Smoke choked the plaza, and Dragon's heart lurched as his fingers clenched tight without him realizing it.
"…This is bad."
No one understood Gern's strength better than he did.
The supreme destructive force of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit.The killing edge of the Black Blade Eight Desolations.The overwhelming pressure of Conqueror's Haki…
If Gern made a move here and now, then among all the Revolutionary Army present—aside from Dragon himself—there likely wouldn't be a single person who could walk away alive.
Dragon's gaze swept rapidly across the surroundings, calculating retreat routes, while he lowered his voice and spoke to Ivankov beside him.
"Prepare to withdraw. If fighting breaks out, civilians take priority."
"…The Tremor power, huh?" Ivankov's expression darkened; he had clearly recognized Gern as well."Hee-haw! This really is the worst possible scenario!"
Dragon took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. Then he looked straight at Gern, his voice low and steady.
"Gern… I never expected to see you here."
"Oh?" Gern's lips curved faintly. His hands remained tucked casually into his pockets, his tone lazy—yet the pressure behind it was impossible to ignore."Running into an old friend, and you don't even welcome me?"
Dragon didn't let his guard down for a second. He knew Gern's "laziness" was nothing more than a façade.
Once this man became serious, an entire city could crumble under the force of his tremors.
"Are you here to arrest me?" Dragon asked in a deep voice, quietly drawing on his Haki, ready to fight at any moment.
Gern didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked around—past civilians gripping crude weapons, past wounded Revolutionary soldiers, past the royal palace still burning in the distance.
At last, his gaze returned to Dragon. He gave a soft chuckle.
"If I were here to arrest you, do you really think you'd still be standing there talking to me?"
Dragon frowned, his mind racing as he tried to decipher Gern's true intent.
Meanwhile, Gern slowly drew the Black Blade Eight Desolations. The gray-white bandages unraveled inch by inch, revealing the jet-black blade beneath.
Dragon's muscles tensed instantly. Revolutionary soldiers raised their weapons one after another, the atmosphere stretched taut like a drawn bowstring.
Yet Gern merely lowered the tip of the blade to the ground with a light tap, smacking his lips as he spoke calmly.
"Dragon… you've changed a lot."
After a moment of silence, Dragon replied, "It's not that I changed. I finally saw the world for what it really is."
"Oh?" Gern raised an eyebrow. "So now you're going to be a 'revolutionary,' huh?"
"I've simply found my true justice!" Dragon let out a cold snort."'Justice that arrives too late isn't justice at all'—those were your words, Gern."
Dragon stepped forward. His dark green cloak snapped violently in the wind.
"Today's World Government is rotten to the core. Celestial Dragons trample on the dignity of civilians at will. The nobles of the allied nations drain the people dry…
"This kind of 'justice'—are you still willing to draw your blade for it?"
Gern didn't respond right away. He lifted a hand, signaling Lipo and Tesoro to fall back.
"Dragon," Gern said, his voice calm, carrying a complexity that was hard to catch,"tsk, tsk… the old you wouldn't have invited a Marine to join the Revolutionary Army so bluntly."
"Because I've seen the truth!" Dragon spread his arms wide, as if embracing the entire battlefield."The Marines are nothing more than puppets of the World Government. True justice has to be seized by the people themselves!
"So… Gern, join me.With your strength and your beliefs, we can completely change this world!"
Gern's eyes swept across the ruins. Among the rubble, civilians clutched makeshift weapons, hope flickering in their eyes.
The Revolutionary soldiers stood resolute, as though they could already see the dawn of victory.
Seeing this, Gern fell silent for a moment. Then he suddenly chuckled.
"Dragon, your ideals are noble—but your methods are far too naïve."
"Naïve?" Dragon's brow tightened.
"Topple the old world, and does that guarantee the new one will be better?" Gern shot back."The 'people' you keep talking about—are they truly ready to accept the changes you'll bring?
"More often than not, the dragon-slaying hero… ends up becoming the dragon himself."
"Heh." Dragon's gaze sharpened like a blade."So because you're afraid of failure, you'll let injustice continue to exist?
"Gern, that's not like you."
"My style?" Gern shook his head. "I'm just a Marine. My duty is to maintain order—not to create chaos."
"Order?" Dragon sneered. "Your so-called order is nothing but a fig leaf for oppression!"
Their confrontation made the air itself feel frozen. Revolutionary soldiers tightened their grips on their weapons. Lipo and Tesoro both tensed.
Then, suddenly, Gern sighed and reached into his coat.
What he pulled out was a battered shoe sole, crudely carved along the edge with four crooked characters:
"Education Through Love."
"Almost forgot the main business." Gern gave the object a shake—the legendary Supreme Slipper. A teasing grin lifted his lips."This is Vice Admiral Garp's 'symbol of fatherly love,' specially delivered to you."
Dragon's expression froze."…Father?"
"He said—" Gern vanished in an instant. The next second, he reappeared in front of Dragon, his left arm snapping out violently."Getting married without inviting your old man?! What kind of nonsense is that, you bastard?!"
SMACK!!!
The crisp sound echoed across the plaza. Dragon was sent flying, a clear shoeprint blooming across his left cheek.
The Revolutionary soldiers stared in utter shock. Even Tesoro couldn't help rubbing his forehead.
"…As expected, he still went physical."
"Y-you…" Dragon touched his burning cheek. The shock in his eyes slowly melted into helpless amusement."After all these years… he's still exactly the same…"
"Fatherly love's as solid as a mountain." Gern put the slipper away, his tone noticeably lighter."But Dragon—are you really sure about this? There's no turning back once you walk this path."
Dragon took a deep breath, his expression turning firm once more.
"I've never been more clear-headed.Gern—even you can't shake my resolve."
"I've received Garp's 'greetings,'" Dragon said coldly."But right now, I don't have time to play father-and-son games with you."
"Play?" Gern's smile slowly faded, his gaze sharpening."You think I'm playing?"
The temperature of the battlefield plunged instantly.
Lipo blinked and muttered softly, "Tesoro… weren't we here to fight? How did this turn into a chat?"
"Say one more word and I'll smack you." Tesoro rubbed his forehead and pulled out a carrot."Here. Eat a carrot first."
"Gern, I don't want to fight you." Dragon inhaled deeply. His dark green cloak billowed without any wind."Step aside. The people of this country need freedom—not continued enslavement."
"Freedom?" Gern snorted."Freedom bought with war—will it really turn out the way you hope?"
"It's better than waiting to die!" Dragon raised his hand sharply, violent winds erupting around him."If you insist on standing in my way—"
"Wait." Gern suddenly cut him off, pulling out a Den Den Mushi."Before we start, someone wants a word with you."
Dragon: "What the hell are you even here for?!"
"Buru… buru…" The Den Den Mushi slowly opened its eyes, forming the scarred, iron-willed face of Garp.
"DRAGON!" Garp's roar burst from the snail."You unfilial brat! You didn't invite your old man to your wedding, and now you're stirring up a revolution?!"
Dragon: "..."
Gern grinned as he tilted the Den Den Mushi."Care to take the call?"
Dragon fell silent for a moment—then suddenly turned away.
"All units, move out! Continue the advance! The royal palace must fall before sunset!"
"HEY! You little punk! You dare ignore me?!" Garp's furious bellow echoed across the battlefield."Gern! Beat the hell out of him for me! Use the slipper—smack him senseless!!"
"…Looks like," Gern sighed as he put the Den Den Mushi away,"looks like we'll have to use some physical persuasion after all."