The warship finally sailed out of the doldrums, and the gentle breeze was especially pleasant, making the soldiers training on board even more enthusiastic.
"Ou! Ou!"
One day, an unusual seagull flew through the sky, wearing a white hat and a small red bag around its neck.
No news birds appeared within the doldrums, and they hadn't received any outside information for nearly half a month. Sakazuki beckoned, and the news bird landed.
The副官 (fùguān - adjutant/aide-de-camp) beside him produced a hundred Berries and handed them to the news bird. The news bird, extremely agile, accepted them, handed over a newspaper, and flew away.
Sakazuki took the newspaper and began to read. The chaos in the New World continued, with eighty percent of the newspaper's pages dedicated to the pirates of the New World.
"Flying Pirates gain three more captains!"
"Whitebeard occupies the Kuri Islands!"
"Marine Hero Garp battles the Roger Pirates for three days in the Yana Sea!"
"Big Mom's twenty-first son is born, the Charlotte family gains a new member!"
"Beasts Pirates make a stunning debut..."
"Blizzard Pirates..."
"Steam Sea..."
Each headline was followed by a brief account of the events. In general, the turmoil in the New World was escalating.
*Rustle!*
The sound of a newspaper page turning caught Sakazuki's attention, along with a massive wanted poster covering an entire page and a blood-red title.
"World Destroyer! Byrnndi World!"
"Bounty: 200,000,000"
"Alive or Dead!"
After a moment's thought, Sakazuki recalled who it was.
Byrnndi World, an awakened Paramecia-type Devil Fruit user, could magnify the speed, strength, size, weight, etc., of objects he touched by a multiple, up to one hundred times.
Carrying a flintlock pistol, he could destroy a warship with a single shot by magnifying it a hundredfold.
His powerful Devil Fruit ability made him swell with arrogance, like a rabid dog, destroying pirates, marines, and innocent civilians alike.
Thus, he earned the moniker "World Destroyer."
Later, he was captured through a scheme by an agent of the World Government's CP organization, frozen in Impel Down for thirty years, and escaped during Blackbeard's prison break.
His former comrades, over those thirty years, built a ship as large as an island, equipped with a colossal cannon. During World's first test, he annihilated an island.
Looking at Byrnndi World's wanted poster, Sakazuki pondered, the World Government... freezing...
"..."
"..."
*Rustle!*
The newspaper was handed back to the副官. There was no more useful information. Ahead, island silhouettes faintly appeared, and the small black dots on the sea gradually increased.
All were moving towards the island.
The副官 took the newspaper and put it away, then asked,
"Vice Admiral Sakazuki."
"We are about to reach the island ahead. Do you require resupplying?"
Sakazuki nodded slightly, his indifferent voice resonating:
"Accelerate."
---------------------------------
As the warship sped closer, the island's clear outline gradually came into view, and the ships surrounding it also increased.
*Whoosh!*
*Whoosh!*
*Boom! Boom!*
....
"Hm?"
A faint explosion sounded. Sakazuki traced the direction of the sound and could only see two small black dots gradually approaching, with splashes of water erupting around them.
He reached out and took the telescope from his副官. He saw a pirate ship and a warship firing at each other while accelerating towards one another.
Upon seeing this, Sakazuki lowered the telescope and said to his副官,
"Turn around, and approach them."
The副官 received the order and went to relay it. The warship turned and charged towards the two ships.
In the distance, as the two ships accelerated their charge.
*Boom!*
The two ships collided directly, shaking violently. However, the warship was noticeably sturdier. The warship's bow directly pierced the pirate ship's bow and embedded itself in the deck.
*Bang! Bang!*....
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*...
Gunshots and sword clashes erupted, intertwining.
"Kill them all!!!!!!!!"
"Charge!!!"
"Take down these Marine scumbags!!!"
"Annihilate them!!"
"For Justice!!"
"Kill!!!"
Then, countless Marine soldiers jumped onto the pirate ship, and the shouts of battle from both sides continued as they clashed.
The leading colonel targeted the opposing captain, Kamazoku Dobin, who had a bounty of 94,000,000.
*Swish!*
The leading colonel instantly vanished and reappeared behind Kamazoku Dobin. His fingers formed a claw shape, imbued with Armament Haki, and the black dragon claw hand lunged towards Dobin's neck.
*Clang!*
Dobin turned, his hands transforming into steel scythes, blocking the dragon claw hand. He grinned ferociously, and the bizarre praying mantis on his hat, half the size of his head, disappeared and reappeared above the colonel's head.
The mantis's scythe-like forelimbs fiercely stabbed towards the colonel's head.
*Clang!*
His head was imbued with Armament Haki. Then, the colonel kicked Dobin away, and his figure instantly vanished. As the bizarre mantis was about to fall to the ground after losing its footing.
The colonel reappeared, his black dragon claw hand reaching for the mantis, intending to crush it.
*Buzz!!!*
The sound of the mantis's six wings vibrating echoed.
*Whoosh!*
It instantly vanished into the air and reappeared above Dobin, who had been kicked away.
*Clang!*
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*....
The colonel's hands and feet, imbued with Haki, collided with Dobin. Scythes and Haki clashed, producing countless sparks. Everyone around kept their distance, avoiding being caught in the crossfire.
Dobin's legs transformed into straight, long scythes, and he swept them out, unleashing a crescent-shaped blade energy. The colonel was about to dodge when he frowned.
*Clang!*
The two dragon claw hands, imbued with Armament Haki, gripped the blade energy, being dragged back by it.
*Boom!*
With a roar, the blade energy was crushed. The colonel looked at his opponent with seriousness, knowing he had to end this quickly.
That blade energy, if dodged, would have sliced the Marine soldiers in the distance in half. And not only were there Marine soldiers there, but also Dobin's subordinates.
Cruel and without a bottom line. If it wasn't resolved quickly, who knew what would happen.
*Swish!*
*Clang!*
Sparks flew!
The colonel, using the momentum of "Soru" (Shave), lunged at Dobin, dragging him towards the edge and smashing him into the railing.
*Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!*....
Seeing the scales of victory gradually tipping towards the Marines, a strange sound emanated from Kamazoku Dobin's mouth. Then, the wings of the mantis above his head vibrated.
*Buzz!!!!*
The mantis lunged to the left, while Dobin charged to the right. The target of both the man and the insect was the ordinary Marine soldiers fighting.
The colonel instinctively moved towards Dobin, but then, thinking of the soldiers on the other side, he hesitated for a moment, freezing in place. At this moment.
*Bang!*
The flying mantis suddenly exploded without warning, turning into a bloody mist.
"Wh...!!"
"Ugh!!!!"
Dobin's pupils constricted. Suddenly, a large shadow appeared before him, and a black hand pressed directly towards his head. He tried to dodge but couldn't at all. The hand pressed directly onto his face.
*Crack! Crack!*
The sound of bone breaking echoed, but his pained wails couldn't be heard.
*CRACK!!!!!!!!*
With a burst of force from the owner of the black hand, Dobin completely ceased to move. He casually tossed him aside and looked at the colonel.
"Vice Admiral Sakazuki."
The colonel, seeing the man and beast dealt with, breathed a sigh of relief and stepped forward, calling out.
"Mm."
Sakazuki nodded in response. The more he looked, the more familiar this colonel seemed.
"What is your name?"
"Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. Your subordinate is Marine Headquarters Colonel, Monkey D. Dragon."
"Monkey D, eh..."