The dilapidated square fell into dead silence.
Billowing black clouds loomed overhead, and the oppressive atmosphere weighed heavily over Marineford.
Navy officers and pirates alike fixed their eyes on one figure.
Disbelief, shock, anger…
A single roar broke the uneasy stillness.
"Bastard, do you realize what you're saying?!"
Sengoku's face was flushed, his hair trembling, his entire being like a powder keg ready to detonate.
Kaelen Tsukishiro had just stood in the heart of Marineford and openly declared he would hunt down a Celestial Dragon.
This wasn't just disregarding the Navy's authority — it was trampling it underfoot in front of the entire world.
Sengoku could already picture the chaos that would erupt once this broadcast reached the World Government and the Celestial Dragons.
Especially in recent years, with both Sengoku and Garp holding key positions, the relationship between the Navy and the World Government had grown increasingly strained.
The more he considered it, the more Sengoku's head throbbed.
"First Roger, then Whitebeard… now this Kaelen Tsukishiro. The seas are growing more turbulent by the day."
Even Sengoku, a veteran of countless crises, felt an unfamiliar sense of weariness.
Beside him, Garp's gaze held a trace of approval.
He had always despised those spoiled Celestial Dragons. If someone wanted to deal with them, so much the better.
The other high-ranking Marines each reacted in their own way.
Admiral Kizaru still wore his lazy, languid expression, unbothered by the announcement. He'd been playing the bystander throughout this war, putting on a show without ever committing.
Aokiji yawned, his dead-fish eyes half-lidded, though a sharp glimmer flickered in their depths.
He knew exactly how grave Kaelen's words were.
"Well… there are plenty of people on these seas who'd love to see a Celestial Dragon dead. If he can pull it off, more power to him."
With a silent thought, Aokiji closed his eyes again, feigning sleep.
The admirals might have stayed passive, but not everyone shared their indifference.
"Anyone reckless enough to disrupt the order of these seas should be erased."
Akainu's voice was cold, blood leaking from his mouth and nose as magma gurgled around him, his killing intent practically tangible.
His durability was monstrous — even after taking multiple heavy blows from Whitebeard, he still fought on.
Kaelen spared him a glance. He didn't care for Akainu's brutal, rigid ideology, but he wouldn't deny that the man's loyalty to justice made him a valuable asset to the world's stability.
Still, that didn't mean he intended to take his lectures.
"Old man Sengoku," Kaelen called, a casual grin on his face, "shouldn't you be enjoying retirement by now? All this stress isn't good for you."
His words were light, as though the entire war were nothing more than idle chatter.
"That bit I said earlier? Don't take it so seriously. It's tough making a living out here — I was just trying to stir up my reputation a little."
Despite his easy tone, no one present believed him.
Who would dare casually joke about killing a Celestial Dragon on a live global broadcast without backing it up?
Sengoku scowled, both speechless and annoyed.
This man… might be even more dangerous than I realized.
The dilemma weighed heavily on him.
If he attacked now, the situation could spiral further out of control. If he didn't, the Navy's prestige would be trampled.
Luckily for him, Akainu was already seething with restrained fury.
"No matter who you think you are, or what reputation you carry — you're not leaving Marineford today."
Failing to kill Luffy had already left Akainu furious. Now Kaelen's antics pushed him over the edge.
"Great Eruption!"
Billowing magma surged upward, a colossal flaming fist hurtling straight toward Kaelen.
The heat twisted the air, distorting it like a mirage.
From a distance, Kaelen could feel the inferno bearing down on him.
"He's not holding back. As expected from Akainu."
Kaelen's eyes narrowed.
"Good, I've been meaning to test the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit."
He stepped forward with his left foot, raising his left arm into a stance anyone from this world would recognize instantly.
Around the battlefield, Sengoku, Marco, Blackbeard, Shanks, and others all tensed in shock.
"Wait… is that…?!"
"No way… does he have the old man's ability too?!"
"I took Whitebeard's Devil Fruit power myself… how the hell…?!" Blackbeard growled, eyes wide.
"Now this is getting interesting." Shanks smirked.
Unaware — or perhaps uncaring — of their reactions, Kaelen clenched his fist as a transparent spherical distortion formed around his left arm.
Akainu's massive magma fist struck just then.
Boom!
The flaming blow crashed into the air… and stopped dead, as though hitting an invisible wall.
Magma splashed and hissed, but it couldn't advance another inch.
"Break!"
Kaelen's power surged. The force of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit shattered the attack, scattering burning chunks of magma harmlessly around him.
"It's bad manners to attack someone without warning. I'll return the favor."
Kaelen raised his right fist and slammed it forward.
A ripple of cracking space burst forth.
The void itself splintered like glass as the shockwave roared toward Akainu.
Though he'd already shifted into his magma form, avoiding direct damage, the sheer concussive force sent tremors across the entire island.
Marineford, already ravaged by battle, groaned and cracked further.
The ground shuddered as though the island itself might collapse.
"Whitebeard's ability?!" Akainu's eyes widened, his expression grim.
"You catch on quick," Kaelen replied coolly.
"Hmph, even if you wield Whitebeard's power, this sea has no place for a second Whitebeard."
Akainu's killing intent blazed hotter than ever.
Before he could launch another attack, Sengoku's voice thundered through the battlefield.
"That's enough, Akainu!"
Akainu scowled, "Sengoku–"
"I said enough!"
Sengoku's gaze was sharp as a hawk's behind his glasses, locking onto Kaelen.
"Whatever your aim is, leave Marineford now."
It was a reluctant decision, but there was no other choice.
This war had already spiraled far beyond expectation — between Blackbeard's betrayal, Shanks' sudden arrival, and Kaelen's appearance, Sengoku was out of cards to play.
In the end, though the Navy had claimed victory, it had also suffered too many losses.
"Heh, you old man think too much. I'm just a bounty hunter, what agenda could I possibly have?"
Kaelen shrugged with a faint smile.
"If I'm not welcome here, I'll take my leave."
Without another word, he strolled over to Little Oars Jr.'s fallen body.
After a brief touch, a gleam of satisfaction flickered across his face.
Under the watchful eyes of the Marines, the Blackbeard Pirates, the Red-Haired Pirates, and the Whitebeard remnants, Kaelen Tsukishiro boarded a sturdy three-masted ship and sailed leisurely into the unknown seas.
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[System prompt: You have acquired the vitality trait of Little Oars Jnr's race.]
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