"So it's you again, you creepy old man," Big Pan sneered. "But that kick of yours felt a bit weak."
He had crossed hands with Kizaru several times before. From being clearly outmatched, to neither side gaining the upper hand, and now to outright surpassing him. All of that had happened in just three short years.
"Getting old, getting old," Kizaru replied with a helpless smile. "But this time, you've stirred up quite a mess."
If he had a choice, he truly did not want to fight Eli Winters and his crew. The reason was simple. He could not win.
Seeing Kizaru arrive, Saint Verly seemed to regain the arrogance befitting a Celestial Dragon. He straightened his back and pointed viciously at Eli.
"Admiral Kizaru! They killed Saint Tianshimo. Arrest them at once! I want them broken and turned into slaves. I want them to suffer until they beg for death!"
Kizaru's pupils shrank. Earlier, he had focused solely on pulling Verly out of danger and had not had time to assess the scene. Now, with a single glance, he spotted the headless corpse on the ground. Judging by the clothing, it was unmistakably a Celestial Dragon.
"Damn it," Kizaru muttered. Even with his temperament, he could not help cursing. He had rushed here as fast as he could, yet he was still too late. With a Celestial Dragon dead, the situation had become truly catastrophic.
"Eli, my friend," Kizaru said with a bitter smile, "was this really necessary?"
"Admiral, you know me," Eli replied seriously. "I never start trouble. That tall, skinny fellow was the one who insulted me first."
Saint Verly exploded in rage. "You lowly wretch! You killed a Celestial Dragon and still dare speak nonsense! There will be no place for you in this world! Kizaru, what are you waiting for? Arrest them now!"
Hearing the nonstop shouting, Kizaru's brow furrowed deeply. His disdain for this short-sighted fool grew stronger by the second. If I could beat them, would I still be standing here listening to this?
Ignoring Verly entirely, Kizaru looked at Eli with a solemn expression. "Reinforcements from the Marines and the World Government are on their way. You should leave now while you still can."
Before he could finish, Verly erupted like a lit fuse. "No! They cannot be allowed to escape! Kizaru, what are you doing? Are you trying to betray us? The Marines' funding comes from us! If you do not act now, I will personally have you thrown into Impel Down!"
Kizaru's face darkened. Especially when he noticed the faintly mocking smile on Eli's face, a trace of killing intent rose unbidden in his heart. As someone on the verge of breaking into the highest tier, he had his pride. Being screamed at like this by someone who could be crushed with a finger was infuriating.
Still, remembering Verly's status, Kizaru forcibly suppressed his anger.
"If I fight," he said coldly, "then no one will be left to protect the two of you. Do you still want me to engage?"
That snapped the last bit of reason back into Verly's head. He snorted in displeasure and fell silent.
Once the noise stopped, Kizaru let out a quiet sigh. His priority now was to stall Eli and the others until more support arrived. He never expected to defeat them. All he wanted was to keep the remaining two Celestial Dragons alive.
"Honestly, Kizaru," Eli said casually, looking at him with interest, "why not come work with me instead? Working under those fools, isn't it suffocating? The pay is terrible, and you risk your life every day."
Kizaru's expression changed. That was blatant provocation.
Sure enough, when he glanced back, the two Celestial Dragons were staring at him like he was already a traitor.
Kizaru gave a wry smile. "You joke too much, Eli. I'm doing just fine in the Marines. I have no plans to change jobs."
"What a shame," Eli said with genuine regret. "I rather like you."
Kizaru twitched at the corner of his mouth, not knowing how to respond.
Just then, two figures streaked down from the sky like meteors, their presence shaking the air itself. They landed heavily, whipping up a violent gust that sent debris flying.
Both men were tall and powerfully built, muscles coiled tight beneath black combat attire. Two long blades hung at their waists, gleaming coldly. Their eyes swept across the battlefield like hawks, pressing down with an invisible weight.
When their gazes landed on Eli, their pupils contracted slightly, caution flashing in their eyes. They recognized him immediately and knew he was not someone to provoke lightly.
Saint Verly, however, noticed none of this. Seeing more reinforcements arrive, his confidence surged. He strode past Kizaru and shouted eagerly, "Redsteel! Blackcopper! You finally made it! Hurry and capture those criminals! I want them to suffer!"
Redsteel and Blackcopper exchanged a glance, both looking awkward. They knew very well that with their standard Admiral-level strength, even defeating Eli's companions would be uncertain, let alone Eli himself.
Still, as enforcers raised by the World Government, outright refusal was not an option.
"Saint Verly," Redsteel said carefully, "there is more than one opponent here on our level. If we engage, we may not be able to guarantee your safety. Withdrawal might be the wiser choice."
Verly flew into a rage. "What did you say? Are you telling me to run away like a beaten dog?"
He felt betrayed. After all the resources poured into these people over the years, they would not even fight when it mattered most.
Redsteel and Blackcopper lacked Kizaru's backbone and could only offer cautious explanations.
Big Pan had had enough. All this talking was getting on his nerves. He was still waiting to finish the job.
"That's enough," he roared. "None of you are leaving today."
