(T/N: Please consider reviewing this Fanfic, Thanks and appreciate all who support me)
(T/N: Enjoy!!)
<><><><><><>
The Straw Hat Pirates looked at each other in confusion, unable to understand what Rayleigh meant.
"Arashi." Rayleigh didn't answer their question directly. Instead, a nostalgic look appeared on his stern face. "He's a man that cannot be underestimated."
After a brief pause, Rayleigh's voice grew distant as if lost in memory. "That's what Roger once said about him."
Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and the others immediately turned serious. If the Pirate King had spoken of a Marine that way, then that man was not ordinary.
"As for me," Rayleigh said slowly, voice heavy, "I think Arashi is a complete monster."
"Monster?" Brook's skeletal face showed surprise.
"Yes," Rayleigh nodded. "He's a pure monster—barely anything human left in him."
He sighed with emotion, old memories flashing through his mind. "It's already been over twenty years, hasn't it?"
"And so, most people nowadays only know he was powerful—nearly invincible. His monstrous talent and bloodline have long since faded from the public eye, forgotten by the world."
Rayleigh's voice sank further. "But beyond his strength, there's another ability that most people don't even remember."
"Roger and I questioned whether he was even human because of this ability."
At this point, the entire Straw Hat crew wore grave expressions. Usopp and Chopper exchanged terrified glances, their bodies trembling.
"What kind of ability?" Usopp asked nervously. "Is he some demon wearing human skin?"
Rayleigh chuckled softly, but the laugh quickly faded. In its place came a serious expression—one he hadn't worn since the first time he fought Arashi.
"He cannot be killed." The bar fell completely silent.
Luffy blinked. Zoro looked confused. Sanji stared blankly. None of them could fully comprehend what they just heard.
"What do you mean by that?" Robin asked, eyebrows furrowed.
"Exactly what it sounds like," Rayleigh replied faintly.
"Even if you cut off his head, shoot him through the heart, drown him in a tsunami, or burn his body with flames—he still won't die."
"All fatal wounds simply vanish. Its like when he was 'kill' then in poof of smoke he vanished and then reappeared back. His body resets itself and returns to peak condition every time."
The Straw Hats were visibly shaken, their horror written on their faces.
"Arashi is a monster that cannot be killed, and this isn't because of a Devil Fruit. He might have been born this way." The crew was speechless.
"That's impossible!" Usopp exclaimed. "Someone like that can't be human—he must be a god!"
"Arashi... is a monster." Chopper shivered. "Just thinking about him makes me want to hide."
Then came Luffy's sudden laugh. "Hahaha! What a crazy guy. This world just keeps getting more interesting!"
Nami's eyes blazed with anger as she punched Luffy in the head. "How is that funny?!"
"That guy is a Marine! He's our enemy! If he ever targets us, we'd have no way to fight back!"
"Ow! Sorry!" Luffy held his head and laughed awkwardly.
Rayleigh watched the exchange in silence. Before he realized it, the heaviness on his face had lifted, and a small smile returned.
He didn't understand how this group could have faced Arashi and lived to tell the tale—but clearly, Luffy and his crew were very lucky.
"Still, the fact that he's shown up again…" Rayleigh narrowed his eyes. "It's unsettling."
In his aged state, Rayleigh knew he had no chance of defeating Arashi if they met again.
With the chaos the Straw Hats had just caused, Marine Headquarters surely wouldn't let this go. A sense of unease crept into his heart.
....
In a quiet alleyway, pirates moved cautiously, trying to avoid the patrolling Marines as they escaped.
"Law! No Marines on this side!"
Bepo poked his head out from the other end and waved them forward. Law nodded seriously and dashed over. "This way!"
After several turns through narrow streets, they reached an open space.
Due to the Marine activity, the civilians had all gone home, leaving the streets of Sabaody Archipelago eerily empty.
Boom!
The distant sound of cannon fire echoed through the air, smoke rising in the distance.
Law glanced toward the sound, recognizing that another group of pirates was engaging the Marines there.
"Clear!" Bepo scouted ahead and gave the OK sign.
Law nodded again and led his crew out of the alley, running through the empty streets.
