Kizaru clearly hadn't expected Magellan's report to be true.
Earlier, he had assumed that it was simply Domino—the non–Devil Fruit user—dragging Leno through the sea.
Now it seemed he had been completely mistaken.
"No wonder Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Mr. Garp specifically told me to capture you alive and bring you back~"
Kizaru's tone was as flippant as ever.
Although Leno didn't know what Kizaru's true intention was in saying that, he was certain of one thing—it definitely wasn't because of any former master–disciple bond or camaraderie between colleagues.
More likely, they wanted to pry out the secret behind how he, a Devil Fruit user, had no apparent weakness.
After this betrayal, Leno had truly seen the upper ranks of the Navy for what they were.
And he had guessed right!
Garp and Sengoku weren't worried about him at all—they were interested in his body.
A Devil Fruit user without weaknesses.
If he were handed over to Vegapunk for research and even a fragment of the secret was uncovered, the Navy's future combat power could at least double!
To them, Leno was nothing more than a prized delicacy.
Once he understood all this, the veins on Leno's forehead bulged violently.
The fury in his heart surged uncontrollably.
"Good… very good!"
His gaze toward Kizaru turned icy.
"A Navy like this… I truly don't understand what reason it has to exist!"
In his rage, he failed to notice that within his mind, the Devil Statue that had already been unlocked—
the demon carved upon it slowly opened one eye, flames of fury burning within—rage of the same origin as his own.
At the same time, a new power surged into Leno's Chop-Chop Fruit ability.
His control became even more fluid.
Judicial Island split and collapsed at an accelerating pace.
Kizaru sensed the subtle shift in Leno's aura and Devil Fruit power.
A trace of doubt flickered in his eyes, yet he made no move to stop him.
The Ama no Murakumo Sword was useless.
If he used Yasakani no Magatama, it would only help Leno accelerate the destruction.
As for his other lethal techniques… he had them, but there was no need.
They weren't mortal enemies. This was just a job—why risk his life over it?
At least, not for now.
Just as Leno was about to completely destroy Judicial Island—
the Buster Call fleet finally arrived!
Seeing this, Kizaru muttered, "Oh my, oh my~ Now this is troublesome~"
His body instantly dissolved into golden light and reappeared beside Leno.
There was a faint hint of helplessness in his voice.
"Kid~ my apologies~ After all, this old man is an Admiral…"
"I can't just stand by and do nothing. They'd dock my pay~"
Before his words even finished—
a light-speed kick blazing with dazzling radiance lashed out toward Leno!
However—
during his time in the lowest level of Impel Down, Leno's greatest improvement had been his Observation Haki.
Though still unstable, he could occasionally glimpse fragments of the future.
In the instant before Kizaru moved—
Leno had already seen this scene!
His leg, long coated in jet-black Armament Haki, met the attack with perfect precision.
Boom!
Their kicks collided violently once more, unleashing a terrifying shockwave!
The scene was witnessed clearly by the Vice Admirals and officers who had arrived with the Buster Call fleet.
Their jaws dropped wide enough to fit an egg!
"Th-That guy… is that really the Leno we know?!"
"How did he get this strong?! He can fight Admiral Kizaru head-on?!"
"I always said he was an excellent Navy prospect!"
"Exactly! I don't know what Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Garp were thinking—what's so great about that Koby?"
"Looks like Chief Warden Magellan was right—Leno really does have a Devil Fruit ability!"
"But what kind of Devil Fruit is it…?"
"…"
Voices filled with shock, disbelief, and even indignation on Leno's behalf rang out among them.
Finally—
under their horrified gazes, Judicial Island could no longer hold together.
The buildings and the island itself began splitting apart and sinking into the sea!
Kizaru transformed into scattered particles of light, hovering effortlessly in midair.
As for Leno, Domino, Kalifa, and Robin—
they fell together toward the sea along with the crumbling fragments of the island!
Especially Kalifa and Robin—their faces instantly filled with terror.
After all, they were genuine Devil Fruit users.
If they fell into the sea… who knew whether they would survive?
Unfortunately, both of them were firmly held in Domino's grip.
"It sank… Looks like Leno's finished this time."
"Hey, don't get distracted! We still have a mission!"
"Judicial Island's gone… What Buster Call are we even carrying out now?"
"Hey! Look over there! Isn't that the Straw Hat crew?!"
"That's right! It's them! Quick! Turn the ships! Capture them!"
The Navy officers quickly shifted their attention away from the sinking Leno.
They barked orders, turning the warships toward the direction where the Straw Hat Pirates were escaping.
No one knew just how incompetent Spandam had to be—
but in the midst of such chaos,
the Straw Hat Pirates had actually managed to rescue the severely injured Franky!
The Buster Call forces had clearly set their sights on Luffy's crew as well.
Aside from failing to retrieve Robin, the overall situation didn't differ much from the original course of events.
But after this departure, their future objectives would likely change.
And Leno's earlier, soul-piercing words had already planted seeds in their hearts.
"Straw Hat! You're not getting away!"
A Navy officer suddenly attacked from the flank, slashing viciously at Luffy!
Clang!
Zoro, gritting through his injuries, blocked the strike with his sword and roared, "Go! I'll hold him off!"
The moment he finished speaking—
the Navy officer was sent flying by a fierce kick from Sanji!
"Get out of here! Leave this place to us!"
Sanji lit a cigarette, his sharp gaze sweeping warily over the Marines closing in around them.
But this was only the appetizer.
More and more Marines surged in from every direction.
Even if most of them weren't a match for the Straw Hat crew's main fighters—
their numbers were simply overwhelming.
If they were delayed even slightly and the Vice Admirals arrived, the Straw Hat Pirates would have no chance of escape!
"Super—! Coup de Vent!"
Having refueled with cola, Franky fired a Coup de Vent, blasting away a large swath of Marines and tearing open a brief gap in the encirclement.
Nami suppressed the turmoil and frustration in her heart.
She knew this wasn't the time.
Swinging her Clima-Tact, she summoned thunderclouds. Bolts of lightning crashed down one after another, temporarily stalling the Marines' pursuit.
"Rumble Ball!"
Chopper swallowed three Rumble Balls in one go, his body swelling violently.
He transformed directly into his massive, rampaging monster form!
His out-of-control giant palms smashed down wildly, instantly crushing quite a few Marines—
but he couldn't distinguish friend from foe, forcing the Straw Hats to dodge carefully as well.
Even so, the Straw Hat Pirates were still struggling desperately to stay alive.
The military force deployed in a Buster Call was enough to wipe an entire island off the map.
Dealing with a rookie pirate crew should have been effortless.
One could only say that their escape in the original storyline was pure protagonist privilege.
At this point in time, a Vice Admiral could easily crush them.
If it wasn't protagonist treatment, then it was "my dad is Li Gang."
"Straw Hat Pirates! Surrender at once!"
"That's right! You scum of the seas!"
"We've already surrounded you! Don't even think about running!"
Just as Luffy prepared to forcefully break through again using his Gum-Gum Fruit ability—
his face suddenly turned pale.
"Blegh!"
He spat out a mouthful of blood!
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