Chapter 88: Kizaru & Garp's Disarray!
[Sabaody Archipelago - Outer Sea]
The escape route for the Marines was supposed to be clear. Admiral Kizaru moved at the speed of light, carrying the injured Vice Admiral Garp away from the battlefield that had become a death trap.
However, the sea had other plans.
Directly in their path, blocking the horizon like a wall of steel, a colossal warship quietly hovered above the waves.
It wasn't a wooden galleon. It was a mountain of grey metal, bristling with guns.
Heavy Cruiser, Pola.
"What is that?" Garp grunted, squinting through the wind pressure. "Such a huge steel ship... it doesn't look like a Marine battleship. Is it a Sea Train on steroids?"
"Oh my..." Kizaru's eyes widened behind his sunglasses. "It seems the little brother came prepared with toys."
Before they could react further, a shout erupted from the deck of the steel leviathan.
Nami, standing on the bridge wing with binoculars, instantly recognized the glittering golden figure streak across the sky.
"It's him!" Nami screamed, pointing a trembling finger. "It's that creepy shining guy! The one who kicked us in the forest!"
Beside her, Rem's eyes narrowed. "Target confirmed. Hostiles inbound."
"Pola! Hurry!" Nami yelled into the ship's intercom. "It's them! The bastards who attacked us! Hit them hard! Don't let them get away!"
"Navigator command confirmed!"
Pola's voice, pleasant and crisp, rang out from the ship's speakers. There was a mechanical whirring sound as the ship woke up.
"Firepower system activated. Main guns locked. Secondary batteries engaged. Fire!"
CLANK. WHIR. BOOM!
The dense rows of cannons on both sides of the warship instantly swiveled with robotic precision. Four twin-turrets of 203mm guns and countless secondary anti-aircraft guns aimed at the frantic golden light.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The ocean surface shook.
A barrage of dense cannon shells, trailing long plumes of white smoke, poured down like an angry swarm of hornets. The sky was filled with steel rain, overwhelming the airspace around Kizaru and Garp.
"Hey, hey, hey! Are you kidding me?!"
Kizaru, who was mid-flight, found himself flying into a wall of explosions.
Normally, the Light Human could dodge this level of shelling with his eyes closed. He could turn into photons and let the shells pass through him.
But now... he was carrying a "pendant."
Garp was a non-ability user. If Kizaru dematerialized, Garp would fall into the sea. If Kizaru dodged too fast, Garp would be ripped apart by g-force.
"Troublesome!" Kizaru complained.
He began a frantic, thrilling game of aerial dodgeball. He twisted his body in mid-air, weaving through the gaps in the intense shelling.
BANG!
A shell exploded right next to them.
"Use your fists, Garp!" Kizaru shouted.
"Shut up, brat!" Garp roared. He punched a 203mm shell out of the air. CRUNCH! The shell crumpled like a soda can.
Explosions and thick smoke constantly erupted around them, painting the sky black and orange. Shrapnel pinged off Kizaru's light body and Garp's Haki-coated skin.
The two representatives of Marine fighting strength—the symbols of Justice—were left covered in soot, dust, and indignity.
Although this sudden "farewell ceremony" couldn't truly stop an Admiral determined to flee, it added a touch of farce to their already desperate escape. It was a final insult from the Suzaku Pirates.
"Accelerate!" Kizaru turned into a pure beam of light, abandoning maneuverability for raw speed.
ZWOOSH!
They shot through the barrage, leaving a sonic boom in their wake. Soon, Kizaru, carrying the soot-faced Garp, completely disappeared into the horizon, heading back to Marineford to report their failure.
[Sabaody Archipelago - Grove 9 - The Aftermath]
When the explosive dust finally settled, the salty sea breeze carried the scent of smoke, scorched earth, and spilled blood across the island.
Grove 9 had been reduced to ruins. Craters marred the landscape. Buildings were flattened. The ground was cracked open like a broken eggshell.
In the center of the devastation, Suzaku stood calmly.
Whoosh.
Albedo folded her dark wings and descended from the sky. She landed silently beside Suzaku.
She didn't look triumphant. She looked devastated.
She dropped to one knee, lowering her head until her forehead nearly touched the dirty ground.
"Lord Suzaku..."
Her beautiful voice trembled with self-reproach and guilt.
"It is this servant's incompetence... that allowed those two insects to escape from your sight! I failed to contain the Admiral. I failed to enforce your will."
She looked up, her golden eyes wet with unshed tears of frustration.
"Please... punish me! Any punishment you deem fit, I will accept it with gratitude!"
Suzaku looked down at her. He sighed softly.
"Get up, Albedo."
His voice was gentle yet firm. He reached out and took her hand, pulling her up.
"You and everyone else have done exceptionally well today," Suzaku said, dusting off her shoulder. "There is no need for such drama."
"But..."
"The opponents were the Marine's top combatants," Suzaku reasoned. "An Admiral and the Hero. If they were determined to flee, sacrificing their dignity to do so, it would indeed be difficult to stop them without destroying the entire archipelago."
He smiled.
"Our primary goal was always to rendezvous with Ulquiorra and the Giants. Since that objective has been achieved perfectly... what fault is there?"
