BOOM!!! A terrifying shockwave erupted from his fist, causing the sea around the Sunset for hundreds of meters to instantly cave inward like a bowl!
Splurt! Splurt! Dark green blood gushed out like a waterfall.
The colossal Sea King let out a shrill, agonized wail as its severed tentacles twitched and crashed onto the sea's surface, sending massive columns of water shooting skyward.
But it wasn't over yet! Xiano's figure blurred as he dove down along the severed tentacle, his right fist coiling with power once more. Pitch-black Armament Haki rippled outward, infused with undulating waves.
"Get the hell—"
He plunged into the sea, his fist slamming mercilessly onto the Sea King's exposed skull: "—OUT OF HERE!!!"
Authority Nation Modified! THUD!!!!
The entire sea trembled violently as the devastating impact blasted through over a thousand meters of water.
The gargantuan, octopus-like Sea King's eyes bulged grotesquely, its hardened skull emitting a sickening crunch as its massive body was forcibly hurled into the abyss!
Splash—
Xiano shook off the seawater and descended gracefully from the sky, stepping lightly through Moon Walk before landing back on the deck.
The Whirlpool Current had already begun to recede, leaving only expanding ripples and the slowly surfacing dark green blood.
"As expected of Boss Xiano," Smoker exhaled a smoke ring while steering the ship, marveling. "A monster like that is rare even in the Grand Line. Just one of its tentacles was over a hundred meters wide—its full body must've been five or six kilometers long."
A true island-sized beast!
And yet…
It couldn't even withstand Boss Xiano's second punch, left grievously wounded and fleeing in terror.
In terms of pure physical strength, those capable of such a feat—
Even within the entire Marine Headquarters—could probably be counted on one hand.
"Woohoo!"
Nami and Nojiko cheered, slapping hands in relief.
The apocalyptic scene moments ago had been utterly terrifying—they'd almost thought the entire Sunset would be shattered.
Thank goodness their big bro was here!
"All that hard training wasn't for nothing, huh."
Xiano glanced around at the dark green-stained waters, nodding in satisfaction.
Back on Toll Island, during his battle with Akainu—
Using Might Nation had required him to revert to his original size, and a single strike would drain nearly half his stamina.
It had been a trump card, something he'd hesitated to use unless absolutely necessary.
But now—
He could unleash its full power even while maintaining his Paper Drawing Martial Body form.
And the stamina cost? Less than twenty percent.
Even the upgraded Authority Nation Modified—combined with Ripple Fist—consumed less than thirty percent.
In other words, he no longer had to hold back when using this killer move in battle.
Instant gratification—now that's the life! Time to get back to training!
Xiano turned to head below deck, but the towering waves from the storm sent the Sunset lurching violently side to side. He stumbled, nearly losing his balance.
Oi oi oi, what's this now?
Are you seriously trying to mess with my training schedule?! The black-haired teen gritted his teeth and glared upward.
His gaze locked onto the oppressive storm clouds.
Normally, he wouldn't interfere with the weather—sailing the seas meant embracing both calm skies and raging storms alike.
But right now…
I was enjoying my boxing session when trouble had to come knocking.
How inconsiderate, you damn sea!!!
The next moment—
Whoosh! An invisible, terrifying pressure suddenly erupted!
Xiano's pupils burned with a crimson glow like flames as his Conqueror's Haki surged from his core, shooting skyward and sweeping outward!
BOOM—!!! The rolling black clouds were torn apart as if by an invisible hand, the thick layers collapsing under the Haki's impact, revealing the long-lost blue sky behind them.
The torrential rain ceased abruptly, and the raging winds died down in an instant.
The entire sea surface visibly calmed, as if the apocalyptic scene moments ago had been nothing but an illusion.
Sunlight spilled down once more, casting a golden outline around Xiano.
"This…"
Robin, who had just stepped onto the deck from the library, witnessed the entire scene. Her eyes narrowed slightly in astonishment.
Could even the weather be altered like this?
It was her first time seeing Conqueror's Haki unleashed at full power.
Smoker released the helm, lit two cigars, and glanced up at the suddenly clear sky, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
Here we go again…
Compared to its display in Loguetown, this Conqueror's Haki had grown significantly more formidable.
This innate kingly quality couldn't be strengthened through ordinary training, yet it seemed to grow increasingly terrifying alongside Xiano's rising authority and presence.
At the bow.
"Continue sailing."
