A second after Dr. Vegapunk injected Vivi's blood into the Ryumyaku, the once ice-blue vein was instantly stained a gore-red. Faint wails echoed through the cavern, sounds like desperate pleas for help mixed with resentful shrieks.
Vivi stumbled back in shock, looking around in terror. "What's happening? What's going on?!"
Fujitora's scarred face tightened. Though blind, he was more sensitive than anyone else to the sheer malice radiating from these countless souls.
"This proves it beyond a shadow of a doubt: the blood of a Celestial Dragon is indeed the key to unlocking the National Treasure."
Dr. Vegapunk nodded in grim satisfaction before turning to Alucard. "Stimulated by the 'key,' the souls have become volatile. Alucard-sama, it would be best to devour them quickly."
While Vegapunk harbored a desire to control and utilize the National Treasure himself, he was currently incapable of such a feat. He had only unraveled the mechanics and the activation method. For now, it was better to let Alucard consume them all.
Countless wraiths surged from Alucard's body, diving into the Ryumyaku to begin the feast.
Fujitora's brow remained furrowed. Only when Alucard had nearly devoured half of the souls did the Admiral speak in a low, heavy voice. "What becomes of the souls taken by Immortal-san?"
"They become part of Alucard-sama's power, naturally," Aranea replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Noticing Fujitora's grimace, Aranea's lips curled into a smirk. "Don't look so horrified, Issho-san. The Government has been doing the exact same thing for the last eight hundred years. You were simply unaware of it until now."
"To manipulate the souls of the dead... to turn them into a weapon for ruling the world... a National Treasure unlocked only by the blood of the Celestial Dragons..." Fujitora muttered to himself before spitting out a final thought, "Does the World Government truly believe themselves to be Gods?"
Less than three minutes after Alucard finished devouring the souls of Alabasta, the core cavern began to shake violently. Vivi and the other non-combatants struggled to stay upright.
"As expected," Aranea noted, using her rifle to blast a falling boulder into dust before it hit her shoulder. "The core is destroyed. Alabasta is about to collapse. Let's move!"
By the time everyone emerged from the cavern, the desert island was trembling, on the verge of total disintegration. Seeing this, Kuzan pressed his hand to the ground. Frost surged outward, covering everything in sight with a thick layer of ice to dampen the tremors.
With frost clinging to his arms and face, Kuzan stood up. "This should hold for about three minutes..."
Fujitora remained silent for a few seconds before addressing Kuzan. "Kuzan-san, until we meet again."
"...Yeah. You too," Kuzan replied with a casual wave.
Fujitora suddenly drew his gravity blade, making several swift slashes before sheathing it. Instantly, the ice beneath his feet and the section holding Vivi and the guards broke away, floating into the air.
"Princess Vivi of the Nefertari family is an important figure. Please come with me to Marine Headquarters for protection," Fujitora said in a deep voice.
"But I..." Vivi couldn't calm down, thinking of her father, Cobra, whose fate remained unknown.
"Princess Vivi," Guard Captain Igaram placed a hand on her shoulder, his voice solemn. "We must seek the Navy's help now." He then turned to Fujitora. "We are in your hands, Admiral."
"I shall protect everyone from Alabasta with all my might." With that, Fujitora manipulated his gravity powers and led the group toward the eastern coast.
Alucard and his crew returned to their ship. After hanging up a Den Den Mushi call, Aranea reported, "Alucard-sama, the Black Thorn Pirates led by Fallon and the Barto Club led by Bartolomeo have finished suppressing a kingdom in the West Blue. They are waiting for you to go and destroy the core."
"The West Blue? That's your home, isn't it, Robin?" Alucard remarked, sitting atop his coffin.
"...Yes." Mentioning her home brought back memories of Ohara and her deep-seated hatred for the Government.
"With Cobra taken, the Government is bound to act. It won't be long before they come for me," Alucard mused.
"Alucard-sama, should we call down the Golden Hair Pirates and the Heart Pirates currently guarding our territory in the Sky Islands to join the war?" Dr. Vegapunk asked.
"No." Alucard crossed his hands, twirling his thumbs in a slow circle. "This is my battle alone."
…
Half a month later, Fujitora and his unit arrived at Marine Headquarters, Marineford, with Vivi's group. After seeing them settled, Fujitora immediately sought an audience with Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
"Fujitora, what did you find during your mission to Alabasta?" Sengoku asked from behind his desk. He had received word two weeks ago that Alabasta had vanished from the map.
"Sengoku-san," Fujitora's face was set in a grim expression entirely unlike his usual humble self. "I can no longer tolerate the actions of the World Government."
Sengoku's expression turned stern as Fujitora recounted everything he had seen and heard. By the end of the report, Sengoku's face mirrored the horror Fujitora had felt in the cavern.
However, Sengoku remained more composed. "This information comes from Vegapunk, who defected to Alucard. Do you truly believe it?"
"Then consider the King of Alabasta being abducted by force, does Sengoku-san truly believe the Celestial Dragons intend to 'restore' his royal status?" Fujitora countered.
Sengoku choked on his words, unable to answer. It was impossible. Doflamingo, who had returned to Mariejois thirty years ago with his father's head only to be rejected, was a prime example.
With a look of worry, Sengoku asked in a trembling voice, "Fujitora... you aren't telling me that you're going to resign and become a pirate too, are you?"