"Hey, Kaoru, stop trying to act cool already!"
Zoro leaned against the railing of the Going Merry, calling out when he saw Kaoru Tsubasa standing alone at the bow.
He assumed Kaoru was showing off—after all, they were just about to enter the Grand Line, and Zoro knew how his crewmate loved dramatic moments.
Kaoru turned back, speechless. "What are you talking about, Zoro? Why would I be showing off now, of all times?"
He sighed. How could anyone think he was being flashy during such a crucial moment?
"Be careful!"
Before Kaoru could reply further, Nami shouted as the Merry lurched upward, caught in the surge of the Reverse Mountain's climbing current.
The sudden force sent the ship trembling violently, forcing Luffy, Usopp, and the others to grip the railings tightly.
Kaoru, however, remained steady at the bow—chakra flowing through his legs as he balanced atop the ship.
"Spiritual Art: Assistance—Wind of the Spirit!"
A swirl of translucent energy surged from Kaoru's hands, surrounding the Merry in a stabilizing current of wind.
Standing firm, he guided the vessel into the center of the rising stream, ensuring the ship wouldn't be thrown off course.
Nami exhaled in relief as she watched him. She'd been terrified the current would sweep them sideways into the Red Line cliffs, shattering the Merry. But Kaoru's control was precise—steady, calm, almost effortless.
"Hey, look over there!" Sanji pointed toward another stream beside theirs.
In the distance, another ship was also being carried upward by the opposing current.
"Ahh! We're about to crash!" Usopp shouted, eyes bulging.
"There's no avoiding it," Zoro muttered, gripping his swords. "If we keep going, we'll collide head-on."
"The only solution," Sanji said with a calm but sharp tone, "is to take out their ship first."
Zoro cracked his knuckles. "Fine by me."
Luffy bounced beside them, eyes gleaming. "Heh, let's smash it!"
Kaoru sighed. "And I just said I wasn't showing off."
He drew his blade, energy flaring around him. "But if that's how it is…"
Lightning crackled across the steel as the three pirates attacked in unison.
"Lotus Style: Black Rope Severance!" Kaoru roared, slicing the air.
"Three-Sword Style: 108 Calamity Phoenix!" Zoro spun into motion.
"Gomu Gomu no… Pistol!" Luffy's arm shot forward, stretching with explosive power.
Their combined assault struck the opposing ship in a blinding flash of light—
BOOM!
The enemy vessel shattered instantly, debris scattering across the current.
"Hold on tight! We're cresting the top!" Nami shouted.
The Merry surged upward, reaching the peak of the mountain before plunging down into the descending stream of the Grand Line.
But thanks to Kaoru's spiritual barrier, the transition was smooth—controlled.
"Ahh! We finally made it—the Grand Line!" Luffy shouted, his grin stretching from ear to ear.
The crew cheered, exhilarated as sunlight broke across the ocean below.
Yet Kaoru didn't share their relief. His eyes narrowed as he scanned the sea.
"…Strange."
He had expected to see Laboon—the enormous whale that guarded the entrance to the Grand Line—but the waters were eerily empty.
No whale. No sign of life. Just silence.
"Roar!!!"
A thunderous bellow split the air, echoing from the cliffs nearby.
"What the hell was that?!" Sanji cried, his voice trembling slightly.
Kaoru turned toward the sound—then froze.
From the shadowed crevice of the mountain, a massive crimson figure emerged, its body glowing faintly beneath the skin.
A demon.
Recognition struck instantly.
"That's… a Red Demon," Kaoru muttered in disbelief. "From the demon clans. But why is one here?"
He glanced at Luffy and the others, then at the ocean below. Everything confirmed it—this was still the One Piece world. So how could a demon appear here?
A metallic chime echoed in his mind.
[System detected: Entity — Red Demon identified.]
Name: New Red Demon
Race: Demon
Power Level: Unknown (Estimated 20,000)
Description: A demon soldier created by the New Demon King using the power of the First Demon King.
Stronger than previous generations, its power far surpasses that of the old Red Demons.
Note: Demons possess seven hearts. Unless all seven are destroyed, they can resurrect infinitely.
Kaoru's expression hardened.
A power level of 20,000—far beyond the old Red Demons' mere 3,000. That meant the New Demon King had advanced the clan's strength exponentially.
If even a low-tier demon reached this level, then the elite warriors—the Ten Commandments—must easily exceed 80,000 or more.
"Ahhh!"
Luffy's scream broke Kaoru's thoughts. The Red Demon had struck, its colossal arm sweeping across the deck.
Luffy was sent flying, saved only by Sanji's quick reflexes as he leapt to catch him before he plunged into the sea.
"Kaoru! Do something!" Usopp shouted, panic in his voice.
Kaoru exhaled slowly, stepping forward. "Stay back."
In a flash, he vanished from the deck, using Moon Step to soar into the air. Lightning flared around his sword as he descended toward the demon.
"Ittoryu—Red Bird!"
His blade sliced downward in a blazing arc, cleaving the Red Demon clean in half.
A shockwave rippled through the sea.
Zoro whistled low. "Well, damn. Guess that settles it."
Sanji straightened his tie, exhaling. "Heh. Nicely done, Kaoru."
Relieved, he stepped closer to inspect the fallen creature.
"Wait—Sanji, get back!" Kaoru shouted.
Too late. The demon's eyes snapped open, glowing crimson.
Its massive fist shot upward, smashing Sanji straight into the water.
"Zoro!" Kaoru barked.
Without hesitation, Zoro dove after him, slicing through the waves to pull his crewmate back aboard.
"Seriously…" Zoro muttered, hauling Sanji over the railing, soaked and groaning. "You always have to cause trouble, don't you?"
Sanji coughed, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, yeah… my bad."
Seeing Sanji's subdued expression, Zoro didn't press further. Instead, he silently drew his blades, eyes locked on the demon's re-forming body.
The battle wasn't over yet.