After slaying Monkey D. Dragon, Jaeger acquired a new Noble Phantasm—one that seemed less a weapon and more a divine right. A sublimation of his essence.
Its ability? Elementary in description. Terrifying in scope.
Jaeger could now freely manipulate the weather of the entire world.
Thunderstorms, blizzards, torrential downpours, hailstorms—the wrath of nature itself bent to his whim.
Though it lacked the celestial devastation of star-falling lightning or a dinosaur-killing comet, its potential was absolute.
If unleashed without restraint, the skies alone could bring human civilization to its knees.
Jaeger casually dropped a screenshot of the Noble Phantasm's info into the chat.
[Chat Group]
Jaeger: [Picture] "Feels kinda underwhelming. Doesn't actually increase my personal strength…"
Luo Hao: "…This is what Miyuki called 'being a bitch,' right? You kill one support character and get world-scale weather control? Are you trying to cosplay as a weather god!?"
Uchiha Miyuki: "Only two words—Outrageous! I'm here suffering with Mangekyō and Eight Gates, and I haven't gotten a new skill in months! Even Kei's stronger than me now!"
Yamamoto Mei: "That's because you slack off. Embarrassing for a supposed 'protagonist of the system flow."
Miyuki: "Ugh! Stop scolding me! The system just dropped a new quest. I'm on it!"
Sakura Tosaka: "Congratulations, Jaeger-nii~ Another Noble Phantasm! And I heard there are still more waiting to be claimed! Oni chan's going to become unstoppable~!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha: "Tch. More like becoming a magnet for women across multiverses. Every mission, a new beauty joins your entourage."
Jaeger: "Mmm... Strength is for living better. Like how dieting is for enjoying good food, and earning money is to live well. What's the point of power if you can't enjoy it?"
Utaha: "Hah… you really know how to justify indulgence."
Sawamura Eriri: "Breaking news! That arrogant woman literally took over the Prime Ministers of Japan and China! She dines on ultra-luxury dishes now—stuff even billionaires dream of!"
Jaeger: "…"
Erina Nakiri: "Wait… Utaha, don't tell me you—"
Utaha: "!! I didn't ask for it! I simply… didn't reject it. Is that a crime!?"
Esdeath: "Hmph. So the elegant literary girl is also drunk on power. Typical."
Utaha: "…Fine. I'll admit it. I got a little carried away. Life's become... extravagant. The feeling of ruling from the shadows—it's addictive."
Luo Hao: "It's normal. Most who suddenly gain power will spiral a bit. Everyone here is enjoying their own flavor of privilege. Except, of course, the weaklings… like Sakura-chan."
Sakura Tosaka: "Hmph! Just you wait! I'll grow strong enough to protect Jaeger-nii!"
Utaha: "Protecting Jaeger, the man with a Noble Phantasm that controls global weather? Yeah. 'Long road ahead' doesn't even begin to cover it."
Scathach: "Her ability, Heroic Soul Flesh, has infinite mana... but magical energy alone doesn't make a Heroic Spirit. She needs training. Right now, even being summoned by the Holy Grail would be a stretch."
Sakura: "…"
Miyuki: "Heh! Sakura, don't bet on summoning powerhouses like Saber, Nero, or Gilgamesh. They're all going to get snatched by his Highness Jaeger~ Damn, even I'm jealous!"
Mei: "Miyuki, shut up and do your quest or you'll stay the group's weakest forever."
Miyuki: "Tch! You violent muscle-head!"
Miyuki (a moment later): "Wait a sec… Jaeger, why's there sand floating in the ice up in the sky? Am I seeing things, or is your livestream glitching?"
Scathach: "Nope. Your eyes are fine."
Miyuki: "Wha—!? I wasn't even looking properly earlier... What's going on?"
Esdeath: "Tch. That bastard actually tried to escape... I should've shattered him on the spot."
[In the One Piece World]
Crocodile, defeated and frozen in ice by Esdeath, wasn't giving up. While immobilized, he'd carefully turned part of his body into a sand-needle, laced with Armament Haki, and began tunneling a microscopic hole in the sculpture.
A single grain of sand at a time, like dust drifting on the wind.
He hoped—prayed—that moving his logia form rhythmically would fool even Observation Haki.
"I can do this… little by little… slip through like a breeze… Even these monsters won't notice…"
Unfortunately, they already had.
Esdeath: "This bastard…"
Fury rippled across her face. If Miyuki and Scathach hadn't warned her, she wouldn't have noticed Crocodile's slow, clever escape.
She raised her palm, preparing to unleash an absolute freeze on the escaping grains of sand.
Crocodile: "Damn it! They noticed!"
Panicking, he detonated into a storm of quicksand, scattering in all directions like a sandbomb.
Jaeger: "Clever. But not enough."
Jaeger's pupils flashed with an ominous light. The Eye of Horus activated—its anti-flight field engaged.
Crocodile, now pure sand, suddenly felt… heavy. Flight was impossible.
His scattered body collapsed from the sky, slamming into the earth. Slowly, unwillingly, it reassembled into human form.
"Bang!"
The impact was so violent, it shook the ruins and roused even the unconscious Mihawk.
Crocodile (coughing blood): "Damn you all!"
Enraged, he summoned waves of sand and rose to his feet, unwilling to bow out like the dragon before him.
