At the sea train station, Kokoro, her lips chapped, looked at the half-destroyed Water 7. Her granddaughter, Timney, holding a cat and a rabbit, asked, "Grandma, will Water 7 still exist?"
Kokoro sighed. "That's not for us to decide."
In the city, on a large shelter, Iceberg listened to the roars of battle, a profound shock in his heart. The destructive power was unimaginable. Several guards urged him to take cover, calling the combatants "monsters."
"It'll be over soon," Iceberg said, "The three Admirals are here. The path of this group of Warlord hunters should come to an end."
Just then, a golden flash, like a meteor, streaked past. It was Kizaru, heading straight for Dock 1. He reappeared above the docks and quickly locked onto the source of the immense aura.
"Yo... Sakazuki, is that you?" Kizaru asked cautiously.
The figure in the Marine mantle turned, revealing a beautiful profile. Her charming eyes, reddish cheeks, and thin red lips were stunning—a beauty that surpassed even Momousagi. Kizaru swallowed hard, his glasses slipping. He was rattled, a feeling he hadn't experienced before.
Below, Rodin, still in his "Thor" form, looked at Kizaru. "Lady Akainu, you're new here but I might need your help."
"Hmph," Sakazuki replied, turning to face him. "I didn't expect to face my former colleagues right away."
"You'll get used to it," Rodin said. He was slightly confused by her brusque manner but then remembered she was a female version of Akainu. He decided to let it go. "Then, let me see your strength. The system said you haven't reached your peak yet, so I'm curious how powerful you are."
"As you wish," Sakazuki said coldly.
"By the way, I have a pair of high heels that might be useful to you."
"They'll affect my movement," she said, before accelerating away, as if to avoid a direct order.
Rodin was taken aback but decided to use this opportunity to recover his strength and Haki.
In an instant, Sakazuki was in the sky, at the same altitude as Kizaru. "Have you seen enough, Polusalino?" she said, swinging her foot just centimeters from his face.
Kizaru, caught off guard, quickly raised his hands to block.
"Boom!"
A slurry of magma exploded, and Kizaru was sent smashing into the wall of Water 7. He reappeared moments later, shaking his scorched sleeves. "She's really merciless," he muttered, but his eyes were filled with a strange fascination.
A red lotus-shaped fist roared toward Kizaru's leg. The two forces collided, and light and rock erupted, creating a beautiful and deadly molten lotus. Kizaru's light-speed kick flew through the lotus toward Sakazuki, but she easily dodged it.
"Polusalino," she said flippantly, "as you get older, not only does your growth shrink, but your limbs also slow down."
"This old man didn't want to attack a lady, but... this is unexpected," Kizaru said, his body reforming. "You have Sakazuki's abilities. Are you a replica too?"
"I am who I am," she replied, her face turning cold. "Did you just call me 'Ms.'? You still have that attitude?!"
She slammed her hand onto the ground, and a stream of scalding lava erupted. Several giant, dog-shaped magma fists sprang up, charging toward Kizaru.
"A truly sharp and terrifying woman," Kizaru said, regaining his composure. He unleashed a crescent-shaped golden light blade, tearing the magma dogs apart. But a cloud of magma had already erupted from the ground and stuck to his leg. He tried to elementalize but found his movement restricted by Haki.
"Dark Hound!!!"
Sakazuki's right fist, mixed with a fragrant, scorching wind, flashed toward him. Kizaru's eyelids twitched. He felt like his every move was being seen through. He swung his sword, but the "Dark Hound" split in two, bypassing his blade and heading straight for his heart.
"Clang!"
Sakazuki's fist hit Kizaru's lightsaber, and the two small magma hounds rushed into his suit.
"Boom, boom, boom!"
Kizaru was knocked back hundreds of meters, his suit charred and his chest burning despite his Haki. He realized this woman's analysis of his moves was "thorough."
