Sakazuki stood motionless, staring at the document lying at his feet. For several heartbeats, he remained frozen in indecision, torn between examining its contents and dismissing it entirely.
Unbidden memories from his childhood surfaced like ghosts. Though decades had passed—blurring many details and erasing others completely—one image remained crystalline in his mind: his mother's eyes slowly closing for the final time as she lay cradled in his small arms.
He had been just seven or eight years old then. A simple life with both parents, modest but peaceful.
That peace had shattered in a single day when a pirate ship docked at his hometown's harbor. What followed was a nightmare of fire, screams, and blood. His father, attempting to protect his family, was beheaded before his eyes. His mother, shielding her son with her own body, was run through with a pirate's blade.
Even as life ebbed from her, his mother had used her final strength to cover him completely, making the pirates believe they had slaughtered the entire family.
Paralyzed by terror, the young Sakazuki had remained hidden beneath his mother's body, scarcely daring to breathe.
Only after the pirates had completed their rampage and departed did he emerge from his hiding place.
After all these years, he could still feel the ghost of his mother's trembling fingers against his cheek as she used her final breath to caress his face one last time.
With every soul in his village slaughtered, he had buried his mother in their home's backyard with his own small hands. Then, carrying nothing but a burning hatred for pirates, he had set out for the nearest Marine base, vowing to eradicate every last pirate from the seas.
Decades had passed since that day. Countless pirates had fallen by his hand, with many more captured and imprisoned. Yet he had never forgotten the oath sworn at his mother's grave—to annihilate piracy from the world.
After a moment of heavy silence, Sakazuki—though certain in his heart that this must be some mistake—found himself bending down to retrieve the document.
The moment he opened the file, a photograph confronted him, catching him completely unprepared.
It showed an elderly woman, her frame bent with age, her face a map of deep wrinkles, appearing to be in her seventies. She sat on a sofa in what appeared to be a living room, her face graced with a gentle smile. Standing beside her was Xayuki, wearing the coat of a Rear Admiral.
Sakazuki had heard rumors about Xayuki rescuing an elderly woman during a mission, but he had never inquired further. Even after Xayuki's promotion to Vice Admiral under his direct command, Sakazuki had never visited his subordinate's quarters. He knew only that for three years, Xayuki had been caring for this woman.
As a man consumed by his duties, Sakazuki rarely spent time in the residential areas of Marine Headquarters. His existence revolved entirely around his work—he was either performing his duties or en route to perform them. Consequently, he had never encountered the woman Xayuki had brought back.
But now, as he stared at the photograph, a jolt of recognition struck him like lightning. His entire body went rigid.
With growing urgency, he began to devour the investigation report attached to the image.
The further he read, the more violently his hands trembled.
When he finished, he could no longer maintain his composure. Looking up at Momonga and Xayuki, his voice emerged as a hoarse whisper, words tumbling out in disarray: "You... no, this is impossible. I buried my mother with my own hands. She... she cannot still be alive."
Yet even as he spoke, he found himself staring at the photograph again. Though time had dramatically altered her appearance from the mother in his memories, something about her struck him as hauntingly familiar. His heart hammered against his ribcage with such force it seemed to climb into his throat.
For the first time in decades, the legendary composure of Admiral Sakazuki—his unwavering sternness and cold detachment—crumbled completely. His voice cracked with raw emotion as he demanded: "Xayuki, where is she now?!"
Without even glancing in his direction, Xayuki calmly sheathed his sword and stated simply: "We're leaving."
"No, you cannot leave!"
In a flash, Sakazuki positioned himself directly in Xayuki's path, his voice resonating with command: "Take me to her!"
Xayuki's brow furrowed slightly at the demand.
Sensing the tension, Momonga quickly stepped forward, bowing respectfully. "Lord Xayuki, permit me to escort Admiral Sakazuki instead."
After a moment's consideration, Xayuki gave a curt nod and walked past Sakazuki, striding purposefully out of the ruined prison complex.
The moment he emerged into the open air, thousands of Marines—arranged in two perfect formations—snapped to attention. In perfect unison, they brought their hands up in salute and roared: "LOYALTY!"
Their thunderous voices echoed across the night sky, reverberating throughout Marineford.
Upon hearing this rallying cry, Marines stationed at dormitories, armories, research laboratories, and strategic fortresses across the base momentarily halted their activities, turning toward the plaza in silent acknowledgment.
The message was unmistakable: the unprecedented rebellion had concluded the instant Xayuki walked free from the prison.
Surveying the meticulously arranged ranks of officers and soldiers, Xayuki acknowledged them with a slight nod. Then, with his head held high and shoulders squared, he strode forward with confident purpose.
Meanwhile, Sengoku, having rushed from his residence upon receiving urgent reports, entered Marine Headquarters' main building. Immediately, the sharp, metallic stench of blood assaulted his senses.
Before he could process the implications, Vice Admiral Hound appeared, leading over a hundred armed soldiers who moved to block his path.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, I must ask you to halt!"
Hound approached Sengoku with military precision, offering a crisp salute before delivering his chilling message: "Marineford now stands under our control. If you wish to prevent further bloodshed, I strongly advise you to remain where you are and await Lord Xayuki's arrival."
"What?"
Sengoku's expression darkened as he rapidly assessed his surroundings.
The familiar faces of Headquarters staff were conspicuously absent. Instead, he found himself surrounded by soldiers with rifles trained directly on him.
Barely containing his fury, Sengoku's Fleet Admiral coat billowed around him as if responding to his rage. He thundered at Hound: "Hound, you dare turn your weapons against your own comrades?! Answer me—have you slaughtered the soldiers stationed here?"
Before Hound could respond, three judges from Enies Lobby who had accompanied Sengoku stepped forward. They pointed accusatory fingers at Hound, their faces contorted with righteous anger: "This is treason! You traitors will pay dearly for what you've done!"
Hound's eyes flashed with cold contempt. "Silence."
Without hesitation, several soldiers behind him raised their rifles and opened fire.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The deafening volley of gunfire echoed through the hall. The three judges collapsed to the ground, their bodies riddled with bullets before they could even cry out in pain.
"You... Hound, how dare you—"
Sengoku faltered, his rage nearly causing him to cough blood. The three judges had been chief justices of Enies Lobby—equal to him in rank within the World Government hierarchy. With their deaths, any hope of containing this insurrection vanished like smoke.
"Fleet Admiral, the times have changed."
Hound signaled for his soldiers to lower their weapons. His tone remained calm yet carried unmistakable conviction: "Lord Xayuki has decreed that in chaotic times, extraordinary measures become necessary. The sacrifices begin with us. The Navy must undergo fundamental reform, and the corrupt parasites infesting the World Government must be purged."
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