The clearing on Egghead Island had become strangely peaceful.
Tall trees surrounded the patch of grass on all sides, their branches forming a loose canopy overhead. Afternoon sunlight slipped between the leaves, moving slowly across the ground as a gentle breeze passed through the forest.
Luffy sat comfortably in the grass with a large piece of bone-in meat in his hands. He tore into it with both hands, chewing happily before immediately reaching toward the pile beside him for another piece.
Not far away, Zoro rested his back against the trunk of a broad tree. One hand rested loosely near the hilts of his swords while he drank sake.
His eyes, however, never stopped moving.
He occasionally glanced toward the trees.
Then back toward the camp.
Sanji stood beside a portable cooking stove.
He worked a dark iron pan with practiced ease, tossing chopped vegetables and strips of seasoned meat through the heat. Oil hissed against the surface.
The smell drifted across the clearing.
It reached everyone.
Even those who pretended they weren't hungry.
Nami sat on a fallen log with a sheet of parchment spread across her knees.
She carefully drew lines across the map, marking their recent route and updating the surrounding waters.
Usopp had claimed a rock several paces away.
He held a small piece of scrap metal in one hand while filing its edge with the other.
Every few seconds, sparks jumped from the surface.
Chopper sat on the ground nearby.
A wooden bowl rested between his legs while he crushed leaves and roots into a thick paste.
The smell of herbs mixed with Sanji's cooking.
Brook sat beneath another tree.
He gently plucked at his instrument while humming a quiet melody.
The tune disappeared into the breeze.
Robin had found herself the most comfortable chair available.
A thick book rested in her hands.
She turned a page.
Franky stood beside her, working on a new metallic device.
He tightened the last bolt.
Then shook the mechanism.
Click.
Franky's eyebrows rose.
"SUUUPER."
Merry and Sunny sat together in the grass.
Merry held a small plate of Sanji's cooking.
Sunny ate happily beside her.
Vivi sat on a woven blanket nearby.
She drank cool water while Carue pecked at the dirt around her, searching for seeds.
Bonney sat across from Luffy.
Her portion of food was almost as large as his.
She tore meat from the bone without slowing down.
A small pile of clean bones had already formed beside her.
Carrot sat nearby, happily chewing on a large plant root.
CRUNCH.
She looked perfectly content.
Yamato sat at the other end of Nami's log.
His enormous club rested against the grass while he watched the clouds drift across the sky.
Then there were the giants.
Dorry.
Brogy.
Oimo.
Kashii.
The four warriors sat together in the grass, quietly talking about the strange island, the machines they had seen, and the bizarre technology surrounding Vegapunk's laboratory.
At the edge of the clearing stood the Vegapunks.
Sentomaru remained with them.
His hand was firmly wrapped around the handle of his axe.
His eyes stayed on the forest.
Ben stepped forward.
He turned toward Vegapunk.
"Do you have everything?"
Vegapunk adjusted his clothing.
"Everything is secured."
He nodded.
"We're ready to move."
Ben raised one hand.
He snapped his fingers.
The air in the center of the clearing cracked.
Space folded.
A bright doorway opened.
Ben pointed toward it.
"Go inside."
The Vegapunks began moving.
Then Ben turned toward the crew.
His expression changed.
"A fight is coming."
Luffy stopped chewing.
Ben continued.
"And this isn't an ordinary enemy."
He looked toward the trees.
"A threat stronger than a Yonko is approaching."
The clearing became quieter.
"Anyone fighting stays here."
He pointed toward the portal.
"Everyone else goes through."
Luffy swallowed.
He dropped the bone into the grass and stood.
"A threat stronger than a Yonko?"
His grin appeared.
"Then I'm staying."
Zoro smiled.
He tapped the hilts of his swords.
"I'll stay too."
Sanji lowered the pan.
The food continued sizzling for several seconds before he finally turned away from it.
"I'm not leaving the captain."
Franky slammed his fists together.
CLANG!
"I'm in!"
Yamato picked up the massive club resting beside him.
Carrot jumped to her feet.
Brook stopped playing.
Dorry stood.
Then Brogy.
Oimo.
Kashii.
The four giants rose together.
Their weapons came into their hands.
No one needed to explain anything.
The fighters remained.
Then everyone else began gathering their belongings.
Nami rolled up the map.
Usopp put his tools away.
Chopper packed the remains of his medical supplies.
Robin closed her book.
Merry and Sunny stood.
Vivi gathered her blanket.
Carue hopped onto her shoulder.
Bonney remained seated for a moment.
Then shrugged.