Jaeger (lightly smiling): "Still struggling?"
He raised a hand, and a silver spear materialized.
Jaeger: "Gungnir—go."
"Whistle—THUD!!"
The divine spear pierced through Crocodile's chest like thunder splitting the sky, pinning him against the cracked remains of a stone wall.
Crocodile: "GUHAA!!"
Blood gushed as he stared down at the gleaming spear impaling him.
Crocodile: "Wh-What!? No Armament Haki!? You didn't even weaken my Logia form… How can I not move!? Is it… Seastone!? No… My power's still here… Even my Haki won't respond…"
His voice cracked in disbelief.
"It's called the Great God Seal, Mr. Crocodile. Once it hits, it seals the target's abilities completely."
With a triumphant smirk, Karuizawa Kei jumped down from the execution platform, clutching Jaeger's severed arm like a prized possession. Her tone was gleeful as she added, "It's one of Mr. Jaeger's magic tools."
Crocodile stared in stunned silence, disbelief and panic flashing across his face.
"A new weapon... developed by the Navy to suppress Devil Fruit users? Damn it! How did something this terrifying get made!?"
His eyes darted toward Jaeger, the fearsome Celestial Dragon now slowly approaching, surrounded by monsters like Esdeath.
The weight of reality crushed him — even in his prime, he wouldn't have stood a chance against them.
Esdeath had taken him down in a single move. Now, with his Haki and Devil Fruit abilities sealed, he was completely powerless.
His expression darkened as he resigned himself to fate.
"So this is how it ends... Just like that Dragon before me. I guess I was never anything more than a loser. Just like Roger..."
With a heavy breath, Crocodile closed his eyes and waited silently for Jaeger to deliver the final blow.
But instead of death, a question hit him like a slap.
"Mr. Crocodile, are you a man or a woman?"
Kei's voice rang out with mischievous curiosity as she looked at him sprawled among the ruins, bloodied and broken but still carrying a gangster's swagger.
"A friend of mine's been wondering for a while. Could you clear that up?"
"Screw off!"
Crocodile's eyes flew open, veins bulging. "Can't you tell just by looking!? I'm a man! A real one! What kind of idiot question is that!?"
Kei raised an eyebrow. "Tch. Just one sentence and you're already on edge? That's way too defensive. I'm calling it — 100% chance this guy used to be a woman."
Esdeath smirked. Crocodile's death glare practically burned holes through the ground.
"A weak woman, huh?" Esdeath crossed her arms, amused.
"Funny, since I and most of my companions are women. And your strength? Doesn't even compare to a flick of our fingers. Maybe the issue isn't your gender — maybe it's you."
Crocodile sneered. "Hmph. Women are born weaker. Even if they train five or ten times harder, they'll eventually be left behind by men. Strength fades faster with age. It's just biology."
His tone was cold, almost bitter. "You can't deny that. You must've felt it — the difference. If you were born a man, you'd definitely be stronger than you are now."
Kei chuckled. "Yet here you are, a 'man' killed by Esdeath — a 'pure woman' — in a single blow. Doesn't really help your argument."
She then glanced at Jaeger.
"And Mr. Jaeger? He's on a whole different level. Stronger than all of us combined. Clearly, it's not about gender — it's about the person."
Crocodile fell silent.
Esdeath's gaze sharpened. "You say that like it's a fact, but all I see is someone who gave up. Instead of pushing past your limits, you escaped."
"You ran away from your own body because it didn't give you the results you wanted. And in doing so, you proved you'll never be a true strong one."
Crocodile looked away, face clouded with shame. Her words stung.
At that moment, Jaeger suddenly raised a finger and fired a beam of light toward the half-conscious Hawkeye, who was still lying amidst the rubble nearby.
"Nngh..."
The beam struck before Hawkeye could react. A pained grunt escaped his lips — but then, he realized something strange. His injuries, once critical, were rapidly healing. Within seconds, he was back in peak condition.
Hawkeye slowly rose, surprised and cautious.
"What... My wounds are gone?"
He glanced around, unaware that everyone else was staring at him — not because of his recovery, but because of something else.
Esdeath's lips curled into a mischievous grin. "You might want to check a mirror."
Hawkeye raised a brow, confused.
"My throat feels... weird."
He glanced down.
And froze.
Two prominent mounds blocked his view.
He blinked.
"What the hell!? Since when did my chest get... this developed!?"
Finally realizing Jaeger must've done something while healing him, Hawkeye looked up with a dry smile.
"Saint... Jaeger. You're joking, right?"
Jaeger smiled pleasantly.
"Not at all. Just a side effect of the treatment. You're a cute girl now."
"A girl..."
Hawkeye's face twitched.
Esdeath was nearly in tears from laughter. With a casual wave, she summoned a mirror of ice, allowing Hawkeye to see his new appearance.
His skin was porcelain smooth, his facial features softer yet still carrying a fierce elegance. His sharp edges had been replaced with grace — a strange but captivating blend of feminine beauty and martial pride.
Even Hawkeye had to admit — he looked stunning.
But why? Why turn him into a woman?
As if reading his thoughts, Jaeger smiled.
"Didn't Crocodile claim women can't become strong? That their strength is inferior to men's? Now that you've 'lost' your male advantage... show him the truth."
He raised his hand.
"Show him whether strength comes from gender... or from the soul."
•••
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