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Chapter 85: The Desert Island Duel
After witnessing Satoru's true power, the top brass felt a collective sense of relief. Zephyr's strength had declined from his frontline prime, but he still operated on an Admiral's level. Satoru's victory meant he had unequivocally reached that tier. Barring the World Government sending a truly monstrous secret weapon, the outcome of the coming duel was virtually assured. It all depended on how seriously the Government took this gambit.
Twenty days passed swiftly.
The day of the duel to confirm the Fourth Admiral arrived. Early in the morning, Satoru boarded the ship that would take him to the battlefield. Accompanying him were Vice Admirals Garp, Zephyr, and Tsuru, along with the three current Admirals. Only Fleet Admiral Sengoku, who could not leave Headquarters without cause, remained behind, regretting he would miss the spectacle.
The chosen location was an uninhabited desert island. If the World Government was serious, their champion would be at least Admiral-level. A clash of that magnitude could easily destroy an island, making a barren rock the safest venue.
"Why haven't they arrived yet?"
On the Marine warship anchored off the island's coast, Akainu's voice was a simmering growl. They had been waiting for three hours. An Admiral was not accustomed to being kept waiting. For all his notorious brutality, Akainu was fiercely loyal to the Navy as an institution. When aligned with a capable comrade toward a common goalālike keeping the Government outāhe could be remarkably reliable, provided that comrade was strong enough not to be 'wasted.'
Satoru, who had been woken at dawn, was stifling a yawn, a teardrop of sleepiness in the corner of his eye, looking utterly unimpressed by the grandeur of the occasion. The tropical sun was blistering, making them grateful for Aokiji's presenceāa walking ice machine that kept the air around the ship bearable.
"Looks like they're finally here~" Kizaru drawled, pointing a lazy finger toward the horizon.
A sleek, white World Government vessel was approaching. Standing at its prow was a tall, masked figure in the distinctive white suit and cloak of CP0, radiating a formidable, arrogant aura.
"So that's my opponent," Satoru observed. His Six Eyes scanned the ship. Besides the obvious challenger, he sensed one other presence that gave him a faint flicker of threat, but it remained hidden in the shadows, likely not the designated fighter.
"CP0ā¦" Zephyr's face darkened.
"My, myā¦ the Government is pulling out the big guns," Kizaru remarked.
Every CP0 agent was a powerhouse, their strength often compared to Vice Admirals or even Admirals. Sending one confirmed the World Government's serious intent to seize the Admiral's seat. It was a blatant overstep, an attempt to insert a direct operative into the Navy's supreme command. It was why the entire Navy leadership, despite internal disagreements, was unified in hostility toward this move.
The Government ship glided to a stop nearby.
"My apologies for the delay," a voice called from the masked agent. The tone was perfunctory, dripping with condescension. "Traffic on the sea was unexpectedly heavy."
The Marines stared, deadpan.
"Traffic? On the sea?" Akainu's magma began to bubble at his collar. "Are you mocking us?!" No one made a move to stop him. They were all equally insulted by the pathetic excuse.
"Who are you calling a dog?" the CP0 agent retorted, his voice turning icy.
A dangerous silence fell over the water.
Akainu's body erupted. Molten rock surged down his arm. He had endured enough insolence. "Great Eruption of Magma!"
A colossal fist of magma launched from the warship toward the Government vessel. No one tried to stop him. Garp even clapped in encouragement.
"A mere Admiral dares attack me?" the agentā'White Fox'āsnarled. His own arm transformed, fingers elongating into sharp, white-furred claws coated in dense Armament Haki. He punched forward, meeting the magma head-on.
KABOOM!
A violent explosion of heat and force rocked the cove. When the steam cleared, White Fox stood unharmed, not a thread on his suit singed.
"Not bad, Akainu! Show 'em some spirit!" Garp cheered.
"Garp, be quiet!" Tsuru hissed, though she shared the sentiment.
White Fox's eyes blazed with fury. Being sent here was an insult. Now this? "Tell me," he spat, his gaze locking onto Akainu. "If I were to kill you hereā¦ would that qualify me as Admiral?"
The air froze. The sheer, blatant disrespect was a slap to every Marine present. Even Tsuru's eyes narrowed in cold anger.
Akainu's killing intent became a physical pressure. Magma dripped from his fists. He was ready to fight to the death, Government agent or not.
"White Fox." A new, authoritative voice cut through the tension. Another figure materialized beside the enraged agent, seemingly from the shadows themselves. The Marinesāexcept Satoruājolted in surprise. None of them, not even Garp or the Admirals, had detected this second powerful presence hiding on the ship. "Control your temper. Remember our purpose."
"Yes, Captain," White Fox said immediately, bowing his head.
The newcomer, clearly the leader, turned his gaze. It settled on Satoru. "You are the Navy's candidate?"
"That's right."
"Then let us begin. I have other matters to attend to."
Satoru let out a cold snort. "It seems I'm being underestimated as well." He pushed his sunglasses up onto his forehead, revealing his piercing, icy blue eyes. "Very well. Let's see what CP0 is made of. If you die, don't blame me for not holding back. Blame your own weakness."
In a flicker, he was gone from the warship, reappearing in the center of the barren desert island.
"Hurry up," Satoru called, his voice carrying clearly across the water. "I don't have all day. After I deal with you, I have an Admiral's appointment to attend."
"He's properly pissed now," Garp noted with a grin.
"Karp," Zephyr said quietly, his eye fixed on the CP0 Captain. "What's your read on that one?"
"Hmph. A clown in a fancy suit," Garp scoffed. That was all Zephyr needed to hear. If Garp wasn't worried, he wouldn't be either.
On the island, White Fox trembled with rage. "You dare look down on me?!" He vanished from the ship, his form flickering across the distance in a series of high-speed bursts. His movement speed was impressiveāclearly superior to a standard Vice Admiral.
"I hope your boy can last a while," the CP0 Captain said coldly. "An angered White Fox is a force even I struggle to contain."
"You should be saying that to your own man," Garp shot back without missing a beat. "The one who's about to get his tail handed to him."
White Fox reappeared in front of Satoru. "You're really slow," Satoru taunted, not moving an inch. "Are you sure you're a fox? You move like a seaslug."
"I'LL GOUGE OUT THOSE ARROGANT EYES!" White Fox shrieked, his composure shattered. He lunged, his clawed hand a blur of Haki-coated white fur aimed straight at Satoru's face.
Satoru didn't flinch. He didn't even blink.
The claw stopped. It simplyā¦ stopped. An inch from Satoru's nose, as if pressed against an invisible, absolute wall.
White Fox's triumphant snarl died in his throat. He pushed. Nothing. He couldn't move forward a millimeter.
On the Marine ship, Karp turned to the stunned CP0 Captain. "Your World Government is so arrogant, you didn't even bother collecting proper intelligence on your opponent?"
The CP0 Captain's eyes were wide with confusion. "What is this trickery?"
"It's not trickery," Zephyr explained, a note of grim satisfaction in his voice. "It's his ability. Without Advanced Conqueror's Haki infusion, no physical attack can touch him. Basic intelligence your organization should have easily uncovered. But your arrogance blinded you. You sent a man without a king's ambition to fight a king."
He looked back at the island, where a bewildered White Fox was fruitlessly hammering against Infinity. "This battle is already over. Even if Satoru stands there and does nothing, your agent will exhaust himself before landing a single blow."
A wave of pure, unadulterated relief washed over the Marines on the warship. The World Government's attempt to plant a spy in their highest ranks had just spectacularly backfired, defeated by their own hubris and Satoru's impossible defense.
(End of Chapter)
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