Xiano cracked his neck, casually tossing out the words before striding into the cabin as if nothing had happened, heading straight for the training room.
On this sea known as "Paradise,"
he could do whatever he damn well pleased.
A mere storm had no right to dictate terms to him now!————
Jaya Island, Mock Town Tavern.
A light drizzle pattered outside the window, the damp air lending a faint mustiness to the wooden floorboards.
Hawkeye Mihawk still sat in his corner booth by the window, the empty tequila glass before him long drained.
Yet he didn't call for a refill, simply staring intently at the vacant vessel.
"...k"
Beside him, Tashigi glanced at the calendar on the counter, hesitating to speak.
————
Aboard the Sunset.
Late night had fallen, and considering how long it'd been since their last celebration, Zeff was directing preparations for a feast. The deck was lined with grills and barrels of ale, the aroma mouthwatering.
Xiano, having spent another full day immersed in training, finally emerged satisfied from the training room. After a quick rinse and change of clothes, he stepped onto the deck.
"Hmm?"
Nojiko, stationed in the crow's nest, suddenly narrowed her eyes. "Hey everyone, looks like there's someone over there!"
Following her pointing finger, the crew saw—
Several nautical miles away among a cluster of reefs, a battered ship lay half-submerged, listing heavily with broken masts, its edges crowded with bedraggled survivors.
"Shipwreck victims? Quite a few too—thirty, forty maybe," Zeff observed before turning to Xiano. "Captain, shall we investigate?"
"Obviously."
Xiano nodded without hesitation. "Lives come first."
"Understood!"
Smoker immediately adjusted course, the Sunset swiftly closing the distance.
As they drew nearer, the dire situation aboard the stricken vessel became increasingly clear—
It was a passenger ship that had clearly been ravaged by a storm. The hull was damaged in multiple places, seawater continuously pouring in. The survivors were ragged, some clinging to wooden planks floating in the water, others desperately gripping the ship's edges, their faces filled with terror and despair.
When they noticed a massive vessel approaching from afar, many froze for a moment before erupting into cheers.
"We're... we're saved!"
"Hey—! Help us!"
"Please! The ship is about to sink!"
However, as the Sunset drew closer and the survivors got a clear look at the emblem on its sails, the cheers abruptly ceased.
Instead, a deathly silence fell.
"That... that flag is...?!"
Someone's eyes widened in disbelief, their face instantly draining of color.
"No mistake about it, the guy at the bow..."
A middle-aged man in noble attire stared fixedly at Xiano at the prow, his voice trembling. "It's the Blade Swordsman Xiano, the man who's been dominating the headlines lately!"
"It really is him!"
"That Pirate with a billion-berry bounty from the World Government?!"
In an instant, the survivors' expressions shifted from despair to even deeper fear.
On these seas, Pirates didn't save people without reason—especially not monsters of this caliber!
Some even began backing away, as though what stood before them wasn't salvation, but an even greater calamity.
"Tch."
Smoker exhaled a ring of smoke and scoffed. "Seems our reputation is scarier than the storm."
"Probably only around Loguetown and Alabasta where we're slightly better known," Robin added with a slight shake of her head.
"..."
Xiano stood at the bow, his gaze sweeping over the group, his expression calm.
The survivors on this passenger ship were a mixed bunch.
There were nobles dripping with jewels, wealthy merchants in fine attire, plainly dressed commoners and sailors, and even a few burly men in shackles.
Class distinctions were clear, yet in the face of nature's wrath, they were all equally wretched.
"Hey."
He spoke suddenly, his voice quiet yet sending a shiver down everyone's spine.
"If you want to live, climb aboard yourselves."
"..."
The survivors exchanged glances, not a single one daring to move.
"What?"
Xiano raised an eyebrow. "Need me to come down and invite you?"
"N-no, of course not!"
Finally, a sailor gritted his teeth, mustering his courage to be the first to climb the rope ladder lowered by the Sunset.
Smoker, cigar in mouth, stood guard by the ladder's entrance. Seeing the sailor's weakened state, he even reached out to help pull him up.
The others followed suit. Though the nobles and merchants were visibly terrified, the threat of death ultimately drove them to board. Soon, all thirty-plus survivors had been brought onto the deck.
They huddled together, heads bowed, not daring to even breathe too loudly, afraid of accidentally provoking these infamous Pirates.
"..."
Nami, who was grilling meat, couldn't help but facepalm at their trembling forms. "Do we really look that scary?"