"I've eaten enough to fight."
The decision was made.
Nobody left.
The Vegapunks crossed the clearing and entered the portal.
Sentomaru followed.
His boots pressed into the dirt.
He stopped briefly beside the doorway and looked back toward the forest.
Then stepped through.
Behind him came the machines.
The enormous Vegaforce-01 marched through first.
The Seraphim followed.
Then the massive Pacifistas.
One after another, the machines disappeared through the portal.
The clearing gradually emptied.
Except for the crew.
And Usopp.
Usopp watched the last Pacifista disappear.
He looked at Ben.
Then at the portal.
Then back at Ben.
His face remained neutral.
He took one step.
Nobody reacted.
Another.
Usopp moved carefully.
One more.
He was almost there.
"Going somewhere?"
Usopp froze.
His head turned slowly.
Ben was staring at him.
Usopp immediately began sweating.
"No!"
He waved both hands.
"Absolutely not!"
Ben raised an eyebrow.
Usopp pointed toward the portal.
"I was simply checking on the Vegapunks!"
His voice became more frantic.
"I wanted to make sure they're comfortable!"
He nodded rapidly.
"Checking is important!"
Luffy stared at him.
Zoro stared at him.
Nami stared at him.
"Hmm hmm."
Luffy nodded.
"Hmm hmm."
Zoro agreed.
"Hmm hmm."
Nami added.
Usopp looked at all three.
None of them believed him.
Not even slightly.
His shoulders dropped.
He turned around.
Then returned to his rock.
He sat down.
"...Fine."
Far beyond the trees, the situation had already changed.
Kizaru stood outside the Frontier Dome.
He raised one finger.
Light gathered around it.
The barrier ahead of him glowed.
Kizaru's expression remained relaxed.
"Quite troublesome."
The beam fired.
It struck the Frontier Dome.
The enormous defensive barrier cracked.
Then shattered.
Energy broke apart like glass, scattering through the air before disappearing.
A clear path opened onto the island.
Kizaru stepped forward.
Behind him came the Marines.
Thousands of soldiers moved through the opening.
Cipher Pol agents wearing masks followed.
Their formation spread through the forest.
They searched buildings.
They checked paths.
They inspected clearings.
Nothing.
No pirates.
No resistance.
Nothing but trees.
Roots.
Dirt.
The soldiers moved deeper into the island.
Kizaru eventually stopped paying attention to them.
He continued toward the center.
His yellow suit moved through the shadows between the trees.
The farther he walked, the quieter it became.
Then the forest opened.
Kizaru stepped out.
He stopped.
His eyes widened slightly.
The clearing was peaceful.
The pirates were sitting on the grass.
Some were eating.
Some were drinking.
Others were talking.
Nobody was rushing toward him.
Nobody was firing a weapon.
Nobody was hiding.
It looked more like a picnic than the center of a war zone.
Kizaru stared.
"...Oh my."
Luffy noticed him.
He stood immediately.
The half-eaten bone fell from his hand.
His fists tightened.
His body shifted forward.
Ready.
Ben raised one arm.
"Don't."
Luffy stopped.
Ben stepped in front of him.
"This one's mine."
Kizaru looked at Ben.
Ben continued.
"Another enemy is coming."
His eyes remained fixed on the Admiral.
"A real problem."
He pointed toward Luffy.
"Save your strength."
Luffy looked between the two men.
Then smiled.
"Okay."
He dropped back into the grass.
He picked up another piece of meat.
And started eating again.
Kizaru's expression became slightly more confused.
Ben walked forward.
The distance between them closed.
Kizaru lifted one leg.
Light gathered around his polished shoe.
Then he disappeared.
His kick came toward Ben's head.
Ben raised one hand.
The space between them stretched.
Kizaru's kick stopped.
Not against a visible object.
Against distance itself.
His foot remained inches from Ben's face.
Kizaru's brows lifted.
"Oh?"
Ben pushed his palm forward.
The invisible force exploded outward.
Kizaru was thrown backward.
His coat snapped in the wind.
He twisted in midair.
Then landed cleanly.
His feet dragged across the dirt.
Dust rose behind him.
Kizaru looked at Ben.
"That's a troublesome ability."
He raised his hands.
Light gathered around his fingers.
Then the beams came.
One.
Two.
Five.
Ten.
Exploding light crossed the clearing.
Ben extended both hands.
Moisture surged out of the soil beneath him.
A thick wall of water erupted from the ground.
The lasers struck.
Steam exploded across the clearing.
The entire area filled with white mist.
Hot droplets fell through the leaves.
