Two months earlier, in the seas of the North Blue.
Several large Marine warships were sailing toward a Marine base. Their massive hulls cut through the waves with heavy authority.
At the very front of the leading ship stood a tall, muscular man wearing a Marine vice-admiral's cloak and a white cap pulled low over his eyes. A lit cigar rested between his fingers.
An overwhelming presence radiated from him.
Heat.
Pressure.
Danger—like a sleeping volcano ready to erupt.
This man was Vice Admiral Sakazuki of the Marines.
In the future, the world would know him as Admiral Akainu.
He was the user of the Magu Magu no Mi, a Logia-type Devil Fruit that granted him the power of magma.
Earlier, while Sakazuki had been hunting pirates in the Grand Line with a bounty of 300,000,000 Berries, those pirates had seized an island and taken civilians hostage.
Sakazuki did not hesitate.
He annihilated every pirate—
along with the civilians.
When Sengoku, who at the time had not yet become Fleet Admiral, learned of the incident, he was furious.
As punishment, Sengoku issued a direct order:
Sakazuki was to be transferred to the North Blue for two months, stripped of authority to act freely, and placed under supervision.
Sakazuki tried to refuse.
But Sengoku silenced him with a single sentence:
"That is an order, Vice Admiral Sakazuki."
Hearing those words, Sakazuki had no choice but to comply.
Yet deep in his heart, a vow was forged:
When I become an Admiral… no one will ever command me again.
Thus began Sakazuki's time in the North Blue.
During those two months, he hunted pirates and criminal organizations without mercy.
He showed no restraint.
No hesitation.
Pirates vanished.
Mafia families were wiped out.
Fear spread across the seas.
Even powerful criminal groups—among them the Donquixote Family—were forced to flee back to the Grand Line.
Now, as the two months finally came to an end, Sakazuki was preparing to return.
He sat in his chair aboard the ship, reading reports with a grim expression, when suddenly—
Knock.
An officer entered the cabin and saluted.
"Vice Admiral Sakazuki," the officer reported.
"We have intercepted a ship. It was transporting slaves. We confirmed that they were purchased by one of the most notorious mafia families in this region."
Sakazuki's eyes narrowed.
"Do you know where these animals are hiding?" he asked coldly.
The officer nodded.
Sakazuki stood up, magma-like heat subtly radiating from his body.
"Prepare my ship," he said.
"I will erase that mafia."
When Sakazuki arrived at the island—
He immediately felt that something was wrong.
The air was thick.
Unnatural.
The island was shrouded in dense fog.
His gaze hardened.
"All of you stay here," Sakazuki ordered the Marines behind him.
"Wait for my signal."
Without another word, he stepped forward alone—
to find out what exactly was happening on this island.