Outside the Birdcage, Morgans, the news reporter, was frantically taking pictures of the chaos. He saw a shadowy figure, a woman encased in ice, with a camera, running around and taking photos.
"That's an Admiral, right? Getting kicked around like that?!" Morgans' eyes widened. "This... this is incredible, I have to get a picture of it!"
The battle between Dove and Akainu was reaching its peak. Akainu was at a disadvantage in chasing a flying enemy, but Dover couldn't continue forever either.
"Heh heh heh, Admiral Akainu, you're really sweet," Dove's voice rang out from 100 meters in the air.
"And you're good at running," Akainu replied, walking out of a demolished building. He had sensed a familiar, intense heat and was eager to find its source. He was also growing impatient with how long this battle had lasted.
"Doflamingo, may I call you that?" Akainu asked.
"Heh heh heh, I think Sister Dove would be better."
"Whatever," Akainu said, raising a fist of lava. "Let's make a deal. If you can take one of my attacks, the Marines will retreat."
"Sure," Dover said, though she didn't believe him. But she wanted to test her strength against the Marine's top fighter. She raised her hands, and threads wrapped in Haki erupted from the ground, surrounding her.
"Sixteen Holy Bullets!" she yelled, releasing sixteen purple-black strings that crackled with energy. "Super God Slay!" The strings shot down toward Akainu with immense power.
Akainu's muscles bulged. "Armed Great Eruption!" A giant fist of lava shot up, colliding with the threads. The entire island trembled.
Eight of the threads were vaporized, but the other eight bypassed the lava and flew toward Akainu at incredible speed. "You want to trade blows?" he snarled. "Then you'd better be strong enough!"
He grew to six meters, becoming a burning man of magma. He raised his arms, creating a shield of lava that detonated the remaining threads. The attack still hit him, forcing him back dozens of meters, smashing through houses, and leaving sparks in his wake.
"Puh!" Akainu spat a mouthful of blood. Dove was clearly stronger than the Doflamingo he knew. This attack, laced with Conqueror's Haki, had done significant damage.
Just then, Kizaru, who had been sent flying by Sakazuki, landed in the same spot. He crashed right into male Akainu, his body burning a large hole in the Admiral's chest.
"You... someone actually hurt you like this?!" Akainu asked, stunned, forgetting to push Kizaru away.
Kizaru, his calf twitching, saw Akainu's face and was just as surprised. He had been fighting a beautiful woman who looked just like this man. Why did he find this man so handsome now?
Morgans, the news reporter, captured a picture of Akainu holding Kizaru in a "princess carry." "The Admirals' unknown relationship!" he thought excitedly, ready to publish a shocking headline.
"Sakazuki, get back... they have a very scary helping hand," Kizaru said, his voice still lazy despite his injury.
Akainu, now aware of his pose, quickly dropped Kizaru, who then put a hand on the back of his neck as he fell. "Polusalino!" Akainu's face darkened.
Aokiji, who had been fighting Mihoko, saw this interaction and shivered, thinking he was right to have kept his distance.
The three Admirals finally joined forces.
"Don't get me wrong, Kuzan," Kizaru said.
"Get off me," Aokiji replied.
Aokiji, seeing the ice he had encased Mihoko in shatter, prepared for a fight. But Mihoko was joined by a figure who pieced herself together from various body parts. Aokiji narrowed his eyes. "Another one?" he asked.
"How can it be just two people?" Kizaru said, pulling out his sword.
"Boom!"
From another direction, female Sakazuki arrived, followed by Dove, who was clutching her chest. Dove's heart was damaged by a strange lava attack, and she was using her strings to repair it.
"Do you want to fight?" Dove asked, looking at the four enemies. "We have four people now."
"Now that they have four, the old man thinks we should..." Kizaru began, but Akainu cut him off.
"Kizaru, shut up! As Marines, how can we retreat?!" Akainu yelled, his gaze falling on female Sakazuki. He was surprised by her looks and a strange sense of familiarity, a feeling he had never had before. Her attire was almost identical to his.