"Looks like we're going to make it out, Law!" Penguin said excitedly. "Don't let your guard down until we're safe," Law replied firmly.
Their footsteps echoed in the silence. Then, suddenly, a flash of light burst in front of them—growing brighter and brighter until it caught everyone's attention.
"What is that?"
"Lightning Ball?" Bepo asked, stunned.
Everyone from the Heart Pirates looked toward a rooftop, where a glowing sphere of lightning hovered, crackling with blue energy that shimmered like crystal.
"Trafalgar Law, one of the Supernovas." A calm, smiling voice came from the ball of lightning. Everyone froze. The sphere twisted and contorted, forming a tall, humanoid figure in a blink.
As the light faded, the shape became clear. Law's pupils shrank, and his face filled with shock and disbelief.
"A person?!" Bepo screamed. "It's a Marine!" Shachi and Penguin exchanged glances, stunned.
Someone had emerged from the lightning—an unfamiliar, terrifying Marine.
"You've made quite a name for yourself, Law," Arashi stood calmly, gazing down at them.
Law stood frozen, drenched in sweat, staring wide-eyed at the figure before him.
"Captain…" Bepo noticed something was wrong and called out, but Law didn't respond.
His lips trembled slightly like he wanted to speak, but the overwhelming fear silenced him. "In my memory, you were just a crybaby."
"I didn't expect you to grow up so fast. Time is something, huh?" Arashi smiled, shaking his head.
His tone was casual, like an old friend catching up. But to Law, who knew him, every word carried crushing weight.
"Law, do you know him?" Bepo asked again, then immediately shifted into a battle stance. "He's a Marine. Doesn't look like a friend."
"Then he's the enemy! Let me take him on!" With a loud shout, Bepo charged forward. The sudden move snapped Law out of his daze.
Shocked by the encounter, his expression drastically changed. "No, Bepo! Don't!"
But it was too late. Arashi raised a brow, and with a subtle twitch of his fingers, a streak of lightning burst forth.
"Crack!" A twisting bolt of blue electricity pierced straight through Bepo's body, flinging him back violently, landing right beside Law.
"Seeing your name on the list of Supernova pirates wasn't exactly pleasant for me, Law."
The once-casual tone turned chilling in an instant. Law quickly knelt to check Bepo's condition, breathing a sigh of relief when he realized he was merely unconscious.
He looked up, eyes serious. "Why are you here?" A thousand arcs of lightning danced from Arashi's form as he appeared before Law in a flash.
The sheer speed made Shachi and Penguin flinch. At such a close range, the terror emanating from this Marine was undeniable.
Even Jean Bart, who had remained silent, looked tense, frozen in place.
"Asking that doesn't quite suit your style," Arashi said calmly.
"Shouldn't it be us Marines questioning why you pirates are here?" Law's expression shifted. "So the Celestial Dragon incident stirred even you."
"I'm an Admiral now." Arashi leaned down slightly, gazing at Law. He could see the sweat trickling down the pirate's face.
"Your little pirate game ends here, Law. I didn't save you back then just so you could become a ruthless pirate."
Law's expression darkened as he stepped back, gripping the hilt of his blade. "Not all pirates are evil."
Arashi chuckled, the ridicule in his eyes impossible to miss. "That innocent tone… makes me wonder who's been influencing you."
Straightening up, his eyes turned cold. "You won't surrender peacefully, will you?"
"Then I'm afraid you'll have to suffer a little." At that, Law tensed and drew his sword. He knew full well—if Arashi got serious, they wouldn't survive.
But even so, he had to try. Suddenly, a fierce wind howled toward him—so fast he couldn't react.
A sweeping roundhouse kick slammed into his gut, sending him flying.
"Boom!" He crashed through several buildings before slamming into a pile of rubble, dust rising high.
"Captain!" Shachi and Penguin finally snapped out of it, their faces pale with shock.
"Law, you've found yourself some loyal crewmates." A calm voice sounded behind them.
They turned to see a tall, imposing figure in a Marine uniform. Their blood ran cold. Terror overtook them, leaving them shaking.
"Cough… cough…" From the rubble, a coughing sound emerged. Law slowly staggered to his feet, blood dripping from his brow, his clothes torn, and his body bruised.
