Life aboard the Virtue soon returned to its usual rhythm.
A few days later, at dawn, the ship sailed calmly through the waters of the New World—
until a Marine warship suddenly thundered past from the rear flank, the roar of its hull ripping through the waves shattering the morning quiet.
"Captain! It's a Marine warship!"
Jinbe shouted from the helm, one hand gripping the wheel while the other shaded his eyes as he squinted toward the rapidly passing vessel.
Shiro stepped into the bridge, rubbing his chin as he looked in the same direction—
and frowned in surprise.
Normally, whenever the Marines spotted a pirate ship, they would immediately turn back to give chase.
But this one didn't even glance at them; it simply blasted forward at full speed, not slowing for even a heartbeat.
"…Something's wrong."
Shiro narrowed his eyes, thoughts racing.
For the Marines to completely ignore a pirate crew meant only one thing—they were rushing toward something urgent.
And in this particular year, only one event could force the Marines to mobilize so aggressively that they'd ignore pirates altogether:
The Ohara Incident.
"Is the World Government launching a Buster Call…?"
A spark of interest flashed through Shiro's eyes.
He shouted toward the helm:
"Jinbe! Full speed ahead! Stay on that warship—I want to see this for myself!"
"Aye!"
Jinbe turned the wheel sharply and barked orders to the crew.
The Virtue roared forward as all engines were pushed to their limit.
But in the few moments they took to speak, the Marine vessel had already pulled far ahead.
Its black silhouette grew smaller and smaller across the horizon, and even with the Virtue at maximum speed, they couldn't close the distance.
All Jinbe could do was lock onto the ship's heading and chase relentlessly.
After a full day and night of pursuit, the Virtue finally reached the West Blue.
A lush green island came into view—
and at the docks, the very same Marine warship sat anchored.
Shiro stood at the bow, staring at the towering tree line.
"This is Ohara… the island of the Tree of Knowledge."
His voice sank slightly.
"And the archaeologists here have been researching the forbidden Void Century—the history the World Government fears above all."
Once the Virtue docked, Shiro, Jinbe, Issho, and several others stepped onto the island—
only to freeze at the scene before them.
Fire.
Everywhere.
Buildings burned violently, thick smoke rising into the sky and turning it a deathly gray.
The Buster Call had already begun.
The closer they ran toward the Tree of Knowledge, the clearer the screams became.
Dozens of Marines had surrounded a group of scholars in white robes.
The archaeologists were bound in chains, struggling helplessly as Marines forced them into burning buildings.
The flames swallowed them within moments.
Just then—
A scorching red flash streaked across the shore.
Shiro snapped his head up.
On a jagged rock by the water stood Vice Admiral Sakazuki—
both hands glowing with molten magma—
aimed at a lifeboat filled with elderly people, women, and children.
Without hesitation, he unleashed:
"Great Eruption!"
"NO!"
Shiro's pupils shrank.
He instantly activated the Paw–Paw Fruit, blasting himself toward Sakazuki in an attempt to intervene—
but he was still too late.
Before he could reach him, the massive plume of magma crashed into the lifeboat.
With a deafening BOOM, the boat disintegrated, consumed by fire and molten debris.
Wood fragments scattered across the water, mingling with the screams of the dying.
"SAKAZUKI!"
Shiro roared, fury shaking his voice.
"You butcher helpless civilians and call yourself a Marine?! Are you even human?!"
Sakazuki slowly turned.
There was no guilt in his eyes—only cold indifference.
He looked Shiro up and down, his voice like frozen steel:
"Jabal Shiro.
You pirates have no place questioning Marine operations."
His gaze hardened.
"Among civilians may hide surviving archaeologists. If necessary—kill a thousand to prevent one from escaping.
That is Absolute Justice."
"Absolute justice, my ass!"
Shiro's rage exploded.
With a furious shout, he ripped the Tetanus Blade from his back and swung.
The air tore as a silver slash screamed toward Sakazuki's chest.
Sakazuki's expression didn't even flinch.
His body instantly became molten magma, fully elementalized as he allowed the slash to hit him.
He expected the strike to pass through harmlessly.
But—
It didn't.
A piercing shriek ripped through the sky.
Sakazuki staggered, eyes wide.
He looked down in disbelief.
Across his chest—a deep, bone-baring wound poured boiling blood.
"What…?! How—?! My elemental body was cut?!"
Confusion overwhelmed him.
Until his gaze locked onto the blade in Shiro's hand—
jet-black, gleaming with a cold, lethal radiance.
Not a normal sword.
A Black Blade.
And a Black Blade naturally carried dense, refined Armament Haki—
the natural enemy of all Logia users.
Realizing this, Sakazuki gritted his teeth.
He abandoned elementalization, instead coating his fists in Armament Haki.
The Blackened Haki merged with the red glow of magma as he charged Shiro like a raging volcano.
Their second violent clash erupted instantly.
At the same time—
Elsewhere on the island, another battle began.
Aokiji faced off against Issho.
Cold air swirled around Aokiji; every wave of his hand formed jagged ice spears, showcasing the terrifying chill of the Ice–Ice Fruit.
Issho stood calmly, eyes half-closed, guiding gravitational force with quiet precision.
The very air warped; the earth cracked under shifting weight.
Ice shards and gravity waves collided again and again, each impact detonating with thunderous force.
Neither yielded an inch.
The battle raged evenly—
a frozen tempest versus crushing gravity.
T/N: If you would like to read up to 20 chapters ahead for all my works, check out my P@treon: patreon.com/GhidorahWriter
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