"What a magical island!!!"
As the Straw Hat Pirates continued sailing after leaving the Land of Wano, they gradually arrived at the Future Island, where they encountered the many clones created by Vegapunk.
"So… where is the real Vegapunk?"
Walking together with Lilith toward the interior of the Future Island, Luffy couldn't help but ask along the way.
"Well…"
Lilith thought about Orin's visit not long ago and could only say,
"The main body is currently conducting a very important research project, so he's quite busy right now."
...
And where was Vegapunk himself at this moment?
He was standing on the coast of Egghead, a bit of cold sweat on his face as he waited. Orin had said they would sail directly here, and Vegapunk had no real way to deal with that.
Even in his opinion, this kind of behavior—basically riding on the World Government's head, taking a dump, and slapping them a few times for good measure—shouldn't it be done in a more covert way?
Orin's answer was:
Sadgeo's size is just too big. There isn't a mirror large enough to move him, so he can only come by ship.
...
On the vast and boundless sea, pirate ships occasionally sailed by.
Pirates who could make it this far into the New World were already considered elite, yet today they sensed something unusual about the ocean.
"What's that sound…?"
Some crew members heard a rumbling noise, along with surging waves. Even in the ever-changing weather of the New World, such a phenomenon shouldn't occur under a clear sky.
Unless it was…
"Look!!!"
The lookout on the pirate ship suddenly spotted something. His eyes widened as if they were about to pop out of their sockets, his face turning pale as he shouted to the others.
The rest of the crew followed his gaze—and their expressions changed instantly.
"What is that?!"
"Is the Sea God traveling?!"
"But… it's way too big!!!"
They hurriedly turned the rudder, trying to avoid it. On the distant horizon where sea met sky, massive waves surged forward.
Several super-giant Sea Kings were pulling a colossal ship thousands of meters long, cleaving through the waves as it advanced.
A young giant draped in a black cloak sat at the bow, commanding the massive vessel, while the Sea Kings dragged it forward.
The overwhelming spectacle resembled a king of the sea on patrol. Compared to this, ordinary pirate ships were like ants beside a car.
Sometimes they weren't even visible—just crushed outright.
"So cool!!!"
A newly joined member of Sadgeo's crew climbed up near the mast, looking at a somewhat famous pirate crew that had just been silently crushed into debris, his eyes shining.
"So this is Captain Sadgeo, one of the Emperors of the Sea?!"
Though they didn't know why their captain was rushing so urgently toward an island, their long-standing trust made them choose to follow without hesitation.
...
On the outskirts of Egghead Island, the approaching World Government ships also felt the thunderous rumbling.
Turning to look, even Rob Lucci—the strongest prodigy of the World Government in 800 years—couldn't help but widen his eyes, cold sweat dripping down his forehead.
"This is…"
"One of the Emperors of the Sea, [Dark Sun] Sadgeo!!!"
"The number one criminal of the World Government, ranked no lower than the Revolutionary Army's leader, Monkey D. Dragon!!!"
Kaku's body stiffened instantly as he watched the overwhelming force crushing forward, at a loss for what to do.
Lucci, however, ordered the ship to sail in another direction around Egghead. He intended to face this old enemy alone.
"But Lucci, the Government has ordered us not to engage an Emperor of the Sea without authorization!!!"
"This isn't us initiating a battle—he's the one crashing straight into us!!!"
Throwing off his white coat, Lucci's body began to transform, turning into a human-beast leopard form with drifting smoke clouds.
"The current me is not the same as before…"
"[Dark Sun] Sadgeo? Looks like I can have some fun~"
With that, without waiting for Kaku and the others to respond, he immediately used Geppo to fly toward Sadgeo's group.
The power of his awakened Devil Fruit made him far different from before. Though he had once narrowly lost to this man, now…
"Hey!!!"
"[Dark Sun]!!!"
The humanoid leopard landed on Noah's bow, extending his claws toward Sadgeo in a provocative gesture.
"Huh? Who are you? Are you here to join our Mink Tribe?!"
Like a curious boy, Sadgeo was still full of anticipation for the surprise Orin had prepared. Seeing Lucci suddenly appear, he asked in confusion.
"Isn't it obvious he's a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user?!"
Kuina was already at her wit's end with this foolish captain.
"Ah? Is that so~"
Sadgeo finally reacted.
"Then what are you doing on our ship?!"
Glaring angrily at the leopard that seemed to be huffing, Sadgeo clenched his fist and punched straight at him.
Lucci wasn't foolish—he immediately displayed the speed of a leopard, dodging to the side. It was a close call; otherwise, Sadgeo's punch would have smashed into the ship.
Sadgeo grew irritated, watching the leopard dart around. Black smoke instantly appeared in his hand, spreading out and devouring the surroundings.
"Dark Water!!!"
Running on all fours across Noah, Lucci didn't have time to react before being touched by the Dark Water that had spread everywhere.
He immediately reverted to human form—and was sent flying by a punch.
Even without Nika's awakening, Sadgeo had reached the level of an Emperor purely through strength. The gap between them was obvious.
"[Dark Sun]… what an awful title…"
Sadgeo had always been dissatisfied with that name.
After punching Lucci away, he had no mood to play a giant chasing a small cat. He was heading off to find Orin and Vegapunk.
The rest was left to Kuina.
"You're really troublesome…"
Kuina sighed, resting her hand on Wado Ichimonji as she stepped forward, her gaze fixed on Lucci.
Lucci had recovered from that punch, his wounds beginning to heal.
After all, as an awakened Zoan user, without Sadgeo using Conqueror's Haki Infusion, the blow was painful but not fatal.
Still, he clearly understood the gap between them.
"So this is the true strength of an Emperor of the Sea?"
He then looked at Kuina.
"Fine… the Emperor's right-hand is also worth killing."
"Is that so?"
"Rankyaku!!!"