Sabaody, then any incident happening on the island would stay there. No warnings. No reinforcements. No reports.
A perfect situation for someone planning something dangerous.
"Send out investigation teams," Gion said. Her voice was steady, but there was no room for argument. "Small groups. Cover the main streets. Check the auction areas first."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Marines moved immediately. There weren't many of them, most forces had already been pulled toward Marineford, but what she had, she used.
As squads split up and ran across the docks, Gion remained where she was.
Waiting.
Watching.
The sound of heavy footsteps broke the quiet.
A large ship stood docked nearby, far more decorated than the others. Gold trim. Polished surfaces. Symbols that made Marines stiffen without thinking.
The doors opened.
A figure stepped out.
He had a wide, bloated face, thick lips pulled into a constant look of boredom and disgust. Stubble darkened the skin around his mouth. His body was wrapped in the thick, white suit worn only by Celestial Dragons, the inflated shape making him look even larger. A green collar rested around his neck, and a clear resin bubble enclosed his head, feeding him air untouched by commoners.
Saint Marcus had arrived.
Behind him walked several CP0 agents, masked, silent, their movements smooth and controlled. A servant followed closely, bent at the waist, nodding even before words were spoken.
Saint Marcus looked around slowly.
"Where are the commoners?" he asked, his voice sharp and annoyed.
The servant bowed deeper. "They may be hiding, sir. Or perhaps they are at the plaza, watching the battle between the Marines and the Whitebeard Pirates."
Saint Marcus sneered.
"A fight?" he scoffed. "How could that be more important than kneeling before a Celestial Dragon?"
"Yes, sir," the servant said immediately. "Of course, sir."
Saint Marcus clicked his tongue and continued forward, his steps heavy. He soon noticed Gion and the Marines nearby.
He raised his voice.
"You there!" he shouted. "Bring me to an auction. I want a new toy."
Several Marines tensed. None spoke.
Gion turned.
For a moment, just a moment, her face darkened. Her mouth clenched. Her hand curled slightly.
Then she breathed out.
Her expression smoothed. Calm returned.
She stepped forward and bowed her head just enough to be respectful.
"Saint Charlos Marcus," she said evenly. "It would be wiser to wait. We are currently investigating an issue across Sabaody."
Saint Marcus blinked.
"Huh?" he said. "Are you disobeying me?"
The servant straightened slightly, voice sharp. "Why investigate? The Celestial Dragon is here. There is no need for concern."
Gion kept her voice level, even as her chest tightened.
"All Den Den Mushi have been blocked," she explained. "If anything happens, we will not be able to contact the outside world."
The servant waved the concern away. "So what? Who would dare touch a Celestial Dragon?"
It seemed they hadn't heard the news about the Straw Hat punching a Celestial Dragon here in the Sabaody Archipelago. That incident had been buried by the World Government, and most of these people had only just returned from the East Blue.
Saint Marcus nodded, satisfied.
Gion said nothing more.
She had tried.
Saint Marcus let out a proud "hmph" and turned away. "Take me there."
Since the distance was far, a slave was brought out from the ship.
The man was large. Broad shoulders. Scarred skin. His eyes were dull, empty. He knelt without resistance.
Saint Marcus climbed onto his back.
The slave stood and began to move.
CP0 followed.
Gion watched them go, her hands clenched at her sides.
Something bad was coming.
She could feel it.
Marineford was anything but quiet.
The ground was cracked and broken, smoke rising in thick clouds. Cannon fire echoed constantly. Shouts filled the air, blending into a roar of chaos.
Whitebeard stood on the battlefield, massive and unmoving despite the destruction around him. Kizaru's light flashed across the ground. Kuzan's ice spread outward, freezing entire sections in seconds.
And Akainu, Akainu burned.
He saw Ace running.
He saw Luffy beside him.
Rage exploded inside his chest.
"Pirates!" Akainu roared. "Son of Roger!"
Magma poured from his body, heat warping the air. He charged forward, fists blazing.
Behind him, Diana was already moving.
She had turned back the moment she sensed his shift in focus. Her feet barely touched the ground as she rushed toward him, lightning crackling faintly around her.
Akainu felt her presence.
He knew his options.
If he turned, he could block her attack, but Ace would escape.
If he ignored her, he could kill Ace, but he would be struck.
Akainu bared his teeth.
He chose Ace.
Ace felt the heat coming.
He forced himself forward, flames erupting from his body. Fire surged toward Akainu in a desperate wave.
Akainu walked through it.
Magma wrapped around his arm. His fist rose.
Whitebeard saw it.
Garp saw it.
"Ace!" they shouted at the same time.
The world seemed to slow.
A sword, wrapped in lightning, flew through the air.
It struck Akainu from behind with brutal force.
The blade pierced through him, lightning disrupting his form, preventing him from fully turning into magma. The impact blasted him away from Ace, sending him skidding across the ground.
Diana landed moments later, breathing hard.
She didn't know Ace's crimes.
She didn't know his name.
But she had seen his eyes.
She had seen how he looked at the people around him.
That was enough.
Ace didn't hesitate.
He grabbed Luffy and ran.
Luffy clutched Mr. 3 under one arm, stumbling but moving fast.
"Thank you, big sister!" Luffy shouted over his shoulder.
Diana watched them go.
Whitebeard laughed.
The sound shook the air.
He slammed his power into the ground. The earth cracked violently, shockwaves ripping outward.
"My sons!" he bellowed. "Retreat! We have rescued Ace!"
The pirates roared back.
Akainu pushed himself upright.
The sword was still lodged in his body. Blood dripped down his side. The wound burned, lightning still interfering with his control.
It wasn't fatal.
But it hurt.
Rage flooded him.
He raised his arm and launched massive magma attacks into the battlefield below, not caring who stood where.
Kuzan saw it.
His face hardened.
He released a freezing mist, ice swallowing the magma mid-air.
"Akainu…" Kuzan muttered, anger clear in his voice.
"Are you betraying justice?!" Akainu shouted back.
Before the argument could go further, a Marine screamed.
A massive shadow fell across the buildings.
They looked up.
A giant stood there.
Sanjuan Wolf.
From behind the structure he had been hiding in, Blackbeard stepped forward, laughing.
His crew followed.
New monsters from Impel Down.
The battlefield froze in shock.
~~~
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