"It's nothing. Let's continue," Bellamy said, shaking his head, having lost the desire to talk any further. The World Military Draft had not yet begun, and Fujitora had not yet joined the Marines to become a new Admiral. None of it had happened yet; he couldn't condemn him for it.
Although Fujitora couldn't agree with Bellamy's ideology, ever since learning of his ultimate plan, his will to fight had plummeted. He couldn't agree, but he couldn't object either. Deep down, Fujitora even had a nagging feeling that Bellamy's approach might be the correct one.
"Then let this battle prove whether your plan is feasible or not," Fujitora declared. If Bellamy lost, it would mean he was merely delusional. If he himself was the one to lose, it would mean Bellamy's plan was viable. It was the simplest method, and the one Fujitora could most easily accept.
After the turn of events, the two faced each other once more. Only this time, when their eyes met, the life-or-death killing intent was gone.
Bellamy understood Fujitora's character well. He even knew that if he were defeated, Fujitora wouldn't do anything to him. And after seeing into Bellamy's mind, Fujitora now had a profound understanding of this madman as well. Just as Bellamy thought, even if he were to lose, Fujitora wouldn't harm him. Because his insane plan truly had the potential to bring real peace to the world. Fujitora even knew clearly that Bellamy's plan would ultimately require his own life. But he didn't care. What he cared about most had always been the happiness of the people.
Fujitora Issho was a true idealist. If Bellamy weren't so radical and insane, if he could just bend his back and serve the people with all his heart, Fujitora might have even chosen to follow in his footsteps and become his most loyal supporter.
But some things were destined from the start. Bellamy's personality was too solitary; he was destined never to become a great man. Perhaps he had bowed his head too many times in his past life, and in this one, he was unwilling to bow it ever again.
While the two were locked in their standoff, much had happened above the fissure. Drake had already sailed his ship to the nearby beach and was now preparing a pair of Sea-Prism Stone handcuffs coated with a special material. With this coating, even a Devil Fruit user could hold them without issue. But once the thin layer was destroyed, the user would immediately be affected. This was one of the measures Bellamy had prepared in advance. Originally, they had planned to bring out the cuffs after capturing Fujitora. But now, with the battle having taken a drastic turn, Drake couldn't wait any longer.
"You all wait up here. No one comes down without my order," he commanded. "Law, keep an eye on the Flying Pirates. Don't let them cause any trouble." The members of the Flying Pirates were all seasoned criminals; Drake didn't trust a single one of them.
"Leave it to me," Law replied. He had his own assessment of the situation. Although he didn't know who Bellamy was fighting, it was clear from the current state of things that the outcome was uncertain. Drake going down to provide support might just be the final straw that tipped the scales.
"I'm going then." Carefully holding the special Sea-Prism Stone cuffs, Drake leaped into the underground fissure under the worried gazes of the others.
"Captain, I'm here to help!" Drake shouted at the top of his lungs before he even reached the bottom. The narrow confines of the fissure easily carried his voice to the depths.
"Hm? Good timing," Bellamy responded. Drake's support had indeed come at the right moment. By now, both Bellamy's and Fujitora's Armament Haki had been completely depleted. Their stamina, Devil Fruit power, and concentration were also at rock bottom. Even if Drake couldn't inflict any damage on Fujitora, just forcing him to expend a little more stamina would be enough to completely change the course of the battle.
Hearing Drake's shout, Fujitora couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. "It seems you've won." Although he didn't know who had arrived, Fujitora hadn't forgotten that a large group of pirates was waiting above. Just as Bellamy had thought from the beginning, it was useless for him to hide underground. Without outside help, they could wear him down to death.
"Surrender, Fujitora." Bellamy suddenly grabbed the still-unconscious Golden Lion and tossed him into the flowing river of magma. "It's over."
The legendary tyrant, Golden Lion Shiki, vanished from the world without a sound.
Fujitora stood silently, offering no comment. He knew what Bellamy's ultimate goal was, and he knew what kind of man the Golden Lion was. Although he found Bellamy's actions somewhat distasteful, he didn't think there was anything wrong with them. This was a life-or-death struggle; mercy would only lead to more severe consequences.
"Until I have fallen, I'm afraid I cannot surrender."
"As you wish." Bellamy knew that for a man like Fujitora, whose will was like steel, more words were useless. The moment Drake arrived, he immediately gave the order to attack. "Get him."
"Yes, Captain." Upon reaching the bottom, Drake instantly assessed the situation. The opponent is at the end of his rope!
And it was true. Fujitora was now running on fumes. After sizing up the battle, Drake immediately transformed into his draconic form, a pair of Sea-Prism Stone cuffs held in one claw, and charged forward.
"Gravity Blade: Hell's Journey."
Fujitora raised his scorch-marked scabbard and pointed it gently in Drake's direction. He didn't even draw his blade, simply applying his Devil Fruit ability to Drake. Instantly, Drake's body felt as if it had been crushed by a hundred thousand tons of steel, and he, along with the ground beneath him, collapsed downward.
"How much stamina do you have left to use your ability?" That was Bellamy's assessment. Fujitora couldn't use a move like that many more times. After continuous fighting without any rest or food, his stamina was so low he couldn't even maintain his Armament Haki. Drake, on the other hand, had been resting for a long time and was in peak condition. Such an attack couldn't do much damage to an Ancient Zoan user.
Sure enough, after a short while, Drake climbed out from the hole below. "What a terrifying ability." It was his first time facing the Gravity-Gravity Fruit, and he had been caught off guard. But as an Ancient Zoan, his pure physical durability was even greater than Bellamy's. An attack like that wouldn't have much of an effect on him.
"An Ancient Zoan?" Fujitora's Observation Haki was at its weakest, but as the enemy approached, he immediately identified him from his body's outline. A dinosaur-shaped transformation was likely an Ancient Zoan.
"That's right. Drake is a user of the Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Ancient Model: Allosaurus," Bellamy supplied the answer directly, never one to miss an opportunity to demoralize his opponent. The revelation indeed caused Fujitora's fighting spirit to plummet.
"Come, the final showdown," Bellamy said. "Drake, give him a dignified end."
"Yes, Captain."