'Good grief, Kuzan's just here to create a mess and watch me get beaten to a pulp! I only tricked him a few times, didn't I?'
Talk about petty.
Of course, Zephyr was once a renowned force within the World Government, a Marine Headquarters Admiral known as "Black Arm" Zephyr for his formidable Armament Haki. But now... he was just a one-armed old teacher.
Coupled with his successive tragedies, Zephyr's spirit was no longer what it was back when he was the "No-Kill" Admiral.
'And yet, he still wanted to land a hit on me? Give me a break!' Dante utilized his Water Breathing to weave around Zephyr's fists. The back-and-forth exchange left the watching Neo Marines wide-eyed with disbelief.
One had to realize, this was Zephyr! Supreme Commander Zephyr! Even if he had lost an arm, how could a mere East Blue Captain handle himself so effortlessly against a former Admiral?
Especially since this Captain was rumored to be a corrupt, fallen officer who only toyed with female pirates!
No matter how you looked at it, it was absurd.
Ain and Binz, who knew Dante personally, stared particularly hard, their eyes glued to the scene.
"Dante..." Binz blinked, unable to stop himself from voicing his confusion. "I thought he was supposed to be fallen into degeneracy? Rumor has it he even wanted to have his way with you! You call this corrupt?"
Were Vice Admiral Garp and Captain Smoker blind when they went to investigate?
"..."
Hearing Binz's words, Ain raised a brow. After a moment of silence, she cut in coldly. "Zip it. If you can't say anything smart, don't speak at all! And... that has nothing to do with Dante. That was my request!"
Still, seeing that Dante wasn't losing ground against Zephyr, her anxious heart settled. She stared intently, muttering to herself, "Perhaps he really does have a way..."
Meanwhile.
Zephyr was equally surprised as he watched Dante repeatedly dodge his attacks with ease. He hadn't expected the student banished to the East Blue, the one labeled a corrupt Captain, to have grown to this extent. It lifted the gloom that had hung over him for days.
He couldn't help but let out a hearty laugh. "You brat, you really fooled us all!"
He continued to swing his left arm, clad in black hardening.
That powerful Armament Haki... truly worthy of the sea's famous No-Kill Admiral. "It seems the so-called corruption, the broken spirit, and the greed for money and women were all fake, huh!"
"That's right!" Hearing Zephyr's approval, Dante nodded without hesitation. "Those were just rumors Admiral Kuzan spread about me! He's trying to drive a wedge between us!"
However.
Before Zephyr could respond, Kuzan, who had found a giant rock to lazily perch on, suddenly spoke up, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Arara... is what I saw with my own eyes fake too? Sorry about that! Is what Captain Ain said a lie as well? How troublesome."
Sure enough.
Upon hearing Kuzan's words, Zephyr's expression, which had just softened, hardened instantly. He glared at Dante. "You're not being honest, kid! Ain wouldn't lie to me!"
"That's on Ain, it has nothing to do with me!"
"It's true, I said it!" Ain's cheeks flushed slightly, but she stood firm. "It was my own request, Zephyr-sensei! It has nothing to do with Dante!"
Unfortunately, this backfired.
"You brat, you're actually shifting the blame onto Ain? Do you have no shame?" Zephyr seemed even more furious, glaring at Dante. "You should know that back then, it was Ain who ran frantically to beg me, and that's the only reason I managed to save you in time! And all along this journey, while Kuzan has been badmouthing you, that girl has been protecting you, making excuses for you. Yet you can actually say such things? The students I teach are men who take responsibility, not cowards like you!"
"..."
'The problem is, this really isn't my responsibility!' Dante looked at Zephyr silently. "How about we sit down and talk first? I suspect this is a conspiracy by that Admiral!"
"Zephyr-sensei, it is true that Admiral Kuzan asked me to contact Dante." Ain nodded earnestly. "I requested his help, none of this is Dante's doing!"
"Listen to that, you brat! Do you have anything else to say?!"
"I-"
Before Dante could get a word in, Ain anxiously interjected. "This was all my own request. I said I wanted to go out to sea and become a pirate, Zephyr-sensei."
She had asked Dante here to help Zephyr, she didn't want Dante to be reprimanded by their teacher because of her.
"Zephyr-sensei, please respect my agreement! Don't misunderstand him!"
"Look at you, brat, you actually forced Ain to become a pirate?"
"No! Sensei, I..."
Just as Ain looked ready to panic, Binz, sweating bullets, stopped her. "I don't know the full story, but trust me, it's better if you stop talking right now!"
Stopped by Binz, Ain looked at him in confusion, frowning. "But it really was my request!"
"But Zephyr-sensei simply doesn't believe it!" Binz watched the train wreck unfolding before him, the corner of his mouth twitching. "After all, if no one forced you, why would you voluntarily become a pirate?"
Before the silenced Ain could try again, Kuzan, watching the drama with delight, chimed in cheerfully. "So, it seems those rumors are all true~"
He shook his head theatrically. "To actually wrong Captain Ain? If it were me, I wouldn't stand for it!"
Dante, face reddened with annoyance, and the silent Ain both shot glares at Kuzan.
This guy is definitely doing it on purpose!
'Next time, that guy better not fall into my hands,' Dante cursed him mentally.
But looking at Zephyr in front of him, he sighed helplessly. "Zephyr-sensei, I'm not here to stop you!"
"You said that earlier!" Zephyr nodded, a fleeting smile crossing his lips. "I isn't beating you because you came to stop me, but to seek justice for my well-behaved student, Ain."
