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Perona, floating in midair, was instantly taken aback. Her large, dark eyes locked onto the man standing before Kuma.
He wore a simple Marine uniform, had short black hair, and a tall, muscular build, exuding a powerful presence at first glance.
"You said... he's a Marine Admiral?" Perona muttered in shock.
"Indeed, I am an Admiral of Marine Headquarters," Arashi smiled.
"I haven't been active in the world for ten years, so it's only natural that you don't recognize me."
His gaze fell upon the ghostly girl before him, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes. Having a ghostly girl as a subordinate might be quite entertaining.
"However, we don't have time to chat right now," Arashi continued.
"Tell me, where is Gecko Moria?" His main objective in coming here was to inform Moria about selecting a new Warlord of the Sea.
As for his secondary objective... Arashi's eyes flickered slightly, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
Moria had once suffered a crushing defeat and never recovered and had his glorious past.
He had even fought against Kaido, one of the Four Emperors. Now, he was on Arashi's list.
"You want to know where Master Moria is?" Perona's gaze suddenly turned cold as she swiftly flew forward.
"Oh?" Arashi chuckled. He seemed to have underestimated the loyalty of Moria's subordinates.
"I heard that Moria took you in when you were young, and you've regarded him as a father ever since?"
Arashi said with amusement as he casually dodged Perona's attack. "What a devoted daughter you are."
Perona unleashed a flurry of ghosts but soon realized something unsettling. Her ghosts... were subconsciously afraid of this man.
This had never happened before, sending a chill down her spine. Then, she saw Arashi slowly raise his right hand, palm facing forward.
"Crackle!"
A brilliant blue lightning bolt erupted, forming a dazzling column of light. It streaked past her ear and shot into the distance in the blink of an eye.
The searing energy of the lightning made her pupils dilate, and her body trembled uncontrollably.
"If you keep moving recklessly, I won't be so kind next time. Perona." Arashi's voice was calm but sent a chill down her spine.
Perona's face had turned deathly pale. That lightning strike had made her fully realize how terrifying this man was.
Meanwhile, Captain John clutched his wine bottle behind her, his entire body shaking. His once-pink hair had been completely burned to ash by the lightning.
"Just a little more… Just a little more, and I would've been obliterated!"
Captain John's throat moved as he gulped in fear. His legs trembled as he quickly hid among the other zombies.
But only two breaths later, the once-silent horde of zombies erupted into terrified screams, scattering in all directions and disappearing in an instant.
"Where is Moria? It would be best if you cooperate." Arashi's smile was calm yet laced with an undeniable authority.
Perona trembled. She instinctively wanted to reveal Moria's location but quickly covered her mouth with both hands, shaking her head frantically.
Arashi frowned, his gaze turning cold for a moment. But then, his expression softened.
"You're becoming more and more interesting to me."
With that, he stepped past Perona. Kuma, after glancing at her briefly, followed in silence.
The Thriller Bark was massive, practically indistinguishable from an actual island.
But to Arashi and Kuma, the thick fog and perpetual darkness made no difference. A few minutes later, they encountered a terrified woman with orange hair.
"A... Arashi?! Why are you here?!" Nami stammered in fear.
The Straw Hat crew had faced their greatest fear and despair not long ago.
Against this man, they hadn't been able to resist. His terrifying, unfathomable strength had made their entire crew tremble.
In the end, for reasons unknown, he had suddenly left and spared them. But the shadow of that battle still lingered in their hearts.
"Official business," Arashi replied. Then, he smiled playfully and asked, "You're Nami, right? A beautiful lady like you... do you have a boyfriend?"
"Huh?" Nami stood frozen. She instinctively searched for an escape route but quickly realized—against this man, there was no hope of running away.
"No need to be afraid," Arashi reassured her with a lighthearted smile. "I'm not here for you guys."
"Really?!" Nami let out a relieved breath, her face lighting up. "That's great!"
At that moment, Kuma suddenly spoke in a deep voice. "Monkey D. Luffy… does he have a brother?"
Nami blinked and nodded. "Yes, Luffy has an older brother. Why?" Kuma glanced at Arashi but said nothing more.
Ace's capture was still a global secret and hadn't been officially announced. It was clear that Luffy himself didn't know yet.
From Arashi's reaction, he didn't intend to tell them either. Turning away, the two left, allowing Nami to exhale in relief.
"It seems… they weren't after us. Then who are they looking for?" Nami murmured in confusion.
