Blinding lightning churned deep within the split sea of clouds. Lorne withdrew the right fist he had driven toward the heavens, and the dark-gold currents swirling around him gave a low rumble like a deep-sea beast.
The granite floor of Tenshu Castle cracked inch by inch beneath the pressure. Broken stones rose into the air, then disintegrated into dust within the raging field of Conqueror's Haki.
Ryan and Kuina knelt on one knee on the ruined terrace, their chests heaving violently and thin traces of blood seeping from the corners of their mouths.
Kuina pressed both hands firmly against Wado Ichimonji's sheath and looked up at Lorne's back, broad as an iron wall.
"Captain, what on earth happened?!"
Kuina's voice carried unprecedented anxiety and shock.
Since following Lorne out to sea, she had never seen him display such pure, savage killing intent.
Ryan also gritted his teeth and pushed himself upright, his eyes bloodshot as he spoke in a low voice.
"Lord Lorne, that communication from Dragon just now... could Vice Admiral Garp really have..."
Lorne slowly turned around, the dark-gold dragon markings within his chest rising and falling sharply with his breathing.
The golden light in his eyes burned like molten lava. He forcibly compressed the raging killing intent within him deep into his meridians, producing dull sounds of bones grinding.
"Those old bastards in the World Government branded the old man a traitor."
Lorne spoke in a restrained voice, yet his words struck the entire castle like an immensely heavy hammer.
"Sakazuki and Borsalino did it themselves. They locked the old man in heavy Seastone shackles and hauled him into Infinite Hell, the sixth level of Impel Down."
Ryan froze in place, then slammed both fists into the rubble.
"Treason?! Vice Admiral Garp fought for the Marines his