Dawn's gaze swept over the Celestial Dragon finery Guernica had deliberately put on, then passed over Crocodile and Hanafuda, whose expressions had suddenly changed. A mocking smile appeared on his darkness-shrouded face.
"Tch... Looks like those pigs finally learned something after taking a few beatings. Now they know to use their lapdogs as bait, dressed up as their masters."
"You arrogant criminal! You dare insult the great creators again and again!"
Guernica shot to his feet, his feigned calm torn apart by rage. He raised his right arm, and the skin of his palm slid apart to reveal a dark muzzle.
A miniature rocket streaked out, trailing flame, and struck Dawn square in the chest. Fire and thick smoke swallowed him. The blast overturned the conference table and sent cracks racing across the cabin walls.
Crocodile and Hanafuda instinctively took half a step back, narrowing their eyes at the center of the explosion.
Guernica held his firing stance, his gaze cold. He refused to believe anyone could take that hit unguarded. The rocket was powerful enough to punch through steel plate.
"A little lacking in power. Those modifications... Were they done by the fools in the Science Unit? Or did that old man Saturn operate on you himself?"
Dawn's strong voice rang clearly through the smoke and flames that had yet to disperse.
As his final word fell, it was as though an invisible maw had drawn a sudden breath. The roiling fire and smoke collapsed inward and vanished completely.
The dark figure still stood where he had been. Not even a ripple disturbed the darkness surging around him.
"Shichibukai!"
Guernica whipped his head toward Crocodile and Hanafuda and snarled,
"What are you waiting for?! Take him down! Otherwise, your titles as Shichibukai end today!"
Crocodile and Hanafuda exchanged a