Chapter 20: Two Admirals Descend — Flash and Ice!
Marine Headquarters, Marineford
The entire base was shrouded in tense silence. Warships were being frantically redeployed, and every Marine wore a grim expression.
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Hero of the Marines Garp, Admiral Akainu, and Chief Staff Officer Tsuru— the absolute core of Marine leadership—were gathered.
The atmosphere was so heavy it could crush stone.
"Two Admirals, Sengoku?! Really?!" Garp's eyes were bloodshot, glaring at his old friend with clear displeasure.
"Garp! Do you have any idea how serious this is?!"
"How many years has it been since anyone even dared disrespect a Celestial Dragon—let alone kill one?!"
"This is on the level of Locks' crimes! A world-shaking atrocity!"
Sengoku slammed the desk and roared, jabbing a finger at Garp.
"Garp, you're a veteran Marine! The Navy needs you now more than ever!"
"I don't want this either! I never wanted those Straw Hat brats dragged into it!"
"But your grandson and his crew are completely lawless! What choice do I have?!"
After venting, Sengoku slumped back into his chair, exhausted.
Why did everything have to explode now?
Whitebeard was coming. And now a Celestial Dragon had been beaten to death on Sabaody.
The World Government issued the highest possible order: capture every single perpetrator and execute them publicly alongside Portgas D. Ace as a warning.
Sengoku's brain nearly overheated.
Did the Five Elders not realize the connection between Garp, Luffy, and Dragon?
If they actually dragged Luffy back to Marineford and executed him with Ace… one wrong move, and the entire Marine power structure could collapse.
Too dangerous.
Even the legendary strategist Sengoku was trembling.
But orders were orders.
So, on the eve of the Summit War, he dispatched both Admiral Aokiji and Admiral Kizaru to Sabaody.
It was the only mercy he could offer his old friend.
"Fleet Admiral, you should have sent me. Kuzan and Borsalino might not even bring the Straw Hats back alive."
Akainu spoke coldly through a cloud of cigar smoke, shooting Garp a brief, disdainful glance.
"No choice, Sakazuki. War could break out any second. Marineford needs you here. You designed the entire defense plan."
"Everyone—stay sharp. Speed up the Shichibukai summons. Anyone who refuses is stripped of their title immediately. No one gets to sit this war out."
Sengoku ignored Akainu's jab and gave orders to the remaining officers.
Soon, only Sengoku, Garp, and Tsuru remained.
"Sengoku, Tsuru… I got a report from Sabaody. Someone overheard the name 'Rok' coming from the Straw Hat crew."
Garp's face was grave.
If that was true… that kid Rok might be playing a far bigger game than anyone realized— one that even included him.
"Rok? Impossible. He was hit with Weapon X poison. Without both Vegapunk and Magellan working together, there's no way he recovers this fast."
"And you're saying he teamed up with the Straw Hats, killed a Celestial Dragon for revenge, and triggered this disaster?"
"Given his talent and decisiveness, it's not impossible… if he somehow regained his strength—and got even stronger."
Tsuru shook her head, regret in her eyes.
She had always believed in Rok the most.
She was the one who personally asked Gion to train his swordsmanship.
But Weapon X was no joke.
Even if he found a cure, full recovery in this timeframe was medically impossible.
"I agree with Tsuru. Let's not jump to conclusions. Right now, I'm not worried about Whitebeard, or any pirate, or even Rok."
"I'm worried about you, Garp."
"You'd better remember where your loyalty lies."
Sengoku trusted Tsuru's judgment.
Rok recovering? Highly unlikely.
Even if he did, he wasn't strong enough to change the course of the coming war.
So the real threat was Garp's potential betrayal if Luffy was brought back in chains.
…
Sabaody Archipelago
BOOM!!
With a blinding flash, Admiral Kizaru arrived riding a cannonball, casually kicking a massive red mangrove tree in half with a light-speed kick.
The very next moment— the entire sea around the archipelago froze solid.
Admiral Aokiji pedaled in on his bicycle, yawning lazily.
"Ara ara, Borsalino… we're on a mission. Stop destroying the island."
Aokiji glanced at his flashy colleague with mild annoyance.
"Ooooh so scary, that chill ♫ Besides the terrifying Straw Hats, there are lots of fun rookie pirates on this island!"
"I'll go clean up the rookies. The Straw Hats and the Pacifista are all yours, Kuzan~ ♫"
Kizaru vanished in a streak of light before Aokiji could protest.
Flash!
The very next second— Supernova Apoo was sent flying by a golden kick.
"Ara ara… damn you, Borsalino. Always picking the easy jobs."
Aokiji sighed, too lazy to argue.
The Straw Hats really were a lawless bunch.
But this time, even if he and Kizaru didn't particularly want to fight them… they had to bring someone back.
Killing a Celestial Dragon was just too serious.
…
"What?! Admirals Aokiji and Kizaru both landed on Sabaody?!"
Rok and the Straw Hats received the news at the same time.
Even Rok felt his scalp go numb.
At least it wasn't Akainu.
He could escape easily if he wanted.
But Nami, Robin, Luffy, and the others? Not so much.
They had refused to abandon him when they could've walked away.
So he wasn't about to let them die here.
He needed a plan— ideally, get Bartholomew Kuma to scatter the crew with his paws, just like in the original story.
But to make that happen… one of the Admirals had to be lured away first.
Otherwise, even if both wanted to slack off, they'd have no excuse.
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