Chapter 105: A Close Call

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The Newkama Land Criminals, now safely aboard the Marine warship, watched in horrified awe as the meteor plummeted towards them.

Then, with a world-shaking roar, their boss, Emporio Ivankov, unleashed a furious barrage of "Death Wink" attacks and a gale-force "Galaxy Wink," shattering half of the blazing projectile and extinguishing its fiery tail.

"Pull yourselves together! What are you, a bunch of scaredy-cats? We're revolutionaries! We're going to overthrow the World Government, those tyrannical, power-hungry fools! Why panic over a measly meteor? If the sky falls, we'll hold it up! Just follow my lead and trust in our boss!"

The Newkama pirates looked up at what remained of the meteor, now miraculously suspended in mid-air. Pulling a meteor from the heavens was a terrifying display of power, but their boss had shattered half of it with a single blow and stopped its descent. This feat was practically legendary, rivaling even Whitebeard's might.

"What a dangerous fruit, controlled by the Marines… troubling." Dragon muttered, a frown etched on his face.

The Marines and the World Government preferred imprisonment to execution for the majority of pirates. Executing a Devil Fruit user meant the fruit would simply regenerate somewhere else in the world. If the Marines recovered it, fine. But if it fell into the hands of another pirate, especially a dangerous one, the consequences could be devastating. Therefore, indefinite incarceration was the safest option.

The Zushi Zushi no Mi was undeniably one of the most dangerous fruits. If he remembered correctly, the previous user of a similar gravity-based Devil Fruit had been captured and imprisoned in Impel Down decades ago, possibly even dying within its walls. That would explain the fruit's resurgence.

...

Impel Down's breach by Kaido and the subsequent slaughter of prisoners by "The Black Winged Devil" to quell the ensuing riots meant that a flood of Devil Fruits would be released back into the world. 

But unbeknownst to everyone, these fruits were gone, consumed, becoming fuel for another's power, lost forever to the annals of time.

"Are you new to the Marines? It seems our goal of toppling the World Government just got harder. If I'd stayed on my original path, I might be an Admiral myself by now." Dragon remarked, a hint of wistful contemplation in his voice. Two to three decades ago, he, Borsalino (Kizaru), and Kuzan (Aokiji) were renowned as the monster rookies of their generation.

Recognized for their exceptional talent, Dragon was entrusted with numerous highly classified missions by the World Government, exposing him to their deep-seated corruption. 

This fueled his decision to become a criminal, the leader of the Revolutionary Army, seeking to dismantle the very system he once served. Borsalino and Kuzan, however, chose a more passive, ambivalent form of justice within the Marines.

He had both the ambition and the skill, a monster rookie alongside the future Admirals, wielding the devastating power of the Wind-Wind Fruit, considered among the most potent Logia-types.

"Interesting. I may be blind, but I can see into the hearts of men. I sense a great benevolence within you. And I am not a Marine, but a member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."

"For years, I've quietly pursued my own justice, witnessing the ugliness that lurks beneath the surface of this world's supposed order. I was recently offered the position of Warlord, and I accepted. It's a role that allows me to act independently, unbound by their commands." Issho explained, recognizing a kindred spirit.

"Is that so? It's a shame we didn't meet sooner. We could have been allies. The wind speaks to me of your good intentions. But perhaps things have worked out for the best."

"With you occupying that seat, many will be spared the usual Warlord brand of 'justice.' The Marines were never the right fit for you. The weight of their 'justice' is a heavy burden to bear." Dragon said, his voice laced with understanding.

As they spoke, the meteor, hanging precariously in the air, began to change. It slowly started to descend again, reigniting the panic among the Newkama Land Criminals below. However, after a few seconds, the descent stopped abruptly.

Then, a brilliant white light blazed at the meteor's core, exploding outwards as countless azure crescent blades formed a swirling sphere of chaotic cutting energy, completely engulfing the fiery rock.

With a thunderous crack, the meteor shattered into countless fragments, raining down upon the ocean like golden sand, illuminating the night sky in a dazzling display. It was even more spectacular than before.

The golden dust settled upon the waves, staining the water a brilliant shade of orange, a scene of surreal beauty.

"Gravity Blade: Raging Tiger!"

The air rippled and distorted as a powerful gravitational force erupted from Issho's sword. A massive spectral tiger, formed from pure gravity, lunged towards Dragon. Dragon, in response, raised his right hand.

His fingers contorted into a claw, four merging into three distinct sections, a technique that seemed to defy human anatomy. But in this moment, a palpable aura of regal power radiated from him.

Every powerful individual, excluding those born with Conqueror's Haki, could Enhance their unique aura. Dragon, a master of the Dragon Claw Fist, possessed the aura of a true King.

In Issho's mind, he saw a fleeting image of a massive dragon bursting forth from Dragon, clashing head-on with his gravity tiger.

"Dragon Claw Fist: Breath of the Dragon!" 

Dragon's voice boomed, filled with authority, as the spectral dragon collided with Issho's gravity tiger, unleashing a deafening roar.

The ocean beneath them churned violently, tossing the Marine warship like a leaf in a storm.

The clash between dragon and tiger ended in a stalemate, a spectacular display of raw power.

"My apologies, but despite my respect for your ideals, I am a Warlord of the Sea, recognized by the Marines. I must, at the very least, offer token resistance to your attempt to free these prisoners." Issho said, pointing his shikomizue, its blade gleaming dangerously, towards the warship below.

