Dark clouds blanketed the sky.
Thin droplets of rain had already begun to fall.
The sea wind howled across the open waters of East Blue.
The waves rolled violently, rising and crashing without end.
"It's going to rain!"
"Quick! Furl the sails!"
On the deck of the Marine warship, Fran shouted orders to the sailors.
"Move it! Secure the rigging!"
Judging by the dark storm clouds gathering overhead, this would not be a simple drizzle.
It would be a full storm.
At the bow of the ship stood Saint Roselith Seraphina.
Her silver hair fluttered in the wind.
Rain slowly dotted the white coat draped over her Marine uniform.
Her eyes were fixed on the distant horizon.
Something was approaching.
Her hands rested calmly near the hilts of the twin swords at her waist.
Yet the blades trembled faintly in their scabbards.
The swords Winter Solstice and Awakening of Insects reacted to the presence ahead.
"A great swordsman…"
Seraphina murmured softly.
"Not just any swordsman."
"One of the greatest in the world."
Her Observation Haki stretched outward across the stormy sea.
A powerful presence was drawing closer.
Here in the supposedly peaceful East Blue
A true monster had appeared.
"Colonel, we'll reach Marine Branch 18 soon."
Fran approached respectfully.
He noticed none of the pressure Seraphina felt.
After all, he did not possess Haki.
Raindrops continued falling across the deck.
"Colonel, the rain is getting heavier…"
Normally Fran wouldn't say anything.
But today something felt strange about his commanding officer.
Seraphina was considered petite by the standards of this world.
Standing at roughly one meter seventy-six, she appeared small compared to the towering Marines around her.
Fran scratched his head awkwardly.
"Colonel, maybe you should go inside until the storm passes…"
"We rough types can handle the rain."
Seraphina didn't even turn around.
"He's here."
The moment the words left her lips
She vanished.
Only faint footprints remained on the rain-soaked deck.
Fran blinked.
"…What?"
Meanwhile
Not far away, a pirate ship sailed calmly through the storm.
"Boss, it's a shame we missed Luffy when we returned to East Blue."
A portly man wearing tiny sunglasses spoke while leaning on the railing.
The red-haired man standing before him laughed.
"That kid?"
"Hopefully we'll see him next time."
The crew burst into laughter.
The man was none other than Shanks.
Captain of the Red Hair Pirates.
"Shanks, didn't expect a storm the moment we returned."
A curly-haired sniper added casually.
That man was Yasopp.
Just then
A pirate suddenly shouted.
"Captain!"
"There's a Marine warship nearby!"
"Haha! Marines in East Blue?"
Another pirate laughed.
But suddenly
"Wait!"
"Something's flying toward us!"
Shanks stepped forward.
He leaned slightly over the railing.
"…Looks like a person."
Before he could say anything more
A terrifying sword slash descended from the sky.
CLANG!
Shanks instantly drew his sword.
The blade known as Gryphon flashed from its scabbard.
The incoming slash was deflected.
The impact echoed across the ship.
Shanks raised an eyebrow.
But the attacker didn't stop.
Another strike followed immediately.
CLANG!
Steel crashed against steel again.
The swords locked.
Now Shanks could see the opponent clearly.
A silver-haired young woman wearing a Marine coat.
Her expression was calm.
Her pale brows slightly furrowed.
Behind her glasses, her eyes remained half-closed in focus.
"Shanks! Need help?"
Yasopp raised his rifle.
The muzzle aimed directly at the Marine officer.
"Yasopp!"
Shanks shouted without turning.
"This is a duel between swordsmen."
"Got it."
Yasopp immediately lowered his weapon.
If the captain could still joke
Then the situation wasn't dangerous.
Shanks pushed forward with his blade.
CLANG!
The force pushed Seraphina back several steps.
The two fighters separated.
Rain continued falling around them.
"Red Hair Shanks."
Seraphina spoke calmly.
"What brings you to East Blue?"
She knew exactly who he was.
A legendary pirate.
A man who once sailed under Gol D. Roger.
In the future
He would become one of the rulers of the New World.
One of the Four Emperors.
Such people did not move without purpose.
Shanks rested Gryphon on his shoulder.
"Marine."
"State your name."
Seraphina raised her sword.
"Saint Roselith Seraphina."
"I am the commander responsible for these waters."
Her voice turned cold.
"Unless you explain your purpose here…"
"You will not advance another step."
This was her jurisdiction.
Nothing dangerous would happen here under her watch.
Shanks smiled faintly.
"Seraphina…"
"The sea is a paradise for those who seek freedom."
"Pirates come and go as we please."
He had no intention of revealing the real reason for returning to East Blue.
It would only cause unnecessary trouble.
Seraphina lowered her stance.
"Then there is nothing more to discuss."
Cold energy gathered around her blade.
"Winter Solstice – Third Form – Blizzard."
The surrounding rain began to freeze.
Tiny crystals of ice formed in the storm.
Shanks' eyes brightened slightly.
"Oh?"
"A Devil Fruit ability."
Then his smile widened.
"I've sailed the New World."
"I fought alongside the Pirate King."
"I won't fall to some Marine rookie."
His tone wasn't arrogant.
Just absolute confidence.
Seraphina's sword moved again.
But Shanks' swordsmanship easily blocked every strike.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
The duel intensified.
Finally
Seraphina raised her blade.
A terrifying cold power gathered.
"Winter Solstice Final Art…"
"Zero Seal of All Creation!"
The air itself seemed to freeze.
Even the raging storm slowed.
"Whoa, whoa…"
A calm voice spoke nearby.
Benn Beckman, first mate of the Red Hair Pirates, stepped forward.
He clearly intended to interrupt.
After all
They were standing on their own ship.
If that technique exploded here, half the vessel might be frozen solid.
But Shanks raised a hand.
"Beckman."
"Stay out of this."
The tone was calm.
But absolute.
Because
Shanks was about to get serious.
He looked directly at Seraphina.
"A Marine like you appearing in East Blue…"
"The future of the Navy might be interesting."
His eyes sharpened.
Then
An overwhelming pressure burst outward.
A terrifying aura spread across the ship.
Every pirate felt it instantly.
The will of their captain.
The pride of a king.
The legendary power
Conqueror's Haki.
And this time
Shanks wasn't just releasing it.
He infused it directly into his blade.
Black lightning cracked across Gryphon.
The storm itself seemed to tremble.
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