The impact had cracked several ribs, and his mind had gone blank from the shock.
"Oh?" Arashi raised a brow. "Still standing?" He took a step forward.
"Crack!" Another bolt of blue lightning surged toward Law.
As he looked at the oncoming energy, defiance flashed in his eyes. He raised his right hand. "ROOM!"
A ripple expanded from his palm. But at that exact moment, the bolt reached him. A large hand shot out, gripping his forehead like a vice.
Pain erupted from the top of his skull, spreading through his entire body. His fruit ability, just activated, faded away in an instant.
"Little brat, flailing around in front of me…You're still a newbie." Arashi's calm voice rang out.
Then he pressed down. Law's eyes widened as his head was smashed into the ground.
"Boom!" The earth within thirty meters quaked, dust rising. Trafalgar Law lost consciousness immediately.
Footsteps approached as a squad of Marines finally arrived. "You can take it from here," Arashi said to the commanding officer.
"Yes, Admiral Arashi!" the officer replied with a stiff salute, both awed and terrified.
He then watched as countless arcs of lightning surged from Arashi's body, launching him into the sky. In a flash, he was gone.
Meanwhile, Kuina led a team through the streets, her face stern. Behind her were Enel, Wyper, and, further back, a silent Pacifista unit.
The operation had brought one along to test its capabilities.
"Any signs of the Straw Hat crew?" she asked as she met with the local branch Marines on Sabaody Archipelago.
Her tone was direct, wasting no time.
"The Straw Hat crew?" The Marine captain blinked, then quickly responded, "We're searching for them intensively. We expect to have news soon."
Kuina's expression softened slightly. "Report to me the moment anything comes up."
"Yes, Vice Admiral Kuina!" the officer saluted, shocked by how young she was—and even more surprised that she was a woman.
For a woman to reach vice admiral at such a young age was extremely rare in the Marine hierarchy.
Unless she had overwhelming strength… and strong backing. "What about Admiral Arashi?"
Kuina asked again. All officers on Sabaody were in close contact for maximum coordination. That's the only way to catch pirates efficiently.
"He was spotted not long ago in Area 23," the captain reported. "Area 23…" Kuina narrowed her eyes slightly.
Just then, she noticed something strange—Bartholomew Kuma, who had been quietly following her, was gone.
She hadn't even noticed when he disappeared. "We need to locate the Straw Hat crew immediately," Kuina said coldly.
"Yes, ma'am!" the captain answered. He couldn't help but feel surprised by how focused this vice admiral was on the Straw Hats.
Then again, they were the central culprits in this incident.
Area 62.
This was Marine territory—home to the World Government's stationed forces.
At this moment, Vice Admiral Joyce, responsible for operations in the Sabaody Archipelago, was drenched in sweat, suppressing his frustration and fury as he followed closely behind a group of figures ahead.
"You Marines are a bunch of useless idiots! To think something like this could happen to Saint Charles, right here in the Sabaody Archipelago, so close to Marineford!"
"You should be hanged for this disgrace, Joyce!" The elderly Celestial Dragon, his head encased in a bubble, roared with fury while the female Celestial Dragon beside him remained cold and expressionless.
Hearing such venomous words, Joyce broke into a cold sweat. As a Marine, he couldn't afford to offend a Celestial Dragon.
With just one word from them, the Marine command might punish him to appease their anger.
"It's over! I'm finished!" Despair flashed across Joyce's face, but his gaze quickly steeled.
"My wife… and our three children. The Marines wouldn't abandon them. Just my luck to run into this mess…"
Though the Sabaody Archipelago had always had some issues under his watch, things had remained largely stable for the past six years.
No one could've predicted something like this would happen. "Joyce, you deserve death! And so do the useless Marines under you!"
"You can't even handle a few pirates—why do we even bother feeding dogs like you?" The old Celestial Dragon cursed relentlessly.
Joyce clenched his fists, head lowered in shame, while the Marines nearby all bowed their heads, hiding the fury burning in their eyes.
"I was right! You are just dogs raised by the Celestial Dragons! Yet, your dogs can't even protect your masters!" The storm of insults filled his ears.
