The massive pirate ship surged forward like a moving sea fortress, crashing toward Zephyr's warship.
Marine vessels were well-built—but the enemy ship was enormous, its vital sections reinforced with iron plating. At full speed, the impact was devastating.
The Marine cannons roared relentlessly, shells raining down as if ammunition were free.
Yet the pirate ship endured.
Then—
The two warships collided.
The decks shook violently, as though struck by an earthquake. Both crews staggered to maintain their footing.
The pirates chose the most reckless method possible.
The moment they stabilized themselves, chains were hurled outward. Massive iron hooks latched onto the Marine railings.
Elite pirates from the New World charged forward like madmen.
"Kill!"
A pirate leapt high into the air, dragging a blade larger than his entire body and slashing down viciously at a Marine.
Clang!
The Marine calmly drew his standard-issue saber and blocked the attack with ease.
"What?!"
The pirate's face changed.
The young Marine grinned.
"Don't look down on me! I'm going to become a future Marine Headquarters officer! With your strength? You're not even close!"
The Marines had underestimated the pirates.
Fresh from victory, newly graduated.
But the pirates had underestimated them just as much.
They saw only "recruits."
What could recruits possibly do?
What they didn't know—
Every student trained by Zephyr had a minimum future rank of Marine officer.
And every class produced several standouts—
Some even rising to Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral.
The clash devolved into brutal close-quarters combat.
Blades met steel.
Blood spilled with every passing moment.
Zephyr's teaching spoke for itself.
Several recruits had already awakened Armament Haki.
Individually formidable and working in seamless coordination, they inflicted heavy losses on the pirates.
Watching this, Hanevza's expression darkened.
He hadn't traveled this far to donate merit to Zephyr.
"Die!"
The Tyrant Dragon Pirates' vice-captain roared, his blade slicing across a Marine's throat.
The young soldier collapsed, eyes filled with unwillingness and pain.
"Amir!"
"Damn pirates! I'll kill you all!"
"Revenge for our fallen comrades!"
The Marines suffered casualties.
The death of a comrade ignited the recruits' blood.
Zephyr's eyes widened in fury.
Every student was precious—
Carefully nurtured pillars of justice with bright futures ahead.
"Finally stepping in, Zephyr?"
Hanevza licked his lips.
Neither commander had entered the fray immediately.
Both had been waiting for the other to reveal an opening.
And now—
Zephyr's anger had created one.
Even if his crew suffered heavy losses, it didn't matter.
As long as Zephyr faltered—
The advantage would be his.
The iron chain shot out like a serpent.
The massive sickle its deadly fang.
Hanevza aimed precisely at Zephyr's perceived blind spot.
But—
The result wasn't what he expected.
Did it hit?
His pupils shrank.
It had—
But only an afterimage.
Fast.
Too fast.
In the instant of his hesitation—
A sharp gust tore toward the back of his head.
Hanevza's face changed drastically.
He barely had time to coat his skull in Armament Haki and turn—
Then—
Boom!
In this world, logic meant nothing.
Zephyr's fist struck like a cannon blast.
The elderly former Marine Admiral demonstrated his terrifying might.
Both attacks were coated in Armament Haki—
Yet the difference was overwhelming.
Zephyr remained expressionless.
Hanevza's eyes rolled back.
His head rang as though giant bells were tolling inside his skull.
Stars danced before his vision—in broad daylight.
He flew backward miserably, crashing through multiple bodies before slamming into his own ship's mast.
The mast snapped.
He embedded deeply into the wreckage, gasping for air before regaining his senses.
"As expected… Zephyr…"
Fear flickered in his eyes.
Those damned intelligence brokers had said Zephyr was old, weakened, barely a shadow of himself.
Lies.
Completely unreliable.
"But…"
Hanevza lowered his stance.
A feral roar erupted from his throat.
His body began to swell.
From six meters—
To nine.
A thick tail lashed out from behind him.
His teeth sharpened like daggers.
His legs grew thicker, more powerful.
Green scales spread across his body, rough and dense, exuding immense defensive power.
His pupils turned brown.
He now resembled a humanoid Tyrannosaurus.
Ryu Ryu no Mi, Ancient Model: Tyrannosaurus — Full Beast Form.
The so-called king of Ancient Zoans.
A primal aura burst forth—
The very presence alone froze the blood of ordinary Marines.
It was instinct.
The terror of facing a lifeform far superior to oneself.
"Today… none of you are leaving."
Bathed in the power of his fruit, Hanevza's confidence surged.
Zephyr responded coldly.
"Just a green lizard. Even Kaido wouldn't dare bark like that in front of me."
He slowly removed his coat.
Revealing a body honed to lethal precision.
Calmly, he rolled up his sleeves.
The former Marine Admiral stepped forward—
Standing before his students.
Just like he always had.
Only this time—
He seemed much older.
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