Germa 66's No. 3 Transformation Device – Stealth Black!
Once, during the great battle on Onigashima—
Sanji had destroyed this transformation device, believing it had robbed him of his humanity, causing him to strike a woman in a blind rage.
Later, he learned the truth.
It wasn't the suit that made him lose control.
The invisible attacker who injured the woman hadn't been him at all—
It was Queen the Plague, who also possessed stealth technology.
Still, the damage was done.
Sanji had resolved to abandon the suit for good.
And truthfully, he rarely needed to use it again.
But thanks to Usopp and Franky, the device had been repaired.
Now, it was time to bring it back.
"Go for it, Soba Mask!!"
Usopp and Chopper raised their hands in excitement.
"Sanji, we're counting on you to handle the Marines!"
Nami added.
"Yes, Miss Nami~!"
Sanji swooned.
"Mission accepted!"
As usual, he turned into a hopeless flirt.
Which, of course, earned a string of curses from Zoro.
After their usual bickering—
Sanji activated the transformation device.
A puff of steam enveloped him—
Soba Mask took the stage once more.
"I'm off, Miss Nami, Robin-chan!"
He bent his knees, steam blasting from beneath his feet.
And shot forward like lightning.
His target—
Former Admiral Zephyr!!!
Ever since the battle on Onigashima,
Sanji's awakened Lineage Factor had granted him a fully enhanced body.
A massive boost in strength and capability.
But just how far had he come?
Sanji wanted to find out—
To see how he measured up against the true powerhouses of the sea:
The Admirals. The Emperors.
Right now, Zephyr was the perfect test.
"Zephyr-sensei!"
Ain and Binz, shocked by Sanji's approach, moved to assist.
"Stay back!"
Zephyr raised a hand.
His expression remained calm and composed.
"That outfit… Germa tech? Cocky little punk."
Zephyr sneered.
A veteran of the seas, he recognized the Germa battle suit immediately.
"What?! Germa?!"
"North Blue's mercenary kingdom, Germa?! Why would one of them be on a Beasts Pirates ship?!"
Ain and Binz were stunned.
"Let's get one thing straight—"
"I'm not one of them!"
Sanji said firmly.
"Hah. Doesn't matter who you are. Once I take you down, I'll get all the answers I need."
Zephyr's voice was steady, full of confidence.
"Don't underestimate me, old man!"
Sanji raised his right leg—
Flames roared to life.
"Diable Jambe — Premier Haché!"
With both legs engulfed in blazing heat,
Sanji charged like a comet toward the purple-haired veteran.
Thanks to the battle suit's enhancements—
Sanji's speed was near its peak.
Faster than the eye could track.
Even ordinary Kenbunshoku Haki could barely register his afterimage.
But—
Zephyr was no ordinary foe.
As a former Admiral,
his Observation Haki was far beyond standard.
He remained composed as Sanji closed in.
Raising his right arm—
Vegapunk's specially designed "Battle Smasher" gleamed.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Like a blacksmith hammering steel,
Sanji's blazing kicks rained down on the Battle Smasher.
Even Zephyr had to take a single step back under the furious assault.
But just one step.
SHHHH!
Steam hissed violently from the Battle Smasher.
"Crush Blaster!"
Zephyr countered.
A shockwave erupted from his arm-cannon.
A titanic explosion erupted across the sea,
clouds torn asunder by the blast.
"SAN—!"
Usopp and Chopper cried out—
Then quickly clamped their mouths shut.
"That lovesick cook isn't going down that easy."
Zoro said calmly.
Despite their daily arguments—
Zoro knew better than anyone just how tough Sanji was.
In a true fight,
they trusted each other without question.
Sure enough—
From the billowing smoke—
A figure soared out.
"That was close, old man!"
Sanji wiped cold sweat from his brow.
Even though he had seen Zephyr's battles with his captain and Admiral Kizaru—
Facing him head-on was another story entirely.
Now, Sanji truly understood what the title "Admiral" meant.
"What's wrong? Getting scared, little Germa brat?"
Zephyr mocked.
"I told you, I'm not Germa!!"
Sanji dashed in again.
"Diable Jambe — Concassé!"
Mid-air, he gathered every ounce of strength into his right leg—
Spinning like a wheel of fire—
A meteor of burning power crashed downward!
Zephyr still didn't flinch.
He stepped back slightly with his right foot—
Then swung his Battle Smasher to meet the blow.
BOOM!!!
Flame met steel.
A thunderous impact echoed like a giant bell.
The submarine carrier beneath them trembled violently.
Flames roared outward from Sanji's leg, threatening to engulf Zephyr.
But—
The steam barrier from the Battle Smasher blocked the heat.
Then—
A pitch-black coating—
Busoshoku Haki—
completely enveloped Zephyr's weapon.
His strength surged again.
BANG!!!
With overwhelming Armament Haki—
Zephyr struck Sanji hard.
Sanji was sent flying, soaring over a hundred meters before stabilizing in midair.
"Whew… he's definitely Admiral-level, alright."
Sanji grinned.
He now had a clearer idea of where he stood.
And how far he still had to go.
Elsewhere—
Watching Sanji tank two of Zephyr's direct hits—
Ain, Binz, and the entire Marine guerrilla squad were speechless.
After all—
Their teacher was a former Admiral.
Someone who could crush most enemies in a single blow.
Yet this blonde in a tech suit—
not only survived—
but kept fighting as if nothing had happened!
"He's no joke…"
"Don't just stand there!"
Zephyr barked.
"Ain, Binz—get back to your mission!"
"Yes, sir!"
The two responded—
But just as they moved, they froze.
Because Sanji came back down from the sky.
"This next one's my final attack. After that, I'm gone."
Sanji took a deep breath.
His expression turned serious—unlike ever before.
"You think I'll just let you leave?!"
Zephyr's eyes hardened.
He was determined to unmask this foe.
"Then bring it on!"
Sanji merged his enhanced Lineage Factor—
exoskeleton, strength, and speed—
with his own Armament Haki.
What emerged was a power greater than even Diable Jambe—
Multiple times hotter, stronger, deadlier.
A new hellfire technique:
Ifrit Jambe!
Zephyr didn't underestimate him.
He responded with a special move of his own.
"Crush Bunt!!!"
BOOM!!!
KABOOM!!!
Ifrit Jambe collided with Crush Bunt—
An enormous explosion engulfed the deck.
Flames and smoke swallowed everything.