Albedo stared at him, her cheeks flushing pink. The mercy of the Supreme Being was as intoxicating as his power.
"Lord Suzaku..." she whispered, clutching her chest.
Just as he finished speaking, heavy footsteps shook the ground.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Ulquiorra approached, his arm fully regenerated. Behind him walked four Giants as massive as mountains, their shadows covering the group.
"Well done, Ulquiorra," Suzaku turned to him, smiling and patting his shoulder. His eyes were full of approval.
"You earned a bounty of one billion Berries the first time you made a name for yourself. You successfully retrieved Dorry and Brogy's companions. And you held your own against Garp. The mission was executed perfectly."
A faint glimmer—barely perceptible—seemed to flash in Ulquiorra's emotionless green eyes.
"I exist to serve," Ulquiorra said simply.
He bowed slightly, responding to Suzaku's praise with action rather than words.
Suzaku's gaze swept over the surroundings—the split earth, the massive craters, and the ruins created by the architectural debris. All of it silently attested to the horror of the recent battle.
The power of just a few individuals... Suzaku thought. It is enough to completely destroy an island civilization. What a fantastical and terrifying world.
He sighed silently in his heart.
He couldn't help but feel fortunate. If he hadn't possessed the System, if he hadn't summoned these terrifying combatants... living as an ordinary person in such a world would be a nightmare. He would be just another ant crushed by the giants of the era.
"Lord Suzaku?"
Albedo's concerned voice pulled him back from his thoughts.
She had approached him unnoticed, her breath smelling like orchids. Her eyes held a trace of hard-to-detect fervor and worry.
"Are you feeling unwell? Your heart rate changed."
She stepped closer, invading his personal space.
"Or were you injured... during the battle just now? Hidden internal damage?"
Her eyes darkened with a strange intensity.
"Does this servant need... to give you a thorough body examination? To ensure every inch of you is pristine?"
As she spoke, her slender, pale hand moved with extreme speed, reaching toward Suzaku's chest to unbutton his shirt.
"I'm fine!"
Suzaku jolted back, awkwardly gripping her restless wrist.
"I was just thinking about something! No examination needed!"
With her wrist held by Suzaku's warm large hand, a charming blush instantly rushed to Albedo's cheeks. She didn't pull away. She leaned into the touch.
"Lord Suzaku..." she complained in a voice that was almost inaudible, breathless and sultry. "There are many people watching here. Not that I mind..."
This demeanor was less like shyness and more like an invitation.
Cough.
Suzaku cleared his throat twice, released her hand as if shocked by electricity, and immediately turned his attention to the Giants next to him, forcefully changing the subject.
"Ahem... Right! These two!"
He pointed at the new Giants.
"These must be Kashi and Oimo, right? Excellent! They look very spirited!"
Seeing Suzaku turn his attention to his crew, Dorry and Brogy immediately burst into hearty laughter, slapping their thighs.
"Hahahaha! That's right, Captain!" Dorry boomed. "They are the gatekeepers we came for! Outstanding warriors from Elbaf!"
Kashi and Oimo, whose names were called by the boss, tensed all their muscles. They abruptly straightened their already towering bodies, puffing out their chests, trying to show their best side.
They had seen this man split the sky with Garp. They knew what he was. This was an existence even stronger than their old Captains—a true Overlord of the seas!
The two shouted with thunderous voices, filled with nervousness and reverence.
"Fleet Admiral! I am Kashi!"
"I am Oimo!"
"We pledge our axes to you!"
"Mm..." Suzaku smiled and nodded, registering their names. "Welcome to the family. Rest up. We have a lot of sailing to do."
Just then, Albedo's cold yet sweet voice rang out again, cutting through the warmth.
"In that case, Lord Suzaku..."
She gestured gracefully to the surrounding ruins.
"How should we handle these unsightly bugs on the ground? Does this servant need to purify them all?"
Suzaku paused. He looked around.
Scattered across the battlefield were hundreds of Marines. They had been knocked unconscious by the clash of Conqueror's Haki earlier. Some were starting to stir, groaning in pain.
These were the elite soldiers of the World Government. They were enemies.
Suzaku held no feigned pity for these men. He knew very well that if he let them go this time, they would heal, regroup, and point their cannons at him again tomorrow. Mercy to the enemy was cruelty to his own crew.
His face hardened. The playful captain vanished, replaced by the cold ruler.
"Leave them to you and Ulquiorra," Suzaku said plainly.
He turned his back on the Marines.
"Since they stepped onto the battlefield to kill us... they should have the corresponding resolve to die."
"As you command, my Supreme Lord Suzaku!"
Albedo bowed elegantly, lifting her dress. A satisfied, cruel smile played on her lips. She loved it when he was ruthless.
Ulquiorra also placed one hand over his chest and bowed slightly.
"It shall be done."
The next moment, without any unnecessary words, the two transformed into swift figures—one black and one white.
They glided toward the unconscious Marines on the battlefield like reapers.
Slash. Slash. Silence.
Before long, after Albedo and Ulquiorra had finished "cleaning up" the threats, the massive silhouette of the Pola slowly approached the island's shore, casting a long shadow over the quieted grove.
It was time to go.
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