"Can't be helped. Big bro's been making waves lately. With a billion-berry bounty hanging over his head, anyone would be scared," Nojiko shrugged.
"..."
Robin stood to the side, her gaze sweeping over the group before finally settling on the shackled men in the corner.
They kept their heads down, their bodies covered in whip marks, cowering more than the other survivors.
"Slaves?" she murmured softly.
"Ah, well..."
A wealthy merchant wiped his sweat and forced a smile. "You can't put it like that. It's just that Lord Garde's estate was short on gardeners. If you're interested, my lovely lady, you're welcome to pick a couple for free—"
"Shut up."
Xiano cut him off coldly.
The merchant shuddered and immediately fell silent, not daring to utter another word.
"The keys." Xiano held out his hand.
"Huh?"
"I said, the keys."
"..."
The merchant exchanged glances with the middle-aged noble named Garde, their expressions shifting uneasily.
But under Xiano's gaze, they eventually trembled and produced a set of keys.
Xiano took them and casually tossed them to Robin. "Here."
Robin met his eyes, smiled, and took the keys before walking toward the slaves.
"..."
The survivors watched the scene unfold with mixed expressions.
The middle-aged noble and the merchant looked grim but didn't dare speak up, while the civilians and sailors seemed stunned, as if they never expected the notoriously ruthless Pirate to do something like this.
"Th-thank you..."
The freed slaves knelt on the ground, their voices choked with emotion.
"No need," Robin said gently. "On this ship, it's our Captain you should be thanking."
The slaves turned grateful eyes toward Xiano, but he merely waved dismissively and walked back to the dining table.
"Zeff, get them some food too," he said without looking back. "Can't have a proper conversation on an empty stomach."
"Understood, Captain."
Zeff grinned and headed to the kitchen, returning shortly with several large pots of steaming stew and bread.
The survivors exchanged glances, hardly believing their eyes.
"Um... sir, is it really alright for us to eat this?" a sailor asked cautiously, swallowing hard.
"Obviously."
Smoker, puffing on his cigar, urged impatiently, "If you don't want it, starve."
No one hesitated after that. The survivors rushed forward, devouring the food ravenously. The nobles and merchants initially held back, but soon couldn't resist joining the scramble.
"Hey, slow down. Don't choke," Nami couldn't help but remind them.
"Thank you..." someone mumbled through a mouthful of food.
Xiano sat at the table, resting his chin on one hand, his gaze sweeping indifferently over the group.
"Where are you all from?" he asked.
"W-well, sir..."
The merchant wiped his mouth and answered nervously, "We run entertainment establishments in Water 7. We were on our way to the Carnival Island when we got caught in a storm..."
"Water 7?"
Xiano's interest was piqued, and he raised an eyebrow. "That's the world's top shipbuilding island, isn't it? With such great craftsmanship, how come your ship was so flimsy?"
He quickly estimated the timeline in his head.
At this point, Iceburg had just consolidated the seven shipyards and become mayor not long ago, while Rob Lucci and the rest of CP9 had infiltrated Water 7 only a few months prior.
"Uh..."
The merchant stammered, at a loss for words.
"Sir!"
A burly man suddenly spoke through gritted teeth, his voice brimming with suppressed fury, "He's lying to you! This ship isn't some ordinary passenger vessel from Water Seven—it's a disguised slave transport!"
His voice echoed across the deck, instantly silencing the survivors who had been wolfing down their food.
Some exchanged bewildered looks, while the nobles and wealthy merchants paled dramatically.
"What nonsense are you spouting!"
The middle-aged noble named Garde sprang to his feet, sweat beading on his forehead. "My lord, don't listen to this lowborn fool's drivel! We were merely—"
"Shut your mouth."
Xiano's voice was soft, yet it choked Garde mid-sentence, freezing him in place.
"You, continue."
"Yes, my lord. The reason this ship couldn't withstand the storm was because it was severely overloaded!"
The burly man took a deep breath and pressed on:
"This ship was originally carrying over four hundred slaves. The lower decks were packed with iron cages. When the storm hit this morning, they were locked below with no chance to escape!"
"Only us—the stronger, 'premium goods'—were brought before that noble for inspection. That's why we're the lucky ones who survived."
His voice cracked with emotion. "They were just like us—fellow villagers from the same small island. When the ship split apart, seawater flooded the lower decks instantly. I saw them trapped in those cages, struggling... until the whirlpool swallowed them whole..."
