"Rear Admiral Rorschach! Please wait a moment, I'll send people into the houses right away to check if anyone is still inside!"
Iceburg watched as one figure after another soared into the sky, rapidly transported beyond the high walls.
The efficiency was simply astounding.
In the past, evacuating the citizens would take several hours. But with Rorschach's ability, it was done in mere minutes.
Hearing Iceburg's breathless voice as he chased after him from below, Rorschach, hovering in midair, simply smiled.
"No need! Iceburg-san, I told you, not a single person will be left behind. Trust me."
"Zzzt! Zzzt!"
"Buzz! Buzz!"
Thin silver-white arcs of electricity crackled from Rorschach, spreading in all directions, stretching across the skies of Water 7.
His Observation Haki, already surpassing that of ordinary people, combined with his lightning abilities, expanded to cover every building in the entire city.
Every single life force within the lower city—whether human or any other living creature—was mapped out clearly in Rorschach's perception.
Anywhere his Observation Haki locked onto, rushing air currents descended instantly, picking up the elderly who had trouble moving and the stubborn ones who refused to leave. Without hesitation, they were swept up and neatly delivered onto the wide streets of the upper city.
"Don't worry, Iceburg-san. Have you ever heard of Haki?"
Although he could hear Rorschach's words, Iceburg still looked uneasy.
Just as he was about to instruct Barry to organize a search of the lower city's houses, Hibari gracefully descended from the sky using Moonwalk, landing lightly in front of him. With a smile, she explained:
"Haki?" Iceburg asked, puzzled.
"Haki is…"
Hibari smiled and explained in detail.
After hearing her explanation, Iceburg let out a deep sigh of relief.
At the same time, his admiration for Rorschach grew.
That Marine youth looked so young, yet he wielded multiple extraordinary powers.
But what was truly admirable was that despite possessing strength far beyond ordinary people, he never looked down on them.
Iceburg could tell—Rorschach genuinely respected him.
Deeds matter more than intentions.
No matter what Rorschach truly thought in his heart, at least for now, his actions were unmistakably righteous!
Ten Minutes Later
Atop the High Walls
"Rear Admiral Rorschach, on behalf of everyone in Water 7, thank you for your help and for the Marines' support."
Iceburg spoke with solemn sincerity as he expressed his gratitude to Rorschach.
Hibari, seeing Rorschach being praised, looked absolutely proud.
However, Rorschach merely waved his hand, his expression still tense.
"Now is not the time for that, Iceburg-san. Focus on settling everyone in first. I have a bad feeling… This tsunami is going to be terrifying."
He turned his head, gazing at the increasingly darkening sky, then at the pitch-black sea.
His Observation Haki, empowered by his lightning abilities, stretched to its absolute limits.
Yet, even now, he could not pinpoint the exact location of the tsunami.
Still, an overwhelming sense of danger gnawed at his mind.
This was the sixth sense of a master of Observation Haki.
His instructor, Zephyr, had once said:
"When this sixth sense reaches its peak and can be controlled at will, you will have achieved the power to 'foresee the future'—the ultimate level of Observation Haki."
It was an ability even harder to master than advanced Armament Haki.
Seeing Rorschach's serious demeanor, Iceburg immediately understood the gravity of the situation.
In fact, he didn't need Rorschach to say anything.
He had already received reports from Queen Spring Castle indicating that this tsunami would be several times stronger than any from previous years.
Without hesitation, he swiftly gathered all of Water 7's residents and relocated them to the city hall for shelter.
By the time he finished, more than an hour had passed.
Returning to the High Walls
When Iceburg, panting heavily, finally reached the top of Water 7's great walls, the scene before him sent an icy chill down his spine, as if he had fallen into a frozen abyss.
For a man known for his composure, his entire body stiffened in place.
And he wasn't the only one.
Every single person standing on the high walls was frozen like statues, staring out toward the sea with expressions of utter despair.
Even Rob Lucci, Kaku, and the other CP9 members were unable to remain calm.
Ror tightly gripped his sword, Kikoku, his fingers turning white from the pressure. His gaze was fixed on the horizon where the sea met the sky—a rolling black line was surging forward at terrifying speed, growing larger and larger.
When the black line reached a distance of a thousand meters from Water 7, its horrifying form was fully revealed.
It was a colossal wave, towering like a mountain stretching across the boundless ocean.
A tsunami of apocalyptic proportions!
The crest of the wave, hundreds of meters high, roared and surged forward!
Even before the tsunami reached the shores of Water 7, the entire ocean had already fallen into utter chaos, boiling with violent turbulence.
Everyone could feel the ground beneath them trembling.
Before this world-ending disaster, the entire city of Water 7 shivered like an insect trying to stop a cart.
"H-Hey… this has to be a joke, right?"
With a thud, Barry fell to his knees, clutching his hair, his face twisted in horror as he let out a cry of despair.
"The peak of that wave… it's higher than the fountain at the top of Water 7! We're finished! Even the highest points of the upper city will be submerged! Everyone is going to drown!"
"A tsunami of this magnitude will pulverize even the strongest stone fortresses like they're nothing! We… we have…"
Ror clenched his teeth, forcing the words out, one by one:
"N-o w-a-y t-o e-s-c-a-p-e!"
"Lucci!"
Kaku's face had turned pale. He couldn't help but call out softly to the man standing in front of him.
Lucci remained silent. His eyes were locked onto one figure—the Marine boy standing at the very front.
The white pigeon perched on Lucci's shoulder turned its head, flapped its wings, and muttered:
"Didn't you say that humans can always triumph over nature? Well then, let's see you stop a world-ending disaster."
Hibari's face had also lost some color. Watching the monstrous wave draw closer and closer, an overwhelming sense of fear crept into her heart.
But… the sight of that unwavering figure standing before her gave her strength.
"Rear Admiral Rorschach!!"
Suddenly, Iceburg let out a beast-like wail from deep in his throat.
"Please! Use your power… and take away the children of Water 7!"
"Iceburg…"
Barry, Zanbai, and the others shuddered. They turned back, staring at Iceburg—who had collapsed to his knees, his eyes red with desperation.
"The children who haven't grown up yet… they are the future of Water 7! They cannot die here! Take them and leave! This city… we will hold it!"
"Iceburg-san!"
"Mayor Iceburg!"
Hearing his hoarse, nearly begging screams, Barry, Zanbai, Pauly, and the others were already in tears.
"RUMBLEEEEE!"
A thousand meters away—in the blink of an eye!
The sky-darkening wave let out a thunderous roar, as if the entire sky itself was collapsing, bearing down upon Water 7!
The beautiful floating city, standing tall on the sea for over 800 years, let out a mournful tremor in the face of the monstrous wave's deafening wrath.
"Rear Admiral Rorschach! Take the children and run!"
From behind, desperate cries erupted—Iceburg, Barry, Zanbai, Pauly… all screaming with everything they had.
Rorschach unbuttoned his coat, gently placed his snow-white Marine cape into Hibari's hands, then turned his head and flashed a toothy grin.
"Iceburg-san, I told you… today, not a single person will die!"
(End of Chapter)
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