The commotion from the brief clash quickly drew the attention of every soldier aboard the warship.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
A storm of footsteps surged across the deck.
One after another, soldiers clad in black Marine uniforms rushed forward, rifles in hand.
Yuuki descended slowly from the air, landing lightly on the pristine deck—completely unfazed by the dozens of gun barrels aimed straight at him.
"Don't move!"
"Who are you?!"
A squad leader barked sharply from among the encircling soldiers.
Yuuki ignored him.
Instead, he turned his gaze toward the cabin and smiled.
"A guest has come all this way, yet the host refuses to show himself… that's rather impolite, don't you think?"
Click.
The cabin door opened.
A tall figure with purple hair stepped out.
In an instant—
An invisible pressure spread across the deck, turning the air heavy and suffocating.
"Commander!"
"Commander!!"
Voices filled with respect and excitement rang out in unison.
The surrounding soldiers parted, forming a path.
The man stepped forward.
"Black Arm" Zephyr!
Though well past seventy, his physique remained powerfully built—his muscles firm, his presence overwhelming.
A legend rivaling Marine Hero Garp.
The commander of this fleet—
The Neo Navy.
Rumor had it that his right arm had once been destroyed and replaced with a seastone mechanical prosthetic.
But now—
his arm was whole again.
Clearly, the work of the Magic Eye Cross.
And it was precisely through that connection—
that Yuuki had tracked down this elusive force.
In truth, the seastone prosthetic had always been cumbersome, ill-suited to Zephyr's combat style.
Now that his arm had been restored—
his strength likely surpassed even what it had been in the film timeline.
Beside him stood a young woman.
She wore a black Marine-style coat, her long sea-blue hair cascading in waves. A purple top and black shorts completed her outfit.
Her sharp gaze locked onto Yuuki, full of vigilance.
Ain—user of the Age-Age Fruit (MODO MODO NO MI).
She possessed the ability to rewind the age of anything she touched by twelve years.
And she—
was Yuuki's true objective.
Among all Devil Fruits related to time—
only four existed:
The Slow-Slow FruitThe Age-Age FruitThe Toshi-Toshi Fruit (Jewelry Bonney)The Time-Time Fruit
He already had the Slow-Slow Fruit.
Ain stood before him with the Age-Age Fruit.
Bonney possessed the Toshi-Toshi Fruit.
Only the Time-Time Fruit remained unaccounted for.
Once wielded by Kozuki Toki—
now long gone.
Logically, it should have reappeared somewhere in the world.
Yet even with the intelligence network of Gran Tesoro—
no trace had surfaced.
Which meant only one thing—
That fruit might not even exist in this era.
After all, its power allowed travel into the future.
"Who are you?" Zephyr asked, arms crossed.
He showed neither anger nor impatience.
From the moment Yuuki stepped aboard—
his Observation Haki had already detected him.
He had only waited—
until Shuzo and Binz were defeated—
before appearing.
Yuuki smiled faintly.
He glanced at the soldiers surrounding him.
"Impressive. As expected of a former Admiral… a man who trained countless pillars of the Marines."
"Even your ability to shape these soldiers is worthy of praise."
Then his tone shifted.
"But, Zephyr… with strength like this alone—"
"dreaming of wiping out all pirates is nothing but wishful thinking."
BOOM—!
A crushing pressure descended instantly.
The air thickened—
as if solid.
Zephyr lowered his arms.
His black coat billowed as his gaze turned ice-cold.
"My name is Z now."
"And don't mention those useless Marines in front of me."
His voice hardened.
"I'll ask one last time."
"Who are you—and why are you here?"
Yuuki remained completely unaffected.
Still smiling, he replied:
"I forgot to introduce myself properly."
"I am the king of the maritime nation—Gran Tesoro."
He paused briefly.
"Come to think of it, your arm… was restored thanks to the Magic Eye Cross, wasn't it?"
The moment those words fell—
Ain's eyes widened.
Recognition.
And hostility.
"It's you—!"
"The captain of the Magic Eye Pirates!!"
Purple energy flared in her hands.
Around them—
every soldier's expression hardened.
Weapons raised.
Killing intent surged like a tide.
Everyone aboard this ship—
had abandoned the Marines alongside Zephyr.
And every single one of them—
harbored absolute hatred toward pirates.
