New World, Mary Geoise Port.
In the nearby waters, the headquarters' Marines warships spread out like a fishing net, covering the vast ocean as far as the eye could see.
Meanwhile, on the flagship deck of this fleet, Sakazuki stood at the very front, looking towards the horizon.
"They're here, Admiral Akainu!" Sakazuki's companion, Aramaki, who was holding a pair of binoculars, suddenly said with a mixture of nervousness and excitement.
As he finished speaking, at the horizon, rows of Marines warships, identical to those of the main fleet, gradually came into view.
However, as everyone knows, all these warships now belong to the New World Marines!
It seems that Marines civil war is about to break out.
Sakazuki nodded calmly and said, "Yes, it's finally here."
"Just like I said, once they get close, Admiral Akainu, you should make the first move and unleash a wave of Meteor Volcano to cover all these warships. Then I'll use my fire abilities to further ignite their fleet. After that, let our fleet advance, while the two of us return to port to set up a second line of defense..." Aramaki said with great interest.
This should be considered his first time commanding a large fleet in the Marines, so he was excited and talked a lot.
"Hmm..." Sakazuki didn't say much, just nodded casually.
Quickly, the two warships gradually closed the distance. Seeing that they were close enough, Aramaki swallowed hard and said, "Admiral Akainu... shouldn't it be time to make a move?"
Sakazuki waved his hand and said, "I need to see Ortolan first. If we can salvage the situation with words, it would be a great blessing for our Marines."
As he spoke, he took out Den Den Mushi and ordered, "Open up the fleet formation and let the enemy's flagship come over."
Aramaki was standing to the side, was stunned for a moment, then let out a long sigh. He felt that this kind of operation was completely useless. It was simply absurd that Ortolan could be moved by words at this critical moment.
But Sakazuki is the real commander, after all. Aramaki words don't carry any weight.
The fleet ahead seemed to have engaged in some negotiations, and then several warships cleared the way in front of the line.
Meanwhile, the New World Marines did not react violently. The flagship with Ortolan was not afraid of being surrounded and smoothly sailed into the encirclement, approaching the flagship with Sakazuki.
Before long, the two huge warships met face to face at a distance.
Meanwhile, Ortolan and Sakazuki could now clearly see the situation on the opposite deck.
Ortolan stood at the very front of the warship's deck, accompanied only by Hina; the other Marines officers were not on board with him.
"It's been a long time, Sakazuki..." Ortolan greeted Sakazuki with a grin when he saw him.
Sakazuki looked at Ortolan with a somewhat complicated expression, his mouth moved but he didn't say anything.
Ortolan seemed unconcerned, continuing to speak to himself, "The last time we met, we were comrades fighting side-by-side, annihilating Whitebeard. I never imagined that in just one year, things would change so drastically..."
Sakazuki then spoke up, "Yes, I never expected that our reunion would be like this. Ortolan, do you want to become a sinner of the Marines?"
"That's the same question I wanted to ask you, Sakazuki. Are you blocking my way because you want to become a sinner of the Marines and start a Marines war with me?" Ortolan said in a deep voice.
Before Sakazuki could respond, Ortolan continued in a deep voice, "It's understandable that other headquarters Marines were restricted from accessing the live broadcast, but you can't possibly be unaware of this information. Tell me, what is my identity now?"
Sakazuki's face twitched twice, but he still gritted his teeth and said, "Acting as Fleet Admiral, Governor-General of the Marines..."
"Since you know, you still..." Ortolan began, preparing to reprimand Sakazuki.
Just then, Aramaki, standing beside Sakazuki, stepped forward and said, "Insolence! Bane Ortolan, the Fleet Admiral Sengoku, was not imprisoned in Mary Geoise, but was discussing important matters with the Five Elders. You fabricated these stories without any real or reliable evidence. How can anyone believe you?"
Ortolan glanced at the guy with some disgust but didn't say anything.
Seeing this, Hina, who was standing beside him, also stepped forward and said, "Right now, what could be more important than the civil war that is about to break out in our Marines? If Fleet Admiral Sengoku hadn't been imprisoned, he should be here. As soon as the Fleet Admiral arrives, we will immediately obey all Fleet Admiral orders!"
