On the Sabaody Archipelago, Ryūjin leisurely wandered the streets with Nami and Nico Robin.
To him, killing a Celestial Dragon was nothing worth dwelling on.
It was as insignificant as crushing an annoying insect.
At first, Nami had been shocked by what Ryūjin did, but after thinking about it, she quickly regained her composure.
The reason ordinary people feared the Celestial Dragons was simple.
Provoking one meant attracting the Navy's full retaliation, sometimes even drawing the attention of a Marine Admiral.
But fear the Marines?
Ryūjin?
Yeah right.
Ryūjin had already captured the three Marine Admirals before. Compared to him, the Marines looked more like the ones who should be worried.
Once she thought of that, the anxiety in Nami's heart disappeared.
What exactly was there to fear?
"It's them!"
"They're the ones who killed the Celestial Dragon!"
"Stay away from them!"
As they walked, frightened voices occasionally sounded nearby.
People hurriedly ran in the opposite direction as if avoiding a plague.
Ryūjin ignored them completely.
Nami and Robin did the same.
As news spread across the archipelago, the atmosphere of Sabaody became increasingly tense.
The streets grew emptier.
Ordinary residents had already locked themselves indoors, afraid of the chaos that was bound to follow.
After all, everyone knew what happened when a Celestial Dragon died.
The Marines would descend upon the island.
Pirates either fled immediately or stayed behind to watch the inevitable storm.
Only a handful of people still moved around openly.
Among them were pirates secretly observing Ryūjin from the shadows.
"So that's Demonic Eye Ryūjin?"
"He really doesn't care, killing a Celestial Dragon and still staying on Sabaody."
"He doesn't even put the Marines in his eyes."
Many whispered among themselves.
Some admired him.
Some mocked him.
Others simply waited to see what would happen.
Among the crowd stood a handsome white-haired man wearing glasses, a short beard framing his face.
His gaze remained fixed on Ryūjin.
A trace of seriousness appeared in his expression.
"That really is Demonic Eye Ryūjin…"
The man muttered quietly.
"What exactly is he doing here?"
He was none other than the Dark King, Silvers Rayleigh.
With an incident this massive shaking Sabaody, there was no way Rayleigh would remain unaware.
At that moment, Ryūjin suddenly turned his head.
Their gazes met through the crowd.
Rayleigh's expression stiffened slightly.
Ryūjin's eyes looked calm.
Yet they carried an immeasurable depth, like an endless sea beneath a star-filled sky.
In that brief moment, Rayleigh instinctively understood.
This man was dangerous.
Far more dangerous than rumors suggested.
But Ryūjin merely glanced at him before casually looking toward the southeast.
"Nami, Robin, get behind me."
The relaxed tone in his voice instantly made both women serious.
Without hesitation, they stepped behind him.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
A distant roar echoed through the air.
The sound grew louder.
Familiar.
Very familiar.
Nami's expression changed.
"Cannon fire?"
Robin narrowed her eyes.
Both women looked toward the sky.
Three cannonballs tore through the air toward the center of town.
On one of them stood a person.
Nami blinked.
Robin raised an eyebrow.
Even the nearby pirates looked dumbfounded.
Someone riding a cannonball into battle?
Wasn't that a bit too dramatic?
Still…
It looked ridiculously impressive.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The cannonballs landed.
Violent explosions erupted across the streets.
Flames surged skyward as thick smoke spread through the area.
Standing before the explosion was a tall figure.
His coat fluttered violently in the heatwave.
He never looked back.
As if the explosions behind him were nothing more than decorations announcing his arrival.
The image alone was absurdly flashy.
"Kizaru!"
"Admiral Kizaru!"
"It's Marine Admiral Kizaru!"
Fear spread instantly.
Many pirates nearly collapsed where they stood.
The man who arrived in such an exaggerated fashion was none other than Admiral Kizaru.
Even Ryūjin raised an eyebrow.
"Not bad," he thought. "That entrance was clean."
Before the crowd could recover, another disturbance erupted overhead.
Boom!
A burning mass of magma tore through the sky like a meteor.
Black smoke trailed behind it.
The overwhelming heat distorted the air.
Then it crashed into the ground.
The earth shook violently.
A massive crater exploded outward, sending nearby pirates flying.
Molten magma surged.
Slowly, it condensed into a tall figure with crossed arms.
His expression radiated authority.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
Even standing still, he felt dangerous.
Marine Admiral Akainu.
Without saying a word, his presence alone made weaker pirates break into cold sweat.
Ryūjin glanced over.
"Not bad either," he thought. "Still behind Kizaru though."
"A-Akainu!"
"Another Admiral!"
"Why are there two?!"
Panic spread through the crowd.
One Admiral was terrifying enough.
Now there were two.
Swish!
Suddenly, someone appeared.
No warning.
No sound.
One second, nothing.
