Chapter 136: Chapter 136: Akainu!
The next day, Edie woke up to the shrill chime of his Den Den Mushi. On the other end was Usagi, her exuberance palpable even through the receiver.
"Heavenly Father! We found Akainu!" Usagi's voice bubbled with excitement. "I completed the task! But… oh no, I think he's noticed me!"
Edie sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "This mermaid is kind of unreliable" he muttered under his breath.
Before he could respond, Usagi chirped again, "Should I arrest him? I've summoned Sea Kings, and they've surrounded his warship!" Her voice turned slightly strained. "Uh-oh… we're fighting now. Akainu's really strong!"
"Where are you?" Edie asked, attempting to cut through her frantic energy.
"I don't know! Somewhere in the New World! Wait, I'll ask the Sea Kings." A brief pause followed as Usagi's voice faded, likely addressing the massive creatures. She returned moments later. "Lord Heavenly Father, the Sea Kings say we're near Wanokuni. Oh, Akainu's chasing the Red-Haired Pirates!"
Edie paused, his mind churning. Still going after Shanks? By now, Shanks should be on par with a Yonko. That fight won't go how Akainu expects. He clicked his tongue in mild frustration.
"Just hold him off for now," Edie instructed. "I'll send reinforcements."
"But I can handle him myself!" Usagi's confidence was unwavering. "He's no match for me, not with the power of Poseidon."
"You idiot," Edie snapped. "I'm not sending help because I doubt you. I need him alive. His soul is of more value to me than his corpse."
Ending the call, Edie immediately summoned two of his Earthly Branches for the mission. His mind shifted to another pressing matter—Wanokuni. By his calculations, Kaido was nearly done unearthing Pluton. In his simulations, the World Government's retaliation with their so-called "national treasure" was inevitable. This time, however, Edie wouldn't sit idly by.
Kaido's survival was crucial, not just for his plans but also for Yamato's safety. Plus, Robin's expertise in Ohara's historical knowledge would be indispensable.
Before departing, Edie bade farewell to his companions. Hancock and the others saw him off with a mix of worry and trust.
"Be careful, Mr. Edie!" Hancock urged.
"Don't worry," Edie assured them with a confident smile. "Soon, the days of hiding in the skies will end. A new era is on the horizon."
With that, he took Robin aboard Chenlong, the Kaido clone, and vanished into the clouds.
Meanwhile, in the New World, chaos brewed.
Akainu stood on the carcass of a slain Sea King, his molten fist still smoking. Dozens of Sea Kings floated lifelessly around the warship, their sheer size creating a grim tableau of destruction. Yet more Sea Kings emerged from the depths, surrounding him.
"Damn it," Akainu growled. "No matter how many I kill, they just keep coming!"
The Admiral's expression was grim as his gaze fixed on the source of his torment. Atop one of the massive creatures lounged a mermaid, nonchalantly nibbling on snacks, her demeanor unbothered by the carnage below.
"What's going on here?" Akainu muttered. "A mermaid… controlling the Sea Kings?" His brows furrowed in disbelief.
Not far away, the Red-Haired Pirates were also ensnared in the Sea Kings' blockade. Though the creatures left their ship unscathed, the sheer number of them made escape impossible.
On deck, Yasopp lowered his telescope, his expression a mix of shock and awe. "It's her. She's controlling them. Unbelievable! If mermaids could always do this, why's Fish-Man Island been at the mercy of slavers for so long?"
Shanks remained silent, his jaw tightening. Unlike his crew, he knew the truth. His time aboard the Oro Jackson had revealed secrets most could only dream of.
"That's no ordinary mermaid," Shanks finally said, his voice low and measured. "She's the Mermaid Princess… Poseidon, one of the three Ancient Weapons."
As the pieces of the ancient prophecy fell into place, Shanks could only watch as the ocean itself became the stage for powers long thought mythical.
Poseidon!
The crew of the Red-Hair Pirates stood in stunned silence, their jaws nearly hitting the deck.
"A humanoid Ancient Weapon?!" someone exclaimed, disbelief etched across their face.
"No wonder she can control the Sea Kings! That kind of power... one person could destroy the world!"
Another voice chimed in, trembling with awe, "It's terrifying. Using Observation Haki, I can sense everything within dozens of kilometers—Sea Kings everywhere!"
"Just on the surface, there are hundreds of them. Who knows what monsters lurk beneath the sea!"
Relief washed over them as they realized they weren't the targets of the Sea Kings' fury.
