I'm an Admiral. How much do you people look down on me?

"We're running out of time, Admiral Sakazuki!"

After listening carefully to the reports coming through the Den Den Mushi, Akira slowly lifted his head and looked at the towering Sakazuki. "You have thirty seconds to decide: stand with me and share in this glory, or keep serving your so-called Absolute Justice on behalf of the corrupt World Government?"

"To me, your so-called Absolute Justice is a huge joke, because you don't understand what true Absolute Justice means!"

"True Absolute Justice means treating everyone equally, even the Celestial Dragons. But you can't do that! Not only can't you do it, you also have to endure the pressure and scolding from the Chamber of Power!"

"The truth is, you despise the Celestial Dragons and resent the Five Elders in the Holy Land's Chamber of Power. You just don't dare to fight back—or perhaps you haven't found the chance yet!"

"Now that chance is right in front of you—"

Akira paused to glance at his watch, then changed tack. "You have ten seconds."

As soon as Akira finished speaking, all the officers around them took one synchronized step forward.

Then, to Sakazuki's utter surprise, each officer produced a bucket filled with seawater that reeked of the sea. They had clearly planned in advance how to deal with him.

The seawater wasn't enough to rob him of all his fighting ability, but if it managed to restrain him even slightly, Akira would have a chance to kill him.

After all, although Akira was the youngest Vice Admiral at Marine Headquarters, his Armament Haki and Observation Haki were stronger than those of the other Vice Admirals. More importantly, his swordsmanship was formidable, every bit as good as Gion's, an Admiral candidate.

What was more, several officers produced Seastone hooks, looking ready to attack the moment he chose to oppose Akira.

"Three."

Akira spoke again, unhurried. "Two..."

Clang—

Suddenly, the prison's massive iron gates swung open.

Momonga, Bastille, and Strawberry, three Vice Admirals, rushed into the prison, followed by more than a dozen officers of various ranks, who formed two rows after entering.

"Vice Admiral Momonga?"

"Bastille? Strawberry?"

"How is this possible? Have even you joined this rebellion?"

Looking at the three Vice Admirals lined up behind Akira, Sakazuki's eyes flashed with shock. Momonga, Bastille, and Strawberry were all pillars of Marine Headquarters—veteran Vice Admirals who had served there for years. At most, they'd known Akira for six years!

He knew that the officers promoted during Akira's six years at Headquarters might have wavered in their belief in justice, but he couldn't imagine what could have persuaded these veteran Vice Admirals to side with Akira and take part in this rebellion without hesitation.

"Lord Akira."

As soon as he reached Akira's side, Momonga stepped forward and bowed. "May I speak with Admiral Sakazuki for a moment?"

"No need!"

Akira waved a hand. "Admiral Sakazuki has already made his choice."

As soon as he finished speaking, the aura around Akira surged.

"Akira, are you trying to make me submit by force?"

Feeling Akira's aura suddenly reach its peak, Sakazuki's eyes glinted coldly. "Fine. Let's see if you have what it takes to become Marshal of Marine Headquarters!"

As he spoke, the Logia user who had eaten the Magma-Magma Fruit stopped hesitating and unleashed his Devil Fruit ability. Molten magma streamed from both his arms and dripped onto the ground.

At the same time, he took a fierce step forward, and his massive magma-coated fist shot toward Akira's face at astonishing speed.

"Meigo!"

Sakazuki's Devil Fruit ability turned the prison, which had been cool moments before, unbearably hot. His enormous magma fist moved too fast for the eye to follow, swelling in Akira's vision in an instant.

Sakazuki's attack was fast, but Akira had been ready.

As the massive fist, blazing with heat, came straight at him, Akira abruptly relaxed his entire body and silently activated one of the Navy Six Styles.

"Kami-e—"

At the sound of his calm voice, Akira's body became as light as a sheet of paper, drifting aside to evade the oncoming fist.

At the same time,

the officers of every rank stationed around them didn't hesitate. They hurled all the seawater from their buckets at Sakazuki.

Splash—

In an instant, the torrent of seawater engulfed Akira and Sakazuki, leaving Sakazuki nowhere to hide in the confined space.

"Naive!"

Sakazuki gave a cold laugh at the incoming seawater and unleashed the full power of his Magma-Magma Fruit. The instant the water reached him, the magma's terrifying heat vaporized it.

Seizing this rare opportunity, Akira—who had dodged Sakazuki's attack with Kami-e—flashed in front of him. He unleashed Finger Pistol, one of the Navy Six Styles, turning his palm into a finger and stabbing precisely toward Sakazuki's chest.

As if he'd predicted Akira's counterattack, Sakazuki's mouth curled cruelly. "A cheap tri—"

Before Sakazuki could finish, Akira suddenly shouted, "Armament!"

Vmmm—

The instant the word rang out, Finger Pistol hardened with Armament Haki and suddenly accelerated. It plunged into Sakazuki's body with a thud.

Akira didn't stop after landing his hit. He immediately used Soru, another of the Navy Six Styles, and vanished from in front of Sakazuki. When he reappeared behind him, he had a Seastone hook in his hand.

"Now!"

Holding the hook behind Sakazuki, Akira didn't hesitate. "All together!"

Before the words had fully left his mouth, the hook in his hand swept toward Sakazuki like lightning.

Several officers around them also threw their Seastone hooks.

Momonga, Strawberry, and Bastille didn't stand idle either. They drew their weapons and watched the scene unfold, ready for anything.

Facing the hooks sweeping toward him from every direction, Sakazuki remained expressionless and stood his ground.

Just as the Seastone hooks were about to catch him, his figure flickered and vanished into thin air.

"Don't forget, I'm an Admiral at Marine Headquarters!"

As Sakazuki disappeared, his voice came from behind them, brimming with indescribable fury and killing intent. "You think you can take me down with a trick like this? How much do you people look down on me?"