After sacrificing so many Marines—most of them elite officers whose remains were now scattered together—Sakazuki, as the commanding Admiral, absolutely could not allow Buggy to escape. Blood debts had to be repaid in blood. Only then could the fallen be honored.
However, the Navy Headquarters held a different view. They had to consider the bigger picture. Sakazuki had already been defeated once—there was no guarantee he wouldn't lose again. Losing an Admiral-level combatant was something the entire Navy could not accept.
"Sakazuki, I order you to gather the remains of the fallen Marines. Do not pursue Buggy on your own. Admiral Borsalino is already on his way to reinforce you."
The Den Den Mushi call from Fleet Admiral Sengoku wasn't a discussion—it was an order.
Buggy was strong, but his crew was still immature. The Navy had more pressing matters.
"Buggy is heavily injured, and his stamina is nearly depleted. If we catch up to him, Borsalino and I can kill him," Sakazuki insisted.
He wanted revenge for his men. Letting the enemy go was not in his nature.
"Do not act alone. Wait where you are for Borsalino. And cut off that damned broadcast signal."
The line went dead.
Sakazuki's expression darkened. A man who embodied Absolute Justice, he was already considering disobeying orders.
"You all stay here and wait for Borsalino. I'll go after Buggy myself."
Despite being knocked into the sea earlier, Sakazuki still had superior endurance. After all, this was a man who could fight Kuzan for ten days and nights without rest.
As for the mysterious blonde girl…
Her earlier words about possibly destroying the island were… strange.
"I've been tracking Buggy for a long time. I will avenge the people of that town. If I don't kill him today, my hatred will never fade."
Artoria Pendragon then explained.
A small island that had once helped her had been indiscriminately bombarded by Buggy, causing massive civilian casualties and loss of wealth. Ever since, she had chased the Buggy Pirates alone across the East Blue—often getting lost due to her lack of navigation skills.
If not for the "curtain" revealing Buggy's appearance in Loguetown, she might never have found him.
Guided by kind strangers, she finally arrived at this battlefield—and saved Smoker at a critical moment.
Her knightly spirit, her innate sense of justice—she clearly did not belong among pirates.
"She's… naturally on our side," many Marines thought.
"Then come with me. With your help, Buggy won't leave here alive today," Sakazuki said, acknowledging her strength.
The surrounding Marines tried to stop him from disobeying Sengoku's orders—but Sakazuki had never been one to listen.
At that moment—
A golden flash streaked across the horizon.
A man wearing sunglasses, with a laid-back expression, appeared in midair.
It was Admiral Borsalino—Kizaru, the user of the Glint-Glint Fruit.
"Looks like I made it in time… didn't I?"
Hands in his pockets, tone lazy as ever.
"Perfect timing. With your speed, you can catch Buggy. Buy me some time."
"Buggy sounds scary… I might not beat him. You should just follow the Fleet Admiral's orders, Sakazuki."
Classic Kizaru—lazy justice embodied.
"You call yourself an Admiral acting like that?!"
Kizaru casually scratched his ear, pretending not to hear.
The two were equals—neither could command the other. Both only answered to Sengoku.
Enraged, Sakazuki nearly exploded—but after calming down, he made a decision.
He would place his hopes… on the blonde girl.
"Artoria. Use whatever move you have. If you can kill Buggy here, the entire Navy will owe you a great favor. Even if the island is destroyed, you will not be held accountable. I swear it in the name of an Admiral."
"Good. Remember your promise. All of you—stand back. I'm going to release my sword."
The moment she said that—
Her presence changed completely.
Like an ancient king descending upon the world.
The wounded Marines retreated to the remaining warships, watching from afar.
They were about to witness—
A supreme strike.
Artoria raised her invisible weapon above her head.
The seal of wind was released.
A storm of blue wind and blinding light surged, revealing the blade's true form—
The Holy Sword of the Stars — Excalibur.
A violent storm erupted from the blade, churning the sea and rocking the warships.
The golden sword shone like a star in her hands.
"I… am witnessing an incredible sword," Borsalino muttered, his usual laziness gone. As a man of light, he could feel it—
That sword… rivaled light itself.
"Is that… one of the Supreme Grade Blades?" Onigumo murmured.
"No… it feels even beyond that…"
Sakazuki narrowed his eyes.
From this girl—
He saw the shadow of a king.
Who… exactly was she?
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