"Hmph!" Aramaki snorted coldly, "How can you presume to understand the actions of the Fleet Admiral? Moreover, for over eight weeks, the Marines has been under the command of the World Government. The system and laws are in place. Within the entire World Government system, the Five Elders hold the highest authority. Their orders cover everything under the World Government. Now, the Five Elders' highest order is for you to immediately cease resistance and for Admiral Akainu to take command of the entire Marines!"
Clearly, Hina is still too young and doesn't have the eloquence of Aramaki.
After being rebuked by Aramaki, she was speechless for a moment, her face turning red and puffing up in anger.
Instead, Ortolan smiled unhappily, looking at Sakazuki: "So, you chose to accept the Five Elders' orders? You chose to stand on the side of the World Government?"
Ortolan was too lazy to pay attention to Aramaki. What kind of person was he? Why was he interrupting?
But Aramaki was just so clueless. Although Ortolan was clearly questioning Sakazuki, before Sakazuki could even speak, Aramaki preemptively said, "It's only natural for Marine Headquarters Admiral to obey the orders of the Five Elders. Admiral the World Government, unlike you. Despite the trust and power that Saint Figarland placed in you, you dare to betray the World Government?!"
At this moment, Aramaki felt that he had the high ground of public opinion and unleashed a barrage of attacks on Ortolan, feeling extremely satisfied.
He had assumed that Ortolan must be blushing and feeling ashamed and indignant at this moment because of what he had said.
But upon closer inspection, a relieved smile suddenly appeared on Ortolan's face.
This scene puzzled Aramaki, but before he could resolve his doubts, he suddenly felt a burning sensation behind him!
Heat?
I'm Mera Mera no Mi Ability User!?
Why do I have this feeling?!
While filled with surprise and doubt, Aramaki suddenly turned his head to look behind him, and then he saw thick black smoke rising from Sakazuki's arm. The raging lava had already begun to flow down his arm and onto the deck of the warship, causing the deck to creak and twist and quickly catch fire.
A dense killing intent erupted from Sakazuki's body, instantly enveloping him, the Aramaki!
"Admiral?" Aramaki was startled and was about to react.
But Sakazuki seized upon that moment of panic, his expression contorted in fury as he roared, "Clown, I've had enough of you!"
With a furious shout from Sakazuki, he punched Aramaki in the back.
The raging magma, like a raging inferno, could not be stopped even by flames. At the same time, the explosive force of the volcanic eruption was also released from Sakazuki's body.
Blood gushed out, drawing an arc in the air, but was instantly evaporated by the raging heat.
Sakazuki's enormous fist, now dripping with molten lava, pierced through Aramaki's chest and back!
Mera Mera no Mi had no power to resist the magma, and Sakazuki didn't even use Haki. He just relied on the so-called 'ability counter' to break through Aramaki!
"Ugh... uh..." Aramaki was punched through the throat by Sakazuki, and a painful, involuntary sound came from his throat.
He stared at Sakazuki with disbelief, feeling his life force rapidly draining away.
You, a dignified Marine Admiral, dare to ambush a Vice Admiral like me? Have you no martial spirit? Are you cheating?
"You... also betrayed... the world..." Aramaki seemed to want to say something more.
But Sakazuki didn't give him a chance, scoffing, "I'm already tired of your noisy and selfish nonsense!"
With a sudden clench of his fist, the wild and turbulent magma erupted once more, igniting Aramaki's fiery body and turning him into a charred corpse.
With a Haki flick of his wrist, Sakazuki tossed the charred corpse of Aramaki onto the deck. Then, his gaze turned deep to Ortolan: "Acting as commander doesn't necessarily mean you've truly won. Only when you remove the word 'acting' will you truly be considered victorious..."
Ortolan smirked, not responding at all, but instead teasing, "If you're over forty and already calling yourself an old man, that's a bit too prematurely aged, Sakazuki..."
The two were talking at cross purposes, and Sakazuki didn't respond to the teasing either. Instead, he took a deep breath and said, "Admiral Sakazuki of the Marine Headquarters requests to return to the unit!"
"Acting Admiral of the Marine Headquarters, Bann Ortolan, has approved your return to the fleet. Effective immediately, the fleet will be unified!" Ortolan's expression was equally serious.