To them—
this was a fight to the death.
Yuuki sighed lightly.
"I clearly introduced myself as a king…"
His attempt at diplomacy had been completely ignored.
The killing intent in the air had become almost tangible.
"A pirate… daring to step onto this ship?"
"Then die!!"
Zephyr vanished.
In an instant—
he appeared before Yuuki.
His arm, coated in Armament Haki—
crackled with violent purple energy—
as his fist crashed forward.
BOOM!!
The air itself compressed and exploded outward.
A strike capable of shattering mountains—
came roaring in.
And yet—
It stopped.
Right in front of Yuuki.
For the first time—
Zephyr's expression changed.
Fury.
Shock.
"You damned pirate…!"
"Is this the kind of underhanded trick you rely on?!"
His roar shook the deck.
Because—
Across the deck—
at the heart of every single person present—
a blade of light hovered silently.
Each one poised at their chest.
Ready to pierce their hearts at the slightest movement.
Too fast.
Too sudden.
No one had even reacted.
Ain leaned back slightly, cold sweat running down her forehead.
"…Too fast…"
She had only seen a flash—
and the blade was already there.
Even Observation Haki—
hadn't warned her in time.
"Light Magic: Judgment Blades."
Yuuki spread his hands slightly.
"Well then—shall we talk now, Zephyr?"
Creak…
Zephyr clenched his fist tightly.
His killing intent surged—
before slowly fading.
The Armament Haki on his arm receded.
He would not allow a repeat—
of that tragedy.
"Teacher…" Ain whispered, eyes filled with worry—and anger.
Yuuki clapped lightly.
Clap! Clap!
Two wooden chairs sprouted from the deck.
He sat down casually.
"Please."
Zephyr frowned—
glanced at his immobilized soldiers—
then sat down as well.
"…Not a Devil Fruit ability."
"This… is what you call magic?"
His gaze was sharp.
He had already witnessed its effects—
both on the battlefield at Sabaody—
and on his own restored arm.
"Remove your attack," Zephyr said coldly.
Yuuki shook his head.
"I'd rather not waste time fighting a battle whose outcome is already decided."
"I'm here to propose cooperation."
"With you… and the Neo Navy."
"Impossible!"
Ain shouted angrily.
"Teacher! Don't listen to him!"
"We will never compromise with pirates!"
Snap.
A vine burst from the deck—
binding her in place—
even gagging her.
"Mmph—!"
She struggled helplessly.
"Enough, Ain."
Zephyr spoke calmly.
She froze.
Then slowly—
relaxed.
For a brief moment—
she saw it.
The old Zephyr—
the teacher she once knew.
Before everything changed.
Before the massacre of his trainees.
Before the loss of his arm.
Before his obsession—
with eradicating every pirate.
Even knowing it was impossible—
she had chosen to follow him.
To the very end.
"Speak."
Zephyr said simply.
Yuuki smiled faintly.
"Z… no, Zephyr."
"With just this force—your goal is unattainable."
"You know that better than anyone."
"Separated from the World Government and the Marines… relying solely on willpower—"
"You will be swallowed by the sea."
"Your fate is already decided."
Silence fell across the deck.
Then—
Yuuki tilted his head slightly.
"Do you hear it?"
"The sound of the waves."
"The tide of a new era is rising."
"To confine yourselves to a single ship…"
"Is a waste."
He smiled.
"Neo Navy."
"That's a fine name."
"For eight hundred years—"
"The justice of the World Government and the Marines has long since rotted."
"They've become a disease."
"This world needs surgery."
"And we—"
"Will be the ones holding the scalpel."
His voice rang clear across the deck.
Shock.
Disbelief.
Silence.
Only Zephyr remained composed—
before letting out a cold laugh.
"Heh… a pirate who doesn't even understand justice dares to speak like this?"
"You're insane."
Yuuki chuckled.
"I told you—don't call me a pirate."
"I'm not one for empty talk."
"If you don't believe me… that's fine."
"I'll show you my sincerity."
He stood up.
"This meeting is just a greeting in advance."
Then—
he reached out—
toward Ain.
In the next instant—
she was in his grasp.
"What are you doing?!"
Zephyr's expression changed—
his aura flaring once more—
locking onto Yuuki.
(End of Chapter)
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