King, his face etched with worry, turned to Hashirama, seeking answers. "Will Kaido-san be alright?" he asked, his voice trembling.
Hashirama, unperturbed, exhaled a serene breath. "Do not fret, King," he replied in a reassuring tone. "His physique is unparalleled, capable of withstanding the embrace of magma without succumbing." A smile curved his lips, revealing unwavering confidence. "And in the worst case," he added in a low voice, "I possess the means to bring him back to life."
King's eyes, hidden behind his mask, sparkled with a glimmer of hope. "Yes, sir!" he exclaimed with renewed determination.
[Ding… Congratulations, you are perfectly in character as Homelander and are rewarded with a 3% increase]
[Ding… Please continue to work hard, follow your heart, and do as you wish]
Suddenly, a series of mechanical sounds erupted in Hashirama's mind, momentarily pulling him out of his concentration.
Without paying much attention to the message, Hashirama felt a warm surge of energy course through his body, expanding from his head to the tips of his toes. Within minutes, the sensation culminated, leaving him with renewed power.
A sigh of satisfaction escaped his lips. "Uff... it all adds up," he murmured with a triumphant smile. His gaze, now brimming with determination, turned towards Marineford, the destination that awaited him.
---
Marineford, once the headquarters of the Marines in Paradise, has seen its destiny change after Sakazuki's ascent to Fleet Admiral. Now, the headquarters is located in the New World, a strategic move to more effectively combat the threat posed by the Four Emperors to the World Government and the Marines themselves.
Despite this change, Marineford has not lost its importance. It remains responsible for maintaining peace and order in the first half of the Grand Line, Paradise.
Inside an office, located high within the imposing fortress, Sengoku, now Inspector General after relinquishing his position as Fleet Admiral, is reviewing documents. The cloak of justice and the shirt he wears are vestiges of his former role, a reminder of past glory.
"Did King kill Tokikake?" Sengoku, reading the report in his hand, suddenly stood up with a look of disbelief and slammed the table forcefully, startling his goat. "What the hell is Sakazuki doing?! This news was suppressed, not even the World Government reported it!"
After Akainu took over, a Marine Vice Admiral had died. If this got out, it would shake the entire sea.
"How could King have killed Tokikake?"
Sengoku, barely containing the anger in his heart, muttered, "Even at his best, King wouldn't be a match for Tokikake."
"But he managed to kill him... Could it be that he really resurrected that guy in the West Blue?"
"Impossible, absolutely impossible!" Sengoku shook his head, dismissing the idea immediately. However...
At that moment, a knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. A man of medium height, dressed in a Marine cloak and cap, hurried in. He had black, curly hair, along with a mustache and goatee. In an urgent tone, he said, "Sengoku-san, King, Kaido's subordinate, is flying towards us!"
"Eh?" Sengoku was stunned for a moment, then his face lit up. "Let's go see what this loser wants."
As soon as he finished speaking, Sengoku activated his Observation Haki to sense King's presence. Upon doing so, he wished he hadn't.
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