A barrage of cannon fire roared from the Sward Pirates' ship, aimed directly at Sanders' vessel. The small boat should have been an easy target, yet before the shells could land, they detonated mid-air.
From his cabin, Sanders' eyes snapped open, his observation Haki immediately sensing the threat. A cold expression crossed his face as a faint blue light flickered in his eyes.
The cannonballs exploded prematurely, their fragments scattering harmlessly into the sea.
Emerging from his cabin, Sanders moved to the ship's stern, his expression dark. His keen eyes caught sight of the enemy vessel closing in, cannons already primed for another volley.
As more shells flew toward him, Sanders waved a single hand. Invisible energy rippled through the air, intercepting the cannonballs and causing them to plummet harmlessly into the ocean, where they erupted into harmless splashes.
"Keep firing!" Sward's commanding voice echoed across the sea. "Prepare to board! All hands, get ready to fight!"
The shouting grated on Sanders' ears. Rubbing his pinky finger against his ear in irritation, he muttered, "Annoying."
In an instant, lightning crackled around him, and his figure blurred.
High above the Sward Pirates' ship, Sanders materialized, his gaze sweeping across the unfamiliar faces below. His presence caused a ripple of panic among the crew, though Sward himself remained unshaken.
"Who are you supposed to be?" Sanders asked, his tone laced with disinterest.
"I'm the one who will take your head!" Sward declared, pointing his rapier at Sanders. "Thunder God? More like a coward, crawling back after getting crushed by Kaido!"
Sanders raised an eyebrow, his expression turning incredulous. When did that happen?
He chuckled internally, recalling his two battles with Kaido—both ending in stalemates. It seemed his year-long absence had birthed wild rumors.
Sward wasted no time, sending a flying slash and a volley of bullets toward Sanders. The ship's crew had even armed themselves with Seastone bullets, a clear attempt to counter his Logia powers.
Without hesitation, Sanders activated his Armament Haki, coating his entire body—and more importantly, his clothes—in a protective black sheen. The attacks struck him head-on, the bullets and slash ricocheting harmlessly off his armored form.
The crew stared in shock.
"Even Seastone bullets don't work? Is this guy made of metal?"
"No wonder the bounty on him is so high! We've never seen Armament Haki this strong!"
Sanders stood unscathed, dusting himself off as if the assault had been nothing more than an annoyance.
Undeterred, Sward prepared to unleash his ultimate technique.
"Prepare yourself, Sanders!" he roared, crouching low before launching himself into the air with explosive force.
In a flash, he appeared before Sanders, his rapier gleaming with Armament Haki.
"One-Sword Style: Titanic Slash!"
The blade cut through the air, its terrifying power causing the surrounding wind to howl. It was a strike meant to cleave ships and giants alike.
The Sward Pirates' crew watched in awe.
"Captain's Titanic Slash!"
"Not even ships can survive that attack!"
But Sanders remained unmoved. As the blade descended, he calmly raised his hand, catching the rapier mid-swing.
The strike, imbued with tremendous power and reinforced by Armament Haki, stopped cold in Sanders' grip.
The Sward Pirates were dumbfounded.
"He... caught it?!"
"With his bare hand?!"
Sanders' expression remained indifferent as he tightened his grip, the rapier's blade shattering under the immense pressure.
"Is that all?" he asked coldly, his voice devoid of emotion.
Sward froze, sweat forming on his brow as he realized the immense gulf between their power levels.
"Not bad. Strength's decent, and your Armament Haki is passable."
Sanders commented indifferently, his calm tone laced with a hint of disdain as he appraised the rotund captain before him.
This guy could probably make it as a commander in a Yonko crew, Sanders thought. But challenging a Yonko? He's leagues away from that level.
A chilling frost spread from Sanders' palm, encasing Sward's rapier in a layer of thick ice. The freezing mist crept up the blade toward Sward's arm.
Sward's expression shifted, and he attempted to pull the weapon free, but it wouldn't budge. The sword felt like it had been embedded in solid stone.
Sward gritted his teeth, using Geppo (Moonwalk) to leap into the air and engage Sanders in a standoff.
"Geppo, huh?" Sanders remarked, unimpressed. "Marine techniques really are everywhere these days."
He wasn't surprised. The Rokushiki (Six Powers) were indeed versatile. For those yet to master Haki, they provided a solid foundation. But for someone of Sanders' caliber, the techniques were elementary at best.
The frost continued to spread, and when Sward realized the futility of his struggle, he released his grip on the rapier and retreated. Landing back on his ship, his face was dark with frustration.
The confrontation had unfolded in mere moments, leaving Sward's crew stunned.
"Our captain… retreated?!"
"That guy blocked the captain's strike bare-handed! Without even imbuing his hand with Haki!"
"And what was that ice just now? Isn't Sanders supposed to be a Rumble-Rumble Fruit user?"
"Still think you're fit to challenge a Yonko?" Sanders sneered as he glanced at the retreating Sward.
Without waiting for a reply, Sanders clenched his fist, shattering the frozen rapier into countless shards. The pieces scattered into the ocean like glass.
"Too weak," Sanders declared dismissively, brushing imaginary dust from his hands.
Sward's expression turned feral, his eyes filled with rage.
"I'll kill you, piece by piece! Then I'll kill your crew, and that Nico Robin on your ship will—"
Before Sward could finish, Sanders vanished.
Sward's eyes widened, his Observation Haki flaring as he desperately tried to locate Sanders.
But he was too slow.
A massive boot connected with his face, distorting his plump features. Blood and teeth sprayed into the air as he hurtled backward.
"Captain!"
Before Sward's crew could react, Sanders appeared beneath him mid-flight, delivering another bone-crushing kick that launched him skyward.
The sequence repeated with terrifying speed.
