The Marine officer in charge of the Sabaody Archipelago was named Roy, a Vice Admiral from Marine Headquarters. In his younger days, he had been a passionate and hot-blooded officer, someone who truly believed in justice. When he was first assigned to garrison Sabaody, the darkness and filth of Areas 1 through 29 filled him with uncontrollable anger. Those districts were riddled with crime and brutal forces, a level of corruption he simply could not accept.
Roy had once organized his troops, preparing to wipe out those deeply entrenched criminal groups and restore peace and order to the islands. But just as he was about to act, a single call from Marine Headquarters shattered his resolve.
The voice on the other end told him plainly, "Roy, Areas 1 through 29 are not within your jurisdiction."
The words struck him like a bolt from a clear sky. His sense of justice took a devastating blow. For the first time, he began to question his own duty and purpose. From that day on, Sabaody gained a disheartened Marine Vice Admiral, and the righteous, idealistic officer he once was seemed to vanish without a trace.
Today, Roy sat alone in a bar he frequented, tucked into a corner, drinking in silence as usual. After several rounds, one of his subordinates rushed in and reported urgently, "Vice Admiral, the Human Auction House has been attacked by the Sky Honored One, Eli Winters. They are requesting Marine support!"
Roy felt little reaction at first. Over time, he had grown used to turning a blind eye to the ugliness of Areas 1 through 29. Protecting the people behind that filth was something he was utterly unwilling to do.
But just as he was about to ignore the report, another sentence exploded in his ears like thunder.
"Vice Admiral, there are three Celestial Dragons inside the auction house!"
Roy's expression darkened instantly. He knew all too well what the Celestial Dragons represented. Their authority within the World Government was absolute. They were not people anyone could afford to provoke.
And the name Eli Winters made his heart sink even further. This was a man known for acting without restraint, ruthless and decisive. Admirals, Celestial Dragons, it made no difference. If he chose to kill, he would.
"Mobilize the troops. Full speed to Area Fifteen," Roy ordered without hesitation. His voice carried an unprecedented gravity, and beneath it lurked a growing sense of dread.
"Please don't act recklessly," he muttered under his breath, as if praying. "Otherwise, far too many people will die."
The Marine base on Sabaody was located in Area Sixty-Five, some distance from Area Fifteen. By the time Roy arrived with his forces, Big Pan and Kuili were already locked in fierce combat.
Roy's face turned ashen. His eyes were fixed on the headless body of a Celestial Dragon lying on the ground. The sight ignited his fury.
"Damn it…" he cursed under his breath. "How did it come to this?"
The worst possible outcome had still happened.
He turned toward Eli Winters, his voice shaking with rage. "Eli Winters, you actually dared to kill a Celestial Dragon!"
Eli glanced at the weathered Marine officer and replied casually, "Isn't that obvious?"
Seeing his attitude, Roy knew there was no way out of this situation. If he did nothing, both he and the Marines behind him would be held responsible.
"Everyone," Roy shouted, forcing a decision, "open fire!"
Gunshots rang out in rapid succession as countless bullets tore through the air toward Eli and his group.
Eli looked utterly unimpressed. Could you at least try something new? Did they really think bullets would work?
He rolled his eyes, raised a finger, and tapped lightly at the empty air. In an instant, every bullet froze midair. With a casual wave of his hand, they shot back along their original paths.
The sounds of impact echoed one after another, accompanied by agonized screams. Blood sprayed across the ground, staining it red as more than a dozen Marine soldiers collapsed in twisted heaps.
Roy stared in disbelief, his eyes wide. He could not accept what he was seeing. "Eli… you actually attacked Marine soldiers?"
Eli paused for a moment, then let out a cold laugh. "You didn't seriously think I'd hold back, did you?"
He had always shown restraint toward the Marines before. In his view, despite their flaws, most soldiers were still trying to maintain basic order at sea. They were following orders, and many deserved respect.
But Sabaody was different.
Here, the Marines had abandoned their duties entirely, becoming shields for corruption and brutality. In Eli's eyes, they had already betrayed their mission. And accomplices to injustice did not deserve mercy.
Ignoring Roy, Eli called out to Big Pan, "Stop playing around. If you take too long, I'll handle the remaining two myself."
"Hey, don't steal my fun!" Big Pan protested immediately. Dropping his playful attitude, he got serious. Within moments, he smashed Kuili aside with a sweeping blow, sending him flying.
With Kuili gravely injured, Big Pan grinned and walked toward the two Celestial Dragons, who were frozen in terror.
Kuili struggled to rise, but his body failed him. Gritting his teeth, he shouted at Roy, who was still standing there in shock, "Roy, what are you standing around for? Get over there and protect them!"
Roy snapped back to reality. Seeing Big Pan closing in, panic surged through him. "Eli Winters, stop him! Do you want the entire Sabaody Archipelago to be destroyed?"
Eli's gaze was icy, and he paid Roy no attention at all.
Big Pan certainly wasn't listening either. His hand was already pressing down on one of the Celestial Dragon's bubble helmets.
Just as he was about to crush it the same way Eli had, a streak of golden light shot toward him, followed by a powerful kick.
Big Pan crossed his arms to block the attack, but the force sent him sliding backward across the ground.
"Well now, how frightening, Mr. Big Pan," a lazy, mocking voice drawled from the fading golden light. "It's been a while. You've gotten much stronger. That kick of mine didn't even send you flying."
The light condensed into a tall figure dressed in a yellow-and-white striped suit.
Marine Headquarters Admiral Kizaru had arrived.