Conqueror's Haki Shocks Akainu!

When he heard this, Akira turned to look for the first time.

He saw Sakazuki blocking the entrance like a guardian deity, his body bubbling with scorching magma due to his elementalization. The oppressive aura unique to a Marine Headquarters Admiral made the various officers within the prison gasp for breath. Some of the weaker officers, in particular, trembled uncontrollably under Sakazuki's powerful presence.

"You brought me here, thinking you could trap me in this prison?"

After sweeping his icy gaze across all the officers present, Sakazuki took a forceful step forward and said in a deep voice, "A good idea, but it seems this place might become your burial ground!"

Before his words even fell, Sakazuki didn't hesitate. He raised his magma-infused arm: "Magma Dog's Crimson Lotus."

In an instant, his magma-infused arm transformed into a giant dog's head burning with fierce flames. It then lunged forward with astonishing speed, carrying a terrifying energy fluctuation, and appeared before Akira in the blink of an eye.

Facing the roaring giant dog's head, Akira neither dodged nor evaded. He quickly gripped the hilt of the long sword at his waist with his right hand and drew it with lightning speed.

Hummm--

The moment the sword was drawn, the space in front of Akira vibrated at a low frequency. Immediately, visible flames instantly wrapped around the sword's body, and an invisible, majestic pressure erupted from Akira's body, causing the space to vibrate at a low frequency once more.

Boom--

With a deafening explosion, the roaring giant dog's head collided head-on with the sword.

As they clashed, a terrifying shockwave spread out, knocking all the surrounding officers to the ground. Even the powerful Vice Admirals Momonga, Bastille, and Strawberry were forced to retreat uncontrollably.

"Rumble--"

Finally, under the collision of the two violent energies, the ground could no longer bear the strain and let out a deafening roar. Cracks spread rapidly across the ground beneath Akira's feet, instantly covering the surrounding area like a giant spiderweb, trapping everyone present.

Before anyone could react, the prison collapsed with a violent tremor. The terrifying energy from the collision erupted through the prison's roof and shot straight into the night sky.

Completely taken aback that Akira could withstand his attack head-on and cause the entire prison to collapse, Sakazuki stared in horror at Akira, who stood holding his sword with one hand, his aura surging to its peak. His clothes billowed wildly in the air currents stirred by the shockwave, making him look like a conqueror.

After a stunned silence of several seconds, Sakazuki finally collected himself and exclaimed in disbelief, "Conqueror's Haki."

As he spoke, Sakazuki stared intently at the long sword in Akira's hand.

Unlike an ordinary long sword, the blade Akira held was now wrapped in a cloud of flames imbued with terrifying energy. As a Marine Headquarters Admiral, he was not unfamiliar with such flames, but he found it difficult to accept.

Not only had Akira awakened Conqueror's Haki, but he had also wrapped it around his sword. And he, Akira's direct superior, had been completely unaware!

Most importantly, while powerful users of Conqueror's Haki were as common as carp in the New World of the latter half of the Grand Line, those who could achieve "Haki Coating" were exceedingly rare. Those who had mastered "Haki Wrapping" were either Sea Emperors ruling their own territories in the New World or had already become legends.

And most crucially, Akira had not only mastered Haki Wrapping but had also kept it hidden from all of them!

With such strength and such a deep reserve, it was no wonder Akira had been so confident about this rebellion.

The various officers who had been knocked to the ground, as well as Momonga, Bastille, and Strawberry, were equally shocked.

Ever since Akira became a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral, they had grown closer to him for various reasons, having received his help. On several occasions when they went out on missions, even though they had their own subordinates and ships, they always maintained communication. In their free time, they would find a place to have a few drinks or spar on the training grounds.

They knew that Akira had not only cultivated Armament Haki and Observation Haki to heights they could barely reach but also possessed swordsmanship that was no less than Gion's. His mastery of the Navy Six Styles could be described as perfect.

They had initially thought that was the extent of Akira's abilities, only to discover that Akira had awakened Conqueror's Haki long ago.

"You asked if I had the strength to become Marshal?"

Akira, who had unleashed Conqueror's Haki and blocked "Magma Dog's Crimson Lotus" with Haki Wrapping, took a step forward. His gaze fixed intently on Sakazuki, who was blocking the prison entrance, and he said in a deep voice, "Sakazuki, you underestimate me! I told you, becoming the Navy Marshal is just part of the plan!"

Saying this, Akira immediately strode forward, raising his long sword.

"Lord Akira!"

Seeing that Akira and Sakazuki were about to fight again, Momonga, who had just recovered from the shock of Akira's Conqueror's Haki, quickly called out, "Could you allow me to speak with Admiral Sakazuki for a moment!"

"Hm?" Akira turned his head to look at Momonga, as if he knew what Momonga was about to say, and said in a deep voice, "Momonga, now is not the time for this!"

"No, it must be said now!"

Momonga stubbornly stepped forward, standing in front of Akira. He then looked up directly at Sakazuki and shouted, "Admiral Sakazuki, some of the funds Lord Akira has been moving over the years include a portion for you!"

"Momonga, stop spouting nonsense here!" Sakazuki walked forward slowly and said in a deep voice, "Look outside. Because of your rebellion, Marineford is in chaos! As an Admiral, I must prevent the situation from worsening."

Momonga acted as if he hadn't heard him and continued to raise his voice, "Admiral Sakazuki, your Mother is still alive!"

Before Sakazuki could react, Momonga pulled out a document from his bosom and waved it. "Three years ago, Lord Akira, who was a Rear Admiral at the time, engaged in a battle with a pirate ship during a mission. After Lord Akira annihilated the pirates on board, he discovered many civilians imprisoned by the pirates. Although Lord Akira sent most of the civilians back to their hometowns, one old woman had gone completely mad and lost her memory. He could only bring her back to Headquarters."

Hearing this, Sakazuki's pupils constricted slightly.

However, his expression immediately turned grim, and he sternly rebuked, "Momonga, my Mother was killed by pirates when I was young! I buried her with my own hands! That old woman absolutely cannot be my Mother!"

Momonga didn't explain. He tossed the document in front of Sakazuki. "This is the result of the investigation Lord Akira ordered us to conduct."