All around the island, chaos had begun to spread.
Marines were evacuating at full speed, running for their lives as alarms blared across Egghead, their formations completely broken as they rushed toward the ships. Orders were being shouted, boots slammed against the ground, and the tension in the air was suffocating—because everyone knew exactly what was coming next.
A Buster Call.
Back at the center, Vegapunk stood his ground.
He didn't move.
Didn't step back.
He simply stared up at Saint Saturn, refusing to look away as he spoke, his voice firm despite everything happening around them, telling him to revoke the order—Egghead Island was the future of humanity.
Meanwhile, the others were already moving.
Running.
Atlas carried Kuma carefully despite his massive size, her expression focused as she pushed forward. Sanji held Ryo securely, his pace fast but controlled, while Franky carried Bonney, keeping her close as they all headed toward the same destination.
The rear entrance.
The only way out.
Back with Saturn, Vegapunk kept trying.
Kept pushing.
But the elder wouldn't listen.
A Vice Admiral approached, urgency clear in her voice as she reported that they needed to leave immediately. The situation was escalating too quickly.
Saturn didn't even look at her.
His gaze remained locked on Vegapunk as he spoke, calm and absolute, saying that he and Kizaru would remain here, that preparations would continue without pause, and then the attack would commence.
The Vice Admiral hesitated, unsure.
But Kizaru spoke up.
Telling her to go.
She saluted immediately and ran, disappearing into the chaos with the rest of the marines.
Vegapunk's voice softened slightly then, though his resolve didn't waver. He acknowledged that they had come to kill him—something he clearly didn't mind anymore—but pleaded for something else instead.
The island.
He asked them to spare it.
Because with or without him, Egghead held the most advanced research in the world. Every field. Every discovery. Everything humanity had built toward.
If it was destroyed—
It would set the world back a century.
He asked again.
Told Saturn to revoke the Buster Call.
Then, slowly, his eyes shifted.
Landing on Kizaru.
For the first time, there was something more than logic behind his words.
He asked him to help.
And for a brief moment—
Kizaru showed it.
Something real.
Something human.
His expression shifted slightly.
Then—
He turned away.
