In just half an hour, the full Marine force arrived, almost like a Buster Call. Along with five Vice Admirals, there were two Admirals and even the Fleet Admiral himself.
It was nearly the strongest lineup the Marines could bring—only Garp and Aokiji were absent.
"Hmm, but why didn't they come?" Dave wondered as he counted the number of ships approaching the island.
Dave glanced around, noticing several masked individuals among the approaching Marine force.
"CP0, huh? I don't know their exact strengths," he thought. "Though from the aura they're emitting, it's clear they're around peak Vice Admiral level powerhouses."
He turned his attention to his crew, evaluating their strengths. "Tony's power is now at Vice Admiral level, while Enel's strength has reached Admiral level. As for me, I'm at Four Emperor level." A slight smile crept across his lips.
"Plus, with Rayleigh on our side, that makes two Emperor-level powerhouses." Confident in their advantage, Dave continued to sit back leisurely, waiting for the Marines to arrive.
The sound of marching boots and the rumble of ships filled the air as the Marine force landed on the shores of the island. Admirals Akainu and Kizaru stepped forward, their eyes sharply focused on group ahead. Fleet Admiral Sengoku stood beside them, arms crossed, his gaze as cold as he looked at them.
Vice Admirals and CP0 agents lined up behind them, their presence formidable. The Marines had come prepared to end this confrontation decisively, not underestimating the force they faced.
Dave sat calmly, watching as they assembled. "Impressive turnout," he said with a smirk, his voice carrying across the field. "They really brought everything, didn't they?"
Tony laughed, glancing at the Admirals. "Guess they don't like us messing with their beloved Celestial Dragons. Can't say I blame them."
Enel crackled with energy, lightning dancing around him as he grinned at the opposition. "So, Dave, do we start with a bang?"
"Cause I really want to fight that Admiral in yellow dress"
Dave chuckled, his calm demeanor radiating authority. "Not just yet, Enel. Let them make the first move; let me see just what exactly has they cooked up"
The Marines stood ready, weapons drawn. Sengoku's voice boomed across the field. "Dave, Enel, Tony—this is your last chance. Surrender and come quietly, or face the full might of the Marines!"
Dave raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Surrender? That's not even an option." His gaze was steady as he looked toward Sengoku, knowing full well the battle that lay ahead.
Sengoku clenched his fists. "So be it. Marines, prepare for battle!"
As the Marines readied themselves, Tony and Enel exchanged glances, their excitement palpable. Rayleigh emerged from the shadows, joining Dave's side, his presence adding a sense of gravity and strength to the scene.
Sengoku's eyes narrowed as he saw Rayleigh's youthful appearance. "Impossible... how are you young again?" he asked, disbelief in his gaze.
Rayleigh shrugged, a slight smirk on his face. "The sea is magical and vast, Sengoku," he replied, the tone almost teasing. Sengoku's gaze lingered on Rayleigh's youthful form, mixed with a hint of envy.
"What makes you younger?" Suddenly, a CP0 agent stepped forward, his tone authoritative. "Tell us, and you will be spared," he added, as if sparing Rayleigh were a generous offer.
Rayleigh scoffed, visibly irritated. "Spare me? Seems people have forgotten who I am after years away from the sea." He released his Conqueror's Haki, a force so intense it visibly affected the surrounding Marines. Even the Admirals felt the weight of his Haki, while many Vice Admirals and lower-ranking officers were forced to their knees, unable to withstand the pressure.
Seeing this, Dave followed suit, unleashing his own Haki, and Tony added his Conqueror's Haki as well. The combined might of their three Conqueror's Haki pushed the Marines' willpower to its limits, leaving most Vice Admirals and below visibly struggling to stand.
Sengoku, realizing the gravity of the situation, released his own Haki to counter theirs. However, he could barely hold against the combined strength of Rayleigh, Dave, and Tony, feeling the strain himself.
Both sides eventually drew back their Haki, the tension palpable. Dave smirked. "I hope you've brought the goods," he said, eyeing Sengoku.
Sengoku nodded, giving a small wave of his hand. Several Vice Admirals stepped forward, placing 12 crates on the ground between the two groups.
"There they are," Sengoku said.
"Now hand over the Celestial Dragons and take these Devil Fruits," Sengoku said, standing resolutely. The CP0 agents clenched their fists, especially as they observed the condition of the Celestial Dragons—beaten to the point of barely hanging on to life. Many people had taken out their frustrations on them after Dave pushed back Kizaru, leaving the Celestial Dragons near death, broken both physically and in spirit.
"I will, but only after I check the goods," Dave replied, shaking his head slightly as he used telekinesis to lift the lids of the crates, revealing an array of Devil Fruits inside. He raised an eyebrow, initially impressed. "No trickery, it seems..." he thought.
But something felt off. Using his system's powers, he scanned the fruits more deeply and quickly discovered the truth: they were all fakes, created using a Devil Fruit called the Copy-Copy Fruit. This fruit could flawlessly replicate the shape, size, and even the aura of any object, making the fakes almost indistinguishable from the real thing.
"What... so, they thought of this plan?" Dave thought, realizing Sengoku's level of desperation. Sengoku was unaware that Dave had a method of detecting the fraud; he was confident that not even advanced Observation Haki or other abilities could discern the difference. This was how perfectly a Copy-Copy Fruit user could replicate objects.
Turning to Sengoku, Dave's expression darkened as he spoke, his voice laced with displeasure. "Sengoku... do you really take me for a fool?"
Sengoku's expression flickered with doubt for a split second before he composed himself. "Surely, a devil like him couldn't tell..." he reassured himself internally. With a steady tone, he responded, "We didn't have many Logias in stock. That's why these are mostly Paramecia types," he said, trying to gauge Dave's reaction. Sengoku assumed Dave's displeasure stemmed from the absence of the rare Logia types.
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