During their previous battle, the entire crew had been completely overpowered.
However, when they later analyzed the fight, they realized Arashi must have had some purpose in mind.
Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji had each learned something from that battle. That growth had helped them claim victory at Enies Lobby.
So… could it be that this man was more of an ally than an enemy? In the damp, dark corridors of Thriller Bark, eerie creaks echoed in the distance.
Arashi and Kuma walked one after the other, unfazed by their surroundings.
"You… about the Straw Hats?" Kuma's voice was low as if he was still debating whether or not to ask.
"You want to know my opinion of them?" Arashi asked with a faint smile.
"Yes." Kuma nodded.
"Seeing through appearances to grasp the essence of things is one of my principles," Arashi smirked.
Kuma: "?"
"There's a difference between pirates who commit atrocities and adventurers who help the innocent. Sure, they stir up trouble from time to time."
Pausing for a moment, Arashi chuckled. "But in my eyes, their actions are far more righteous than some Marines."
Kuma fell silent. For a moment, his usually expressionless face seemed to hint at a smile.
After spending some time with Arashi and establishing their cooperation, Kuma had gained some understanding of the man.
Arashi embodied all the positive qualities a Marine should have.
At the same time, he was not a blind extremist—he had a sharp sense of justice and the ability to discern right from wrong.
Of course, that didn't mean he was soft-hearted. When faced with true evil or anything that crossed his bottom line… His wrath would shake the world.
A moment later, a massive ancient castle appeared before them.
"Moria should be here, right?" Arashi looked up at the castle and chuckled.
He noticed a few crows perched on the edges of the structure, their beady eyes fixed on him. Theyhey flapped their wings and took the moment they sensed his gazeoff.
"Living in a place shrouded in eternal darkness, Moria's heart must be just as gloomy." Arashi laughed again.
Kuma remained silent. The two of them, one leading and one following, stepped into the castle.
No one stopped them along the way, and soon, Arashi found himself inside a spacious chamber.
There, he saw Gecko Moria. Behind him stood two individuals—Absalom, the Transparent-Transparent Fruit user and one of the Three Freaks, and Dr. Hogback, a genius surgeon.
Perona, whom they had encountered earlier, was also present.
Moria sat in a large chair, narrowing his eyes as he regarded the two visitors, his expression turning solemn.
"A Marine Admiral and a Warlord of the Sea visiting me together," Moria muttered. "This is a first. What urgent business brings you here?"
Bartholomew Kuma was already one of the most powerful and enigmatic figures among the Warlords.
Yet now, another even more unexpected presence had arrived. A legendary Vice Admiral—no, he should be called a legendary Admiral now!
This was a Marine whose reputation, long ago, stood alongside Roger, Golden Lion, and Whitebeard. Moria had, of course, heard of him.
But this was the first time he had met the man in person. Though only two people stood before him, Moria felt an overwhelming pressure.
If they intended to make a move against him, it would surely be disastrous.
"Gecko Moria!" Arashi spoke calmly. Moria's gaze locked onto him.
"We have not come to cause trouble, nor are we here to target you," Arashi continued. "So you may set aside your fear and tension for now."
As he spoke, a faint smile curved his lips. However, to Moria, that smile felt like mockery. "I am not afraid!!" Moria bellowed.
Arashi, unconcerned with the bravado, merely chuckled and continued.
"Our purpose here is simply to inform you that the new Warlord of the Sea will be none other than Marshall D. Teach, captain of the Blackbeard Pirates."
Moria was taken aback. "A new Warlord? Blackbeard Marshall D. Teach?"
"That's right." Arashi nodded. Observing the shock on Moria's face, he smirked.
"Did you think the Warlords would remain unchanged forever? To bear such a prestigious title, one must have strength to match."
After a brief pause, Arashi let out a cold chuckle. "Forgive my bluntness. Gecko Moria. Your strength is no longer enough to justify your Warlord of the Sea title."
"I fear that, before long, you will be the next to be replaced."
Moria's pupils shrank. His hands clenched into fists as he stared daggers at the man before him.
There was no doubt that these words were unbearably harsh. A deathly silence filled the room. The flames on the candelabras flickered unsteadily in the dimly lit castle hall.
Moria's face darkened, his eyes glinting with crimson fury. Being told such things to his face was nothing short of an insult.
"Ki... shishishishi!!" Moria laughed angrily, gritting his teeth hard enough to make an audible sound. He glared at the Marine before him, ready to explode.
