Explosive rock, also known as Power Rock, appears to be an ordinary stone but harbors incredibly terrifying energy, making it a strictly regulated item on the sea.
When this stone comes into contact with oxygen or is subjected to a massive impact, it will explode. The power of the explosion is said to rival ancient weapons, and even a fist-sized explosive rock can level an entire island.
Due to its terrifying power, only the top brass of the Navy have the qualification to decide the use of these things. Zephyr was one of them; he didn't retire but instead retained his rank and became an instructor, possessing the authority to handle such items.
At this moment, Sengoku also saw the explosive rock in Zephyr's hand.
"Zephyr? Are you crazy? What do you want to do with this?"
"What? Of course, to deal with the pirates."
"The power of this thing... Do you want to blow up all of Marinfanto?!"
Sengoku was well aware of the power of the explosive rock. If this thing exploded, the entire Marinfanto would likely be destroyed. Not just the ordinary soldiers on the island, but even if no one was there, he didn't want to use this thing.
Otherwise, after the war ended, if Marinfanto were destroyed, who knows how this matter would be perceived.
If it were that easy, he would have just buried explosive rock in Marinfanto and waited for Whitebeard to arrive.
Whether this thing can kill high-ranking officers is uncertain, but ordinary soldiers definitely cannot withstand the aftermath.
"Isn't Whitebeard's destruction of Marinfanto big enough? Whether we use it or not, Marinfanto is already almost destroyed, and besides, this piece is not that big; it won't destroy the entire island."
"No, I disagree.
This thing won't be of any great use. All three of them have flying abilities. Relying on explosive rock to take them down is unrealistic, not to mention they have that suspected Barrier-Barrier Fruit ability."
As the Navy Admiral, Sengoku was also knowledgeable about the Science Corps, and in reports, the term bloodline factor was the most frequent.
According to current intelligence, a certain Queen developed a plethora of Mythical Zoan abilities using Kaidou's body as a blueprint and his bloodline factor. But from the Navy's perspective, the most troublesome thing wasn't the flame or lightning; it was the "barrier fruit's bloodline factor."
This ability is too overpowered, with incredibly strong defense, capable of producing miraculous effects at crucial moments. The only good news is that this technology seems imperfect, and it breaks more easily if used continuously.
These lessons were paid for with Navy's blood; every piece of intelligence came at a great cost. In the recent battle, Kaidou had used such a technique.
Based on past intelligence, the stronger the user, the stronger the barrier's defensive power. Sengoku did not know Kaidou's barrier's limits, nor whether explosive rock could break it. If mishandled, it could hurt their own men.
"So, I need your cooperation. First, figure out a way to trick them into using that barrier once, and don't you have a restraining technique? Use it to confine me and them within the same area.
I will directly detonate the explosive rock inside; in such a space, the explosive rock should have a stronger effect..."
"Are you planning on going down together?! Things haven't reached that point yet, Zephyr, calm down, there's no need to go to such lengths with these guys!"
Sengoku had long discovered a more peculiar problem. The motives of the Hundred Beasts group and Whitebeard's group were fundamentally different. The Whitebeard Pirates were in a life-and-death struggle with the Navy, but the Hundred Beasts people seemed more like they were playing around.
If those people were serious, they would definitely cause greater destruction, but they did not do so.
King and Shaina only showed their true strength when fighting the Blackbeard Pirates and could even be said to have helped the Navy clear some hidden threats.
Kaidou, although fighting with him, did not cause much influence; with Garp there, it was hard to go all out.
Queen was fighting with the Seven Warlords of the Sea, but the Warlords were more for show, which was somewhat within expectations; rather, Sengoku had to thank Queen for not using those bizarre large-scale lethal weapons.
Sengoku did not know how hard Queen tried not to draw attention.
Taking a closer look, only Yamato was truly occupying a top-tier combat spot by holding off Kuzan.
Additionally, due to several transactions between the Hundred Beasts and the World Government, Sengoku did not want to escalate the situation under these circumstances.
"Sengoku, have you become like those guys too?"
"What are you saying?"
"Making deals with pirates, placing hope in them, what could be more foolish than this!"
The former Black Arm Zephyr was known as the Admiral who never killed; he had never taken a pirate's life, only capturing them.
But in the days that followed, pirates killed his family, and a disheartened Zephyr turned to education, yet his students still met unfortunate fates, and on his last expedition, only two besides him survived.
People who are easy-going often become more extreme after breaking down; the once non-killing admiral had long disappeared. After founding his Pirate Guerrillas, his attitude towards pirates narrowed to one single goal - elimination.
In the original timeline, after the Marineford War, to fill the vacancy left by the Seven Warlords of the Sea, the World Government recruited the pirate who had severed his arm and killed his disciples, leading Zephyr to complete despair and formulate the ultimate plan to eliminate all pirates.
The current Zephyr hadn't reached that point yet, but his hatred for pirates was not much different.
"Cough, cough... cough..."
In the heat of the moment, Zephyr once again pulled out a potion, taking a deep breath to calm down.
"Sengoku, you've seen it too. I'm not like you and Garp, my health has always been declining, in another year or two, I might not even maintain the current level."
"You could go for treatment..."
"Don't be silly. I know my body better, I won't last several years.
Although I can't stand those people in the World Government, I'm still part of the Navy.
Rather than dying of illness in bed, I'd rather fight one last grand battle, striving once more for the Navy.
Kuzan, Sakazuki, and even the Borsalino whom I don't quite like, these young people have grown up, and an old guy like me can't do much else.
This is the Navy Headquarters, the symbol of justice, the place where I spent my life striving to fulfill my own sense of justice. Let it serve as my final act."
Kaidou and Whitebeard are the New World's most significant pirate threats, and in the frontline battlefield, Whitebeard's fierce battle with Akainu and Kizaru continues. If both of these guys could be left in Marinfanto, it would be a great victory for the Navy.
The deaths of two Sea Emperors would severely dampen pirate arrogance, and achieving this goal would justify great sacrifices.
From the moment he stepped onto this battlefield, one could say Zephyr had embraced a resolution to die.