With that, he charged again toward the two Celestial Dragons.
Left with no choice, Kizaru intercepted him once more and shouted to Redsteel and Blackcopper, "I'll hold them back. Get the two of them out of here!"
"Hold me back?" Big Pan laughed as he clashed with Kizaru. "Old man, I'm not the same guy who could only defend anymore."
He unleashed his full strength. For a moment, even Kizaru, with his light-based speed, struggled to keep up.
Meanwhile, Redsteel and Blackcopper froze. Two? Wasn't there supposed to be three?
They quickly searched the area and soon spotted the headless corpse lying near Eli.
Their hearts sank. One was already dead. Taking the body back was impossible. With a quick exchange of looks, they reached a silent agreement.
At least save the remaining two.
Each grabbed one Celestial Dragon and bolted at full speed. They moved so fast that even Eli did not react immediately.
"Did they just run?" Dota asked, confused.
"Obviously," Simon shot back.
Eli kicked both of them lightly. "If you know they're running, go after them."
"Oh! Right, Captain!" Dota and Simon said in unison, sprinting after them.
Fiona, worried they might mess it up, followed with Reiju.
Eli did not bother chasing. With his observation haki, there was no way those four would escape. And he trusted his crew to bring them back.
His gaze turned cold as he swept it over the auction house guards and the Marines of Sabaody. A chilling smile crept onto his face.
With a single thought, invisible blades tore through the air.
Silent flashes of light passed over throats. The guards and staff did not even have time to scream before their heads fell. Blood sprayed across the ground, pooling in deep crimson patches.
The horrifying scene stunned everyone present. The Marines who had fired earlier went pale, hands shaking so badly they could barely hold their rifles. Some even lost control of themselves in sheer terror.
Roy stood frozen, fear and regret flooding his heart. Only now did he truly understand how terrifying Eli Winters was. Looking at his remaining soldiers, all he could do was pray for mercy.
He stepped forward without hesitation and stood in front of his men.
"Lord Eli," Roy said in a low, steady voice. "I gave the order to fire. These soldiers were only following commands. They did not mean to offend you. Please spare them. I will take full responsibility, even if it costs my life."
Before anyone could react, Roy drew his blade and slashed toward his own neck.
A powerful force stopped the blade inches from his skin. No matter how hard he pushed, it would not move.
"I never planned to kill all of you," Eli said calmly. "If I had, it would already be done. I only intend to kill those who actively enabled evil. You do not need to do this."
Before Roy could respond, roughly a third of the Marines collapsed, meeting the same fate as the auction house guards. These were the ones steeped in bloodshed. Eli felt no burden killing them.
Roy gave a bitter salute and led the surviving, traumatized Marines out of Area Fifteen.
With the Marines dealt with, Eli turned his attention back to the battlefield.
Kizaru was now completely on the defensive. His famed speed meant nothing before Big Pan's relentless strikes. He took blow after blow.
After another solid hit to the side, Kizaru grimaced. "Enough! Brother Big Pan, I surrender."
Big Pan scowled. "You made me lose two perfect targets, and now you want to stop? Not happening."
He raised his staff again.
"That's enough," Eli said, stopping him. "If you keep going, Area Fifteen won't exist anymore."
Big Pan looked around. The district had indeed been reduced to ruins. Fortunately, Eli had already teleported the civilians away, along with those who had been treated as merchandise.
"Kizaru," Eli said, "I have a question for the Marines."
"Go ahead," Kizaru replied seriously.
"I wiped out the entire underground network of Sabaody," Eli said with a smile. "In the eyes of the Marines, was I wrong?"
Kizaru frowned slightly. He had not expected Eli to go this far. The scale of the slaughter showed just how deeply Eli despised those people.
"Well?" Eli asked, still smiling.
Kizaru gave a bitter laugh. "You always give me impossible questions."
"Can you not even face your own heart?" Eli asked calmly.
Kizaru fell silent. Saying it was right would mean openly opposing the Celestial Dragons. Saying it was wrong would betray the justice the Marines claimed to uphold. And without justice, what were the Marines?
"I am a Marine," Kizaru finally said, before turning into a beam of light and leaving.
Watching him go, Big Pan grumbled, "Boss, we're just letting him leave?"
"He's not an enemy," Eli replied with a laugh.
In his heart, he thought, Maybe the Marines are not beyond saving after all.
He had deliberately asked about the Marines, not Kizaru personally. Kizaru understood that. His answer said everything.
Suddenly, Eli smiled. The four who had tried to flee had been caught and killed by Fiona and the others.
In high spirits, Eli reached out and dragged Kuili over. The man had been pretending to be dead ever since the Celestial Dragons escaped. It was useless. Eli's perception missed nothing.
Kuili had only been able to trade blows with Big Pan thanks to his Hippo Devil Fruit. Without it, a Vice Admiral would never have lasted that long.
There was no need for ceremony. The process was quick and familiar. Another Devil Fruit appeared in Eli's hand.
Counting this one, he had gained three Devil Fruits in Sabaody. None were particularly rare, but in the world of pirates, they were still immensely valuable.
Life was good.