The wind scattered the smoke. Dust danced through the air.
"Isn’t this a very reasonable deal, Zephyr?"
Big Mom’s eyes—shaded beneath long lashes—were locked with interest on the slightly winded forr Marine Admiral in the distance. She giggled softly:
"I don’t want Darren’s life. I just want him to be my husband."
"Otherwise, you must realize—those four Marine brats won’t stand a chance against Shiki if this keeps up."
"And besides, facing both and Kaido at once... haven’t you about reached your limit?"
Big Mom wore a look of absolute confidence. Her voice carried a strange allure—almost magical in its persuasion.
She had little real interest in destroying Marine HQ. The reason she accepted Shiki’s offer to join forces was simple: she wanted to take Darren.
But what she hadn’t expected... was for this plan, which should’ve been effortless, to be obstructed by Zephyr—the forr Marine Admiral.
What surprised her even more was the strength he displayed. Even Big Mom found him troubleso to deal with.
Though she and Kaido had the upper hand, defeating Zephyr wouldn’t be quick—or painless.
And if Zephyr, in a desperate last stand, managed to seriously injure her... could she really trust Shiki not to turn on her in that mont?
They may have once shared the sa ship under the Rocks Pirates, technically "comrades." But how much trust or loyalty there truly was—only the heavens knew.
If trust had truly existed, the Rocks Pirates would never have been destroyed at God Valley.
Scorching wind howled across the broken earth.
Big Mom stood smiling, waiting patiently.
Kaido’s expression flickered—grim, uncertain. His grip on his kanabo tightened, loosened, then tightened again, murderous intent surging.
But just then, Zephyr suddenly ceased breathing heavily.
His cigar had long since burned to ash. He pulled another from his coat, lit it, and clenched it between his teeth.
"No. The ones who don’t understand... are you."
A faint smile tugged at Zephyr’s lips. Slowly, he lifted his head and removed his cracked sunglasses, revealing a pair of tiworn yet fiercely burning eyes.
A dark, imposing layer of Armant Haki once again flowed over his arms, like ink-black water drawn upward.
"Monsters are called monsters... because every single one of them possesses talent and willpower that rivals—or surpasses—yours."
He drew in a deep breath, straightened his spine, and opened his black-coated arms wide. As his aura surged, the Justice coat behind him billowed skyward without wind.
"Sakazuki..."
He stepped forward.
BOOM!!
In the distance, a crimson pillar of magma erupted toward the sky, as if answering his voice.
Zephyr took another step.
"Borsalino..."
A streak of golden light howled across the ground.
"Kuzan..."
Frost spread slowly over the far-off battlefield, ice crystals glittering in its wake.
With each step, Zephyr spoke a na. With each na, his voice grew firr, his eyes more resolute—overflowing with unwavering trust.
"And Darren."
At that mont, a lone figure rose from the shattered earth. Black hair drifting in the wind, eyes full of defiant strength.
Zephyr’s stride quickened into a run. He charged straight toward Big Mom and Kaido!
Each step shattered the ground beneath him, his montum surging skyward!
Though it was a charge of one man—he carried the force of a thousand troops!
"Young n called ’monsters’... and the new generation who follow justice without hesitation—"
Zephyr laughed boldly, cigar clenched in his teeth, a fierce curve tugging at his lips.
"They were never hothouse flowers!"
Through the keen perception of his Observation Haki, images blood vividly in his mind:
Gion, cleaving apart soul beasts with a single slash;
Tokikake, demolishing everything in his path;
Burning passion from Yamakaji’s fire;
Cold, calculated strikes from Onigumo;
Fierce, sweeping attacks from Doberman;
And Dalmation, a master of technique...
One by one, bloodied young figures hurled themselves into battle, blades drawn without fear—just like their predecessors—protecting the land beneath them, and the hos behind them.
"Each and every one of them is fighting. They are the future of the Marines!"
Zephyr laughed without restraint.
"As their teacher... I have never once doubted their strength!!"
Veins of blood rapidly crawled across the whites of his eyes. Grinning madly, he growled:
"Justice... leaves no room for compromise or negotiation!!"
"I was going to prepare a graduation mission at sea for them... but now that’s unnecessary."
In a flash, he was upon Big Mom and Kaido. His black-coated arms thundered forth like cannonballs, piercing the air and erupting in rings of violet-black shockwaves.
"This war—
—is their graduation exam!!"
BOOM!!
A massive column of dust and force surged skyward.
...
The ground trembled like a landslide approaching. Quakes rippled beneath their feet.
Darren stood tall, brow furrowed. His eyes instinctively flicked toward where Zephyr-sensei had charged.
Had the final showdown begun?
Zephyr was forty-four years old—still at the peak of his physical and combat capabilities. With his mastery of Armant Haki, holding off Big Mom and Kaido for a ti shouldn’t be impossible.
After all, Kaido at this point was not yet thirty—his power still climbing, far from the level of the future Yonko.
"Stop daydreaming. That old man’s got a hell of a life force."
A low, hoarse voice ca from the left.
Sakazuki walked out of a pillar of magma, eyes cold, gaze locked on the airborne Golden Lion. His entire arm stead, magma boiling.
"Our opponent... is that one."
His voice squeezed through gritted teeth, each word like a nail hamred through the air—filled with murderous intent.
"Looks like this ti... we really are fighting to the death."
From the right, Kuzan erged—half his body turned to ice, a visible breath of cold mist escaping his lips.
The playful, indifferent gleam in his eyes was gone. Replaced by a chill that even his ice couldn’t match.
"Well... he is one of the legendary great pirates."
From behind ca Borsalino’s leisurely drawl.
His face wore that sa languid smirk—but with an odd, eerie edge.
"Broke my shin with a kick. That’s... really scary."
His white trousers were stained with blood at the lower right leg.
Darren blinked at their expressions.
Then he laughed.
Those three... were serious now.
"Well then..."
He raised his head and offered a chilling smile toward the airborne Golden Lion, his gaze full of killing intent.
"Congratulations, Golden Lion... you’ve managed to piss off all four of us."
Arcs of blue lightning crackled across the surface of the young Commodore’s body.
"Now begins... round two."
---
To be continued...
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