Boom! A violent explosion suddenly ripped through the air from the direction of Punk Hazard. Everyone on the surrounding ships immediately raised high-powered binoculars to scan the horizon. After a tense wait for the smoke to dissipate, the horrific scene became clear. Akainu stood in a pool of molten magma, his body covered in blood but still upright. Across from him, Aokiji lay motionless on the ground.
The sight of Aokiji's severed left leg was shocking to all who saw it.
"How could this happen..." Tashigi whispered, tears streaming down her face as she struggled to process the brutality between colleagues.
The rest of the Straw Hat crew was equally stunned, unable to find the words to describe the sight of a Marine Admiral so broken. Robin's expression was the most complex of all; she didn't feel joy at the downfall of the man who had pursued her for years, only a deep, heavy sigh for the tragedy of it all.
Sengoku and Vice Admiral Tsuru remained silent for a long time, their faces grim. Even the normally lazy Kizaru stood still, his relaxed demeanor gone. No one had expected the duel for the position of Fleet Admiral to end in such a permanent, life-altering injury.
Yixiao, sensing the heavy atmosphere, finally broke the silence. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku, what is the result? How did it end?"
Sengoku's voice was hoarse as he replied, "Sakazuki... Akainu has won. Aokiji has lost his left leg". Yixiao's face turned serious, and he chose to remain quiet, absorbing the weight of the new era beginning for the Marines.
Sengoku immediately ordered the medical teams to the island, and he and Tsuru rushed toward the battlefield. As Kizaru prepared to follow, a small stone wrapped in paper was tossed toward him from the Thousand Sunny. He caught it instinctively.
"Kizaru! That note is for Sengoku! We're heading out now!" Carl shouted from the deck, waving a hand.
"You better not be plotting anything, pirate!" Kizaru replied, glaring at the ship with no hidden affection for Carl.
Carl ignored the jab and turned his attention to the blind swordsman. "Uncle Yixiao, until next time! Once you become a Marine Admiral, we'll be enemies. Let's have a real fight then!"
Yixiao chuckled warmly. "Ho ho! It won't be a competition then. I will personally arrest you!"
Carl didn't respond as the Thousand Sunny began to sail away. With the duel concluded, the Straw Hats had no reason to stay at Punk Hazard, and Luffy was eager to find his next adventure.
On the Marine ship, Kizaru unrolled the paper wrapped around the stone. As he read the contents, his face changed drastically. He ignored everything else and used his powers to flash onto the island, handing the note directly to Sengoku.
Sengoku was checking on Aokiji when he took the paper. As his eyes scanned the text, his pupils shrank in shock.
"Where did this come from, Borsalino?!" Sengoku roared, his voice trembling with a mix of fury and old grief.
"Carl gave it to me," Kizaru answered quickly.
"Sengoku, calm down! What does it say?" Tsuru asked, stepping forward.
Sengoku handed her the note. Tsuru gasped as she read the single, devastating sentence: Vergo is Doflamingo's undercover agent; Rosinante was exposed by Vergo!
The news struck Sengoku like a physical blow. The death of his adopted son, Rosinante, was a wound that had never truly healed. He had always valued Vergo as a high-performing officer, never suspecting that the man was a spy for the Donquixote Family.
"Sengoku, we cannot simply trust the word of a pirate," Tsuru warned, trying to bring logic back to the situation.
Sengoku knew she was right, but in his heart, he believed it. Law, the boy Rosinante had died to save, was currently with the Straw Hats. It made perfect sense that Law would know the truth about what happened all those years ago.
"Check it! Check everything!" Sengoku commanded, his killing intent flaring. "If this is true, Doflamingo will pay for this!"
Meanwhile, the Thousand Sunny and Law's submarine were putting distance between themselves and the scarred island of Punk Hazard.
The image of Aokiji's injury still haunted the crew. Tashigi sat in a daze, her faith in Marine justice shaken once again. She couldn't understand why two protectors of the world had to destroy each other for a title.
"So, is Dressrosa next?" Luffy asked, breaking the silence in a rare moment of perception. "I remember that's Doflamingo's place. Isn't he Tra-guy's enemy? My hands are itching for a fight!"
"Luffy, if it's a fight you want, Dressrosa will have plenty," Carl explained. "Doflamingo has organized a massive tournament. Marines, the World Government, the Revolutionary Army, and countless pirates will be there. You'll be able to fight until you're exhausted".
"All those strong people are coming? Hahaha! I'm getting excited!" Luffy cheered.
"Sabo will likely be there," Carl added. "And if the Whitebeard Pirates hear about it, maybe Ace will show up too".
"Sabo and Ace? I just saw them, but I already miss them!" Luffy laughed. "Alright! Full speed ahead to Dressrosa!"
As the mood on the ship lifted, the crew began to prepare themselves for the coming battle. Law jumped from his submarine onto the deck of the Sunny to join the conversation.
"Straw Hats, listen to me," Law said seriously. "I don't doubt your strength, but Doflamingo is incredibly cunning. If you aren't careful, you'll walk straight into his traps. Do not take this lightly".
"I got it, Tra-guy. Sanji! I'm hungry!" Luffy shouted, completely dismissing Law's warning. Law's forehead throbbed with frustration as the rest of the crew immediately began shouting out their favorite food orders—including the bread that Law despised.
Tashigi, noticing Law's annoyance, kindly brought him two rice balls, which he ate with frustrated intensity.
"Law is right," Carl said, his voice becoming stern as they ate. "We are strong, but we cannot be careless. There is a small girl in the Doflamingo family with green hair and a red bear cloak. You must be extremely careful around her. Do not let her touch you".
The seriousness in Carl's voice made the crew stop eating.
"Mr. Carl, what happens if she touches us?" Usopp asked nervously.
"You will be turned into a toy," Carl replied darkly. "And everyone in the world will forget you ever existed".
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