Beneath the pitch-black night sky.
Grand Line, Marineford.
Fleet Admiral Kong's office was brightly lit.
Admiral Sengoku had just returned to Marineford from South Blue and had gone straight to Kong's office to report.
But judging from the lost look on Sengoku's face, he was clearly not in a good mood.
"I already know about that matter. Letting Garp rest for a while is fine."
Kong sighed and spoke in comfort, but those words clearly did nothing to ease Sengoku's mind.
Although the two of them had clashed more than once in the past, this time was completely different.
In their previous conflicts, Sengoku had always been able to hold fast to his own justice and believe that what he was doing was right. But this time...
If the slaughter of so many innocent lives for the sake of Pirate King Roger's bloodline could still be justified as being for the future of the world, then now, carrying out a harsh purge of the island's people in order to cover up the scandal caused by the World Government's CP organization, as well as the fact that pirates had saved a country, was something he could no longer convince himself to accept.
And even so, he had still done it.
Seeing Sengoku remain unmoved, Kong thought for a moment, then sighed and asked, "Do you find it hard to understand?"
"I..."
Sengoku was different from Garp. He could not live as freely as Garp, refusing whenever he wished. His emotions were always suppressed by reason.
Seeing that, Kong shook his head.
"I understand how you feel. When I was in your position, there were many things I couldn't understand either. That was why I worked so hard to reach the position I have now. Unfortunately, I'm a failure. And now, I'm about to become a deserter."
The word "deserter" made Sengoku freeze. Then he heard Kong say something that left him utterly shocked.
"I've already submitted my resignation to the Five Elders. It won't be long before I leave this position, and the only one who can take my place is you."
In an instant, Sengoku's pupils shrank. He had just opened his mouth to speak when Kong raised a hand and stopped him.
"I know what you want to say, but Sengoku, I'm already old. I'm no longer as full of fighting spirit as I was when I was young. It's time I handed this position to you younger men. Of course, if you don't want to accept this chance to change the Marines, I can give it to someone else."
Sengoku's expression shifted, but he did not refuse. Instead, he asked, "What about Zephyr...?"
As for Garp, Sengoku did not even consider him. Just imagining Garp becoming Fleet Admiral was impossible.
"Zephyr isn't suited for it."
Kong did not explain further.
In truth, when he had submitted his report, Zephyr, as an Admiral, had also been brought up as a backup candidate for Fleet Admiral, but he had quickly been rejected.
First, during the campaign to eliminate the Sky Pirates, Zephyr had suffered defeat after defeat. In the end, the Sky Pirates had even attacked a Marine base, causing the Marines and the World Government to lose all face.
Second, compared to Zephyr, who dared to defy the Five Elders' orders for the sake of his own justice, Sengoku, who would still carry out an order even knowing it was wrong, fit the Five Elders' expectations better.
In a sense, the incident on Baterilla Island had also been a test from the Five Elders for Sengoku.
As the Resourceful General, how could Sengoku not understand that? But he did not refuse, because just as Kong had said, this might be his chance to put his own justice into practice within the Marines.
"I understand... Fleet Admiral Kong, thank you for your promotion and guidance."
Seeing Sengoku agree, Kong breathed a sigh of relief.
"Then prepare yourself. At most, the Five Elders' order will come down in a month or two. There's one more thing. After you are promoted to Fleet Admiral, Zephyr will be the only Admiral left. That will be very unfavorable for the Marines when it comes to deterring pirates. So you need to start thinking about candidates for Admiral as well. It would be best if you could persuade Garp to accept the position. If not, we can only choose from among the newcomers."
"I understand. I'll consider it."
"Mm."
Having arranged everything, Kong let out a long breath. Just as he was about to continue speaking, the office door was suddenly pushed open without a knock.
A young soldier rushed in in panic and shouted in terror.
"T-this is bad... Fleet Admiral Kong... Admiral Sengoku, Shiki... Shiki has escaped from Impel Down!"
"What?!"
"Impel Down can't hold him back anymore. They're requesting support from Marine Headquarters!"
The news made both Kong and Sengoku's expressions change.
Without the slightest hesitation, Sengoku said, "I'll head to Impel Down immediately to provide support."
Hearing that, Kong hurriedly waved his hand.
"Wait... Don't get involved in this. Send Sakazuki and Borsalino instead."
Sengoku froze, not yet understanding, only to see Kong speak with a pointed look.
"Until the matter is settled, there can be no variables. Especially you. Don't let yourself get tied to this incident."
Sengoku understood at once. Then he gave a military salute and spoke firmly.
"No, Fleet Admiral Kong. I am a Marine. Capturing pirates is my duty."
Seeing that, Kong could only sigh helplessly.
"I understand. But Garp isn't here right now, so just in case, have Borsalino go with you."
...
Impel Down.
With the stone wall between Level 2 and Level 3 collapsing, a massive opening appeared above everyone's heads.
Along with it, the sunlight overhead vanished, and the once-scorching Starvation Hell instantly became much cooler and darker.
In the sky and on the ground, two enormous stone lions were fighting the enraged Magellan, while Shiryu had also drawn his sword and stepped forward to fight Shiki.
Beyond that, countless prisoners who had escaped because of the chaos were battling the guards, jailers, and prison beasts of Impel Down.
The entire scene was utter chaos.
"Shihahahahaha..."
A slash flew out. Before Shiki, a veteran master swordsman, Shiryu, who was also a swordsman, was no match at all. He was struck head-on by the slash and smashed heavily into the wall behind him.
Fortunately, Shiryu was not seriously injured. After struggling free from the wall, he looked over the battlefield, and his gaze sharpened.
"Looks like there's no other way."
As soon as he said that, Shiryu directly gave up attacking Shiki and instead went to help Magellan deal with the two huge stone lions.
Magellan was startled when he saw Shiryu block the stone lion's attack for him and sever one of its arms with a single slash.
Without even turning back, Shiryu stated his thoughts.
"This guy is far too much of a monster. One-on-one, neither of us is a match for him. So, much as I hate it, the two of us have to work together now."
Magellan's eyes lit up.
That was indeed the best option.
At that moment, Shiryu spoke again.
"I'll take the lead. You support me."
As soon as he finished speaking, Shiryu shot toward the stone lion in the distance, and Magellan quickly moved to coordinate with him.
It had to be said that compared to Magellan's Devil Fruit ability, a swordsman like Shiryu was the more effective way to deal with Shiki's move. As Shiryu's slash swept out, the stone lion that had been so troublesome for Magellan had all its limbs severed in an instant, leaving it unable to move.
Seeing this from where he floated in midair, Shiki became slightly more serious.
"Let me see how much your teamwork can entertain me."