Kizaru's silhouette appeared within the haze.
He attacked again.
Ben stepped through the steam.
His muscles tightened.
His fist drew back.
Kizaru raised an arm.
Ben struck.
The impact echoed through the trees.
Kizaru's arm absorbed the blow.
The force still drove him backward.
Leaves shook from the branches overhead.
A gust rolled through the clearing.
The two men broke apart, sliding back slightly across the dirt. Kizaru stood up straight, brushing a layer of dust from the sleeves of his yellow coat. A look of annoyance crossed his face.
"You know," Kizaru said, his voice entirely serious. "I am still angry with you. The last time we met, you teleported me all the way to the East Blue. I had to do six months of overtime to make up for the delay."
Ben lowered his fists, standing relaxed on the grass. "And whose fault is it that you decided the East Blue was a nice vacation spot? You just rested there until someone finally came to pick you up."
Kizaru blinked behind his glasses. The glowing light at his fingertips faded away. "How do you know about that?"
Ben smiled. "Based on your personality, it is not that hard to guess. So, do you want another vacation right now?"
Kizaru stopped attacking. He rubbed his chin with his hand, looking up toward the sky as he seriously considered the proposal. Ben stood still, offering no threat, simply allowing the man time to think. The clearing grew silent, save for the gentle rustling of the leaves in the wind, as the Admiral weighed his options.
After a long, quiet moment, Kizaru let out a heavy sigh. "No. I do not want to go on vacation right now. Akainu is not like Sengoku. He will make me work twenty hours a day if I skip work."
Ben laughed aloud, the sound echoing lightly across the camp.
With the decision made, the fight immediately resumed.
Kizaru disappeared into light.
Ben looked up.
The Admiral was already above him.
Light gathered around Kizaru's leg.
He descended.
Ben's body suddenly expanded.
His body grew rapidly.
Ten feet.
Twenty.
Larger.
Soon he towered over the surrounding trees.
The ground shook beneath his weight.
Kizaru's kick came toward his enormous shoulder.
But Ben was already changing.
His body shrank.
The kick passed through empty air.
Kizaru's eyes followed him.
Ben landed, launched himself upward.
Kizaru turned.
Their attacks collided in midair.
A flash spread through the clearing.
Then the two separated.
Ben landed.
Kizaru floated briefly before touching down several meters away.
Neither had taken a decisive advantage.
The fight continued.
Kizaru fired again.
Ben raised his hands.
Condensed beams shot upward.
They collided with Kizaru's lasers.
The sky filled with explosions.
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
Fragments of light scattered through the trees.
Burning leaves drifted down.
Smoke gathered over the grass.
Luffy continued eating.
Zoro watched quietly.
Sanji's eyes followed every movement.
The giants remained ready.
Nobody interfered.
The battle belonged to Ben.
At the edge of the clearing, several Marines had stopped searching.
They watched from between the trees.
One of them looked at the battlefield.
His rifle lowered.
"What..."
Another Marine stared.
"Is that man fighting Kizaru?"
A third swallowed.
"He's matching him."
Explosions continued in the distance.
Light flashed.
Fire rose.
Water crashed.
Magic tore through the smoke.
One Marine finally grabbed a Den Den Mushi.
"Puru puru puru..."
He lifted the receiver.
"This is the perimeter unit!"
His voice trembled.
"We found nothing!"
He looked toward the clearing.
"The entire outer area is empty!"
A massive explosion shook the trees.
The Marine flinched.
"The pirates are just sitting there!"
He stared in disbelief.
"They're eating lunch!"
Another flash lit the forest.
"The center is a battlefield!"
He shouted into the snail.
"Kizaru is fighting Magician!"
"We need orders!"
The transmission reached the fleet.
Inside the dark room, Saturn listened.
His expression didn't change.
The Marine's panic continued.
"What do we do, sir?"
Saturn raised the receiver.
"Retreat."
The Marine froze.
Saturn's voice remained calm.
"Leave the island."
"What about Admiral Kizaru?"
"Leave."
The word was final.
"I am going."
The Marine swallowed.
"Sir?"
"I will approach the island myself."
Saturn's eyes narrowed.
"Remove every soldier from Egghead."
The Marine didn't ask another question.
"Yes, sir!"
He slammed the receiver down.
Then turned toward the others.
"Fall back!"
The Marines began moving.
"Evacuate!"
They ran.
They abandoned the perimeter.
They abandoned their positions.
They didn't even look back.
The battle in the clearing continued.
And none of them wanted to be anywhere near it when Saturn arrived.