Shortly after Saint Saturn finished his conversation with Lloyd, Kong received an order from the Five Elders: activate a Buster Call on Ohara.
The moment Kong read the message, his composure became conflicted and heavy. He knew Ohara well. It was a peaceful island filled with civilians and scholars dedicated to knowledge. Most importantly, it was home to the Tree of Knowledge, the largest collection of ancient history and forbidden research in the world. Despite understanding the gravity of the order, Kong's heart twisted at the thought of destroying it.
But Kong was a soldier, and more than that he was the Marshal of the Navy. Personal feelings had no place against a direct order from the highest authorities. Reluctantly, he produced a golden den den mushi, hesitated only a moment, then pressed it. With that action, the Buster Call was set into motion.
A Buster Call was the most feared order the World Government could give. It demanded that the Navy gather overwhelming force in the shortest possible time to thoroughly obliterate its target. Once initiated, it was absolute and irreversible.
Normally, the golden den den mushi would be triggered on or near the target zone. In the original Ohara incident from history, it had been Spandine of CP9 who pressed the golden den den mushi on the island which led to its destruction years ago . Now, the Five Elders themselves gave the command for Kong to carry it out.
At Marine Headquarters, the paired silver den den mushi buzzed with a powerful signal, instantly sending all officers and sailors into high alert.
Kong's deployment instructions quickly followed. Once more the Buster Call would be executed, and just like before, the force assigned was overwhelming: Lloyd would lead the mission alongside Sakazuki, Borsalino, Kuma, Lucia, and five thousand Navy soldiers. This group alone ranged from Vice Admirals to candidates for Admiral and full Admirals, a lineup capable of defeating even Emperor‑level pirates.
It was like launching a war against a mosquito using a cannon. Yet this was what the Five Elders demanded: complete and utter destruction of Ohara until not even a trace remained.
Time was limited. Akainu had initially not planned to be present, but Lloyd had sent Kuma to retrieve him, and now he arrived at Marineford just before the fleet departed.
Lloyd placed the unconscious Olvia onto his warship without emotion.
As they approached Ohara, Olvia slowly regained consciousness. She blinked, disoriented, lying on the cold deck. Her gaze met Lloyd's impassive stare.
After a moment she picked herself up and looked around. Four warships were aligned in formation, their cannons ominous under the sky.
Lloyd regarded her with indifferent calm.
"You are awake. We are almost there."
Olvia's mind was still foggy, but she struggled to speak.
"There... there? Is it Enies Lobby?"
Lloyd gave a slight smirk, no warmth in his voice.
"You did not think you had the luxury of judgment there, did you?"
He gestured forward.
"Look closely. What do you see ahead?"
Confusion melted into recognition as Olvia followed his pointing finger. In the distance stood the colossal silhouette of a towering tree.
"The Tree of Knowledge!"
Her voice cracked with shock, memories of pain flitting through her mind. She realized, with horror, exactly what was happening. The Buster Call targeting Ohara had been activated.
Her strength drained. She collapsed again onto the deck, the ground meeting her knees as despair overtook her.
"Why is this happening? They are all innocent!"
Lloyd watched without flinching. Then, without hesitation, he lifted her up and as though carried by some invisible force, he spread his wings and soared toward Ohara.
On Admiral Akainu's warship, Kizaru was animatedly recounting Lloyd's conversation with Saint Saturn. The expression on Akainu's face was something remarkable. To hear that Lloyd was truly a Celestial Dragon was astonishing beyond belief. The idea was so extreme that at first he thought Kizaru was exaggerating.
Before Akainu could confirm with Lloyd himself, Lloyd was already ascending into the sky like untouchable judgement incarnate.
…
Meanwhile on Ohara Island itself, life carried on as if nothing had changed. Scholars studied, children laughed, and villagers lived their daily routines without knowledge of the storm about to crash down upon them.
The only person on the island with a sense of imminent catastrophe was Kuroba, the director of the Tree of Knowledge library. He had watched events unfold from afar. When the World Government issued warrants for Olvia and the others, his instinct told him this was far worse than anyone realized. As an expert in history, he knew too well the ruthlessness of the World Government when it felt threatened.
Throughout the ages, the World Government had punished anyone who touched its forbidden secrets with devastating force. Ohara's research was considered the ultimate taboo.
Despite Kuroba's status as a highly respected archaeologist with some political connections, even he had found no support. At first he inquired everywhere possible, reaching out to contacts in both the World Government and the Navy. But every message was met with refusal or silence. Eventually even phone calls went unanswered.
All of this confirmed his fears.
The World Government was about to attack Ohara.
He had expected disaster, but now facing the certainty of it, he felt powerless.
Could he save the people there? These were ordinary villagers and scholars, not fighters. They could not possibly outrun a squadron of warships armed with cannons far more devastating than any storm.
And worse, the Tree of Knowledge stood at the center of everything. If it were lost, the knowledge of centuries would burn with it. That loss would be worse than any personal sacrifice for Kuroba.
He watched as researchers around him continued their work, oblivious to the storm approaching. Kuroba sighed softly, his heart heavy.
A small figure suddenly squeezed through the doorway and ran toward him.
It was a young girl, her short steps hurried and determined.
The other scholars barely spared her a glance before returning to their studies.
As she reached Kuroba's side, he concealed his worry and offered her a gentle smile.
"Robin, you came early today."
Robin lowered her head, her voice soft and quiet.
"Today is my sister's birthday, and my uncle and his family are celebrating…"
At this, a flash of anger passed through Kuroba's eyes. He knew Robin's family situation all too well. When Olvia had gone to sea years before, she entrusted Robin to her uncle's care. But that household treated her as nothing more than a servant. They scolded her, belittled her, and often inflicted pain upon her.
Kuroba had objected many times, but Robin's uncle ignored him and even threatened Kuroba when he persisted.
Yet Robin, used to silent suffering, merely smiled as she spoke. She reached for a nearby book, clutching it to her chest, then wandered to a quiet corner to read with gentle focus.
Kuroba watched her, heart aching, knowing all too well that knowledge meant everything to her — even more than safety.
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