"So it really is you, Issho!"
Zephyr squinted his eyes, somewhat displeased, and said:
"When we first met five years ago, I admired your strength greatly and invited you to join the Navy, but you refused me on the spot, which I always regretted."
"And now? Hey! And now that we meet again, you've fallen to the point of siding with Pirates!!!"
"Pirates?"
Fujitora furrowed his brows, casting a rather curious "look" at him.
Then, as if remembering something, he seemed a bit enlightened.
"No wonder Senior Zephyr would say such things. I've heard you've become increasingly indifferent to external affairs, dedicating all your energy to training Marines over the past few years?"
"And so what?"
Zephyr coldly snorted with arms crossed.
"Endgame has never been about Pirates, nor has Lord Shano ever stooped to acts of arson, murder, or theft."
Fujitora slowly shook his head, tapped the ground lightly with his Staff Blade, and took a few steps forward, "Along the way, the various deeds and feats cannot be concealed, no matter how much effort the World Government puts into smearing them. If you do a little private investigation, you can find out whether what I'm saying is true or false."
Zephyr was slightly stunned.
Several inexplicable fragments flashed through his mind; these were occasions when Garp mentioned Shano several times while drinking and praised him abundantly.
Moreover… based on his understanding of the blind Swordsman before him, the latter indeed wasn't the type to commit dastardly deeds.
But...
Human hearts can change.
The Issho he once knew was undoubtedly a chivalrous hero with a sense of justice back then, more admirable than many of his comrades in the Navy.
But today, that might not be the case.
Just like himself, now ruthless towards Pirates, but back in the day, wasn't he also called "the Grand Admiral who doesn't kill"?!
As for Garp's praises...
Hmph, that old fool is often confused, even praising Roger, a scoundrel, more than once, didn't he?
Untrustworthy!
"Stop your sophistry with me here! No matter what, acts that disrupt the order of this ocean are unforgivable. Being enemies with the government and the Navy is a sin!"
Zephyr clenched his fists tightly and shouted angrily, "Issho! Stop dreaming! The justice I uphold cannot be shaken by your trifling words!"
"Justice?"
Fujitora sighed softly, "The justice in your words; is it about rushing thousands of miles at all costs to save the Heavenly Celestial Dragon? This so-called path of justice, has it ever illuminated the cages of the auction house in Shampodi? Have those souls tormented by the Heavenly Celestial Dragon ever been heard?"
He suddenly raised his head, though blind, seemingly staring directly at Zephyr's soul:
"What Lord Shano did today is nothing more than to break the golden facade of these so-called gods before the world. If, in the eyes of the elder, that counts as a sin, then today…"
"I am willing to pave the way for this 'sin' with the blade in my hand!"
The Staff Blade suddenly unsheathed halfway!
Buzz!
A terrifying purple Gravity Wave instantly surged in all directions, causing the ocean to churn wildly, fiercely shaking all the warships, nearly capsizing them.
Twelve Supreme Great Blade, Yakuza Kasen!
"Damn it!"
After a momentary silence, Zephyr erupted in rage, Armament Haki once again enveloping his left arm, "The path of justice I uphold, you're not qualified to point it out, Issho! Since you're stubborn and insists on obstructing the Navy, I will personally awaken you!"
He slammed the deck and catapulted towards Fujitora like a cannonball, shooting out with his left fist, bearing the force to shatter mountains and split earth.
Fujitora showed no signs of panic on his face, fully unsheathing his Staff Blade, its blade surrounded by a purple halo, flicking upwards!
Boom!!!
Fist and blade collided, a terrifying shockwave sweeping away,
"Humph!"
Zephyr grunted, only to feel an eerie gravity passing through his fist, forcing his body to sink involuntarily.
He hastily activated Armament to resist, meanwhile charging his prosthetic right arm, launching a straight punch toward Fujitora's face.
Fujitora slightly tilted his head, dodging this strike, his Staff Blade pressing down, the purple light on the blade intensifying, and Zephyr only felt the pulling force from the ground abruptly increasing several times, his whole being was forcibly driven into the ground several inches!
"Gravity Blade·Fierce Tiger!"
With Fujitora's low shout, a purple-black Sword Qi burst forth, and the latter, pinned in place, unable to break free, could only roar and meet it with his fist.
Bang!
A loud explosion occurred, Zephyr being driven back dozens of meters, plowing two deep grooves in the pier's stone slabs with his feet, almost falling into the sea, before finally stabilizing himself.
"What an impressive Press-Press Fruit!"
Zephyr shook his numbed right arm, his expression narrowing in seriousness, "Such power with a casual strike, it seems you've made considerable advancements in strength over the years, Issho!"
On the distant warship.
Yamakaji and Strawberry exchanged glances, both perceiving the shock in each other's eyes.
Having followed Zephyr for years, they were well aware of the terrifying extent of their teacher's strength, even though his power had somewhat declined after that incident…
However, for someone to force their teacher back in a single move, gaining the upper hand, few in the world could achieve that!
In other words…
This blind swordsman's strength might have already reached Admiral Level!
This sounds somewhat absurd, yet it's an undeniable fact.
Endgame, unbeknownst to them, has already surged to possess two mighty figures standing at the pinnacle of the world!
"Senior Zephyr's prowess is still as remarkable as back then."
Fujitora's expression remained calm, "I truly do not wish to be enemies with the elder, but the elder is far too stubborn. Since that's the case, I reiterate, with me here, this path is impassable."