But in his peripheral vision, he caught sight of Absalom and Hogback casting him anxious and pleading looks.
Instantly, Moria forced himself to calm down, cold sweat forming on his back. He had almost lost control.
Who was the man standing before him? This was the same Marine who had shaken the world even in his youth—capturing the Pirate King, Roger, and defeating Golden Lion Shiki.
How old had he been then? He was barely barely in his twenties.
Now, twenty years had passed. No one could predict the extent of Arashi's power. He was certainly not someone a mere Warlord could afford to provoke.
"Aside from this, does Admiral Arashi have any other business?" Moria asked coldly.
By rank, he was still a Warlord, which meant he was certain that a Marine, even an Admiral, would not act against him.
"I thought your dwindling pride might drive you to attack me," Arashi remarked, shaking his head. "It seems your courage is even more lacking than I expected."
"You!!" Moria seethed.
Absalom and Hogback immediately grabbed his arms, shaking their heads frantically, signaling him to stay calm.
"Heh!" Arashi smirked. "There's nothing else. However, the World Government has learned that the Straw Hat Pirates have arrived here."
"They are concerned that another Warlord might be defeated, further damaging the title's reputation. So, they've sent me to ask..."
Arashi sneered. "Do you need our assistance?"
Moria's fists clenched tightly. His pride and self-respect burned with the clear realization that this Marine was looking down on him.
"I don't need any help!" he growled. "Those Straw Hat brats are nothing! Dealing with them is a simple task!"
Arashi nodded, saying nothing more. "Very well, then we'll be taking our leave."
He turned decisively and walked toward the exit, catching Moria's group off guard. They were surprised, yet relieved. But just as Arashi reached the doorway, he suddenly stopped.
"One last thing, Gecko Moria. If you lose the upcoming battle and tarnish the Warlords' reputation…The consequences will be something you won't want to face."
With that, Arashi's figure vanished. Kuma silently followed and disappeared as well.
Moria's teeth ground together audibly, his fists clenched tight. "That bastard…His words are unbearable!!!"
Absalom and Hogback exchanged glances, secretly relieved. A silent understanding passed between them.
They had been deeply concerned about a potential conflict between Moria and Arashi.
Fighting the Straw Hat Pirates was one thing, but provoking a Marine Admiral and a Warlord? That would be a nightmare.
Outside the castle, Arashi and Kuma found a quiet, hidden spot where they wouldn't easily be noticed.
"We're not leaving?" Kuma asked in confusion. "Rather than leaving, I'm more interested in watching what happens next." Arashi smiled.
Kuma remained puzzled, unsure of what Arashi meant. But he knew one thing—soon, all his questions would be answered.
....
Time passed. The two of them watched an intense yet fascinating battle unfold from the shadows. The Straw Hat Pirates vs. Warlord Gecko Moria.
Arashi seemed uninterested, but Kuma watched intently, taking in every moment.
Roronoa Zoro vs. the swordsman Ryuma.
Monkey D. Luffy vs. the demonized Oars and Moria.
In the end, Moria was defeated. Thriller Bark fell silent, and the eternal darkness seemed to recede.
Light pierced through the thick fog, finally illuminating the land once more.
Kuma sat there quietly, his gaze falling on Arashi beside him. He couldn't fathom what was going through this man's mind.
"Buru buru buru!" Suddenly, the Den Den Mushi in Kuma's possession rang.
"Answer it," Arashi's voice came through. Kuma nodded, then picked up the call.
"Moria has been defeated. This is yet another disgrace for the Seven Warlords of the Sea."
"Bartholomew Kuma! The reputation of the Warlords must not be tarnished. I demand that you eliminate the culprits behind this disgrace!"
"The Straw Hat crew!"
"This will preserve the honor of the Seven Warlords!" An angry voice came from the other end of the Den Den Mushi.
Arashi raised an eyebrow.
He recognized the voice—it didn't belong to any of those five individuals. Kuma lifted his head, glancing at Arashi as if seeking his opinion.
Arashi shook his head but said nothing.
Kuma furrowed his brows slightly before hanging up the Den Den Mushi. He neither refused nor agreed.
Moments later, his pupils suddenly contracted because Arashi had already stood up.
This made Kuma tense, and he worried that he was about to take action against the Straw Hat crew. But in the next second, Arashi's voice rang out.
"I said before, if Moria were to lose, the consequences would be something he wouldn't want to face!"
