Carlo nodded. "Understood."
In the distant harbor, the number of warships kept decreasing. It marked the departure of soldiers. In this vast fortress, only the personnel needed to maintain basic operations remained.
As the last vice admiral led his unit away, a calm voice sounded.
"Bring that thing out."
Carlo let out a soft "Mm."
Whoosh!
His Devil Fruit ability activated, and he vanished without a trace.
Sakazuki turned and walked back into the Fleet Admiral's office.
Whoosh!
Carlo reappeared. This time, something else appeared with him.
It was a Seraphim, one perfectly recreated to Sakazuki's proportions. From a distance, it was impossible to tell which one was the real body…
* * *
New World. Briana Archipelago.
This area lay within Kaido's territory and had been a gap in the Marines' strategic layout.
After the 44th, 47th, 51st, 52nd, and 57th fleets captured it a few days ago, the fighting did not stop.
Reinforcements and counterattacks from Kaido's side kept coming. Rules were even being bent. Kaido had sent all three Calamities. They had not acted yet, but the meaning was obvious.
Marine reinforcements were also moving in.
From a neighboring sector, Enel dispatched all his subordinates. Law used his ability to bring Drake and the others ahead at full speed, rushing nonstop toward the battlefield.
As for why Enel felt safe sending out his forces. It was the same reason Sakazuki earlier chose to weaken Knox and Shanks by cutting into their power and business.
Because among the Four Emperors, those two were the most rational. And rational enemies were the most dangerous.
Likewise, even after realizing the Marine strategic layout was complete, both sides chose restraint. That was why Enel felt safe sending reinforcements.
Kaido and Big Mom were different. Their flaws were obvious. From a god's-eye view, they were easier to predict. At the same time, they were the least disciplined, always trying to break the rules.
While the top forces on both sides restrained themselves, Kaido deliberately sent Calamity-level commanders to lead the battle.
His intention could not be clearer.
* * *
On a Beasts Pirates ship.
Queen stood on the edge of the deck, round like a ball, cigar in his mouth. He directed his fleet as they engaged the Marine ships guarding the islands.
Even though it was deep night, cannon fire rained down like a storm. The explosions lit the darkness with an eerie glow.
As the battle dragged on, Jack, who stood beside him with a fierce look, could no longer hold back. "Big Brother Queen, why aren't we going in? Let me tear all of them apart!"
Queen turned his head slightly. His eyes narrowed.
Seeing that expression, Jack shivered at once. Like a child who had done something wrong, his fierce face turned timid.
Only then did Queen nod in satisfaction and speak. "Jack the Stooge, don't question my decisions. It's not time yet. We need to hook some big fish first. Got it?"
He glanced sideways at Jack.
Jack trembled and nodded fast. "Y-yes!"
Just then, a familiar voice rang across the battlefield.
"ROOM!!!"
A faint transparent dome spread instantly, covering the sea.
Queen grinned. "The big fish is here…"
All the Beasts Pirates' ships were yanked up from the sea, floating crookedly in the air.
Whoosh!
A laser shot out from Queen's modified body.
Roar!!!
On both sides, roars like those of ancient beasts echoed as two massive figures collided in midair. The dull impact made chests ache.
* * *
High in the sky.
A huge yellow brachiosaurus charged at Law.
Queen, whose entire body was modified, fired streams of bullets from the machine guns in his mouth. Lasers mixed in between. His tail stretched and clawed toward Law.
From his extended arms, all kinds of small missiles launched, chasing him. But none of it worked. It did not even restrict Law's movement.
Clang!
Law swapped places with a missile the instant it was fired and slashed at Queen.
"Hey, the Beasts Pirates are breaking the rules, aren't they? You actually sent out the Calamities."
In brachiosaurus form, Queen blocked the blade with his iron claws. A savage smile twisted his face.
"You're the ones breaking the rules. A brat this strong is only a rear admiral. Is Sakazuki treating everyone like fools?"
Law flashed behind him and chuckled. "Then you've misunderstood Fleet Admiral Sakazuki. I'm a rear admiral only because my seniority isn't enough. That's all."
Clang!
Queen's long braid moved like a steel serpent. It blocked the blade and coiled upward as he turned his head slightly.
"Oh? Then he really is an old fossil. How about joining the Beasts Pirates. You'd be the fourth Calamity."
Law looked at the braid creeping closer, its edges gleaming coldly.
"Thanks, but I'm not interested."
'So his whole body is mechanically modified…'
In that case.
Electric light burst from Law's blade as he thrust forward.
"Radio Knife!!!"
High-voltage current gathered on the blade, aiming to pierce Queen's modified body.
Queen clicked his tongue. A surge of Armament Haki burst out, forcing them apart.
"Then die… Vegapunk's student!!!"
Launchers opened across his body and fired missiles in all directions. Before Law could even raise his hand to relocate, every missile detonated at once.
Boom!!!
At the center of the blast, Queen held his breath and shifted into human form, falling downward. His eyes never left Law.
In the air, Law felt his strength draining fast. Noticing Queen holding his breath, he realized something.
"Seastone powder?"
He mixed seastone powder into the missiles. And the explosion spread it across the entire battlefield.
As the thought crossed his mind, his actions did not slow. Though much of his strength was gone, the moment the idea formed, he cut himself off from the outside world.
Below, Queen suddenly unleashed Armament Haki, shaking off the seastone powder clinging to his skin. He raised his hand and aimed at Law's heart.
A sense of death locked onto him.
Law tried to activate his ability, but his body stiffened. A wave of sharp pain flooded through him as black-blue veins spread instantly from his arm across half his body.
His heart tightened. "Poison…"
There was no time to purge it. In that brief delay, the laser had already arrived.
Rip!
An arm flew off.
Queen cursed under his breath, "What kind of ability is this…"
It was absurdly versatile. Even in that situation, he still escaped.
* * *
On the other side, Law vanished together with his severed arm.
He reappeared on a distant marine ship. He pressed the arm to his shoulder, pulled out a syringe, and drove it straight in.
The Op-Op Fruit activated. New flesh grew, spread, and intertwined. In moments, the arm was whole again, though cold sweat still poured down Law's face. Forcing cells to regenerate bone and flesh felt brutally intense.
Next, the seastone powder that had entered his body was transferred out along with the poison.
But one question remained.
'Where did the poison come from?'
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