[New Fanfic Is UP!! Uma Musume: Rising From the Countryside to Legend!!]
"Strange… it was such a clear sky, why did it suddenly start thundering?"
Zeff rubbed his sleepy eyes and looked up with a frown.
BOOM!
Naomi jumped at the deafening sound, turning her fearful gaze toward where the "thunder" had come from.
On a Marine warship, the rookie Marine Naomi also looked up toward the same sound with a puzzled expression—
Until the next moment, her eyes widened in terror.
"Wh-what is that?!"
Naomi screamed, watching a massive emerald green Kamaitachi (Flying Slash) nearly ten meters long descending upon the Marine warship.
Just as despair filled her heart, Gion suddenly dashed past her and leapt into the air, flying toward the falling slash.
With her eyes narrowed in focus, she swiftly unsheathed her blade. Haki surged over the steel, dying it jet-black.
"Haah!"
With a sharp cry, Gion swung her blade upward with both hands and deflected the green slash away, guiding it toward the sea.
Even with her interception, the remaining force of the slash still carved a visible gash into the ocean surface.
"Vice Admiral Gion, are you alright?"
Naomi quickly ran to Gion's side, concern on her face as she looked at Gion's cold and calm expression.
"Be careful. It's not over yet."
Gion replied curtly, raising her sword once more.
Naomi blinked and looked skyward again—
In that instant, countless emerald and golden-colored Kamaitachi fell from the sky.
Without another word, Gion swung her sword repeatedly in blurring arcs, unleashing her own flying slashes upward.
Some directly canceled out the incoming strikes, others diverted them away.
Fortunately, the barrage didn't last long, and soon the rain of blades veered off toward other parts of the sea.
"Phew, we're safe… for now!"
"But what the hell is with this sea… why are so many flying slashes falling from the sky?"
Naomi gasped in relief, then looked up at the heavens in fear.
"Those aren't wind blades. They're Kamaitachi—flying sword slashes unleashed by powerful master swordsmen."
"Gion, you recognize one of them, don't you?"
At that moment, Tsuru walked over.
"The green ones... they're unmistakably Kamaitachi from that sword."
"As for the golden ones, I can't identify them."
Gion shook her head.
"Golden slashes... that was the signature of the legendary pirate Golden Lion, Shiki."
Tsuru rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
"Tsuru-nee, you're saying one of them might be using Shiki's blade techniques?"
"Possibly. Either way, whoever is fighting Dracule Mihawk, we have an obligation to investigate."
"Gion, have the crew sail us closer. Once we're in range, you and I will use Geppou (Moonwalk) to get a better look."
"Understood, Tsuru-nee."
With that, Gion led Naomi off to carry out her orders.
Meanwhile, at the Baratie floating restaurant—
The battle had long since moved from the sea into the skies.
Even though the weather remained clear, powerful gusts and sonic booms from the clashing swordsmen reverberated down from above.
Those who were weaker had already retreated into the restaurant's interior, lest they be blown away by the fierce winds.
Sanji stood at the edge of the deck, jaw clenched, eyes locked on the sky.
But no matter how hard he stared, he couldn't catch a clear glimpse of either Genrou or Mihawk.
All he could see were flickers of motion and the enormous flying slashes—some over ten meters long—that tore the sea apart wherever they landed.
Sanji couldn't help but think that someone was intentionally steering the fight away from Baratie…
Otherwise, the floating restaurant would've been obliterated by now.
"Insane… your crewmate is a complete monster."
Sanji took a deep breath and turned toward Luffy and Zoro.
"Shishishi, I told you! Genrou is seriously strong."
Luffy grinned, holding down his hat from being blown away by the winds.
Unlike when Zoro fought Mihawk earlier, Luffy showed no concern for Genrou's safety now—
Even though the one fighting him was the world's greatest swordsman.
"This… this is the power of someone standing at the top of the Grand Line."
"If you've never been to the Grand Line, you'd never understand the kinds of monsters waiting out there."
"No… even if you go there, you might still never meet someone like that."
Zeff sighed in awe.
At that moment, Usopp pulled his eyes away from the sky and looked toward the horizon—
Only to go wide-eyed.
"Luffy! Nami! Zoro! We've got a problem—look over there!"
Usopp pointed at the sea in alarm.
"Huh? What are you yelling about, Usopp—wait, is that…?"
Nami followed his gaze, and her eyes went wide.
"That's Tsuru's ship! They caught up to us?!"
"This is bad! Luffy, Zoro, Usopp, we need to get back to the Going Merry and prepare to set sail!"
"We'll leave as soon as Genrou returns!"
With that, she turned and rushed toward the ship.
Luffy and Zoro both nodded—they understood exactly what needed to be done.
But just as Luffy took his first step, he looked back at Sanji.
"Sanji! Come with us! Let's go chase your dream of finding the ALL BLUE!"
He called out with a big grin.
Sanji glanced at Luffy's sincere face, then looked toward Zeff.
For a moment, emotion flashed through his eyes.
"Go, Sanji. See that ocean for both of us."
Zeff gave him a gentle push, smiling with pride.
"Old man…"
Sanji's expression turned complicated.
Their earlier talk had helped clear many things between them—
Sanji now understood Zeff's truest wish.
But still… to leave the Baratie was no easy thing.
"Also, I overheard earlier—you said aside from finding the ALL BLUE, you also dream of having the powers of invisibility, right?"
Zoro spoke up.
"Huh? What are you getting at?"
Sanji raised a brow.
"Nothing much. Just that Genrou recently acquired a Devil Fruit that grants invisibility."
"What?! Genrou has the Suke Suke no Mi?! Wait, don't tell me… he already ate it?!"
"Nope. Genrou already has his own ability to become invisible, so he didn't need the Fruit."
"He has his own invisibility power?! Man, that's just unfair…"
"Fine! If you guys need a cook that badly, I'll gracefully accept the position—
On the condition that Genrou gives me that Devil Fruit!"
"If you want it that badly… go ask him yourself."
Zoro gave him a side-eye, then leapt aboard the Going Merry.
Luffy clapped Sanji on the shoulder and stretched out his rubber arms to grab him by the waist, pulling him onboard too.
Zeff simply shook his head.
Watching that whole exchange, he couldn't help but wonder if he'd placed his dream in the wrong hands.
As he debated whether the ALL BLUE or invisibility meant more to Sanji—
He let out a long sigh.
"…Sanji. Don't catch a cold."
Zeff muttered affectionately.
…
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][www.p@treon.com/zaelum]
[+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[Thank You For Your Support!]