"Akainu is really in for it. What did he do to provoke her?" someone muttered.
Benn Beckman, the Red-Hair Pirates' vice-captain, stood at the railing, squinting into the distance. His sharp eyesight allowed him to clearly see the figure atop the giant Sea King—a mermaid with sapphire-like eyes and a mischievous smile. Her appearance was striking, but Beckman was more intrigued by her star-shaped pupils. Lighting a cigarette, he took a slow puff, processing what he saw.
"Shanks," he said thoughtfully, "did you notice her eyes?"
The red-haired captain nodded solemnly. "I did."
The mermaid's eyes were unmistakable—star-shaped pupils similar to the Earthly Branches under Dr. Edie's command, though theirs were golden.
"That mermaid," Beckman continued, exhaling smoke, "might not be an ordinary one. Either the prophecy about the next Poseidon being a child is wrong, or..."
Shanks finished the thought, his voice heavy, "Or she's a clone created by that man."
Beckman sighed, flicking ash from his cigarette. "Edie truly is unfathomable. To control an Ancient Weapon... it's beyond belief."
While the Red-Hair Pirates processed this revelation, Akainu was locked in a desperate battle.
One of the colossal Sea Kings—a seahorse-like creature with black-and-white spirals across its enormous body—launched a torrent of water at him. To the Sea King, it was a mere water spray, but to Akainu, it was a devastating tidal wave.
His fist ignited with magma as he retaliated. "Great Eruption!"
The magma punched through the incoming wave, creating a hissing explosion of steam that engulfed the battlefield. Visibility dropped as the thick fog rolled over the sea.
On the warship, panic spread among the marines. "We're surrounded! There's no way out!"
Akainu ignored their cries, his sharp gaze fixed on the mermaid atop the whale. "This isn't a fight—it's a game to these Sea Kings," he muttered grimly.
Realizing the futility of battling the endless swarm, Akainu charged directly at Usagi. His molten fist extended, aiming to eliminate the source of his troubles.
Usagi, however, remained unfazed. Perched atop her bubble, she playfully waved a hand. "Hit the water," she said with a giggle.
A crescent-shaped water jet infused with red lightning sliced through the air, colliding with Akainu mid-charge.
Boom!
The impact sent the Admiral flying backward, blood spraying from his mouth as he crashed into his warship. The force of the blow left a gaping hole in the deck, further shaking the marines' morale.
"Admiral Akainu!" one of them cried.
Despite his injuries, Akainu rose to his feet, his mind racing. "Conqueror's Haki, infused into an attack... and it's stronger than mine," he thought bitterly.
Suddenly, the oppressive fog parted as a burst of overwhelming Conqueror's Haki swept across the battlefield.
Akainu's head snapped up. Above, an azure dragon descended from the clouds, its rider staring down imperiously.
"Edie," Akainu growled, his voice laced with anger and dread. "So you've shown up at last. What's your game?"
Edie stood atop the dragon, his figure silhouetted against the dark sky. The Conqueror's Haki emanating from him had already silenced the sea, and now his mocking voice rang out.
"Akainu, it's been years. Why do you look so pitiful?"
Shifting his gaze, Edie smiled at the nearby Red-Hair Pirates. "And Shanks, long time no see. You've grown up—it's good to see."
Shanks' eyes narrowed as red lightning began crackling around him. "Edie," he said evenly, "is my daughter safe?"
The tension between the two was palpable, their Haki clashing subtly in the air.
Edie chuckled, effortlessly catching the red lightning in his palm. "Uta is fine. In fact, she's been quite helpful. You've raised her well."
Shanks allowed a faint smile. "Good. Then let's see how this plays out."
Above the dragon, Robin whispered to Edie, "So that's Uta's father? He doesn't really resemble her."
"Adoptive father," Edie corrected, his eyes glinting with amusement as the chaos below continued to unfold.
Shaking his head, Edie stopped speaking to the red-haired figure and turned his attention back to the warship.
At that moment, red lightning flickered at the edge of his vision.
A crackling bolt of red lightning surged from the heavens and struck the warship in an instant.
"What!?"
Akainu was startled, his body glowing with red light as he instinctively activated his Haki. Yet, his Conqueror's Haki was suddenly overwhelmed, binding him like chains.
Red lightning danced in the air as Edie began his approach. He walked through the sky as though ascending invisible stairs, each step deliberate and commanding, until he stood face-to-face with Akainu.
The sailors on deck were paralyzed with fear, trembling as they retreated.
