As the ships drew closer to each other...
"Buzz!"
Suddenly, a powerful slash shot from the bow of the enemy ship, expanding rapidly in the air, carving a massive chasm into the sea.
Seeing this, the ordinary soldiers on the warship immediately looked toward Zephyr on the deck. To them, the ship was their second life. Losing it in the vast ocean meant almost certain death unless they had extraordinary luck and encountered a passing ship.
"Mr. Zephyr!"
Without needing the sailors to speak, Zephyr had already sensed the attack the moment it was launched.
As the powerful slash was about to strike the warship, Zephyr stomped on the deck, propelling his massive body into the air. A purple-black aura of Armament Haki quickly covered his right arm. With a mighty punch, he shattered the enormous slash into pieces.
The residual force from the punch created a hundred-meter-wide and tens-of-meters-deep crater in the sea. The energy from the slash dispersed, causing a gust of wind that made the sailors' clothes flutter.
"Prepare for bombardment!"
Despite the explosion's aftermath and the spray of seawater, the navy on the warship calmly prepared for battle. Weakening the enemy with cannon fire before boarding had become second nature to these soldiers.
"Fire!"
Boom, boom, boom!
With a series of thunderous roars, hundreds of cannonballs hurtled toward the approaching pirate ship.
"Mom, it looks like they want to sink us."
Standing at the bow, Weevil scratched his head and looked down at his mother, Bakkin.
Bakkin's face changed upon seeing the barrage. She had underestimated the navy, thinking they were just small fry. But their military discipline and the ability to block her son's slash indicated they were formidable opponents.
Still, confident in her greatest creation, Bakkin quickly gave orders.
"You big oaf, hurry and stop those cannonballs! Do you want your mother to swim with you?"
Bakkin struck Weevil's leg with her cane.
"Ow, Mom, stop hitting me. I got it."
Though Bakkin's strikes were no more than tickles to the monstrous Weevil, he acted as if in great pain.
"Then quickly swat those cannonballs away, or our ship will be sunk!"
Bakkin pointed her cane at the incoming cannonballs.
"It's all your fault! Making Mom angry! Arrgh!"
Furious, Weevil blamed everything on Zephyr's ship. Gripping his naginata with both hands, he twisted his body and swung at the approaching cannonballs.
The air shattered with his swing, and all the cannonballs exploded mid-air, forming a smoky curtain above the ship.
Seeing Weevil's display of strength, Zephyr was surprised. The opponent's sheer physical power rivaled that of some of the toughest adversaries he had faced.
"Everyone stay on the ship. I'll deal with this pirate myself!"
Zephyr decided to take the fight to the enemy ship. Battling on their own ship could damage it severely, a dangerous gamble in the treacherous New World. Winning could still leave their ship barely seaworthy, and losing meant certain death without a vessel.
As Zephyr finished giving orders, Weevil's massive body leapt from his ship, heading straight for the warship. In mid-air, he raised his naginata and swung it down at the airborne Zephyr.
"Buzz!"
Facing the incoming attack, Zephyr's expression changed. He crossed his arms in front of him, quickly covering them with Armament Haki.
"Boom!"
The naginata, infused with violent power, struck Zephyr's crossed arms, sending him crashing back down to the deck. The immense force left white slash marks even on his Haki-covered arms.
"Teacher!" "Mr. Zephyr!"
The sailors on the warship turned pale, shouting anxiously. They were seasoned soldiers and recognized the power behind that strike.
Zephyr's face darkened as he retracted his arms, his gaze serious as he looked at Weevil and Bakkin, who was perched on Weevil's shoulder.
"I'm fine! The enemy is tough. Protect yourselves!"
Zephyr shouted sternly, then focused entirely on the seemingly dim-witted Weevil.
"Hehehe, isn't this former Admiral Zephyr? I didn't expect the renowned 'No-Kill' admiral to betray the navy. How about joining forces with me? Together, we could dominate the New World."
Bakkin, leaning on her cane, invited Zephyr after jumping down from Weevil's shoulder. She believed that with Zephyr's strength, her ambitions would be easier to achieve.
"How could I ever cooperate with mere pirates!"
Zephyr replied coldly. Despite leaving the navy, he still held onto his own sense of justice. Since his wife and children were killed by pirates, his goal had been to rid the seas of all pirates, ensuring none remained.
Seeing the negotiations fail, Weevil grinned, gripping his naginata.
"Ulalalala, they say you were once a great admiral, even fighting on par with my dad. If I kill you, does that prove I'm better than him?"
Weevil's strange words made Zephyr realize the man's intellect might be lacking. Still, he couldn't underestimate his strength.
"It seems the sea has forgotten the name of Black Arm Zephyr!"
Zephyr shouted in anger. His arms swelled with muscle as Armament Haki engulfed them, showcasing his physical power and Haki mastery.
"Boom!"
In the next moment, the naginata and Zephyr's fist collided. The warship trembled, sinking a few meters into the water, and the deck creaked under the pressure. Some sailors struggled to stay on their feet.
"Damn, the ship can't withstand this force! We need to end this quickly."
Zephyr's face darkened, knowing the ship couldn't endure much more of this battle. At that moment, Weevil's blade swung again.
Zephyr dodged using Kami-e, then used Soru to appear in front of Weevil, delivering a Haki-enhanced punch to his chest.
"Black Arm: Dark Peak!"
Zephyr's fist, like a mountain, struck Weevil, sending him crashing into the ship's mast with a loud crack.
"Aaah, it hurts! I'll kill you!"
Weevil screamed, causing the mast to snap. Zephyr, unfazed, kept his cold gaze on Weevil.
Weevil, gripping his naginata, charged again. Despite his brute strength, he was outmatched by Zephyr's combat skills and Haki. If not for his extraordinary physical resilience, he would have been killed already.
"This isn't good!"
Seeing Weevil being suppressed, Bakkin, fending off the surrounding sailors, grew anxious. Her eyes suddenly noticed something in the distance, causing her to tremble.
"Incoming from the sky!"
"What?"
The sailors turned their eyes skyward. A figure was speeding towards them.
"It's Nicholas!"
A panicked voice rang out, and even Zephyr spared a glance. In the next second, a flash of lightning struck the ship's mast.
Boom!
Thunder echoed as Nicholas appeared.
"Hey, Mr. Jiraiya, need some help?"
[This version of zephyr due to depression after his family's death has white hair and eerily looks like Jiraiya]