West Blue – High above a certain sea area.
Two figures darted through the air at terrifying speed, so fast the ocean below blurred rapidly in retreat.
"What kind of ability is this?!"
Gion (Momousagi) was completely shaken. The retreating sea, the whiplash of wind, the sheer speed—it was something she had never imagined.
Unbelievable.
This had to be the fastest ability in the world!
"I ate the Repel-Repel Fruit." Chris said calmly.
"This is a technique I developed from it—I call it: Repulsion Space."
As he finished speaking, the two landed on an island.
It was Padong's hometown.
Gion gazed at the ancient palace before her, surrounded by towering trees, and couldn't help but ask:
"Where is this?"
At this point, the man in front of her felt utterly mysterious and terrifying.
Such a frightening young man…
Chris shrugged, speaking casually:
"An uninhabited island—perfect for going all out in a fight."
"If I want to work with you, I need the strength to back it up, right?"
Gion unsheathed her blade.
"Kinpira" shimmered coldly under the sunlight.
She gave a cold chuckle, eyes filled with disdain:
"Your speed is truly frightening… but that's all it is."
Suddenly—
ROAR!!
The growl of a wild beast echoed nearby, the ground trembling as it approached.
"Before we start, let's clear the area of distractions."
With that, Chris released a wave of Conqueror's Haki.
Shrieks and cries followed—beasts in the area fled in terror under the overwhelming pressure.
Gion was inwardly shocked, though her face stayed calm.
She said coolly:
"No wonder you dare to challenge the Celestial Dragons. You do have the guts for it."
"Very well. Show me what you've really got!"
With a step, she lunged forward, sword in hand…
Ten minutes later—
"Still want to fight?"
Chris stood calmly, completely at ease, showing no signs of strain.
Gion sheathed her sword, expression filled with awe.
"To be this strong at your age… unbelievable."
"Looks like this world is about to change."
She stared at Chris, face now serious.
"The Celestial Dragons have ruled the seas for generations. No one has dared rebel against them."
"Even with our strength, we can't shake the world. We can't change anything."
"So tell me—what's your plan? I want to hear it."
Chris knew then—she was in.
This Vice Admiral, candidate for Admiral, had agreed to the partnership.
"Let's head back to your ship first. We can't risk being spotted."
With that, they warped through space again and reappeared in Gion's cabin.
Gion looked around at the familiar surroundings, shaking her head with a sigh.
"Not even Borsalino's light-speed can compare to yours…"
"Alright. Enough small talk—let's get to the plan."
Snap!
Chris lit a cigarette, exhaling slowly.
"Let's start with your side of things."
"First—when you return, start quietly rallying your subordinates. They'll be critical in the battles to come."
Gion nodded.
"No problem. I'll be careful with that."
Chris took another drag, then spoke again.
"Second—you're an admiral candidate. You need to find a way to get rid of the word 'candidate.'"
"Only as a full-fledged admiral can you help us to the fullest."
Gion frowned slightly, troubled.
"But the three admiral positions are full. I have no shot at promotion right now."
Chris nodded, showing he understood.
Then said bluntly:
"Which is why—we need to eliminate one of them. Once there's a vacancy, your opportunity will come."
"What?!"
Gion was stunned.
Her beautiful eyes widened in disbelief.
"What did you just say?! That's impossible!"
"Nothing's impossible."
Chris replied coolly, taking a drag of his cigarette.
"Admirals are the Navy's top combat force—the strongest in the world."
"In all of history, no admiral has ever been killed. No one's managed it."
"But in my eyes—if we find the right opportunity—it can absolutely be done."
Gion fell silent.
She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
Hunt down an admiral? How could that be possible?
Could anyone really pull it off?
After a few seconds, she finally spoke:
"Since you're saying this... you must have a detailed plan. Let's hear it."
Chris exhaled, his eyes flashing with insight.
"Let's analyze the three admirals."
"Borsalino is too fast—hard to catch. The odds are low."
"Kuzan can freeze the sea itself. Whether on land or at sea, fighting him wouldn't be much different."
Chris looked directly at Gion, voice solemn:
"So, our target... is Sakazuki."
"He's a Devil Fruit user. If we can draw him out to sea, his powers will be greatly restricted."
"And in that case—I'm 100% confident we can take him down."
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T/N:
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