In that instant, Tatsuki's sensory world was utterly stripped away.
A jet-black attack, spanning the horizon, flew from the blade. It was domineering beyond reason, brutally overwhelming to the point of despair.
In Tatsuki's pupils, only that expanding darkness remained.
He frantically urged the storm, trying to block it, deflect it, do something.
But it was useless.
Wherever that slash passed, it seemed as if all laws, all existence, were forcibly made to "depart" before this single stroke of the blade.
RIIIP!
The waterspout connecting sky and earth was effortlessly split clean down the middle by the jet-black wave of the slash.
The momentum of the domineering strike unabated, it grazed past the edge of the floating wreckage where Tatsuki stood, flying towards the distant horizon.
The next second.
BOOOM!!!
The entire expanse of sea behind Tatsuki was completely cleaved apart.
The once continuous sea surface vanished, replaced by a bottomless, canyon-like chasm.
The seawater on both sides recoiled in terror, rolling back, daring not to close for a long time, emitting deafening thunderous roars, trembling beneath the divine might of this single strike.
"Ugh!"
Tatsuki felt as if struck by lightning. The backlash force made him spew another mouthful of blood.
The power within him was instantly drained. Darkness swam before his eyes, and he fell straight backward, plummeting into the icy seawater.
Is this the true power of the Pirate King?
In the final moment before his consciousness plunged into darkness, Tatsuki seemed to hear Roger's voice, carrying a hint of regret and approval.
"What an impressive brat. Pity, you're still too young."
"Garp, for your sake, I won't kill this kid. Until we meet again."
"Men, set sail!"
Accompanied by a violent sound of gas propulsion, the stern of the Oro Jackson erupted with powerful thrust, transforming into a streak of light that vanished at the seam of sea and sky.
The icy seawater completely swallowed Tatsuki.
Just as Tatsuki's consciousness was about to completely fade, a cold, mechanical voice rang out in his mind!m.
[Ding! Host detected attempting to terminate the source of the "Great Pirate Era." Historical process forcibly interfered with!]
[Worldline undergoing epic-level deviation! Disruption multiplier being calculated...]
The last of his consciousness was of the icy seawater, the suffocating pressure, and that pitch-black slash wave.
—
"Mmm..."
Tatsuki forced his eyelids open. The glaring white light made him lift an arm to try and block it. Just this simple motion made him feel like every bone in his body was protesting. Every inch of his muscle retained the soreness and weakness of being completely drained.
"Awake?"
A calm, steady voice sounded by the bedside.
Tatsuki turned his head, his vision gradually focusing. What met his eyes was the familiar ceiling of the warship infirmary, and Bogard's perpetually unchanging poker face. He was sitting beside him, meticulously polishing his own sword.
This adjutant, who usually had as little presence as a shadow, was currently sizing him up with a look one might give some kind of rare animal.
"Bogard..."
Tatsuki's voice was hoarse. "I... where am I?"
"On Admiral Sengoku's flagship."
Bogard slowly sheathed his sword, his movements fluid.
"You were unconscious for two days. We are on our way back to Marineford."
Two days?
Tatsuki's thoughts felt sluggish.
He only remembered being knocked out by the shockwave of Roger's "Divine Departure," after which he lost all consciousness.
"The battle situation... how is it?" He asked urgently, "What about Shiki? And Roger?"
"Roger escaped." Bogard's tone was calm.
"After that slash split the sea, the Oro Jackson seized the chance to break through the encirclement. Vice Admiral Garp missed the best opportunity to pursue because he prioritized saving you first."
He escaped...
Tatsuki sighed inwardly.
This outcome was within expectations. A man bearing such a destiny wasn't so easy to kill.
Bogard's tone shifted, carrying a hint of barely concealed fluctuation. "However, Shiki has been captured."
Tatsuki's heart skipped a beat.
"His grand fleet was completely annihilated. He himself suffered severe head trauma, with serious brain damage, and hasn't woken up yet. Admiral Sengoku has already ordered him to be transported to the underwater prison, Impel Down."
Bogard paused, giving Tatsuki a deep look. "The ship's rudder lodged in his head... the doctors didn't dare remove it."
"Admiral Sengoku said that is your most brilliant medal as a Marine."
Success!
Tatsuki clenched his molars tightly to stop himself from laughing out loud in front of Bogard.
To hell with medals!
What I want are Violation Points! Tangible benefits!
Shiki's capture meant the future Shiki who would wreak havoc on Marineford would cease to exist. He had even taken out Luffy's future movie boss in advance.
How much subversion would that be worth?
How many points?
Seeing Tatsuki was awake, Bogard stood up. "Rest for now. I'll go inform Admiral Sengoku and the Vice Admiral Garp."
As the cabin door closed with a "click", silence returned to the infirmary.
Tatsuki's eyes snapped open, glowing with a green light.
'System, how much did I get?'
A pale blue light screen unfolded on his retina.
[Epic Event Settlement Complete!]
[Event Name: Battle of Edd War (Collapsed Version)]
[Core Disciplinary Action Determinations:]
[1. Crime Against Humanity: Maliciously manipulated a natural disaster, causing the annihilation of tens of thousands of pirates in Shiki's grand fleet. The method was cruel, completely violating the "Basic Tenets of Marine Humanitarianism".]
[2. History Alteration: Forcibly interfered with the outcome of the "Battle of Edd War," leading to the capture of the legendary pirate "Golden Lion" Shiki. The Flying Pirates exited the stage of history prematurely, causing a fracturing collapse in the world order!]
[3. Defiler of Destiny: Attempted to sink the ship of the Future Pirate King, attempting to strangle the source of the "Great Pirate Era." This action severely interfered with the gears of "Fate".]
[Calculating comprehensively...]
[Subversion Level: MAX!]
[Witness Bonus: Roger, Garp, Sengoku, Rayleigh, and thousands of surviving Marines and pirates.]
[Final Reward—Issued!]
[Congratulations, Host! Obtained Violation Points: 800,000!]
[Violation Points: 935,200]
Eigh... eighty thousand?!
Tatsuki stared at that long number, his breath nearly stopping.
He had spent over a hundred thousand earlier to save his life. Now, not only had he gotten his principal and interest back, but it had multiplied several times over.
'Struck it rich... I've really struck it rich this time.'
Lying on the bed, the corners of Tatsuki's lips curled up wildly as he let out a weird "heh heh heh" laugh.
With this sum, things like Devil Fruit awakening, high-level Haki—wasn't it just a matter of wanting whatever he wanted?