Souta Kiryuu watched as Fire Fist Ace was gradually forced into a desperate state by Enel's relentless assault.
He knew the battle was about to reach its end.
There was no way he would allow Ace to unleash Flame Emperor, that miniature sun of a technique. If Ace launched something that could level an island, the explosion would surely expose all of their secrets.
Likewise, Souta would never permit Enel to release Raigo, his apocalyptic island-erasing strike.
"Teach must be taken back alive!"
"Great Flame Commandment: Flame—!"
Fiery waves roared from Ace's body, burning in concentric rings as he began to gather his ultimate attack. The giant fireball swelling in his hands promised absolute destruction.
But before he could even finish calling out the name of the move, a colossal dragon claw strike appeared before him, crackling with endless black-and-red lightning.
BOOM!
Ace was blasted away like a rag doll, his unfinished sun-like fireball sputtering out in an instant.
That single strike of Conqueror's Haki infusion was no weaker than Kaido's Thunder Bagua that had crushed Gear Fourth Luffy. Ace's eyes rolled back, and he fell unconscious instantly.
"I declare it—lightning surpasses fire. Enel is the victor."
Souta Kiryuu gave the verdict calmly, turning his back on Ace's limp body and addressing the still-thrumming Enel, who looked ready to keep going.
The fight had gone far enough. Souta had other matters to handle; he didn't have time to let this drag out.
"...Fine. I'll let him off—for now."
Enel clicked his tongue but reined himself in. He was confident he could have won outright; Ace's Haki and combat skills were weaker, and Enel had yet to even unleash his strongest thunder attacks.
"Still... I hope this coming war gives me the chance to go all out," Enel muttered, eyes glinting with anticipation. The thought of the Tenryuubito conflict stirred him—especially if fate brought him face to face with that so-called Knight of God again. This time, he vowed, he would kill the bastard.
Souta hauled the unconscious Ace by the collar, ordering his crew to bind him in seastone shackles. Once Ace woke, they would use him to bait Whitebeard's crew into the trap.
With swift efficiency, the Souta Pirates cleaned up the battlefield, boarded the Ark Maxim, and departed the island.
"Boss Souta, that was incredible!"
Little Bonney's eyes sparkled as she cheered. That moment when Souta had felled Ace in a single strike would be etched in everyone's memory.
"Conqueror's Haki coating—that is the strongest force in this world."
Boa Hancock gazed at Souta with an almost reverent fascination. If she wished to truly aid him, she too would need to master such overwhelming power.
"As expected... only those with the quality of a king can stand at the very top," Capone Bege muttered, puffing smoke. Without Conqueror's Haki, one lacked both the ability to crush armies in an instant and the unmatched destructive force of its infusion.
Those without it would forever remain a step beneath true sovereigns.
Do I truly have that potential?
Trafalgar Law's thoughts churned. Was it true that the D-Clan carried infinite potential? Souta had reminded him of the great names: Rocks D. Xebec, Gol D. Roger, Monkey D. Dragon—all bearers of the D. name, and all conquerors who wielded Conqueror's Haki.
If he did not give up, perhaps one day he too could awaken it.
Inside the captain's quarters, Souta contacted Morgans, the king of underworld news, requesting him to obtain Whitebeard's Den Den Mushi number. With forty-three subordinate crews under his command, finding a way to reach Whitebeard's flagship wasn't difficult.
Still, Souta had no plans to call Whitebeard just yet. Not until the Celestial Dragons began their journey to the chosen island would his plan commence.
After all, the Whitebeard Pirates—like Big Mom's and Kaido's crews—were riddled with spies. The World Government and Navy had infiltrated them thoroughly.
Any movement from such a massive crew was immediately flagged in Marineford. Expansion always came with a price—spies and leaks were inevitable.
Worse still, the Whitebeard Pirates and Red-Hair Pirates were completely unproductive, with no fixed territories. They spent their days drinking, fighting, and enjoying themselves, relying almost entirely on supplies funneled in by the dark underworld.
Even Whitebeard's oxygen tanks and IV drips bore the unmistakable insignia of Doflamingo, Joker of the underworld.
It wasn't just the World Government who tracked their every move—the underworld emperors knew as well.
As the triennial "Indigenous Purge Tournament" drew near, Fleet Admiral Sengoku's heart grew heavier.
This "traditional contest" of the Celestial Dragons was a secret known only to the Fleet Admiral and the three Admirals.
Even Vice-Admirals were kept in the dark—unless they were "elite" officers who had dirtied their hands in the service of the Tenryuubito's so-called "dark justice." Only such Vice-Admirals could be nominated for Admiral candidacy.
It was a test of obedience to the Celestial Dragons.
Once chosen as candidates, they would be stationed at Mary Geoise to directly guard the Celestial Dragons, learning firsthand the depths of their cruelty and lawlessness. They would also be dispatched to escort Celestial Dragons on their indulgent excursions—where they enslaved, pillaged, and desecrated without restraint.
Catching pirates was no longer their true duty.
Only days ago, Vice-Admirals Gion (Peach Rabbit) and Tokikake (Chaton) had been assigned to guard Celestial Dragons during their debauched trip to Gild Tesoro's golden casino-ship.
After the Sorbet Kingdom incident, both had been formally nominated for Admiral candidacy.
Should a candidate ever falter in the face of Celestial Dragon depravity, they would never become Admirals.
Sakazuki (Akainu) and Kuzan (Aokiji) had both dirtied their hands long before their promotions. Even as Vice-Admirals, their roles in the Buster Call on Ohara had cemented their candidacy.
That annihilation of Ohara—the island of scholars—had been carried out under direct orders from the Gorosei, planned by Sengoku, and executed by Sakazuki and Kuzan's fleet, aided by CP agents under Spandine.
Perhaps sensing the looming return of the Purge Tournament, Garp once again filed his usual "vacation leave" to visit his grandson in East Blue.
If he could not stop it, he would at least turn a blind eye.
Meanwhile, Sengoku closely monitored the movements of the Yonko and Souta's crew, determined to prevent another catastrophe like the God Valley Incident—where too many great pirates had once converged.
After that disaster, the Celestial Dragons had indeed become more cautious with their Purge Tournament. Mary Geoise could never again allow such a shameful debacle.
Yet just as Souta continued his wait for the Celestial Dragons' departure, a message arrived from the Golden Emperor Tesoro—one that sparked his interest.
...
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