One Piece: Lightning's Heir

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Marineford. The cataclysmic battle raged on.

Golden Lion Shiki, with his twin swords, single-handedly faced the two great powerhouses, Garp and Sengoku.

The maddened Golden Lion was determined to prove that Roger could not have been captured by the Marines. He refused to let his rival be executed in the weakest of the seas, and so he launched an all-out assault on Marine Headquarters itself.

No one could possibly understand his feelings. For so many years, he had clashed with Roger, one moment plotting his downfall, the next, silently admiring him.

And now, such a man was to be executed in the East Blue? It was the greatest insult imaginable.

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!"

"Lion's Threat—Imperial Earth Scroll!!"

The berserk Golden Lion swept up the pouring rain, forming a massive lion's head from the water, so vivid it seemed to come alive.

An earth-shattering roar accompanied the tremor that shook Marineford. Buildings were continuously shattered, and the seas outside the island churned with violent waves.

The Marines waiting in the rain were drenched in cold sweat, paralyzed by this show of force. The aftershocks alone killed a great number of them.

"The Golden Lion has lost his mind..."

"Vice Admiral Garp, Admiral Sengoku, you have to win!"

This was the first time in history that Marineford, the most concentrated bastion of Marine power, had been so brazenly invaded. If they couldn't take down their opponent, the Marines' prestige across the seas would be in tatters.

However, as they clashed relentlessly, a bolt of lightning streaked through the clouds, instantly landing in a deserted area on the edge of the island.

"I almost couldn't stop myself from jumping in!" Arthur forcibly suppressed his urge to fight.

This was the Golden Lion's last stand at his peak, and simultaneously, the final battle of his era. As one of the legends of the sea, Arthur would give him this final respect and not interfere.

Besides, his purpose here was not to spectate.

If he had nothing better to do, he would have loved to try storming Marine Headquarters himself. But now, he had come to rescue Vegapunk. He had to put those feelings aside for now.

His Observation Haki monitored the movements of every single person on the island. Arthur made himself invisible, and while everyone's attention was focused on the Golden Lion, he silently made his way toward the research division.

The Marine Science Division was exactly as he remembered from his last visit, filled with a futuristic, sci-fi aesthetic.

The electronic doors were shut tight, and there were almost no patrol personnel in sight.

"Did they all go to watch the Golden Lion?" Arthur smiled, flashing to the door and placing his hands on the metal surface.

"Lightning Metallurgy!!"

"Zzzzzzzzzzzzz!"

A flash of light, and the thick metal door instantly melted into molten iron. Staring into the deep, dark corridor, Arthur pushed his hand forward again.

An invisible wave spread throughout the entire research facility...

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In the deepest part of the research division, within Vegapunk's laboratory.

Feeling the continuous tremors from the outside, as if the entire island were about to capsize, the ever-composed Vegapunk let out a soft chuckle.

"So this is what Arthur meant by... Marine Headquarters will inevitably fall into chaos?"

He recalled how confident Arthur had been, speaking with such certainty, as if he had known the outcome of this day more than a year ago.

Vegapunk had no interest in how Arthur knew about the impending riot. He glanced at the assistant beside him, then began to pack his things directly, without a moment's hesitation.

"Dr. Vegapunk, what are you planning to do?? It's extremely dangerous outside right now..." the assistant, who had been completely bought by the World Government, asked with a look of confusion.

"To escape this cage, of course," Vegapunk said calmly, picking up a stack of documents and setting them ablaze.

"NO!!" The assistant saw the priceless research materials being burned and panicked. "You can't do this!! The World Government has given you everything!"

"What I mean is, if you don't leave now, you won't be able to leave at all once he gets here," Vegapunk said, utterly unconcerned. The lighter in his hand completely incinerated the research in the lab, his expression one of serene ease.

"You can't do this!" The assistant's heart ached, his eyes burning with horrified rage.

If these materials were released to the public, they would cause a global catastrophe, drive countless people mad. This was super-technology hundreds of years ahead of its time.

Heartache aside, the assistant decisively pulled out a Den Den Mushi, connecting to the highest authority of the World Government, the Five Elders, to report Vegapunk's escape attempt.

But just then, an invisible wave swept through the entire laboratory. In an instant, all the electronic equipment was destroyed, electric arcs jumping. The Den Den Mushi made a "zzt-zzt" sound, its head lolled to the side, and it went dead.

"I told you, you should have left earlier... See? Now he's here, and you can't leave!" Vegapunk sneered.

He recognized this electromagnetic pulse at a glance. It was similar to the one Arthur had prepared to use before, only it seemed much stronger now.

"BOOM!!"

The words had barely left his mouth when the steel door of the laboratory was hit by a massive force. A deep footprint appeared on it before it crashed to the ground.

"Hahahaha, Vegapunk... you knew I would come?" Arthur laughed, clapping his hands as he walked in from outside the door, his gaze casually sweeping over the two people in the lab.

Along the way, all the surveillance Den Den Mushi had been destroyed by his enhanced pulse wave, and all the patrol soldiers had been knocked out. He had reached the lab with almost no effort at all.

"It wouldn't have mattered if you didn't come. I know where the World Government's bottom line is. As long as I don't cross it, they would never dare to lay a hand on me," Vegapunk said with utter composure, as if he were discussing something trivial.

A strategic asset like him was perhaps more valuable to the World Government than an Admiral. As long as he didn't seek death himself, no one would dare to touch him.

"In that case, let's go!" Arthur nodded, then glanced indifferently at the terrified, paralyzed assistant.

"What should we do with him?"

"Do as you please. He's an insignificant person anyway." A flicker of excitement finally appeared in Vegapunk's calm eyes.

To be monitored in everything he did, eating, sleeping, even going to the bathroom... if his mental fortitude wasn't strong enough, he would have collapsed long ago.

Now, finally seeing a glimmer of hope for escape, as long as he still possessed emotions and desires, he was bound to be excited.

He was immensely glad that he had once placed his bet on Arthur. Now, it had borne a wonderful fruit.

"Then let's leave him here to report to the World Government!" Arthur shot a cold glance at the assistant, and the man, whose will was already broken, fainted on the spot.

"You're leaving him? Aren't you afraid the World Government will come after you for this?" Vegapunk asked. He was empty-handed, carrying nothing but the white coat on his back.

"Afraid?? I just want to see how much the World Government values you, and just what kind of excitement that will bring me!"

The two chatted casually as they walked out of the now-darkened, electronics-fried laboratory.

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