"Target spotted!"
A massive pirate ship drifted across the sea.
Its hull was crude and savage in design, the figurehead carved into the snarling skull of a Tyrannosaurus. The flag bore a motif reminiscent of a prehistoric predator—evoking the aura of a lost age.
The deck was packed with pirates wielding blades and rifles. Cannon ports lined the hull like the fangs of a beast.
At the forefront stood a man in a black coat, wearing an unusual headpiece. A dark mask covered the upper half of his face, while two rows of sharp teeth were visible between his lips.
In his hand was a strange weapon—part meteor hammer, part chained sickle.
Hanevza.
Captain of the Tyrant Dragon Pirates.
A notorious pirate of the New World with a bounty of 420,000,000 Berries. In this era, such a bounty was no small matter.
More importantly—
He possessed what was hailed as the strongest Ancient Zoan-type Devil Fruit.
The Ryu Ryu no Mi, Ancient Model: Tyrannosaurus.
There was no denying it—
He was powerful.
A pirate of his caliber belonged in the New World.
And yet—
Here he was, in the first half of the Grand Line.
"Enemy in sight!"
At his subordinate's shout, Hanevza lifted his head.
His beast-like gaze locked onto a distant speck upon the sea.
As it grew larger, its silhouette became clear—
A Marine Headquarters warship.
The seagull flag of justice fluttered high.
Hanevza's lips curled into a cold smile.
"Move."
Just two words.
Over two hundred battle-hardened pirates sprang into action.
Veterans of the New World, each with considerable strength.
The massive pirate ship surged forward aggressively toward the Marine vessel carrying newly graduating recruits.
Almost instantly, the Marine warship spotted them.
Though the recruits were still riding the high of completing their final assessment, Zephyr had drilled one lesson into them relentlessly:
Never lower your guard.
The lookout sounded the alarm.
The laughter vanished.
Blades were drawn. Rifles loaded.
Zephyr leapt from the rear deck to the bow in a single bound.
His coat bearing the bold kanji for "Justice" billowed behind him.
Behind his sunglasses, his eyes sharpened.
"The Tyrant Dragon Pirates! A crew with a combined bounty exceeding one billion Berries!"
His pupils tightened.
He had not expected such an enemy here.
A deep unease followed.
In his prime, repelling them would not have been difficult.
But he was older now.
Far from his peak.
And protecting his students—
That was the true challenge.
They had come all the way from the New World.
This was no coincidence.
"Full alert! That's the Tyrant Dragon Pirates of the New World! Do not underestimate them! Gunners—take aim! The moment they enter range, fire!"
Zephyr's greatest asset was his experience.
Though inexperienced, these recruits possessed something invaluable—
Foolish courage.
Youthful pride.
They did not yet fear monsters of the sea.
But Zephyr knew better.
Hanevza was dangerous.
It was said he had once clashed evenly with a rising star of the former Rocks Pirates—
Kaido.
And with Kaido's current strength—
Even Zephyr would not claim certain victory.
The cannons roared.
The Marines unleashed a relentless barrage.
Shells rained down upon the advancing pirate ship.
Explosions erupted across the sea, waves crashing violently—
Yet the colossal vessel pressed forward undeterred.
Several shells flying toward it were cleaved apart midair by a massive chained sickle.
The weapon's chain extended outward, intercepting every shot flawlessly.
At the bow of the pirate ship stood Hanevza himself.
"Zephyr! None of you are leaving alive today!"
Even Zephyr could no longer recall what grievance lay between them.
He had crushed too many pirates to remember.
But Hanevza remembered clearly.
It wasn't just between two men.
It involved three.
Years ago—
Zephyr had led his prized disciple, Roldy—
That monstrous human battering ram—
And obliterated the crew Hanevza once belonged to.
Back then, Hanevza had been nothing more than an ordinary combatant.
His bounty had not even equaled Roldy's daily expenses.
He survived.
But the shadow remained.
He possessed the so-called king among Ancient Zoans—
The Tyrannosaurus.
And like Roldy, he wielded Conqueror's Haki.
Yet Roldy had crushed him utterly—
Overpowering his greatest pride: his physical strength.
Thrown aside like trash.
Neither master nor disciple had spared him a glance.
That humiliation shackled him.
His Conqueror's Haki stagnated.
And according to the intelligence he gathered—
The only way to break through—
Was to confront the fear within his heart.
Yes.
He feared Roldy.
But today—
That would end.
The massive sickle lashed forward like a reaper's summons.
Though the ships were far apart, the chain extended over a hundred meters, hooking toward the Marine warship with terrifying force.
The sheer momentum suggested it could rip straight through the hull.
"Impudent!"
Zephyr roared.
He launched into the air and threw a punch.
One strike.
His fist, coated in Armament Haki, smashed the hook aside.
Though Hanevza's weapon was also hardened with Armament Haki—
It was inferior.
When he retracted it, his eyes widened.
Cracks had formed along the blade.
This was a weapon he had nurtured daily with Haki for years.
"Impressive, Zephyr… former Marine Admiral."
Hanevza grinned.
"But how many can you protect?"
"You can't save anyone."
"Bring the ship alongside them!!!"
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