Meanwhile, on Beehive Island, after the main force of the Phoenix Pirates had departed, the military strength remaining on the island had become extremely thin.
Far out at sea, a Marine warship was steadily approaching Beehive Island. A Marine Lieutenant Commander stepped forward and reported, "Vice Admiral Garp, Admiral Zephyr, Beehive Island is straight ahead. According to intelligence reports, the Phoenix Pirates are holding Admiral Kizaru here."
Upon hearing this, Monkey D. Garp grinned broadly. A smile spread across his face as he said, "So we've finally arrived!"
Beside him, Zephyr, also known as "Black Arm" Zephyr, wore a grave expression. "Could the CP7 agents really not rescue Borsalino?"
The Lieutenant Commander shook his head firmly. "No, sir. The Phoenix Pirates' guard around Admiral Kizaru is extremely strict. The agents couldn't even get close to him."
Garp burst into loud laughter. "Hahahaha! Looks like there's no other choice. We'll just have to force our way in."
Zephyr, however, did not share his enthusiasm. His voice was serious as he replied, "Forcing our way in is the worst option. If we push too hard, they might kill Borsalino immediately."
Garp's expression became more serious. "We don't have another option. The Phoenix Pirates' defenses are too tight. Intelligence reports say the walls of the prison cell holding Borsalino are entirely made of Sea Stone. Devil Fruit users cannot enter. Pirates guard the area outside in rotating shifts twenty four hours a day."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"To rescue him, the only option is to break through with overwhelming speed. As for whether they will kill Borsalino, that's no longer something we can control. Even if the chances are slim, we must try."
Zephyr sighed quietly. Though reluctant, he ultimately nodded in agreement.
Garp stood up and cracked his knuckles, a fierce grin appearing on his face. "Alright then. Time for a surprise attack. According to the intelligence gathered by CP7, Borsalino is held in the deepest part of the dungeon. Our speed has to be so fast that the pirates won't have time to react."
With that, Garp walked toward the stern of the warship.
He drew back his fist and unleashed a terrifying punch. The force of the blow produced a thunderous sonic boom. When his fist struck the seawater, a powerful reverse shockwave erupted, launching the entire warship high into the air.
The massive vessel soared through the sky like a projectile, gliding rapidly toward Beehive Island.
At that moment, the pirates guarding Beehive Island suddenly noticed a warship appearing in the sky above them. Confusion spread among the guards.
Before they could react, Garp kicked off the deck and launched himself forward.
His fist was coated in Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki, radiating immense power.
"Fist Bone, Impact!"
In the next instant, a devastating shockwave slammed into Beehive Island. The plaza was crushed by the force of the strike, the ground collapsing inward as the impact spread outward.
The powerful aftershock sent the unprepared members of the Phoenix Pirates flying in all directions.
Zephyr stepped forward and shouted loudly, "Marines, attack! Arrest the pirates and rescue Admiral Kizaru!"
"OOOHHHH!!!"
The Marines erupted in a thunderous roar.
Although many pirates still remained on the island, the Marine assault force moved like a sharp blade cutting through the enemy ranks. Their momentum was unstoppable as they tore through the pirates' defenses.
Deep beneath Beehive Island, inside the dungeon where Borsalino, better known as Kizaru, was imprisoned, the ceiling suddenly trembled.
Kizaru slowly lifted his head, a look of confusion appearing on his face.
The shaking continued.
Then suddenly, a faint hissing sound began to echo inside the cell.
Kizaru immediately recognized the sound. His expression changed slightly. Soon afterward, he smelled a strange odor, and his body instantly began to weaken.
A moment later, several pirates wearing gas masks pushed open the heavy cell door.
They looked toward Kizaru, who remained bound within the prison.
His neck, wrists, and ankles were locked in Sea Stone chains, the other ends embedded firmly into the wall behind him.
The chains were made of extremely pure Sea Stone. The power suppression was severe, leaving Kizaru in a constantly weakened state. Now that he had inhaled the poisonous gas, his dizziness worsened and his limbs felt completely powerless.
Although the pirates wore gas masks, Kizaru recognized them immediately. They were the guards assigned to watch him.
Their sudden appearance meant trouble.
"Hey, hey, hey," Kizaru said weakly, forcing a lazy tone despite his condition. "Bursting in like this without warning is very rude."
The leading pirate had purple hair. His eyes were cold and emotionless.
Without hesitation, he and the other pirates beside him drew pistols from their waists and aimed them directly at Kizaru.
Kizaru's heart sank.
Bound by pure Sea Stone chains and weakened by poison gas, he could barely even stand. Under these conditions, even someone with the speed of light could not escape.
The purple haired pirate spoke in a flat voice.
"I have some good news and some bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?"
Kizaru sighed faintly.
"In a situation like this, what good news could there possibly be?"
The pirate ignored the sarcasm and continued coldly.
"The good news is that someone has come to rescue you."
"The bad news is that they will only be able to take away your corpse."
Kizaru's expression did not change much.
"So you came here to kill me."
The pirate nodded slightly.
"Captain Marco gave the order long ago. If anyone attempts to rescue you, you are to be executed immediately. No exceptions."
"You are an Admiral. No one can be allowed to take you back."
Hearing this, Kizaru gave a faint, bitter smile.
During his time imprisoned in this cell, Marco had visited him several times. From those encounters, Kizaru had come to understand that Marco was an extremely cautious and calculating man.
With Sea Stone chains suppressing his power and poison gas weakening his body, he had no strength left to fight. At this distance, facing multiple guns, escape was impossible.
He tried to speak again, hoping to delay them for even a few seconds.
But the purple haired pirate did not give him the chance.
"Kill him."
He was the executioner personally selected by Marco from the Phoenix Pirates. His methods were direct, efficient, and completely ruthless.
Seven pirates pulled their triggers.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
The bullets slammed into Kizaru's body.
At such close range, he had no way to dodge. The Sea Stone chains suppressed most of his strength, and the poison gas had weakened him even further. He could not even gather enough strength to use Armament Haki for defense.
After one magazine was emptied, the pirates noticed that Kizaru was still standing in a defensive posture.
Without hesitation, they reloaded and fired again.
A storm of bullets tore through his body.
Kizaru's consciousness slowly began to fade.
In his final moments, memories of his past surfaced in his mind.
When he was young, he had worked as a bounty hunter for a time. Later, he joined the Marines and gradually rose through the ranks, climbing step by step until he became a Marine Admiral.
All his life, he had believed in his philosophy of "unclear justice."
Yet now, he was about to die here, shot by a group of unknown pirates.
If he had known things would end like this, he might have preferred to die back then at Marco's hands.
The pirates continued firing.
Several magazines later, the figure before them had already collapsed.
Kizaru's body was covered in bullet wounds. Blood soaked the floor of the cell.
His arms, which had once been raised in defense, had long since fallen to his sides.
At last, he lay motionless on the ground.
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