"You idiot!!"
Sakazuki struggled to rise, but before he could fully stand, his right leg buckled, and he collapsed back to the ground, cursing violently. His injuries were simply too severe.
Seeing the critical state of his commander, a captain with bandages wrapped around his arms waved his hand and shouted, "Quick! Help Vice Admiral Sakazuki up! All units, prepare to retreat!"
Immediately, two Marines rushed to Sakazuki's side, slung his arms over their shoulders, and began withdrawing toward the coast.
At this point, even the slightest touch caused Sakazuki excruciating pain, but there was no time to worry about that.
They planned to retreat first, gather sufficient reinforcements, and then return to deal with Zephyr.
As for Grimm… they were in no position to concern themselves with him right now.
Seizing the moment while Zephyr was still trapped in his internal conflict and confusion, the remaining few hundred Marines began their desperate retreat.
But the real question was… would Grimm just let them leave?
They had barely stepped out of the city gates when they found Grimm standing calmly in the middle of the main road leading out. He looked down slightly, a smile playing on his lips.
"In such a hurry? Where are you off to?"
"Grimm?!"
The soldiers supporting Sakazuki screamed in shock.
"You bastard…!"
Sakazuki's anger flared uncontrollably. "It was you, wasn't it?! You're the one who turned Admiral Zephyr into this monster!"
His words ignited the fury of every Marine present. Seeing any comrade corrupted like this would have been bad enough, but this was Zephyr — their beloved teacher.
To see him turned against them was a blow to their morale and a psychological wound beyond measure.
"Indeed. He has been granted magnificent power. It is a blessing of the Holy Light," Grimm replied with a disturbingly sincere smile.
"Back in the game world I came from, this power was known to be exceptionally strong."
"You… damned… bastard…" Sakazuki ground his teeth in rage. The feeling of being played with like a toy was unbearable. The humiliation was absolute.
"However, today has been quite rewarding. Tell you what… why don't you surrender and join my ranks? I might even spare your life, Akainu!"
Grimm walked slowly toward Sakazuki, who was being held up by his men. The audacity of the demand was infuriating.
Asking a Marine Vice Admiral — and a future Admiral at that — to surrender? Impossible. Knowing Sakazuki's character, he would rather die a thousand deaths than serve Grimm.
Truth be told, Grimm did want Sakazuki dead. But he was still uncertain: If Sakazuki died, and I then resurrect him… would he still possess the Magma-Magma Fruit powers?
"PROTECT THE VICE ADMIRAL!"
A Major shouted. The remaining Marines immediately formed a defensive wall in front of Sakazuki — many of them heavily bandaged or in casts, yet standing firm.
"Even in this state, they are willing to die to protect you," Grimm chuckled, the corners of his mouth curling upward.
"Does this mean you are well‑liked in the Marines? Or perhaps… the position of Admiral Candidate is simply far too valuable to lose?"
"You two! Get Vice Admiral Sakazuki out of here! Cover his escape!" the Major commanded.
"NO NEED! I AM NOT THAT WEAK!"
Blinded by rage, Sakazuki shoved the two soldiers supporting him violently away.
"Oh? Is that so?"
Grimm vanished instantly. A blur of motion was all anyone saw before he appeared right in front of Akainu. He drove a fist straight into Sakazuki's chest.
BOOM!
Sakazuki was blasted all the way to the side of the road, crashing through several thick trees.
He ended up lying on his back, legs exposed, trying desperately to get up but unable to move an inch.
"You are an Admiral Candidate, after all… yet you fell in one punch. It seems Red Dog Zephyr really did a number on you, didn't he?"
Grimm walked over, drew Ashbringer, and looked down.
"That old fool Kel'Thuzad has never tried turning a Logia user into an undead. I wonder… if I take your corpse and turn you into a minion… will you still keep your Magma powers? You are such excellent material, Sakazuki… I am truly curious."
Without hesitation, Grimm swung the greatsword and cleanly severed Sakazuki's head from his body.
However, the head didn't roll away. Instead, a glowing red line appeared around the neck, and the head slowly slid down.
Before it could detach completely, both the body and the head dissolved into a stream of pure white light, which was sucked directly into a small black box Grimm held in his hand.
In an instant… he was gone.
The surrounding Marines watched the death of their commander in utter silence. They were so shocked they forgot even to fight back.
This was Sakazuki. Not just any Vice Admiral — he was the Admiral Candidate! The future strongest combat power of the Navy! And he was dying here… today… like this?
"A Logia type… I wonder what interesting things Lord Kel'Thuzad will be able to create from you," Grimm muttered to himself.
He knew it would take some time before he saw the results.
Then, as if joking to himself, he added: "You should really thank me, Issho!"
Since the founding of the Marines, there had always been exactly three Admirals and one Fleet Admiral — never more, never less.
Originally, the trio for Kong's era was meant to be: Sengoku, Zephyr, and Garp.
But Garp, the eccentric, refused promotion. That left a vacancy. Then Zephyr resigned after the murder of his family, leaving only Sengoku — an awkward situation indeed.
The next generation was supposed to be Kuzan, Borsalino, and Sakazuki. But with Issho emerging as a powerful contender, the spot was uncertain.
However, now that Sakazuki had effectively joined Grimm's side… Issho's promotion was practically guaranteed.
Suddenly, a terrifying pressure descended. Grimm turned to see Zephyr — seemingly returned to his original state — rushing at him, swinging his Blood Blade down toward Grimm's back.
Grimm raised his shield instantly to block. The impact was tremendous, distorting the very space around them. The shockwave rippled outward like an invisible tsunami.
"Attacking me… does that mean you've regained a little bit of your sanity?" Grimm grinned from behind the shield.
Zephyr's appearance as a Berserker hadn't changed, but the fact that he ignored the Marines standing right next to him and chose to attack Grimm proved that some consciousness had returned.
At the very least, he could now distinguish friend from foe.
"But I'll say it again… even if you have become the Great Red God, without a clear mind… you won't be able to kill me even once."
Grimm shoved Zephyr's fist away, then launched a rapid flurry of attacks with his one‑handed sword.
The blade sliced repeatedly into Zephyr's body. Wounds appeared all over him, yet he paid them no mind. Instead, he seemed to grow more excited, charging forward like a wild beast.
"Ah, the Red Dog's regeneration is truly impressive… but if you just stand there and take every hit without dodging, no matter how much health you have, you'll eventually wear down," Grimm taunted.
"Let me teach you… how to properly use the skills of the Red Dog."
Grimm rushed right up to Zephyr, his sword flashing in a blur of cuts.
When the fifth strike slashed toward Zephyr's neck… Zephyr suddenly roared, opened his mouth, and bit down hard on the blade itself!
His jaw strength was immense — so great that Grimm couldn't pull the sword free.
"Heh…"
Grimm chuckled softly. In less than a second, he switched weapons, summoning Ashbringer in his other hand.
Within that same split second, the massive edge of Ashbringer slashed through, cutting halfway through Zephyr's neck.
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