Mere grains of sand couldn't match even half my strength

Dawn's gaze swept over the Celestial Dragon finery Guernica had deliberately worn, then passed over Crocodile and Hanavza beside him, whose expressions had abruptly changed. A mocking smile appeared on his darkness-shrouded face.

"Tsk... Looks like those pigs finally learned something after a few beatings. Now they know to dress their dogs up as their masters and use them as bait."

"Arrogant criminal! How dare you repeatedly insult the great Creators!"

Guernica sprang to his feet, fury tearing through his feigned calm. He raised his right arm, and the skin of his palm slid eerily to either side, revealing a pitch-black launcher.

A miniature rocket shot out on a trail of flame and struck Dawn squarely in the chest. Blazing fire and thick smoke swallowed him instantly. The blast overturned the conference table, and cracks spread across the cabin walls.

Crocodile and Hanavza instinctively took half a step back, narrowing their eyes at the center of the explosion.

Guernica held his firing stance, his eyes cold. He refused to believe anyone could take that hit unprepared. The rocket was powerful enough to punch through steel plate.

"That lacked a little punch. These modifications... Were they done by those useless fools in the Science Unit? Or did that old bastard Saturn operate on you himself?"

Dawn's strong, steady voice rang clearly through the lingering smoke and flames.

As his final word fell, an invisible maw seemed to suck in a sudden breath. The churning flames and thick smoke collapsed inward in an instant, then vanished completely.

The dark figure still stood in place. Not even a ripple disturbed the darkness surging around him.

"Shichibukai!

Guernica abruptly turned toward Crocodile and Hanavza and growled,

"What are you waiting for?! Take him down! Otherwise, your Shichibukai titles end today!"

Crocodile and Hanavza exchanged