Under the bright sky,
the vast blue ocean looked especially beautiful.
Jingle—jingle—
A strange sound suddenly broke the tranquility—
a sound rarely heard out on the open sea.
Looking closer, one could see a blue-and-white figure leaning casually on a bicycle.
A pale blue path of ice stretched across the sea all the way to the horizon.
One hand rested on the handlebars, the other in his pocket. The sea breeze lifted the hem of his coat.
As the bicycle wheels rolled over the ice, tiny shards scattered with each turn. Behind him, the frozen path quietly lted back into seawater.
He looked as relaxed as if he were strolling through his own backyard.
Marine Headquarters — Marineford
"Vice Admiral, he's gone again!"
A soldier hurriedly reported.
"He's not here?"
"His bicycle is missing too… so he probably… went out to sea."
"Contact the Five Elders imdiately!" the Vice Admiral ordered urgently.
anwhile…
The man cycling across the sea traced a graceful arc over the frozen surface.
Suddenly, his Den Den Mushi rang.
The caller was the Five Elders.
"Oh my… sorry about that."
His tone was completely indifferent.
At Mary Geoise, one of the Five Elders—
Topman Warcury—slowly put down the Den Den Mushi.
"It's him again?" another elder said coldly.
"Probably just out sightseeing again."
Saint Jaygarcia Saturn remained expressionless.
"This is ridiculous. What exactly does he think his position is?" Warcury paced back and forth in irritation.
"He acts however he pleases."
Yet even they couldn't easily control him.
After all—
he was one of the Admirals, the absolute peak of power on the seas.
On the Going rry
Two figures clashed fiercely.
"Three-Sword Style — Oni Giri!"
"Diable Jambe!"
A sword enveloped in demonic purple aura collided with a blazing flaming kick.
Zoro and Sanji weren't trying to finish things in one move.
Steel rang continuously as they exchanged blows.
The Going rry itself began to tremble under the shockwaves.
"That's enough."
Luffy gently stroked the head of a small crying girl sitting on the ship's figurehead.
To those without Observation Haki, it looked like he was simply touching empty air.
But in truth—
he was comforting the spirit of the ship.
Zoro and Sanji imdiately stopped.
"We'll settle this on a deserted island soday," Sanji said provocatively while sheathing his leg.
"Next ti I'll cut you down, curly-brow," Zoro scoffed.
"Luffy… did the rry really give birth to a ship spirit?" Usopp asked nervously, his face red with excitent.
"Yep. Once you awaken Observation Haki, you'll be able to see it too."
Luffy grinned.
"Keep trying, Usopp!"
A few days earlier, Luffy had given them his Haki Notes.
Combining Zoro and Sanji's experiences, Robin had copied multiple versions.
Now everyone had a copy.
Who would awaken Haki first depended purely on talent.
As for why Luffy didn't include his own experience—
his path was too abnormal to be used as reference.
Soon, the Going rry sailed peacefully toward the next island.
anwhile—
Luffy's fighting spirit quietly ignited.
Looking back at his past battles:
Against Crocodile, he had a chance to win.
Against Blackbeard, he was only slightly weaker.
Against Enel, he had completely crushed him.
But this ti…
Luffy saw no hope of victory at all.
Because this opponent was a Marine Admiral.
Those four words alone carried terrifying weight.
The absolute top-tier of the current era.
anwhile, he was only at the level of a Yonko's top commander.
If he didn't get instantly defeated, it would already count as rcy.
Still—
running away wasn't an option.
Luffy wanted to witness the true peak of power on the seas.
Soon the ship arrived at a barren island.
Though the island had no famous na, it was about to witness a legendary event.
"Our food supplies are running low," Nami said.
"We need to gather ingredients from this island."
"I'll look for dicinal herbs too!" Chopper added.
Luffy wanted to say, Do we really have to go?
But he didn't.
After all, he was the biggest eater on the crew.
And besides—
if an Admiral wanted to find them, hiding would be pointless.
He sighed.
Looks like I'm destined to get beaten up.
Soon the crew entered the forest while gathering food and herbs.
"Chopper, did you collect enough dicine?" Usopp asked while carrying a sack.
"Yep! I found plenty!" Chopper said happily.
"But… I noticed sothing strange earlier."
Chopper pointed at the ground.
"What's this weird trench in the middle of the path?"
"Now that you ntion it…" Usopp scratched his head.
"It looks like… bicycle tracks?"
