11-The Unseen Blade

Elio whipped around the moment he heard the sound.

Standing at the entrance like an immovable sentinel was Sakazuki, magma gurgling from his body in blistering waves, the telltale sign of his elemental transformation.

The oppressive aura of a Marine Admiral radiated from him like a tsunami, suffocating everyone within the prison.

Even seasoned officers found it hard to breathe under the crushing pressure, and those with weaker constitutions trembled uncontrollably.

"So this is your plan? To trap me inside this prison?" Sakazuki's eyes scanned the room with ice-cold indifference.

Then, he stepped forward, his footfall like thunder.

"A clever idea," he growled, "but now it seems this place may serve as your grave."

Without hesitation, his magma-coated arm rose high.

"Great Eruption: Hell Hound!"

In an instant, his arm morphed into a massive flaming hound, roaring to life as it launched itself at Elio with terrifying speed. The blazing head cut through the air, exuding waves of violent energy as it streaked toward its target.

But Elio stood his ground.

He didn't move an inch.

His hand snapped to the hilt of the sword at his waist.

With a single, fluid motion, he drew the blade.

Buzz—

The moment the sword left its sheath, the space before him trembled with a low-frequency hum. Flames, visible to the naked eye, swirled around the blade, licking its edges like a living creature. A monumental force erupted from within Elio, unleashing pressure that caused the very air to quiver.

Boom!

Steel clashed with flame.

The Hell Hound's head collided with Elio's sword, and a shockwave exploded outward. The sheer force blasted every officer nearby off their feet. Even the powerful Vice Admirals, Hound, Bastille, and Strawberry, were forced into retreat, their footing shattered by the blast.

Rumble...

Cracks grew across the ground beneath Elio's feet. In the blink of an eye, those fractures extended outward in every direction, weaving the entire battlefield into a massive web of destruction.

Then, the prison collapsed.

The sheer pressure from the clashing forces brought the entire structure down in a thunderous roar. Violent energy pierced the roof and tore into the night sky like a blade through silk.

Sakazuki stared in shock.

He had never imagined that Elio could meet his strike head-on, let alone bring the prison to ruin in the process.

Elio stood alone, sword in hand, his aura rising like an inferno. His coat billowed violently, flaring from the surging winds of the clash. In that moment, he looked less like a man and more like a God of War.

Sakazuki finally found his voice.

"...Conqueror's Haki."

His eyes were fixed on Elio's blade.

It wasn't a normal sword anymore.

Engulfing the blade was a cloud of fire, and energy filled with scorching power. As an Admiral, Sakazuki knew exactly what it was, but he could hardly believe it.

Conqueror's Haki. And not just awakened, but imbued.

Elio did't only master it, but he channeled it directly into his weapon. And somehow, as his direct superior, Sakazuki never realized it.

This wasn't just shocking, it was terrifying.

Plenty of warriors in the New World possessed Conqueror's Haki. But to infuse it into one's attacks, that was the realm of sea emperors and living legends.

And Elio had reached it in secret.

Sakazuki's gut twisted.

With such power and such cunning, it was no wonder Elio faced this rebellion with such calm confidence.

The other officers were just as shaken.

Since Elio's promotion to Vice Admiral, many of them had grown close to him. Whether through missions, shared battles, or quiet drinks at sea, they had come to respect him deeply.

They knew his mastery of Armament and Observation Haki was beyond compare. His swordsmanship rivaled even that of Tsuru. His control of Marine combat techniques was flawless.

But they all were under the impression, that they'd seen the full extent of his abilities.

They were wrong.

Elio took another step forward, his eyes locked onto Sakazuki.

"You asked whether I had the strength to become Fleet Admiral?"

His voice echoed like thunder as he raised his sword.

"Sakazuki, you've underestimated me. I told you, becoming Fleet Admiral is only one part of the plan."

Just as the two powers prepared to clash again...

"Lord Elio!"

A voice broke through the tension.

Hound, now recovered, called out urgently.

"Please! Let me speak to Admiral Sakazuki for a moment!"

Elio turned his head slightly, his eyes narrowing. He seemed to know exactly what Hound was about to say.

"Hound... this isn't the time."

"No, this is exactly the time."

The Vice Admiral stepped forward and placed himself between the two men, raising his voice toward Sakazuki.

"Admiral Sakazuki! Some of the funds Lord Elio has moved over the years... were on your behalf!"

Sakazuki narrowed his eyes.

"Hound, stop spouting nonsense," he said coldly. "Look outside. Marineford is in chaos because of your rebellion. As an Admiral, I must prevent this from getting worse."

But Hound wasn't done.

"Admiral Sakazuki, your mother is still alive."

Sakazuki's eyes widened.

Before he could respond, Hound pulled out a document from inside his coat and held it up.

"Three years ago, when Lord Elio was still a Rear Admiral, he encountered a pirate vessel during a mission. After eliminating the crew, he discovered that many civilians had been held prisoner on board.

"Most were returned home... but one elderly woman had lost her memory entirely. Lord Elio brought her back to headquarters."

Sakazuki's pupils contracted.

Still, his face hardened.

"That's impossible. My mother died when I was a child. I buried her myself. That old woman... she cannot be my mother!"

Hound didn't argue.

He simply tossed the document to Sakazuki's feet.

"This is the result of the investigation Lord Elio ordered us to conduct."