On the warship, the air in one corner of the deck seemed to ignite.
The sea breeze had carried a salty, damp chill, but now it was warped by an invisible heat.
Borsalino froze in his beach chair, the glass of juice in his hand still trembling slightly.
The ice cubes clinked together.
"Clink... clink..."
The sound was crisp, yet strangely jarring.
The expression on his face had never been so stiff.
The Den Den Mushi had completely changed. Its originally comical little face was now twisted and taut.
Its features seemed to melt in the intense heat, only to be forcibly reshaped.
The next moment—
"Boom—!!!"
Scorching red magma erupted from the Den Den Mushi's mouth!
"You said he's back—?!!"
Sakazuki's roar was like a volcanic eruption, the sound waves carrying almost tangible pressure.
The surrounding air abruptly heated up, and faint sizzling sounds came from the deck.
"Where is he—?!!"
The second roar was even more violent!
Borsalino's mouth twitched slightly.
A bead of cold sweat slowly slid down his forehead.
"Uh..."
He scratched his head, his tone unusually hesitant.
"Well..."
He gave a light cough, as though organizing his words.
"I think... I forgot to give him a Den Den Mushi~"
After he said that, the air went silent.
For one brief instant, it was as if the entire world had paused for a beat.
Then—
It completely exploded.
"Borsalino—!!!"
The Den Den Mushi's entire face turned into an erupting volcano, magma surging forth.
Flames nearly burst out from inside its shell!
A scorching heat wave swept through the area, even baking tiny cracks into the edge of the deck.
Borsalino leaned back slightly and raised a hand to shield his face.
"How scary..."
His tone still dragged on lazily, but that bead of cold sweat slid