Whoosh!
"Three Sword Style Secret Technique: Great Three Thousand Worlds, Three Thousand Realms of Severance!"
Zoro's three blades, coated in powerful Armament Haki, descended with terrifying force. The swords released a chilling brilliance as the attack cleaved downward through the sky.
Crack!!!
A vast and razor sharp wave of sword energy tore forward, leaving a dark trail across the air as it collided directly with the massive lightning spear unleashed by Cero.
Zzzzzzz!!!
Sword intent and thunder clashed head on, destructive force meeting overwhelming lightning like divine judgment striking against a reaper's blade.
Boom!!!!!!
The sea exploded violently.
A chaotic shockwave spread across the ocean, sending towering waves outward. Even the distant merchant ship was pushed back by the impact, seawater crashing over its deck and extinguishing the lingering flames.
"W what is that?!"
The surviving women aboard the merchant ship trembled as they stared toward the distant battlefield. Lightning storms and flashing sword energy twisted together at the center of the explosion.
It was fear born from instinct, the terror humans felt when facing power capable of ending their lives instantly.
"Quick! There are survivors there! Where did Admiral Cero go this time?!"
A Marine warship rapidly approached through the smoke filled sea.
Whoosh!
Using Moonwalk, Vice Admiral Doll landed lightly on the damaged merchant ship. Her sharp gaze immediately locked onto the violent energy storm raging far away.
She turned toward the survivors.
"What happened here? Did you see an Admiral with his upper body uncovered?"
"Y yes… that Admiral saved us."
Danica nodded nervously and pointed toward the distant explosion.
"He went over there. He's fighting someone."
"Someone capable of fighting Admiral Cero like that…?"
Vice Admiral Dore narrowed her eyes as powerful shockwaves continued spreading across the sea.
"Such overwhelming sword energy."
Even among Marine Vice Admirals skilled with blades, none could release power at this level. Whoever the opponent was, their strength had clearly reached Admiral class.
Still, the concern in Doll's heart quickly faded.
In her understanding, Cero already stood among the most terrifying fighters in the world.
Even if he failed to defeat an enemy, almost no one could truly defeat him either.
After all, speed itself was power.
Only two Marines possessed movement approaching light itself, Kizaru and Cero.
Against such speed, most powerful fighters could not even land a hit.
"Marine… can I become one like you?"
Danica gathered her courage and spoke again.
Vice Admiral Dore looked at her briefly before nodding.
"You can, as long as you pass Marine recruitment."
Her expression then grew serious.
"But first, why was your merchant ship sailing through this area?"
"We were transporting goods to the Syri Islands, Bashar Kingdom…"
Danica's voice trembled as she looked at the bodies scattered across the deck.
"The kingdom recently fell into civil war after a coup. The nobles wanted to join the World Government, while the King supported joining the Sky Island Alliance."
"The nobles led most of the population and launched a rebellion to overthrow the King."
"In the end, the King's supporters escaped using aerial ships sent by the Sky Island Alliance and were taken to a newly built Sky Island."
"Because of the war, most stored grain was destroyed. The nobles hired sea merchants like us to deliver food… but they refused safer sky transport and insisted on sea routes."
"Syri Islands, Bashar Kingdom…"
Vice Admiral Doll crossed her arms thoughtfully.
"I've heard the nobles there worship the sky as a sacred realm. They believe only the pure may enter it after death."
"So when the King attempted to build a Sky Island and allow common citizens to live there, opposition exploded."
Realizing the situation involved the Sky Island Alliance, Doll silently considered reporting the matter to Marine Headquarters.
Crack! Crack!
At the center of the destroyed sea, unstable energy still surged violently.
Splash!
"Haa… haa…"
Zoro emerged from beneath the seawater, breathing heavily. Four sword sheaths rested at his waist while one blade remained firmly in his hand.
His eyes scanned the surroundings with caution.
Then a familiar voice sounded behind him.
"Yo, you've gotten much stronger."
Whoosh!
Zoro's eyes sharpened instantly.
"As expected."
The moment the voice reached him, he kicked off the sea surface and rose into the air using Moonwalk.
"One Sword Style Iai: Gray Wolf Howl!"
A sharp slash burst forward, accompanied by the faint echo of a wolf's howl as the attack cut toward the speaker.
The strike missed.
The slash traveled far across the sky before crashing into the ocean.
Bang!!
A massive trench split the sea before waves rushed back to fill it.
"Hey, hey! Zoro, do you have to go that far? You almost killed me."
Lightning flickered as Cero appeared nearby, smiling casually.
"And the smell of blood on your swords is intense. Looks like you've fought plenty during the past six months."
"Hmph. I knew it was you."
After confirming the familiar expression beneath the Admiral identity, Zoro finally sheathed his blade. A faint grin appeared on his face.
"Shirogai… how did you become an Admiral?"
Cero laughed, grabbing Zoro by the collar as lightning gathered around them.
"It's a long story. Let's talk somewhere quieter."
Whoosh!
A streak of silver lightning crossed the sky and vanished toward a small island in the distance.
Syri Islands, Bashar Kingdom
A nation consumed by civil war.
Deep inside a hidden cave, dim firelight flickered against rough stone walls.
"The rebel factions keep fighting each other. Food supplies are almost gone. If merchants stop coming, the civilians will starve."
A messy haired man with a long nose studied a map spread across a table, thinking intensely.
"What I need to do next is…"
Footsteps echoed outside the cave.
Several thin civilians entered respectfully, carrying heavy grain sacks.
"Divine Envoy Sniper King! Your prediction was correct! We found the grain hidden in Count Holmes' secret cellar!"
"Well done!"
Relief spread across the long nosed man's face as he looked at the food supplies.
"Now everyone can survive a few more days."
Under the firelight, one detail became clear.
He only had his left arm.
The sleeve on his right side hung empty.