"No worries. It's been some time since I've crossed blades with someone of your caliber." Dragon grinned, his right hand crackling with Busoshoku Haki, turning it jet black.

His Dragon Claw Fist, honed over decades of rigorous training, was a martial art on par with Mihawk's supreme swordsmanship or Kaido's devastating club skills.

They clashed in the air, the ring of metal against Haki-infused flesh echoing through the night. It was a battle of pure martial prowess, a contest of fist against sword, the outcome uncertain until the very end.

The battle concluded with Dragon holding a slight edge, forcing Issho back half a step. Unlike Kizaru, who relied heavily on his Devil Fruit, Dragon had also Enhanced Haki and honed his physical abilities to an exceptional degree. This strength was necessary to support his ambition of overthrowing the World Government.

His Revolutionary Army rivaled the strength of a Yonko crew, with Sabo, Kuma, and others serving as his commanders.

However, even with that level of power, challenging the World Government, let alone the Marines, was a near-impossible task.

He was waiting, biding his time for the arrival of the Worst Generation, for his son, Luffy, to reach his full potential. Then, he would unleash a world-altering storm, a maelstrom of change that would capsize the existing order and sweep away the corrupt powers that be.

"That was invigorating, Warlord. But we haven't time for a proper duel. We have to go. I hope the next time we meet, we won't be enemies."

Having gained the upper hand, Dragon summoned another massive wind dragon, which gently lifted the warship and carried it towards the Gates of Justice, a final farewell to Issho.

"I doubt our paths will cross as enemies. There is someone far more capable than yourself, someone who shares your ambitions, shrouded in a deeper mystery. But of one thing I am certain: his heart carries the light." Issho murmured, his words barely audible. His conversation with Dragon had taken place above the sea, away from Impel Down. Now, he returned to the ravaged prison.

"My apologies, Magellan. He was beyond my ability to stop." Issho sheathed his sword and bowed his head. He had fought with everything he had.

Holding back would have been disrespectful, both to Dragon and himself. Their clash had been a battle between equals, a test of strength and will.

"It's not your fault, Issho. At least he didn't cause further damage to Impel Down like Kaido."

"I need to figure out how I'm going to explain this to headquarters. Almost all the prisoners are dead. It's a blessing they didn't escape en masse. That would have been a true disaster. Even with access to Devil Fruits, it takes time to master them. The ones with good intentions, we can recruit into the Marines or Impel Down. The rest… well, we'll hunt them down."

"Every cloud has a silver lining. This could be seen as a… cleaning of the seas. And it's a perfect opportunity to give the staff a much-needed break. They work tirelessly, day and night, guarding these monsters. They deserve some rest." Magellan said, his voice laced with weariness. Impel Down was a dark reflection of the world outside. The harsher the hell within its walls, the greater the peace beyond.

Outside Impel Down...

The Gates of Justice slowly opened, and a Marine warship sailed through. A figure leaped from the deck, transforming into a golden streak of light, arriving at Impel Down's main gate in a flash. It was Borsalino, one of the three Marine Admirals, returning from escorting the remnants of the Donquixote Family.

"Oh dear, what a chaotic scene."

Borsalino shook his head, his Observation Haki scanning the devastation, a look of annoyance flickering in his eyes. Kaido's intrusion had created a massive headache. Even the prisoners of Level Six, the Eternal Hell, had rioted. Dealing with Kaido alone was already a challenge. Adding the Level Six prisoners to the mix… even he might have been overwhelmed.

He paused, sensing the unsettling quiet. Had the battle already ended? "Magellan, Where's the enemy?"

The golden light coalesced, revealing a tall, lanky figure in a yellow pinstripe suit and a white Marine Admiral's coat. His face was long and thin, his expression languid and bored.

It was Borsalino, codenamed Kizaru, one of the Marines' strongest fighters, wielder of the Pika Pika no Mi, the Glint-Glint Fruit.

"Admiral Kizaru!"

"Admiral Kizaru has arrived!"

The Level Two guards snapped to attention, saluting respectfully.

"Admiral Kizaru, don't play coy. You received the message. With your speed, you could have been here in a flash. With four Admiral-level fighters, we could have taken down Kaido, and even Dragon." Magellan's voice seethed with barely contained anger.

One Admiral might struggle against a Yonko, but two Admirals were almost guaranteed victory. With Ian, who had fought Kaido to a standstill, and Fujitora, whose gravity powers could counter Dragon's aerial advantage, they might have captured both Yonko. Their capture would have certainly offset the damage to Impel Down.

While the situation was beyond his control, three levels of Impel Down were in ruins, and the vast majority of prisoners were dead. He was likely facing a court-martial. The losses were staggering.

"Dragon was here too? I didn't see a trace of him. And you must be Issho. Headquarters informed me you had Admiral-level potential, a perfect candidate for the Seven Warlords. But it seems the three of you, even with that demonic Kid's help, couldn't handle Kaido."

"Trying to shift the blame by inventing Dragon's presence, are we?" Kizaru sneered, readily passing the buck, eager to avoid any repercussions.

He, along with most of the Marines at Marineford (with the exception of the unwavering Akainu), had deliberately held back against Luffy. This wasn't due to any lack of loyalty, but rather a calculated move to avoid Garp's wrath. Letting Luffy escape was one thing, but harming Ace was another matter entirely.

They were wary of Fighting Garp's fury. If not for Sengoku's intervention, Akainu, the zealot of absolute justice, might have been killed at Marineford. 

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