"The pressure... It's too much!" one muttered, barely able to breathe under Edie's overwhelming presence.
Edie tilted his head, a cold smile playing on his lips. "Is this all, Akainu? Can the Admiral of the Marines not even withstand this much?"
The scene mirrored a future infamous moment: when the New Admiral, Green Bull, had been immobilized by the mere presence of the Red-Haired Shanks' Conqueror's Haki from hundreds of kilometers away.
The parallel was undeniable.
"You dare look down on me?!" Akainu roared, his rage erupting like a volcano. With a burst of effort, he shattered the red lightning constraining him and leapt back, retreating over ten meters to regain his composure.
But as he looked up, Edie was gone—vanished entirely from sight.
Akainu's pupils dilated in shock. This isn't speed. He just... disappeared.
Suddenly, a hand pressed firmly against his chest.
"Looking for safety? Then run far enough that I can't see you," Edie whispered, his voice like ice.
From his palm, a torrent of ghostly particles erupted.
"Two Hundred Billion: Seal."
In an instant, the particles adhered to Akainu's very soul, rendering his Magma-Magma Fruit abilities useless. It felt as if he were being weighed down by tons of pure seastone.
Akainu faltered, dropping to one knee, his strength drained. To the onlookers, the sight was surreal—it appeared as though the mighty Admiral was bowing before Edie.
"Admiral Akainu?!" a Marine stammered, disbelief written on his face. "H-Have you... defected?"
The whispers grew. If their leader had switched allegiances, what should they do?
"Join the Emperor!" someone shouted, breaking the silence.
The suggestion took root instantly. One after another, the Marines dropped their weapons and knelt, saluting Edie.
Akainu gritted his teeth, his fury barely contained. "You idiots!" he barked. "Do you think I want to kneel?! Stand up, all of you!"
But the damage was done.
Edie regarded Akainu with cold amusement. "Your blood factor," he mused, "is that your concern? You think I'm here to clone you?"
"You want my soul," Akainu growled, breathing heavily. "And my blood factor for your experiments!"
Edie chuckled. "Indeed. But rest assured, Admiral, the last two Earthly Branches don't require a clone of someone at just your level."
Before Akainu could respond, Edie raised his hand. A spectral ring materialized, enveloping Akainu. After a few seconds, Edie reached out and gripped the Marine's forehead, drawing out pink, glowing soul material.
The pain was excruciating, tearing through Akainu like a blade.
"That's... Big Mom's power...!" he gasped.
Edie grinned, his tone mocking. "The last two Earthly Branches will herald the end of your precious world government."
He floated upward, cradling Akainu's extracted soul like a treasure. "Go ahead, tell the Five Elders. Let them stew in their fear. Or remain silent, and watch the end come all the same. You Marines? I'll treat you with the same kindness I show my pets."
With that, Edie ascended onto the blue dragon waiting for him. Along the way, he picked up Usagi, who stood silently at the ready.
As Poseidon soared away, the Sea Kings surrounding the warship sank back into the depths, vanishing in moments. The oppressive storm clouds parted, revealing a clear sky.
Yet Akainu's heart remained heavy, an icy dread settling in his chest.
The kneeling Marines slowly stood, exchanging awkward glances. A Commodore stepped forward hesitantly.
"Admiral Akainu, should we... report this?"
"I'll handle it," Akainu snapped, brushing past them and heading to his cabin. The lingering weakness gnawed at him, but he ignored it and dialed Sengoku.
After recounting the events, Sengoku's reply was unexpected.
"Return immediately. Do not report this to the Five Elders."
Akainu frowned. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku, why? What does this mean?"
"Do you recall the giant crater in the sea near Water 7 two years ago?" Sengoku's voice was grave.
"Yes, but..."
"That was the work of the Five Elders. Their target was Shiki, the Golden Lion," Sengoku explained. "For now, we do what we must—for the sake of world peace."
The line disconnected, leaving Akainu seething with frustration. Do nothing? What kind of strategy is this?
Yet, as he reflected, his thoughts turned to Edie's parting words.
"The last two Earthly Branches," Akainu murmured. "If they're as powerful as Usagi..."
He clenched his fists. This was a wake-up call. He couldn't rely solely on his fruit's powers. His Haki needed to evolve, to surpass its limits.
"I must become stronger," Akainu vowed, his resolve hardening.
The next time they crossed paths, he would ensure that he reclaimed his reputation as a true Admiral of the Marines.
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