Let us rewind a little. Admiral Kizaru had always been assigned as Vegapunk's protector. On this particular day, his warship happened to dock at Punk Hazard for a scheduled handover with the scientist. Then, as if by fate, the communications via Den Den Mushi abruptly cut off. A thick, suffocating blood mist rolled across the island. It was almost impossible not to guess who had arrived. Kizaru immediately used a special Den Den Mushi to contact Fleet Admiral Sengoku, who in turn reached out to the Gorosei. At this very moment, the line remained open. "What a troublesome situation," Kizaru muttered casually. Two of his bosses were listening in. How was he supposed to play this one? "Admiral Kizaru, what an unexpected guest," Ritter's low, mocking voice echoed through the mist. "But do you really think you can take him from me?" Fınd the newest release on 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩·𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢·𝔫𝔢𝔱 Kizaru shrugged. He knew he couldn't win a head-on battle alone, but he couldn't back down verbally either. Golden light shimmered at his fingertips. "Guess we'll just have to try, right?" Light clashed violently with blood mist above Punk Hazard. Kizaru's laser blade sliced through the haze, but the moment it touched Ritter's form, Ritter's figure dissolved into mist. In the next instant, Kizaru spun, swinging behind him. His glowing blade slashed toward Ritter's neck. A blade of condensed blood mist met his strike head-on, the collision erupting in a shrill metallic hum. Kizaru's strength was not something Ritter's crew could handle. But Ritter himself? Fighting an admiral was nothing more than child's play. "Caught me off guard there, Admiral," Ritter chuckled. "Your speed is impressive." At least Kizaru had finally learned to respect Ritter's tricks after being struck down more than once. Blood mist suddenly detonated outward, splitting into countless needles that rained toward Kizaru. Kizaru flickered away, weaving through the storm of crimson mist, yet several still grazed him, leaving sizzling, corrosive wounds. "Tch… what a troublesome ability," he muttered, glancing at the marks on his skin. His tone was lazy as ever, but his eyes had turned sharp. His powers relied on bending and reflecting light to travel at light speed. But Ritter's mist could also refract light except under Ritter's control. With Observation Haki suppressed, and Armament Haki needed constantly just to shield against the corrosive mist, the fight became far more draining. Worse, Ritter could vanish and reappear at will within the haze. This was why Ritter said fighting Kizaru was "light work." Ritter didn't give him any chance to breathe. Waves of mist surged forward, cutting off Kizaru's retreat. Kizaru's hands came together, golden light flaring into a massive sword that cleaved straight through the mist. But Ritter was no longer there. "Looking the wrong way, Admiral?" His voice whispered coldly in Kizaru's ear as the Black Tide sword, wreathed in blood mist, descended. "Art of the Mist: Annihilation!" Kizaru barely twisted aside, countering with a light-speed kick. The clash with Ritter's blade erupted into a shockwave, sending the admiral skidding backward. When he landed, blood trickled from his lips, evidence of internal damage from the earlier blow. Ritter, by contrast, stood steady, completely unshaken. As Ritter's mist seeped deeper into Kizaru's body, it began corroding his organs the hardest part of the body to harden or defend. The battle was already decided. "Admiral," Ritter said, strolling closer, "how much longer can you hold out? If this continues, you won't be leaving here. You're a government employee now, no need to throw your life away." At that desperate moment, Kizaru's body erupted in blinding golden light. Ritter reflexively shielded his eyes with mist and slashed at the glowing silhouette. The brilliance left everyone momentarily blind. When Ritter cleared the haze before his eyes, Kizaru had retreated over a hundred meters, clutching Vegapunk in his arms. But his side was split open, blood pouring freely, turning faintly violet as Ritter's mist ate into the wound. The golden Den Den Mushi in Kizaru's arms suddenly rang. Panting heavily, he answered. From the other end, a voice belonging to Saint Marcus Mars of the Gorosei spoke, heavy with restrained fury. "Ritter of the Crimson Dawn, that is enough." "Oh? News travels fast." Ritter toyed with the Den Den Mushi. "Why, if it isn't the so-called Warrior God of Finance. What are you barking so loudly for? Think you're my boss? I've tolerated your yapping long enough. Careful, or I'll just crush this snail right now." There was silence on the line. Then Saint Jaygarcia Saturn spoke instead. "We can halt our purge of your operations. In exchange, Punk Hazard ends here." "Hey, hey, don't twist it. You were the ones who attacked me first. Why make it sound like I started this?" Saint Mars's voice returned, calmer this time. "The World Government can even extend certain conveniences to your enterprises. We will no longer interfere with their growth. Is that acceptable, Ritter? Don't push too far." A smile tugged at Ritter's lips. Now we're talking. Looks like Vegapunk is worth a lot to them after all. Of course, abducting Vegapunk would have been ideal. But with the Gorosei valuing him this much, dragging him away was more trouble than it was worth. Better to take the victory and let the government lose face. The mist slowly receded. Ritter glanced at Kizaru, who was still shielding Vegapunk despite his grave injuries. Then his grin sharpened. "Fine. But…" The mist suddenly surged again, forming a colossal crimson hand that smashed down onto a nearby research facility, reducing it to rubble. "…I'll take interest for my trouble." As the last laboratory collapsed, Ritter stepped toward his ship. "Tell Sengoku this. If my business is touched again…" He bared his teeth in a cold smile. "Next time, I won't be so polite." Kizaru watched the Crimson Dawn crew vanish into the distance. At last, his knees buckled and he dropped to the ground. Vegapunk rushed to support him. "Your injuries…" "Ahh, what a pain…" Kizaru chuckled weakly. Yet, deep in his eyes, there was the faintest flicker of satisfaction. "Looks like I've earned myself a long vacation." It was genuine, undeniable. Two of his bosses had witnessed the entire ordeal. A week later, the incident was still splashed across headlines. Fleet Admiral Sengoku slammed his fist onto his desk, splintering the thick wood into a spiderweb of cracks. "Who leaked the news of Kizaru's condition?!" His voice was filled with fury. His desks never seemed to last long. Akainu sat nearby, smoke curling from his cigar as his gaze burned with restrained wrath. "What are the Gorosei playing at? If even an admiral can be brought low, what deterrence does the Navy have left?" For once, Aokiji wasn't dozing. He leaned against the window, staring silently at the horizon. Vice Admiral Tsuru adjusted her glasses and spoke calmly. "This leak was no accident. The World Government is warning us. Our recent crackdowns on the underworld have touched too many powerful interests." Sengoku's lip curled in a bitter smile, his fist tightening. "So they're using Kizaru's wounds to threaten the Navy? Pathetic. Have they lost their minds?" Akainu rose suddenly, boots thundering against the floor. "Fleet Admiral!" Sengoku inhaled deeply, his eyes like blades. "Pass down the order. The Navy will continue as usual. We will investigate who we must, arrest who we must." Then, more quietly, with frustration leaking through, he added, "If they have powerful backers, let them go." Former Fleet Admiral Kong, sipping his tea at the side, shook his head. "Sengoku, you still don't fully understand. They can die by 'accident.' It just makes things troublesome. Anyway, enough rest. It's time for me to head back." The Navy's justice, shackled by the World Government's control of military funds, could only feel more powerless than ever. ————————————————————————————————————————————————— Hooked already? Let me know what grabbed you leave a review and fuel the journey forward! and if we hit every 250 Power Stones, a bonus chapter drops! Things are just heating up. Read ahead in Unbound Evolution and stay ahead of the crowd. [email protected]/_tey