"Young Master!"
Diamante's voice came from behind.
He strode forward, blocking Doflamingo while holding his signature greatsword.
"You go first, I'll hold off this old woman!"
After speaking, he raised his sword and charged at Tsuru!
...
Meanwhile, on another street in Loguetown.
Sengoku stopped walking.
Standing before him was a man wearing a deep green cloak.
The man had his back to him, the cloak flapping loudly in the wind.
Sengoku took a deep breath and said in a low voice:
"Dragon."
The man turned around.
The cloak's hood covered most of his face, revealing only the lower half.
But Sengoku could see mysterious tattoos faintly visible in the shadows.
Dragon looked at Sengoku, remaining silent for two seconds.
Then he spoke.
"Mr. Sengoku, it's been a long time."
"Indeed, it has been." Sengoku approached a few steps, stopping about twenty meters away.
His voice was low, carrying complex emotions:
"The last time I saw you, you were still the most promising young officer in the Marines..."
Dragon's eyes flickered slightly but quickly returned to calm.
"That was a long time ago."
"Yes, a very long time." Sengoku stood firm, his hands hanging naturally at his sides:
"So long that you've become the World Government's most wanted man.
So long that the Revolutionary Army you founded has been disrupting the world's order."
Dragon didn't respond.
He simply watched Sengoku quietly, waiting for him to continue.
Sengoku took a deep breath and adopted a different tone, one of earnest concern from an elder:
"Dragon, I watched you grow up. Your father Garp has been my comrade for decades."
"That guy never praises you with his words, but in his heart..."
"Mr. Sengoku."
Dragon interrupted him, his voice still calm:
"What are you trying to say?"
Sengoku remained silent for a moment.
Then he raised his head, his eyes carrying final hope:
"Come back."
"The Marines need talent like you. Your abilities, your wisdom, your leadership—
As long as you return, I can guarantee that all past offenses will be forgiven."
Dragon's eyes, hidden in the shadow of his hood, showed no emotion.
"Impossible."
Uttered with absolute finality.
Sengoku's eyes darkened.
"This world is sick." Dragon said slowly:
"The Celestial Dragons sit high above, sucking the blood from those below.
They are born as World Nobles, while everyone else—no matter how hard they work, no matter how excellent they are—are nothing but commoners."
"And the Marines... are the sword that protects them."
"Mr. Sengoku, do you truly believe this is justice?"
Sengoku fell silent.
He didn't answer.
Because he couldn't answer.
Dragon turned around, his back to Sengoku.
"I will not return."
Sengoku closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, the earnestness in his eyes had been replaced by determination.
"Then there's no other way."
He slowly removed his Marine coat, revealing his powerful upper body.
"I must fulfill my duty as a Marine."
He brought his hands together.
Golden light erupted!
The glow grew brighter and stronger.
Finally, a massive golden Buddha appeared, standing over ten meters tall.
The golden Buddha statue was entirely gilded, its brow bearing the compassion of the Buddha yet also the wrath of a monarch.
"Dragon—"
Sengoku's voice thundered like a storm:
"I'll ask you one last time—"
Dragon turned around.
His hands formed into claw-like gestures, dark Armament Haki spreading from his arms all the way to his fingers.
"Mr. Sengoku. Do you know what this fist technique of mine is called?"
Sengoku narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Dragon Claw Fist. I created it myself."
Dragon answered, then assumed his starting stance—
Feet apart, center of gravity lowered, right claw drawn to his waist, left claw guarding his chest.
His entire body was like a fully drawn bow, ready to unleash a fatal strike at any moment.
"Then let me witness it."
Sengoku moved!
A massive Buddha palm descended from above, carrying immense pressure as it slammed down!
The palm was larger than Dragon's entire body, the ground cracking wherever its wind passed.
Dragon didn't dodge.
His right claw shot forward violently, the dark claw tip meeting the Buddha palm head-on.
BOOM!!!
A shockwave spread outward like a hurricane!
The ground beneath Dragon's feet instantly collapsed into a ten-meter-wide crater!
Debris flew everywhere, dust filled the air!
But his right claw had firmly blocked Sengoku's Buddha palm!
The Mythical Zoan Type Candle Dragon Form granted him superhuman physicality, strength, and defense.
At this moment, he was no longer human, but an ancient mythical beast.
"Dragon Claw Fist—!"
Dragon roared, his left claw following up with another strike against the Buddha palm.
The dark claws left three deep gashes on the golden Buddha's hand!
Golden fragments scattered!
Sengoku felt the impact transmitted through his palm, shock flashing in his eyes.
"Good!"
He shouted, his other Buddha palm sweeping in from the side!
Dragon flipped backward, avoiding the strike while twisting mid-air, his right leg coated in Armament Haki as he delivered a whip kick to the side of the Buddha palm.
BAM!!!
The massive hand was actually knocked slightly off course.
The moment he landed, Sengoku had already turned, both palms thrusting forward simultaneously!
"Great Buddha Impact!"
A golden shockwave erupted from his palms, crashing directly toward Dragon!
The shockwave, like a solid pillar of light, pulverized everything in its path!
Dragon crossed his arms in front of his chest, Armament Haki covering his entire body as he withstood the impact.
The shockwave pushed him back dozens of meters, his feet plowing two deep trenches in the ground.
His clothes tore under the impact, revealing dragon-scale-covered skin beneath.
But he didn't fall!
"Dragon Claw Rend—!"
The moment he dissipated the impact, his hands formed claws, tearing two dark claw marks through the air.
The claw marks ripped through the atmosphere with a sharp tearing sound, aimed straight for Sengoku's face!
Sengoku dodged one by tilting his head, the second grazing past his cheek!
Ssshh—
Golden fragments flew as three deep gashes appeared on the building behind him!
The gashes cut through the entire structure, causing it to collapse with a roar!
The two exchanged glances.
Then charged at each other simultaneously!
Golden Buddha and Dragon Claw collided head-on!
Sengoku's fist descended with a howling gust!
Dragon sidestepped the blow while slashing his claw toward Sengoku's knee!
The dark claws left three gashes on the golden calf, golden fragments scattering!
Sengoku lifted his leg to kick Dragon!
The massive Buddha leg swept forward like a battering ram!
Dragon neither dodged nor avoided, instead wrapping both arms around the leg, Armament Haki covering his entire body.
"Haah——!!!"
With a furious roar, he exerted strength through both arms, actually overturning the massive golden Buddha and slamming it to the ground.
Boom!!!
Sengoku crashed heavily to the ground, smashing a huge crater into the earth!
But he reacted with lightning speed. As he flipped over, he slammed a palm against the ground, using the recoil to spring back to his feet, then thrust both palms forward to unleash another Shockwave.
The Shockwave swept across the ground, shattering the floorboards in its path and sending rubble flying in all directions.
Dragon kicked off with both feet, propelling himself into the air. Forming his hands into claws, he dove down from above.
"Dragon Claw Hook——!"
His claws crisscrossed through the air, weaving ten dark claw marks into a net that shredded the Shockwave to pieces.