Phoenix Reborn In One Piece

Akainu's warship didn't come ashore. It stopped on the water not far from the beach.

"Just a bunch of pirates, but not scared at all. You see the Fleet Admiral and don't even think about running?" Akainu stared at the Dream Team with eyes like sharp knives, full of scorn.

He knew the Dream Team was powerful.

But he didn't care. After all, they had made a fool out of him before, and this time, he was here to make them pay.

He was purposely trying to provoke them.

His goal this time was to prove once and for all that the Dream Team were pirates. To make that happen, he was even willing to sacrifice the soldiers on his ship.

As long as he survived, that would be enough.

Then news would spread across the seas: the Dream Team had slaughtered the Marines.

As for whether he could survive—he already had a plan. The moment the fight started, the ship's communication officer would immediately call for Kizaru to back him up.

This spot wasn't far from Marine HQ. With Kizaru's speed, he should be able to get here pretty fast.

And when that happened, with Kizaru's power plus his own, even if the Dream Team had Four Emperors-level strength, they still wouldn't stand a chance.

That was the plan behind this move.

Back on shore, everyone in the Dream Team except Ryuen looked visibly angry after hearing what Akainu said.

This was the first time someone had called them pirates to their face.

"Akainu."

"I knew you were arrogant, but I didn't think you were *this* full of yourself. You just became Fleet Admiral and already it's gone to your head," Ryuen said calmly as he stared at Akainu.

Something's off.

Ryuen could feel it—Akainu was definitely up to something.

He used his Observation Haki to scan outward from their camp in all directions, trying to see if anyone else was hiding in the area.

But he didn't sense anyone nearby.

That could only mean one thing:

Whatever plot there was, it had to be coming from Akainu himself.

After Ryuen finished speaking, Akainu could tell that Ryuen was looking down on him—but he didn't seem to care.

"As the Fleet Admiral of the Marines, it's my duty to wipe out all pirates—and that includes you, Dream Exploration Team," Akainu said coldly, staring hard at Ryuen.

Since the Dream Exploration Team clearly wasn't on the World Government's side, Akainu, as a Marine, could only see them as enemies.

Even if he had once felt a bit of respect for this young group.

The moment Akainu finished speaking—

Everyone from the Dream Team looked even colder. If Ryuen gave the order, they would rush forward and beat Akainu down without hesitation.

Ryuen's half-closed eyes were sharp like lightning, locked onto Akainu without blinking.

Something was off.

He could feel it—Akainu's two statements were clearly meant to provoke them.

But why? What would Akainu gain by making them angry? Even if, like Sengoku said, Akainu planned to fight him after handling the Majiatzka Kingdom incident…

Why waste time with these taunts instead of just attacking?

"Dream Exploration Team? I bet you're just using that name to cover up your dirty work!"

"Hahaha! People say you're as strong as the Four Emperors? What a joke—what a load of nonsense!"

"Just as I thought, pirates are all the same. You'll say anything to boost your reputation—even if it's a big fat lie."

"People say you care about others, but I bet you only saved those orphans because you had some shady plan!"

"Exactly!"

"Four Emperors? You're just a bunch of clueless kids if you ask me!"

"Totally agree!"

...

Just as Akainu had planned, the soldiers on the warship started shouting insults without holding back. Their goal was clear—to push the Dream Team past their limit.

And sure enough, when they heard those filthy words, everyone in the team exploded with anger like a volcano.

"Ryuen!"

A cold voice cut through the tension.

Kuina turned to look at Ryuen, and the others followed.

But...

They noticed something strange about his expression. Ryuen didn't look angry—he looked like he was watching an amusing scene.

That's not right.

The moment they saw that look on Ryuen's face, everyone in the team realized something was wrong with the Marines' behavior.

In just a split second—

Everyone, who had been burning with rage just a moment ago, now looked serious and alert.

They weren't afraid of a head-on fight. What worried them was a trap or hidden scheme. They had just scored a win against the Marines—they couldn't afford to slip up now.

"Nami, take Sugar and Reinainto the alternate space," Ryuen said quietly.

"Got it," Nami replied.

She waved her hand to the right, opening a portal. She quickly stepped through it with Sugar and Reina. Everything from the camp was pulled in too.

But before Nami stepped inside, Ryuen whispered something in her ear.

Akainu's face darkened like the calm before a storm.

He hadn't expected that even after everything, the Dream Team still didn't strike back.

This filled him with confusion and anger. Had these people really lost all pride and dignity as a group said to rival the Four Emperors?

After all, the Marines had just humiliated them in front of everyone!

"Meteor Volcano!"

Just then, Akainu suddenly made his move.

With a wave of his arms, massive fists of lava shot out like meteors, blazing with heat and power, heading straight for the Dream Exploration Team's camp.

The lava fists looked like burning meteors tearing through the sky, carrying a sense of total destruction.

*Creak—*

A giant space portal suddenly opened above the camp—large enough to cover the entire area! Every single lava fist that was about to hit the camp got sucked into Nami's alternate space in an instant!

Seeing this, Akainu kicked off from the deck of the battleship and shot toward the shore like a bolt of lightning, aiming straight for the Dream Exploration Team's camp!

"Great Fire Burst!" a loud voice roared.

At the same moment Akainu attacked, flames burst from Ryuen's body—dark red and burning hot!

The rest of the Dream Exploration Team quickly moved away from the camp.

Boom!

As Akainu's lava surged toward Ryuen, Ryuen had already transformed into his hybrid form. The ice beneath his feet started melting and steaming under the heat of his flames!

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