Miyamoto Shagin stepped out slowly from the fading lightning, rolling his neck as if warming up for another fight. There was not a single burn mark on his body.
Nami frowned, disbelief flashing across her face.
"That's strong. I like it," Miyamoto Shagin said with a grin. "How about becoming my twenty first wife? If you agree, you won't have to die today."
His eyes were filled with what he believed to be deep affection.
That trick had always worked for him. Back in Mary Geoise, almost no woman could resist his confident smile.
Unfortunately for him, the woman standing before him was Nami.
Nami looked utterly disgusted.
"Forget it. I'd throw up just looking at someone like you."
"Hehe, once I capture you, it won't be your choice anymore."
Miyamoto Shagin clenched his fists, the joints cracking loudly.
He slammed his legs into the ground, and the tremendous force shattered the already ruined battlefield, sinking the earth several meters deep. Using that force, he launched forward like an arrow released from a bow.
"Man's Firmness!"
As he roared, his entire arm hardened instantly, gaining a faint metallic sheen.
His speed exploded forward, compressing the surrounding air and creating a deep booming sound.
Nami could clearly feel the terrifying pressure behind that punch. Taking it head on would be foolish.
She raised her arm and waved lightly.
A massive purple cloud suddenly formed in front of Miyamoto Shagin.
He froze for a moment when the cloud appeared out of nowhere.
Then a confident smirk curled on his lips.
"What kind of trash is this? I am the hardest man in this world!"
His punch did not slow down. It smashed straight into the cloud.
But instead of resistance, his fist sank into it completely.
In the next moment, his entire body was swallowed by the cloud.
"Watch out for the swamp ahead," Nami said playfully, sticking out her tongue.
Boom.
The enormous momentum carried Miyamoto Shagin along with the cloud far into the distance.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
His body crashed through dozens of collapsing walls before finally stopping.
Yet the purple cloud clung tightly to him like glue, trapping him inside.
"Wuwuwu… what the hell is this thing?!"
He tried to push it away, but it was useless.
The cloud felt like air. It could not be grabbed or torn apart.
As seconds passed, a powerful suffocating sensation began to close around him.
His consciousness started to fade.
"Moonwalk, Rebirth!"
A blinding blue white sphere of light suddenly burst outward, violently blasting the purple cloud apart.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
Miyamoto Shagin finally broke free and collapsed to one knee, gasping heavily. His eyes locked onto Nami in the distance.
Just now, he had truly felt death approaching.
If he had not used that final technique, he might already be dead.
"Damn it! You filthy bitch! When I catch you, I'll make you regret it!"
At that moment, a cold voice echoed across the battlefield.
"How dare trash like you covet my woman."
Miyamoto Shagin stiffened and slowly turned his head.
The figure standing there was Rolan.
"Lo… Lord Rolan!"
A terrifyingly cold aura radiated from Rolan.
It felt like the chill of the underworld itself, freezing the air around him.
Miyamoto Shagin's body trembled uncontrollably.
He did not want to admit fear, but his body reacted on instinct.
After all, the man standing before him had sent Saint Garling Figarland flying with a single sword strike.
No matter how arrogant he was, he could never compare to someone of that level.
Before today, he had always looked down on pirates.
But the moment Rolan revealed his overwhelming power, that arrogance turned into instinctive dread.
"You… you're just an ant. Are you really planning to oppose the World Government?" Miyamoto Shagin asked, his voice shaking.
Rolan rubbed his chin casually.
"What is the World Government? Is it supposed to be impressive?"
"You…"
Miyamoto Shagin was stunned.
Someone in this world actually spoke about the World Government with such indifference.
Rolan sighed.
"Forget it. Talking to you feels like a waste of time."
His tone was calm, almost bored.
"So you should just die."
The words were spoken as casually as discussing the weather.
Miyamoto Shagin suddenly collapsed onto the ground.
"Lo… Lord Rolan, please don't kill me…"
Rolan raised an eyebrow.
Was this really the same arrogant government agent who had just been calling everyone ants?
The sudden shift was ridiculous.
"Lord Rolan, I… I can pick up soap for you! Please spare me!"
Rolan felt goosebumps crawl across his skin.
Pathetic.
This man truly had no dignity.
Without another word, Rolan activated his Devil Fruit ability.
Blue purple lightning gathered in his palm, forming a sharp Electromagnetic Blade.
Seeing the weapon appear, Miyamoto Shagin realized there was no escape.
Desperation ignited inside him.
"Damn it! You're just a mere human! Do you really think you're the strongest in the world?"
"If I die today, I'll make sure you suffer too!"
"Man's Firmness, Golden Bell Shield!"
He roared as the power of the Hard Hard Fruit surged through his body.
Every cell hardened.
Every inch of his skin shone with metallic brilliance.
With a furious shout, he threw his right fist toward Rolan.
Rolan simply shook his head.
"Pointless struggle."
He raised his hand calmly and thrust the Electromagnetic Blade forward.
Clang.
The tip struck Miyamoto Shagin's chest, producing the sound of metal striking stone.
Miyamoto Shagin grinned.
"Hehe… looks like you can't break my defense either."
For a few seconds, the two stood locked in place.
Then the lightning surrounding the blade surged violently.
Armament Haki wrapped around the weapon.
Crack.
The blade pierced straight through Miyamoto Shagin's chest.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
"Ro… Rolan… you dare attack the World Government… your crew… the Ion Tempest… will be wiped out…"
His voice faded.
The light left his eyes as his body collapsed onto the ground.
With that, every government agent who had come to reinforce Marineford, except for Saint Jalande, had been killed.
Silence spread across the battlefield.
Then suddenly, a furious voice roared from the distance.
"Insignificant insect. You're courting death!"
Everyone turned toward the sky.
A figure was rapidly approaching through the air.
Saint Jalande.
Without slowing down, he raised his blade.
"Divine Departure!"
A massive crimson slash tore through the sky.
Red and black lightning crackled violently around it.
The heavens and earth seemed to darken as the slash dominated the battlefield.
It split the air itself and rushed directly toward Rolan.
Rolan looked up at the incoming attack.
"So that's how it is."
--