One piece: I,Akaino will not die easily

Dorry and Brogy struggled as they swam toward the fleet not far away. Fortunately, considering the return of the giants, the World Government had prepared enough space on the transport ships to accommodate the two massive warriors.

Brogy emerged from the sea, reaching out with his rough, furry hand to wipe the seawater off his face. "Is this really the power a vice admiral should have?"

Back when he was leading the Giant Warrior Pirates, he had encountered the Navy before, but someone who could turn an entire island into such a state in mere moments—this was the first time he had ever seen such a thing.

"Sakazuki told me that the pirate who killed Elder 'Takiho' possesses astonishing strength. If we can't even make it past him right now, talking about revenge is just a joke." Dorry also surfaced and looked back.

Volcanic ash from the eruption spread across the entire island, quickly evaporating the moisture held within the jungle's trees before setting them ablaze.

A land of fire and lava—where was the thriving, vibrant place from before?

The volcanic eruption column, reaching the sky, formed a volcanic ash cloud in the upper atmosphere, gradually shrouding the sea above.

The giants climbed onto the transport ship. Finally, with solid footing beneath them, the two chieftains drew their weapons from their waists. A portion of lava had already begun flowing from the coast into the sea—if they delayed any longer, this fleet would also be caught in this natural disaster.

Sakazuki patiently awaited their combined attack. Though he seemed enraged by the reckless, island-destroying actions of the giants, in truth, he had another plan.

When he showcased his precise control—Great Eruption—he had already made his decision.

Though unlikely, even if these two giants suddenly changed their minds, he could ensure they had nowhere to go, cutting off their retreat.

They could either stay on this scorched land and await death, or board the Navy's ship and go to headquarters.

At the same time, he could test another layer of his ability's development. Most importantly, among the transport fleet were not just Navy warships.

World Government personnel would report this world-shocking, one-man island-annihilation event to the highest authorities—the Five Elders.

Sakazuki wanted to use this method to ensure his overwhelming combat strength was recognized by the Five Elders. A mere vice admiral alone would never catch the eye of those high-and-mighty politicians.

But a Logia Devil Fruit user who could rival Sengoku? That was a different story. He would be a worthwhile asset to recruit.

What's more, Sakazuki already belonged to the Navy, meaning his strategic opinions and suggestions would at least be considered by the Five Elders.

He urgently needed enough influence and authority to ensure that his next step brought the greatest benefit to the Navy.

"How long has it been since we last used this combined attack?" Dorry took a deep breath, concentrating his focus.

Brogy shook his head. "Too long. I can't remember." He didn't say much more.

This battle technique, inherited from Elbaf, required two elite warriors to merge their strongest slashes into one.

According to the giants, flawless coordination and the surging battle spirit within one's body were both indispensable.

"Armament Haki?" Lindemann, observing through his telescope, was taken aback.

Although the two giants' application of Haki was still at a rudimentary level—one could even say it was extremely rough—the fact that the two chieftains could infuse Haki into their combined strike was something even the Navy's giant vice admirals could not match.

"Hakoku!!!"

The giants' muscles tensed. After a brief moment of gathering power, they swung their weapons at a speed too fast for the naked eye to track.

The sea was split apart by an invisible force, forming a nearly hundred-meter-wide pathway. In the blink of an eye, the attack tore through the volcanic ash shrouding the island and sped toward Sakazuki's position.

"Behold the power of Elbaf! Navy!"

Brogy laughed heartily. He was extremely confident in the power of this strike, even after witnessing Sakazuki's previous disaster-level devastation.

A magma arm, thicker than even the giants' own bodies, suddenly reached out from within the smoke, blocking the path of Hakoku.

Boom!

The earth-shattering collision of force and air pressure instantly cleared away the floating ash.

"What… is that?"

Finally able to see the island's landscape, Dorry gasped.

The island's terrain had completely transformed. At Sakazuki's position, a towering volcano had risen.

At the mouth of the volcano sat a massive figure—even by giant standards, it was an enormous being.

Its red body was composed entirely of magma, with cooled lava forming a grim skull-like head. The two massive arms, coated in jet-black Haki, had firmly blocked the incoming strike.

This terrifying creature, as if straight from Hell, let out a deep, menacing laugh from its massive form.

"Face the Flame Demon, insects."

"Are you kidding me?! Our fully-charged combined attack was blocked just like that?!"

Brogy's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. Their strongest attack had been stopped by what was essentially a magma monster's casual double-handed block.

This crushing sense of defeat made him extremely frustrated. Dorry, having already braced himself mentally, fared slightly better.

He slumped onto the deck. "A loss is a loss. Elbaf warriors are always honest and forthright."

Gazing up at the elemental giant atop the volcano, Dorry sighed.

"Brogy, we still have a long way to go!"

Wrapped within the Flame Demon, Sakazuki let out a slow breath.

He had indeed overreached himself just now. Although this Flame Demon relied on the volcano below for an endless energy supply, sculpting such an enormous form was still a first for him.

He should never have used the same precise molding techniques he applied to "Dog Biting Red Lotus" to create something of this scale. Trying to fine-sculpt magma constructs at such a vast size was simply beyond his current capabilities.

To make it worse, in order to maximize his humiliation of the giants, he had covered the Flame Demon's hands with Haki before blocking their strike.

The combined strain on his concentration, mental energy, and stamina was immense.

Without the volcano providing a constant energy source, Sakazuki wouldn't have dared to recklessly experiment with this technique. If he ran out of energy mid-battle, what kind of joke would that be?

The Elemental Lord gradually dissipated, the magma flowing back into the volcano.

Leveraging the eruption's momentum, Sakazuki launched himself into the air and skillfully used Geppo (Moonwalk) to land on a warship's mast.

"We're leaving! Back to Marineford!"

Sakazuki had anticipated that escorting the two former chieftains of the Giant Warrior Pirates back would cause quite a stir. But even he had underestimated the significance of the giants in the eyes of the World Government.

From the moment they entered the Gate of Justice, a massive fleet, composed of both Marine Headquarters and World Government ships, came to welcome them.

Sakazuki frowned. To make such an extravagant show just for two former pirates—it instinctively irked him.

However, considering that these two figureheads joining would greatly enhance the World Government's authority, he had no objections.

Just from a recruitment standpoint, the number of giant soldiers in the Navy would at least double.

Beyond that, to the World Government, this was powerful evidence—a morale boost for stabilizing the currently chaotic political situation.

It would also demonstrate the Five Elders' leverage to neutral nations, while deepening Elbaf's collaboration with the World Government, further strengthening their control over allied nations.

As ten top-tier Navy warships docked in Marineford's deepwater port, fully uniformed marines stood at attention, awaiting orders.

This time, under orders from the Five Elders, large-scale Den Den Mushi projectors had been set up in several press platforms on Sabaody Archipelago.

Government-affiliated and independent major newspapers flooded the area.

"They've arrived!"

A voice shouted. The massive fleet was now entering Marineford.

"That's… Fleet Admiral Sengoku!!!"

A journalist exclaimed.

"The highest combat force of Marine Headquarters personally welcoming them—this proves how important this event is!"

Yet what truly stunned Sakazuki was the presence of Garp.

Holding a one-year-old baby—Portgas D. Ace.