The next, a man stood nearby, forming a triangular formation with Kizaru and Akainu.
"It's Admiral Aokiji!"
"All three Admirals?!"
"No way!"
"We're screwed!"
The surrounding pirates looked ready to faint.
Their legs shook violently.
One Admiral could destroy them effortlessly.
Three together?
That was a nightmare.
"So this is Demonic Eye Ryūjin's level of threat…"
Law swallowed hard.
Kid clenched his fists tightly.
Bonney stared with wide eyes.
Even they could not remain composed.
Normally, one Admiral would be dispatched for an incident involving a Celestial Dragon.
Sending all three?
That clearly meant one thing.
The Marines were taking Ryūjin seriously.
Even Rayleigh's eyes narrowed.
"All three Admirals…"
A trace of surprise crossed his face.
"Even Roger wasn't treated like this."
At this moment, countless eyes focused on Ryūjin.
Everyone wanted to know.
Could he survive against all three Admirals?
Or would he finally fall here?
Akainu stepped forward.
His gaze locked onto Ryūjin.
"Demonic Eye Ryūjin," he said coldly, "you're not escaping this time."
The killing intent in his voice made nearby pirates shiver.
Without hesitation, Akainu threw a punch.
"Great Eruption!"
Magma exploded outward.
A giant molten fist surged toward Ryūjin with overwhelming force.
Ryūjin simply smiled.
Then punched forward casually.
Boom!
The magma fist shattered instantly.
He did not even use Armament Haki.
Swish!
In the blink of an eye, Ryūjin vanished.
He reappeared beside Akainu instantly.
Fast.
Too fast.
Before anyone could react, Ryūjin's fist, coated in Armament Haki, smashed into Akainu.
Boom!
Akainu shot backward like a cannonball.
He crashed through a nearby building, leaving behind a massive hole.
Silence.
Complete silence.
"H-He sent Akainu flying with one punch?!"
"Just one punch?!"
The pirates stared in disbelief.
Everyone knew Ryūjin was strong.
But this?
This was absurd.
"How terrifying…"
Kizaru's lazy voice rang out.
Golden light gathered around his leg.
He launched a devastating light-speed kick.
A beam of light shot toward Ryūjin.
But Ryūjin had already disappeared.
The attack struck empty ground.
Then suddenly…
Ryūjin appeared beside Kizaru.
Boom!
One kick.
Kizaru was launched through the streets.
Buildings shattered around him.
Before anyone could process it, Ryūjin moved again.
Like a ghost.
He appeared beside Aokiji.
Boom!
A single punch sent Aokiji crashing into the ground, forming a massive crater.
Less than ten seconds.
All three Admirals had been blown away.
The battlefield became deathly quiet.
Everyone stood frozen.
Some forgot to breathe.
One punch.
One Admiral.
Again and again.
"This… this monster…"
Law wiped sweat from his forehead.
Kid nearly bit his tongue.
Bonney's face turned pale.
Even Rayleigh adjusted his glasses slowly.
His expression became serious.
"Roger wasn't this strong…"
The sheer force Ryūjin displayed exceeded all expectations.
Meanwhile, Ryūjin casually flexed his fingers.
Armament Haki really was convenient.
Dealing with Logia users became ridiculously simple.
No complicated methods.
No special preparation.
Just punch.
And they felt it.
Easy.
Boom!
The rubble exploded apart.
Akainu emerged first.
Soon after, Kizaru and Aokiji stood again.
The three Admirals charged together.
Yet it changed nothing.
Ryūjin met them head-on.
Fists collided.
Shockwaves spread.
Again and again, the Admirals were blasted away.
It looked less like a battle and more like Ryūjin beating them into the ground.
The spectators could barely process what they were seeing.
Their scalps tingled.
Cold sweat dripped endlessly.
This was insane.
The three Marine Admirals…
Being beaten barehanded.
No flashy ultimate attack.
No complicated abilities.
Just raw physical dominance.
"This guy's a monster…"
Someone muttered weakly.
Then suddenly—
An annoyed female voice rang out.
"You useless trash!"
A woman surrounded by trembling guards stepped forward angrily.
She pointed directly at the Admirals.
"You call yourselves Marine Admirals?"
"The three of you can't even beat one man?"
"What's the point of raising trash like you? Dogs would be more useful!"
The crowd instantly stiffened.
Only one kind of person would dare speak to Admirals this way.
A Celestial Dragon.
The woman continued screaming.
"Listen to me!"
"Even if you die, kill this bastard!"
Ryūjin glanced at her.
Recognition flashed in his eyes.
Saint Shalria.
Saint Charlos's sister.
The same Celestial Dragon from the original story.
Too loud.
Too annoying.
Ryūjin frowned.
"So noisy."
His hands moved quickly.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere."
A sharp wind blade cut through the air.
Chirp!
Blood sprayed.
Saint Shalria's head flew upward.