The man could no longer hold back. Tears streamed down his face as he threw his head back and wailed.
The sea breeze swept across the eerily silent deck.
"Hey now... that's over four hundred people," Smoker growled around his cigar, icy eyes locked on the noble. "Just... gone?"
"They might have survived if they hadn't been caged," Robin added with a quiet sigh.
"Grrraaaaaah!"
Nami trembled with rage—whoosh! Flames erupted from her hair as she clenched her fists. "You absolute scum! Don't try to stop me—I'm turning these monsters to ash!"
"Nobody's stopping you."
Nojiko's expression darkened, her body radiating freezing mist as her eyebrows and hair frosted white. "But save half for me."
Damn it, these girls are monsters too! The merchants and nobles recoiled in terror, scrambling backward.
Garde desperately signaled his remaining thugs and bodyguards among the survivors.
"..."
The hired muscle exchanged glances, then offered him awkward smiles before squatting back down to nibble their bread, pretending obliviousness.
Useless trash! Garde seethed internally. If only his loyal captain—a Devil Fruit Ability User—hadn't fallen overboard during the storm, his fate still unknown...
He wouldn't need to rely on these worthless fools!
As the flame-wreathed orange-haired girl advanced step by step, Garde's terror peaked—until a merchant beside him suddenly shouted: "Look southwest! A warship! It's heading straight for us!"
A warship?
Everyone on deck froze, turning toward the horizon.
There, under the moonlight, a massive Navy warship flew toward them at full speed, its marine flag clearly visible.
"Thank the seas! It's the Navy!"
"A warship of this scale must be led by at least a commodore, possibly even a rear admiral!"
The nobles and merchants, who had been ashen-faced moments ago, were suddenly overcome with wild joy. Gard, in particular, leaped up excitedly, waving frantically at the warship:
"I recognize that ship! It's Rear Admiral Allen's flagship from G-2 Branch! I even spoke with him at a tea party once! Help!! Mr. Allen, I'm here! Save us!"
...
Meanwhile, aboard the Marine warship opposite.
"Rear Admiral Allen!" A Marine soldier rushed into the command room in a panic. "A pirate ship has been spotted ahead! It's... it's the Sunset!"
"The what?"
The rear admiral, who had been sipping tea, turned pale and shot to his feet, oblivious to the tea spilling all over his uniform. "The Sunset? Are you absolutely certain?"
"P-positive, sir!"
The soldier's voice trembled with excitement. "The emblem on the sails matches the one on the wanted posters exactly! And we've confirmed—the man standing at the bow is none other than the Blade Swordsman Xiano himself!"
Rear Admiral Allen gulped, his face draining of color.
Xiano! A pirate worth a billion Berries!
A legendary monster who had slain two Warlords of the Sea and even evaded Admiral Akainu himself!
Me, fight Xiano?
That was pure delusion. An opponent of that caliber was far beyond the capabilities of a mere rear admiral! "Quick! Turn the ship around!" Allen roared, his voice cracking. "Full speed retreat! Now! Immediately!"
"But, Rear Admiral!" The Marine hesitated. "There appear to be survivors from a wrecked ship over there, calling for our help..."
"We don't have time for that, you fool!"
Sweat poured down Allen's forehead. "Do you want to die?! Even if I went out there myself, what difference would it make against a man like that? We'd just be throwing our lives away! Turn this ship around now!"
"Aye, sir!"
Though many of the Marines felt uneasy, military orders were absolute. They swiftly carried out the command.
Soon, under the stunned gazes of Gard and the merchants—
The warship, which had been charging toward them with imposing momentum, suddenly veered sharply, kicking up massive waves as it fled into the distance without a second glance...
"..."
An eerie silence fell over the deck once more.
Gard and the merchants, their hopeful smiles frozen on their faces, watched as the flames of hope in their eyes flickered out, replaced by deeper terror.
Those were elite Marines from a G-Branch... and they didn't even dare to take a closer look before running away?
Pathetic cowards!
Had they completely abandoned their duty?!
"Seems your saviors weren't very reliable after all."
The mocking laughter of the two girls echoed from behind them.
Jade's body trembled violently as he turned around to see two figures—one icy, one fiery—advancing step by step.
Though they were lovely young women, the expressions of loathing on their faces struck him as more terrifying than demons from hell.
"Now," one of them said, her voice cold, "it's our turn to settle the score for those poor souls who died beneath the waves..."
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