Joyce, beyond rage, began to feel numb. He wanted so badly to swing his fist and smash that old man's jaw, but the lines he couldn't cross kept him rooted in place.
Just then, a flash of lightning suddenly split the air ahead. A cold, deep voice followed.
"Old man, who did you just call me a dog?" The light faded, and before the Celestial Dragon's eyes, a towering three-meter figure appeared out of thin air.
His presence made the old man visibly tremble. This Marine stood close, glaring down at him with a terrifying aura.
"How dare you!! You dare stand this close to me—you dare insult a Saint like this?!" The old man's voice shook as he screamed.
"I asked you," Arashi repeated, his tone icy. "Who did you call a dog?"
His eyes, beastlike and brimming with killing intent, locked onto the Celestial Dragon. If the old man answered incorrectly, he would be torn apart.
"Admiral Arashi!?" Joyce snapped his head up, eyes lighting up as he shouted in astonishment and relief.
The other Marines also raised their heads, gazes drawn to the man whose sheer presence overshadowed even the Celestial Dragon. Their eyes gleamed with hope.
"Arashi?! You're Nefertari Arashi?!" The elderly Celestial Dragon trembled the moment he heard the name.
Instinctively, he stumbled back and, after three steps, collapsed to the ground with a thud. His eyes went wide, his whole body shaking uncontrollably.
The name alone had terrified him. In Mary Geoise, there was likely no one who didn't know of Arashi—especially among the older generation, who feared him deeply.
Though he was born a Celestial Dragon, Arashi had long since turned against their ways. Many of his kin despised him for that.
Yet none dared to provoke him because not even the Five Elders could stop him. That fear only grew with time.
"Old fool, let me correct you on something," Arashi said coldly, bending forward and looking down at the terrified man before him.
"Marines have never been the Celestial Dragons' dogs." To him, laying a hand on such a man would insult his strength.
"Another thing. This is not a place where filth like you belongs. While I'm still too disgusted to bother lifting a finger—get lost."
The old Celestial Dragon, trembling from head to toe, scrambled away with the help of the woman beside him, fleeing in complete disgrace.
Once they were gone, Joyce finally let out a long breath, turning to Arashi with gratitude in his eyes.
"Thank you, Admiral Arashi!" Arashi gave a light nod. "No need to bow and scrape. Even if you made a mistake, it's the Marine's job to handle it."
"The World Government has no authority to interfere." Hearing those words, Joyce felt his heart swell. Moved and emboldened, he straightened up.
"Yes, sir! See to it that the civilians are calmed and relocated properly. This is the last stop before the Grand Line splits—pirates and thugs gather here. We can't let anyone use this chaos to stir up trouble."
Arashi's tone was calm but firm as he gave his orders. "I'll arrange it immediately!" Joyce responded quickly.
It was his first time seeing this Admiral, but the impression had already struck deep. To stand so strong before a Celestial Dragon—
Even Admiral Akainu, the so-called embodiment of Absolute Justice, had never dared do that.
"Understood," Arashi replied with a nod. A flash of lightning streaked through the air, and his figure vanished. Joyce remained standing there, stunned.
After a long pause, he let out a heartfelt sigh. "I heard the Fleet Admiral's position will be changing soon. If he were the one to take command…"
"Then maybe things would finally get better for us all." He had been deeply moved by what he just witnessed.
Few among the high command had the strength—or the will—to shield others from the wrath of the Celestial Dragons.
Meanwhile, in Area 24, on a commoner street...
Zzzap!
Blue arcs of electricity flashed across the road. A figure appeared, slowly walking forward through the street.
His sudden appearance drew the attention of several surrounding factions.
"Who is that?!" Drake's calm expression twisted in shock. "A Marine?"
"Something's different about him." Hawkins silently performed a reading, but when the result appeared, sweat broke out on his forehead, dripping off his chin and hitting the ground.
"No chance of survival…?"
If you want to support me, join my patr**on. Have 10 advanced Chapters for you guys.
patr**n.com/saitamablast > OP:COI NOVEL TIER (PLEASE DONT SUBS THROUGH IOS PLATFORM)