Chpater 133

**Chapter 133**

Carl hovered above the battlefield, his black wings flapping gently as he gazed down at Dragon.

Dragon's throat tightened at the sight of those wings. His voice was barely a whisper.

"Are you a demon?"

Carl smiled slightly, as if affirming Dragon's words. Behind him, a faint mist of blood lingered in the air, shrouding him in an eerie aura of darkness.

In an instant, Carl flapped his wings and vanished, reappearing before Dragon in a blur of crimson. The sheer speed was beyond Dragon's comprehension—before he could react, Carl's hand had already wrapped around his throat, lifting him effortlessly.

Dragon instinctively coated himself in Haki, but it was useless. Carl's grip remained firm, unaffected. His lips curled slightly, revealing a sharp fang that effortlessly sank into Dragon's neck.

Darkness engulfed Dragon's consciousness. His vision blurred, and his body lost all strength. The last thing he saw was Carl's calm, amused expression before everything faded to black.

With a dull thud, Dragon collapsed to the ground, his vacant eyes staring blankly into the sky, lifeless.

Carl crouched beside him and gently closed his eyes. Then, turning to the referee, he flashed a casual grin.

"Carry him away—he's only sleeping."

A collective sigh of relief swept through the audience. They had feared the worst, but Carl's words reassured them.

The medical team rushed in, carefully placing Dragon on a stretcher. Just as they were about to carry him away, Dragon's body suddenly trembled. His fists clenched, and he let out a hoarse, desperate cry:

"No! The world shouldn't be like this!!!"

The startled medics froze. The crowd buzzed with confusion—what had Dragon seen?

The referee hurried over to check on him, only to find that Dragon was still unconscious, merely talking in his sleep. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, the referee gestured for the medics to continue.

Dragon was carried away, marking his elimination from the assessment.

Carl turned to Aokiji and Aramaki, who stood frozen on the sidelines.

Before they could react, the ground beneath them exploded with a deafening **boom**. In the blink of an eye, Carl had both of them restrained in midair, held effortlessly by an unseen force.

Aramaki, sensing the futility of resistance, quickly admitted defeat. Aokiji, realizing the same, sighed in resignation.

Carl lowered them gently to the ground, his expression one of quiet amusement.

"The three of you did well—you've passed the assessment."

Aokiji scratched the back of his head, looking sheepish.

"But Admiral Carl, we're nowhere near your level…"

"That's enough, Kuzan."

A deep voice interrupted.

"You've done well. Zephyr is proud of you."

Aokiji turned in surprise.

Zephyr had descended from the high platform, a warm yet complicated expression on his face. When he reached Carl, he studied him for a long moment before speaking.

"Carl, you've made it tough on these guys."

Zephyr had witnessed everything—the sheer overwhelming power Carl now possessed. His vampiric abilities, his mastery over darkness, his speed—Carl had become something terrifying. Even Zephyr himself felt a twinge of fear.

In less than two years, Carl had surpassed him.

This level of growth was unimaginable, making even the most talented Marines seem ordinary by comparison.

Yet, not even Zephyr could foresee that, years later, another young man named Luffy would rise—a monster in his own right, challenging the Four Emperors by the age of nineteen.

Zephyr offered a few words of encouragement to Aramaki and Aokiji before stepping back.

From the high platform, Fleet Admiral Kong announced the final results.

All three—Dragon, Aokiji, and Aramaki—had officially passed.

Dragon, though unconscious, had earned the rank of **Vice Admiral**.

Aokiji and Aramaki were both promoted to **Rear Admiral**.

As Aokiji and Aramaki received their Marine cloaks, Dragon's was entrusted to Garp, who accepted it without a word. He simply turned and walked away.

---

**Marine Headquarters Hospital**

Dragon lay motionless on a white hospital bed, his breathing steady but his body tense. The sheets beneath him were torn apart, shredded by his clenched fists.

Outside the room, doctors and nurses hesitated to enter.

Inside, wind swirled chaotically, forming invisible blades that scarred the walls and floor.

If Aramaki were here, he would've laughed and asked if Dragon was giving birth.

But Garp wasn't laughing.

Arriving at the hospital, he ignored the raging winds and walked straight to Dragon's bedside.

Dragon's forehead was drenched in sweat. His lips parted slightly, muttering in a fevered daze.

One word was clear.

**"Revolution…"**

Garp's usual carefree expression hardened.

His jaw tightened as he reached out and wiped the sweat from Dragon's brow.

"Dragon…" he muttered. "What's wrong with you?"

But Dragon didn't answer. His murmurs grew louder, his words dangerously close to breaking taboos.

Garp's face darkened.

There was only one way to snap him out of it.

**"Iron Fist of Love!"**

With a sudden motion, Garp's Haki-coated fist slammed into Dragon's stomach.

**BOOM!**

The bed **shattered** from the impact.

Dragon's eyes snapped open in shock as he was sent flying, landing between the two halves of the broken bed.

Silence.

Then, slowly, Dragon sat up. His breath was steady, his expression unreadable.

But something in his eyes had changed.

Garp stared at him.

Dragon met his gaze and spoke softly.

"Dad…" he said. "I want to leave the Navy."

Garp froze.

"...Nani?"

In an instant, Garp grabbed Dragon by the collar, pulling him forward.

"What did you just say?!"

Dragon didn't flinch.

Calmly, he repeated, "I want to leave the Navy. The Navy's justice doesn't suit me."

**BANG!**

Garp's fist **smashed** into Dragon's face, sending him flying into the wall.

If Garp hadn't held back, Dragon would've been sent through the hospital itself.

But even as he coughed and straightened himself, Dragon's resolve remained unshaken.

He met Garp's furious gaze, unafraid.