Ever since his defeat in the battle at Impel Down, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, now seventy-six years old, had been preparing for retirement.
However, a huge disagreement had arisen within the Navy over the choice of the next Fleet Admiral:
Blue Pheasant was deeply beloved by his subordinates, enjoyed excellent relations throughout the Navy, and had received a joint recommendation from numerous Navy heavyweights, including Fleet Admiral Sengoku and the hero Garp.
Akainu upheld Absolute Justice. He was harsh toward his subordinates, ruthless toward pirates, and fiercely loyal to the World Government. Though he was not particularly popular within the Navy, this had earned him the favor of the World Government's upper ranks.
On one side was the endorsement of fellow Navy officers; on the other was the appointment of their superiors.
The two Admirals, whose beliefs were completely opposed, each had their own backing. They argued endlessly over the position of Fleet Admiral, unable to determine who was superior.
In the end, the conflict that had built up between them for so long finally erupted.
Since neither was willing to yield, Blue Pheasant and Akainu decided to settle the matter with their fists, fighting a life-or-death duel for the throne of Fleet Admiral.
And so, the two of them came to Punk Hazard.
After dealing with the corrupt Marines and driving away everyone unrelated to the matter, their duel finally got on track.
A duel between men—especially a duel between men driven by their convictions—usually involved three steps: striking a pose, trading trash talk, and starting the fight.
Garen had only just been driven away, so Blue Pheasant and Akainu had merely reached the second step. They had yet to get to the main event.
One Admiral radiated freezing cold while the other poured forth lava. Before they had even