Instantly—
Luffy and Robin both fell silent.
Monts later they stepped out of the forest into an open clearing.
Behind a massive rock stood a tall man—
snoring loudly.
He wore a white vest over a dark blue shirt, with a Marine coat draped over his shoulders.
His curly hair frad a face partially covered by a green sleep mask resting on his forehead.
Black leather shoes completed the look.
Sensing their presence, the man slowly removed the mask.
His eyes landed on the Straw Hats.
Then he looked directly at Chopper.
"A raccoon dog?"
Chopper froze.
"I'm a reindeer! Look—these are antlers!"
But when Robin saw the man—
her pupils shrank instantly.
Fear surged through her deep purple eyes.
Her legs gave out.
She collapsed to her knees.
"Robin?!"
Nami, Chopper, and Usopp looked at her in shock.
anwhile—
Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji stared at the man with extre seriousness.
At first, in their Observation Haki, the man had felt like nothing more than an ordinary person.
But the mont Robin collapsed—
everything changed.
Their Observation Haki detected no weaknesses at all.
It was as if their perception had failed.
"No…"
Luffy shook his head.
"It's just that his control over power is perfect."
"When he isn't fighting, he's indistinguishable from an ordinary person."
"But once he moves…"
"Ara ara… relax, boys."
The man spoke lazily.
"I'm not here on orders."
"The weather's nice, so I decided to take a walk."
"Orders?" Zoro slid his sword out slightly.
"What organization are you with?"
"Marine Admiral."
Luffy pressed down his straw hat.
Dark red lightning flickered faintly around him.
"We absolutely cannot defeat him."
The crew froze.
Never before had Luffy said sothing like that.
An enemy who cannot be defeated.
Just then—
a group of survivors ran out of the bushes.
Their leader knelt before the man.
"Are you from the Navy? If only you had said so earlier!"
"Oh?" the man said.
"Passengers from a wrecked ship?"
"Chopper, check their injuries."
"Usopp, Sanji—bring them food."
Luffy withdrew his aura and returned to his usual carefree deanor.
The crew hesitated—
but obeyed.
Soon the Straw Hats began helping the stranded civilians.
They learned the survivors' ship had been destroyed after being ramd by a freestyle-swimming frog.
They had drifted to this deserted island.
anwhile, the Admiral adjusted his coat.
"You should prepare to leave soon," he said calmly.
"There's an inhabited island not far from here."
Soon the survivors packed their belongings.
Luffy had even given them food and water.
The Admiral walked toward the shoreline.
Luffy whispered to his crew:
"Go. Now."
"Don't argue. Wait for on the ship."
Hearing the urgency in his voice, the crew realized the gravity of the situation.
They imdiately ran toward the coast.
Damn it… we're running away again…
Why… even after working so hard… can we still do nothing?
Their helplessness burned inside them.
But that frustration would soday beco their strength.
anwhile—
the Admiral crouched at the shoreline.
He casually dipped his hand into the sea—
the nightmare of all Devil Fruit users.
Suddenly—
A giant Sea King burst from the water, jaws wide open.
"Ice Age."
In an instant—
the entire ocean within sight froze solid.
The attacking Sea King froze with it.
Far away—
Zoro and Sanji stopped running.
Their Observation Haki trembled violently.
They had just witnessed true top-tier power.
A power so overwhelming it made their hearts tremble.
"…Luffy."
For the first ti—
Zoro showed genuine worry.
Back on the frozen coast—
Aokiji sat down casually.
"This ice will last about a week," he told the survivors.
"Walk that way for four days and you'll reach land."
"It might get cold. Stay warm."
The survivors stepped onto the frozen ocean in disbelief.
"Is this… a dream?"
"The sea… turned into land!"
They marched across the frozen sea toward hope.
Aokiji then looked toward Luffy.
"You really are a lot like your grandfather."
"Both of you ignore the rules."
"Four hundred million Berries…"
"The World Governnt underestimated you."
He sat cross-legged as cold mist drifted from his body.
Even though Conqueror's Haki hadn't been released—
Luffy felt a crushing pressure like a mountain.
Dark red lightning exploded outward.
Storm clouds churned.
"Co on."
Luffy raised his hand and beckoned.
"Let's settle this… one-on-one."
Ding! Mission Issued
Mission: Pirates vs Marines
Objective:
Fight Admiral Aokiji for one hour and survive.
Reward:
Advanced Rokushiki — Complete Mastery
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