"So there's no talking our way out of this?"
"Dante. Regardless of whether it's a rumor or if you've truly fallen..." Zephyr didn't answer directly. instead, he laughed loudly. "Let me see the strength of the student I was once so proud of!"
Hearing Zephyr's words, Dante nodded. His eyes sharpened. "Understood!"
"That's the way!" Receiving Dante's answer, Zephyr laughed with satisfaction. Immediately, he unleashed his full power. Armament Haki coated his entire left arm as he swung it heavily toward Dante.
Through this brief exchange, he had roughly gauged the brat's level.
It was indeed unexpected, if he didn't use his full strength, he estimated he really couldn't hurt the kid!
However, the result of this punch, thrown with all his Haki and might, was equally unexpected.
*BOOM!*
Under everyone's gaze, the ground beneath Dante and Zephyr shattered, spiderweb cracks spreading outward in widening circles. The shockwave was so intense that the spectators had to brace themselves against the blast.
At this moment, everyone watched in disbelief.
Even Kuzan, who had been enjoying the show, let his expression turn solemn. 'This guy's Armament Haki... has gotten stronger again!'
For a moment, the terrifying shockwave from the collision of fists hung in the air before gradually fading.
Before their eyes...
Contrary to all expectations, Zephyr's devastating punch had been blocked by Dante, stopped by a punch of his own.
In their hearts, the onlookers couldn't help but recall that old evaluation...
Marine Headquarters Genius Captain, Dante!
"Zephyr-sensei." Dante, holding the block, broke the silence first. He smiled at the old man. "You've gotten old. It's time to retire."
"Hahaha, old?" Zephyr recovered from his surprise without a hint of frustration. Instead, he seemed in high spirits. He lowered his head, muttering with a mix of relief and emotion, "I really have gotten old."
"Can we talk now?" Dante asked. "I estimate the Marine Headquarters fleet should be catching up soon."
"No need to talk!" Zephyr looked at him with a flat expression. His breathing was slightly ragged from the exertion of that last punch. "I will not change my plan. Dante, come and stop me!"
"Zephyr-sensei!"
Ain, Binz, and Shuzo shouted out.
Kuzan frowned, glancing between the old teacher and the former student. 'Sure enough... is this how it ends? How will you choose now?'
Before Dante could respond, a voice cut in.
"Boss."
Viola, dressed in formal attire, walked up to Dante's side, her face serious. "I have sighted the Marine Headquarters fleet. I estimate they will arrive at the island in two hours."
"Are they here?" Dante paused, stunned. He turned back to Zephyr, about to speak.
"Is this the female pirate Kuzan mentioned? Forget it, why do I still care about that?" Zephyr sighed. He looked at Dante again, his voice indifferent. "Since that's the case... come and stop me!"
"Stop what? Didn't I tell you I'm not here to stop you?" Dante turned back, shaking his head with a smile. He opened his arms wide. "It's been a long time since we met. I wanted to give Zephyr-sensei a hug earlier, but I got beaten up instead. Now should be fine, right?"
"Hahaha! It's your fault for bullying Ain, you brat!" Seeing Dante's gesture, Zephyr laughed loudly and opened his left arm as well.
The two men embraced. Zephyr fell silent for a moment, then leaned into Dante's ear, his voice a whisper.
"Since you want to hide, then hide well. Kill me now, then take them away. Take good care of Ain... and say sorry to them one last time on behalf of their teacher."
Hearing the whisper, Dante's eyelid twitched. But then, a smile curled the corner of his mouth. He whispered back. "If you want to say it, say it yourself! Also, Zephyr-sensei, I have to say sorry to you too, because I..."
He paused slightly, smiling.
"...indeed came to stop you!"
Zephyr froze. Suddenly, a sharp pain struck the back of his head. He looked at Dante in disbelief. "You brat..."
Before he could finish, his eyes rolled back. Under everyone's stunned gaze... his head tilted to the side, and he slumped completely unconscious.
"Zephyr-sensei?!"
"What are you doing?!"
The faces of the Neo Marine Fleet changed instantly. Just as Shuzo and Binz prepared to rush forward in a panic-
*Pshhh.*
A cold, indifferent voice sounded from behind them. "You two better stay put. Don't disturb the Boss."
"Who?! Poison-?!"
Neither of them had noticed anyone behind them. Just as they whipped their heads around, they inhaled something sweet. Their heads spun, and they hit the deck, unconscious.
The entire warship was instantly left with only Ain standing.
She stared blankly at Dante. "Dante, you..."
"Take the people away first, we'll talk later!" Dante waved his hand dismissively. "I'll explain to Zephyr-sensei when he wakes up. For now, restrain your subordinates and follow my lead!"
"I..." Hearing Dante's command, Ain fell silent. She looked at him with a complex expression, then sighed and nodded seriously. "I understand. I hope you can do it. Otherwise... I will respect Zephyr-sensei's choice and help him complete the plan. I won't fulfill my agreement to become a pirate!"
"It's fine if you don't fulfill the agreement!" Dante looked at the serious Ain with amusement. "You can explain that to Zephyr-sensei yourself later!"
"What should we do now?" Viola asked. "Admiral Kuzan has already left, heading toward the approaching Marine warships. Do we need to stop him?"
"No need to worry about that guy, I'll settle the score with that bastard Admiral later! As for..."
Dante stroked his chin, looking down at the unconscious Zephyr, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Tie Zephyr-sensei to the figurehead!"
===============
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