"This disgrace upon the Warlords... I shall deal with it." After a brief pause, his voice carried a slight chuckle.
"As for the Straw Hat crew... they're yours to handle!" Hearing this, Kuma's heart trembled.
He nodded lightly. When he opened his eyes again, Arashi vanished in a flash of lightning.
"The Straw Hat crew..." Muttering to himself, Kuma's gaze flickered as he began walking toward where the Straw Hats were resting.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Arashi appeared in front of Moria almost instantly.
"Arashi!"
The heavily injured Hogback and Absalom immediately tensed up while Perona's eyes widened in shock at the sudden arrival of the Marine.
"Why are you here?!"
Arashi didn't answer. His gaze simply swept over the group before him.
Moria slowly opened his eyes, lying on the ground and covered in wounds as if sensing something. The moment he saw Arashi, his heart pounded violently.
"Arashi!!!"
Arashi sneered and took a step forward. "I believe I said this before, Moria."
"If you were to lose to the Straw Hat crew and disgrace the Warlords, the consequences would be something you wouldn't want to face."
Moria shuddered, using all his strength to flip his bloated body over and face the sky. "What do you intend to do?"
Arashi didn't reply. Instead, he strode forward. He stomped down onto Moria's face beforee Hogback and Absalom's horrified eyee.
"You truly are a disgrace to the Warlords...Gecko Moria!"
Those simple words and actions sent fury blazing in the eyes of the three onlookers. Without hesitation, they charged at him.
Yet, their attacks merely phased through Arashi's body, unable to harm him. "Stop! It's useless!"
"This man is the strongest Logia-type Devil Fruit user, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit wielder!" Moria bellowed, stopping his subordinates.
Then, he locked eyes with Arashi. "You can do whatever you want to me! Even take my life! But Perona, Absalom, and Hogback... I beg you to let them go!"
At his words, Arashi fell silent for a moment before curling his lips into a cold smirk. His foot pressed down harder on Moria's face.
"Look at yourself now, Moria. Pathetic. Weak. A disgrace! Do you think you're in any position to make demands?"
"It's laughable to think that you once fought the Emperor of the New World, Kaido!"
When he heard that name, Moria trembled violently, his eyes burning with rage.
"Kaido!!" He gritted his teeth, growling the name like a beast.
If not for that man—if not for him—he wouldn't have lost all his cherished comrades. He wouldn't have fallen to such a miserable state.
"How pathetic, Gecko Moria! Your downfall, weakness, and utter ruin stand in stark contrast to the ruler of the New World, Kaido!"
"Look at yourself! You couldn't even defeat a rookie pirate crew! Yet you dare dream of fighting a Yonko? You are worthless!"
Arashi's words were filled with nothing but ruthless humiliation. Perona, enraged, was about to charge again, but Absalom and Hogback immediately grabbed her, shaking their heads.
They had begun to notice something strange—Arashi, a Marine Admiral, was going out of his way to humiliate their captain.
It seemed there was a deeper purpose behind it. "I am NOT worthless!!" Moria roared in fury.
His heart burned with anger. Hearing that name alone was enough to drive him into madness, especially after his defeat at the hands of the Straw Hats.
In such a vulnerable state, his emotions—his rage, his despair—were all amplified.
"You claim you're not worthless? Then what are you doing right now? Do you want to defeat Kaido? To reclaim what you lost? But with your own power, you'll never succeed! You'll only make things worse!"
"Look at yourself! You've let yourself go, gotten fat like a pig, lost all confidence, and can only mutter 'You do it' as your catchphrase."
"Moria, you're nothing but dead weight. A failure!" Arashi sneered.
His words were like hammers pounding Moria's already fragile spirit. The weight of his past, failures, and weaknesses came crashing down upon him.
Tears streamed down Moria's face. He wailed uncontrollably, despair consuming him. "Pathetic! A disgrace to the Warlords! You've tarnished the very name of piracy!"
Arashi continued mercilessly. Moria wept even harder. For a moment, he even considered ending his own life, his world engulfed in darkness.
Then, through his tear-blurred vision, an unfamiliar voice cut through his sorrow.
"So tell me... Do you want to become stronger? Do you want to return to the New World and defeat the one who took everything from you?"
"Do you want to fight Kaido once more? Gecko Moria!" The voice was deep, firm, and carried an indescribable allure.
Moria trembled violently. His eyes widened as he looked at the man before him, whose mocking expression was gone—now replaced with a solemn gaze fixed solely on him.
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