Kegesi Island.

Inside the giant crater over a thousand meters wide, Sakazuki leaned against the pit wall.

A gash across his chest, deep enough to show bone, looked as if it could slice a man in two.

“Cough… cough…”

He had just tried to stand when the movement tugged at his wound, causing another fit of blood-filled coughing.

He raised a hand—down to the white of the bone—to cover his mouth, trying to hold it back.

Tap, tap, tap, tap…

Footsteps echoed. Roger appeared, walking toward him.

In his hand was the Supreme Grade blade “Ace,” and blood trailed from the corner of his mouth.

His body was covered in severe burns, and one side of his chest was slightly sunken in.

It seemed some ribs had broken inside. He slowly stepped up to Sakazuki.

Buzz—!

Haoshoku Haki swirled and coiled around the blade, radiating a dangerous, mesmerizing glow.

Roger looked at Sakazuki, who was leaning against the wall of the pit, and spoke with cold indifference:

“This is the end, Navy brat.”

Sakazuki lowered the hand covering his mouth. The coughing had stopped.

Looking at Roger’s face, he replied just as indifferently:

“You talk too much.”

Roger didn’t respond to Sakazuki’s taunt.

He simply adjusted his grip on the hilt, ready to swing.

Crack!

Like thunder crashing down.

After a loud boom, the ground shook violently.

The cracked surface rose and fell in jagged shifts, while scalding heat surged from the fissures in the earth below.

Roger steadied himself, feeling the heat radiate.

A warning surged in his mind, nerves tightening. His eyes narrowed as he slashed toward Sakazuki.

Sakazuki, facing the incoming attack melted into magma and vanished into the ground, leaving no trace of where he went.

RUMBLE!!!

The entire kilometer-wide pit transformed into molten magma, forming a volcanic crater.

Then, it erupted violently, the seething lava spreading outward.

Blinding smoke and volcanic ash consumed everything in sight.

The magma shot high into the sky, then scattered and rained down like a meteor shower blanketing the heavens.

Boom!

Roger burst through a column of erupting lava, draped in molten rock as he charged out.

He had completely lost track of Sakazuki’s presence.

After a brief pause, he turned and headed off the island.

…

The Oro Jackson.

The crew aboard was startled to see Roger emerge—looking far more disheveled than usual…

As soon as Roger jumped aboard, everyone hurried over.

Someone grabbed medical supplies and began checking his injuries.

Roger, meanwhile, laughed heartily, trying to reassure them, his voice strong and full of life.

According to the ship’s doctor, he had suffered multiple severe burns and broken two ribs.

Aside from that, he was fine. Only then did the crew finally breathe easy.

Bandaged up, Roger ate meat while chatting casually with Rayleigh.

After a hearty swig of booze, Roger let out a long sigh and said:

“That guy’s a real pain in the ass.”

Rayleigh looked curious.

There weren’t many people Roger would say that about.

Seeing the curiosity on Rayleigh’s face, Roger explained:

“Stubborn, ruthless, and smart enough to run the moment things turned bad. That kind of brat… is trouble.”

Rayleigh nodded gravely, thinking of the erupting magma on the island.

Cross-referencing it with what he’d read, an image from a newspaper flashed in his mind—Vice Admiral Sakazuki…

Whoosh!

A sharp whistling sound split the air.

BOOM!

A cannonball exploded on the sea surface. Inside the cabin, Roger and Rayleigh exchanged glances.

That familiar feeling… it was back again. They stepped out onto the deck—and a loud, booming voice rang out:

“Roger!!!”

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Several more cannonballs screamed through the air, splashing massive plumes of seawater.

Roger and Rayleigh looked toward the warship in the distance, where a figure stood at the bow.

Roger grinned widely:

“Alright boys!”

“Set sail! We’re getting outta here!!!”

“Hahahahahahahaha!!!!”

“OOOHHHHHH!!!!”

On the distant warship, a squad of Marines wheeled out a conveyor-like device.

It was loaded with cannonballs. Garp reached out, grabbed two of them, and looked toward the Oro Jackson:

“Try this on for size, Roger!”

His biceps swelled massively—and he hurled the cannonballs with his bare hands.

The instant they left his fingers, sonic booms exploded through the air—followed by a chain of shockwaves.

Garp’s arms moved in a blur, and the conveyor belt sprang into rapid motion.

One cannonball after another shot forward, struggling to keep pace with Garp’s throws.

“Hahahahahaha!”

“After them!”

“Don’t run, Roger!!!”

Amid the hail of cannon fire—

The Oro Jackson weaved like a massive, nimble serpent, swaying left and right, easily dodging the storm of shells.

A Marine warship chased close behind…

…

Half an hour later.

The giant volcanic crater on Kegesi Island had gradually settled.

Half the island was now coated in lava. From within it, a figure slowly formed.

Sakazuki reconstituted his body, standing atop the lava with a pale face.

He closed his eyes and extended his Observation Haki across the lava-covered region.

After a moment, he opened his eyes and activated his ability.

Lava covering half the island began to shift and crawl, moving aside.

He cleared open ground and paths for the civilians who had been hiding in underground shelters.

The widespread use of his powers, on top of his serious injuries, caused cold sweat to drip from Sakazuki’s forehead.

He only stopped when he couldn’t hold back a fit of coughing.

That should be enough… Sakazuki thought to himself.

Then, sensing two figures rapidly approaching through his Haki, he slowly began walking in their direction.

—

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