At Marine Headquarters — Marineford.
The color drained from Sengoku and Garp's faces as the transmission came through.
"To think Magellan was defeated this quickly…" Sengoku muttered darkly. "This is far beyond what any of us expected."
"Judging from the guards' reports," Garp said grimly, his usual carefree grin gone, "it must have been Lucian Vale who did it. No one else in Impel Down could take him down."
Sengoku's fingers clenched the edge of his desk. "Magellan's fruit was already nearing Awakening. For Lucian to crush him in moments…"
He hesitated, his voice trembling slightly.
"It means his power has returned to its peak—or worse…"
"…He's surpassed it."
The two men exchanged a look, and in that moment, both knew what the other was thinking.
"With that level of strength, he could have broken free decades ago," Garp said, frowning.
Sengoku's jaw tightened. "Then this isn't just an escape."
"No," Garp replied. "It's a message."
He stood abruptly, his chair scraping the floor. "I'm going personally."
Sengoku didn't stop him. He simply watched in silence as his old comrade strode out of the office.
For decades, the Marines and World Government had balanced the seas on a knife's edge.
But if Lucian Vale—Illusionary Blade of the Rocks Pirates—had truly awakened his full power again, that fragile balance would shatter.
And the age of chaos would begin anew.
…
Meanwhile—
Admiral Kizaru landed lightly at the entrance of Impel Down, his body shimmering back into form from golden light.
"Moshi moshi…" he muttered lazily, looking around. "Good, good, looks like I'm not too late."
He adjusted his tie and sighed in relief.
If he failed this mission, there would go his bonus—and his annual leave.
"But if I handle it properly," he mused, smirking, "maybe I can get that beach vacation after all…"
BOOOOOOM!!!
A thunderous blast cut his thoughts short.
The colossal front gate—thick enough to withstand cannonfire—erupted into a shower of debris.
Stone and steel scattered like ash.
Kizaru blinked once. "Aiyaaa…"
From the cloud of smoke stepped a man in black-and-white prison stripes, stretching lazily as though waking from a nap.
"Hahh… Outside air really is the best."
Lucian Vale drew in a deep breath, then exhaled long and slow.
Then, ignoring the Admiral standing ten meters away, he strolled forward, dropped onto the sun-warmed stone, and lay down.
…Sunbathing.
"Uh… little brother," Kizaru finally said, scratching his chin. "Are you a pirate?"
It wasn't every day someone ignored an Admiral of the Marines.
Lucian didn't even glance up. "A pirate? Probably. Haven't set sail in decades. Not sure anyone even remembers me."
"That so? Very frightening," Kizaru drawled, his tone as sluggish as his expression. "Well, since you're a pirate, please head back inside, hmm?"
Lucian cracked one eye open. "I'm tired of being inside. So what now? Maybe you could escort me back… like Sengoku and Garp did all those years ago."
The teasing tone vanished in an instant.
Kizaru's lazy grin faded, his sunglasses glinting coldly.
"Rocks Pirates. Core member. The Illusionary Blade—Lucian Vale."
"If not for you, the world might've forgotten that crew ever existed."
Lucian smirked. "Oh? An Admiral who knows his history. I'm flattered."
Kizaru tilted his head. "You're a real problem, ne? I don't want to fight you, but I can't exactly let you walk away either. What a pain…"
"Don't be polite," Lucian said, standing. "Attack. I want to see if today's Admirals can match the era of Garp and Sengoku."
"Oooh… how scary."
Kizaru's voice dropped, his posture tightening. "Tell me—have you ever been kicked at the speed of light?"
Lucian smiled faintly. "Has no one told you?"
"If you act cool like that… you're asking to be struck by lightning."
Before the words could fade, Kizaru vanished—
FLASH!!!
A golden beam ripped across the plaza, space itself bending as light converged.
"Speed is power. Light-speed kick!"
"First Hōgyoku Fusion State—Single Shield."
Lucian's arm lifted casually.
A translucent barrier flared to life.
CRACK!!!
The collision split the air. White fissures spider-webbed outward, and a shockwave rippled through the sea.
When the light cleared, Lucian stood unmoved.
"As expected of one of the government's strongest. With this level of power…" He lowered his arm. "Barely acceptable."
Kizaru's eyes narrowed. "Light Radiation!"
Golden energy condensed in his hand and fired—a beam brighter than the sun.
Lucian raised his palm. "Hadō #63 — Raikōhō."
Thunder answered light.
BOOOOOOM!!!
The sea exploded. Golden rays and blue lightning clashed, tearing through the horizon.
Tidal waves surged hundreds of feet high, swallowing ships whole. Even the Sea Kings fled into the depths, howling in fear.
Kizaru shielded his eyes. "So bright, so troublesome…"
"Light?" Lucian's voice echoed above the storm. "You think you're the only one who can wield it?"
His body shimmered—fracturing into radiant motes.
"Fourth Hōgyoku Fusion State—Light-Form Movement."
"Nani?!"
Kizaru barely had time to react before Lucian appeared behind him.
A crushing force slammed into his ribs.
BOOOOOOM!!!
Kizaru shot through the air like a meteor, smashing into the deck of a Marine warship. The steel plating cracked beneath him.
He groaned, half-buried in the wreckage.
"So fast…" he wheezed. "Even faster than my own light…?"
"This is troublesome…"
Above him, Lucian floated in midair, lightning spiraling around his right hand.
"Final Fusion State—Hakuretsuha."
Radiant Destruction Burst.
The light in his palm expanded, devouring the sky itself.
Every Marine on the warships froze, staring upward in awe and dread as the heavens turned white.
The sea trembled.
And Lucian Vale's power—divine, unbound, merciless—was about to erase everything in its path.
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