Chapter 32: Chapter 32: "A Promise to the World"
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William's eyes flicked to the newly arrived admiral, Kizaru, who stood lazily amidst the battlefield as if the chaos and destruction meant nothing to him. His yellow coat swayed gently, and his half-lidded eyes sparkled with the reflection of magma, destruction, and fire. But even as Kizaru stood there, practically oozing indifference, William knew better than to underestimate him. Akainu, already battered and bloodied from their fight, was still a deadly opponent, and now with Kizaru here, the odds were too dangerous.
He wasn't scared, though. Fear was not something William had known in years. After everything he had faced, from the arena to the horrors of Ohara, fear had no place in his heart. But he was realistic. He couldn't take on two admirals—not yet.
What mattered most now was protecting the three sisters. They were his weakness. He wouldn't let them fall here, not when they had escaped so much suffering. He had to get them out.
William straightened his massive, towering hybrid dragon form, the golden glow of his scales reflecting the magma and fire that surrounded him. His reptilian eyes fixed on the two admirals.
"My name is Kael D. William," he said, his voice deep, like the growl of a beast, carrying with it the weight of his resolve. He looked from Akainu to Kizaru, making sure they both understood the gravity of what he was about to say. "I will make you regret what you did to Ohara."
Akainu's magma fist burned fiercely, yet his expression betrayed an unease. Kizaru's casual smirk faded ever so slightly.
"I will kill every last one of those celestial pigs," William continued, his voice turning colder. "And I will end the tyranny and injustice of the World Government. This is not a threat… this is a promise."
As soon as the words left his mouth, a tremendous surge of power exploded from him, radiating outward in a titanic wave. It was his Conqueror's Haki, and it was devastating.
The battlefield trembled beneath the weight of his will. The sky above Mary Geoise cracked, dark clouds swirling into a frenzy as violent bolts of lightning flashed across the heavens. The winds howled, as if the world itself responded to the outpouring of William's rage and determination. The sheer force of his Haki shook the ground, rippling through the stone structures of the Holy Land, and every living creature around felt its suffocating pressure.
Akainu and Kizaru, hardened veterans of war and battle, found themselves slightly unnerved by the sheer force of it. For a brief moment, even they stood still, feeling the strength of William's unyielding spirit.
But to their shock, it wasn't just William's Haki that filled the battlefield.
From behind William, Hancock let out a gasp, her eyes widening as a similar force surged from her. Her own Conqueror's Haki exploded into the air, intertwining with William's. She hadn't fully awakened it before, but under the sheer magnitude of William's presence, her power surfaced. The combined force of their Haki sent a ripple across the land, knocking out weaker Marines and agents who couldn't withstand the intensity.
The two admirals were stunned. Kizaru's eyes opened fully for the first time, while Akainu's expression darkened further, the realization of William's growing danger sinking in.
"Conqueror's Haki…" Akainu muttered, his voice laced with disgust. "Both of them."
William, sensing their distraction, quickly turned to the sisters. "It's time for you girls to go," he said, walking toward them.
"What do you mean? what about you?" Hancock protested, her voice firm with a mixture of fear and determination. "We're not leaving without you!" She wasn't willing to abandon him, not after everything they had gone through together.
William knelt in front of her, his towering hybrid dragon form dwarfing her petite frame. His reptilian eyes softened, and with a tenderness that was out of place in the middle of such chaos, he pressed his forehead gently to hers. The heat of his scales felt like warmth against her skin, a stark contrast to the destruction around them.
"Trust me," William whispered, his voice quiet but resolute. "I won't let anything happen to you girls. You're my priority right now. And don't worry, nothing will happen to me."
Hancock's cheeks flushed, her heart pounding in her chest. But she nodded, trusting him completely.
William kissed her forehead, a brief, tender gesture that made Hancock's blush deepen. She tried to hide her face, but the moment wasn't lost on her sisters.
"Well, that's new," Sandersonia teased, trying to lighten the mood, though the gravity of the situation still weighed on her.
"Enough," William said with a smirk. "Now get inside."
Reluctantly, Hancock, Sandersonia, and Marigold stepped into William's space pocket. The small spatial dimension wasn't the safest place for a long stay but it was enough for them to stay hidden for a while. William closed the pocket, ensuring their safety for now.
Only then did Akainu and Kizaru snap back to their senses. The two admirals exchanged a glance, realizing that William wasn't planning to continue fighting. His priority was escaping with the sisters. Akainu's fists burned with renewed fury, magma dripping from his knuckles as he raised his arm to strike.
"We can't let him go!" Akainu roared, launching forward with all his might. "He's a threat to the World Government! He must be killed here and now!"
Kizaru, now fully serious, prepared to engage as well. "Oh dear, he's quite the troublesome one, isn't he?"
William's eyes flashed. He had accomplished what he needed to. There was no point in staying any longer and risking the lives of Hancock and her sisters. He could feel their Haki and determination, but they weren't ready for this level of fight—not yet.
As the two admirals prepared to strike, William's dragon wings unfurled to their full length, and with one powerful beat, he shot into the sky, flames igniting around him as he escaped with the sisters hidden safely inside his pocket dimension.
"Kiazru, you're fast; don't let him escape." Akainu said with urgency.
"That is scary. Akainu, are you trying to get me killed?" Kizaru pretended to be frightened, then he looked at Akainu up and down like he was an idiot and said, "Look at what the kid has done to you. Do you think I can stop him alone?"
Akainu ignored the lazy Kizaru and muttered through clenched teeth. "We'll meet again, Kael D. William," he clenched his fists, magma bubbling from his arms, "and next time, you won't escape."
The two admirals could only watch as William vanished into the stormy sky, his promise of vengeance still ringing in their ears. Akainu clenched his fists in fury, magma dripping from his arms, as Kizaru sighed, looking up lazily at the now empty sky.
But the damage had already been done. William's promise had been made, and the storm he was about to unleash on the World Government had only just begun.