Lightning crackled as Sanders blurred in and out of sight, delivering punishing blows from every direction. Sward's rotund body ricocheted through the air like a ball, each strike accompanied by a spray of blood.
Even after covering his entire body with Armament Haki, Sward couldn't withstand the relentless assault. His once-menacing form was now battered and broken, his aura of command shattered.
"Vice-captain, do something! Captain's going to die at this rate!"
The crew turned to the blond vice-captain, their voices trembling with desperation.
Cold sweat dripped from the vice-captain's face as his eyes tracked the flickering flashes of lightning in the sky. His Observation Haki strained to keep up, but all he could see were streaks of lightning and afterimages of Sanders.
"I… I can't!" he stammered, his voice quivering. "He's too fast!"
Summoning his courage, the vice-captain leapt into the fray, swinging his blade at one of the afterimages.
He realized his mistake too late.
A bolt of lightning struck him mid-swing, and he found himself airborne alongside his captain. Sanders appeared above him, delivering a devastating kick that sent the vice-captain crashing into Sward.
Now, there were two human pinballs flying through the air, their screams echoing across the sea.
"W-what do we do?!"
Panic spread through the remaining crew like wildfire. Their strongest warriors were reduced to little more than playthings in Sanders' hands.
Their resolve wavered, and despair began to seep into their hearts as they watched their captain and vice-captain being mercilessly battered.
"Captain and Vice-Captain are going to be kicked to death!"
One of the officers trembled, his wide eyes reflecting the sheer horror of the scene before him.
The two strongest pillars of the Sward Pirates were utterly powerless, reduced to playthings for Sanders. Their mighty reputations crumbled before their crew's eyes.
"Monster! He's a monster!"
"We should've listened to the Vice-Captain! We shouldn't have provoked a Sea Emperor!"
"Run! Run!"
Watching their once-unstoppable leaders being ruthlessly toyed with, many of the crew broke down. Weapons clattered to the deck as they turned and fled, desperately trying to distance themselves from the terrifying figure in the sky.
After an uncountable number of kicks, Sanders finally stopped.
Sward and his Vice-Captain plummeted to the deck, landing with a sickening thud.
The pirates who remained froze, staring in horror at the mangled forms of their captain and vice-captain.
Their bodies were grotesquely twisted, their bones shattered beyond recognition. Blood pooled beneath them, their faces unrecognizable, eyes rolled back.
Those with Observation Haki attempted to sense their life force.
"N-no… I can't feel their presence!"
"They're dead?! Dead?!"
Panic erupted among the crew, disbelief painted on their faces.
Sanders descended slowly, his hands clasped behind his back. His calm, imposing demeanor silenced the remaining whispers of resistance.
Terrified pirates stumbled backward, some dropping to their knees and throwing down their weapons.
"Mercy!"
"It was all the captain's idea! We were just following orders!"
"Please spare us!"
None dared to fight back. If their captain and vice-captain couldn't even land a blow, what chance did they have?
Sanders didn't reply. His expression was cold as the deck beneath his feet began to frost over.
Ice rapidly spread outward, engulfing Sward and his vice-captain's bodies. The chill swept over the remaining pirates before they could flee.
"Run!"
But the ice was faster.
In mere moments, the entire crew was encased in ice, their horrified expressions preserved as frozen statues. The pirate ship itself transformed into a massive, icy tomb, adrift on the sea.
Sanders didn't spare the frozen ship another glance. He retrieved a bottle of beer from beneath the deck's table, biting off the cap and taking a deep swig.
"Finally got rid of my morning grumpiness," he muttered, leaning back into a chair. His lips curved into a faint smirk.
"Consider it a warm-up before I face Whitebeard."
Standing, he adjusted his bearings. His small craft roared to life, cutting across the waves with lightning speed, leaving the icy ship a lonely monument to despair.
In another part of the New World, the massive Moby Dick sailed through the seas. The Whitebeard Pirates, along with their allied ships, surrounded the iconic vessel.
The deck was alive with the sound of laughter, singing, and merriment. Pirates reveled in feasts of food and drink, celebrating life under the protection of their indomitable leader.
Seated on the deck of the Moby Dick was Whitebeard himself, a massive figure radiating strength and warmth. A barrel of sake rested in his hand, and his booming laughter echoed as he watched his "sons" revel.
Few dared provoke the Whitebeard Pirates. Even the other Yonko rarely crossed their path. Such was the power of Edward Newgate, the world's strongest man.
On one of the smaller ships flanking the Moby Dick, a lookout leaned against the railing, lazily sipping from a bottle of rum. Every so often, he raised his telescope to scan the horizon.
During one such scan, he spotted a small boat speeding toward their position.
"Hm?"
The sight of the black pirate flag gave him pause. He adjusted the telescope, focusing on the lightning symbol emblazoned on it.
"No way…"
Recognition dawned, and his casual demeanor vanished.
"It's… the Thunder God Pirates?!"
He bolted upright, his face paling.
Wasting no time, the lookout rushed to report his discovery.
Though the Thunder God Pirates had disappeared for nearly a year, rumors of their demise were greatly exaggerated. The New World knew better. If anything, their supposed "tie" with Kaido left an unspoken tension across the seas.
Even the Hundred Beasts Pirates hadn't dared to retaliate after their clash, a silence that spoke volumes.
As the small ship approached, the mood among the Whitebeard Pirates began to shift. What had started as carefree revelry slowly gave way to a tense anticipation.
The storm was coming.
The news of the Thunder God Pirates' ship approaching reached the deck of the Moby Dick.
"Dad, someone spotted the Thunder God Pirates heading our way," Marco said gravely, stepping up to Whitebeard's towering figure.
Whitebeard paused for a moment before letting out a booming laugh.
"Gurararara!"
"So, he's finally coming?"
"I've been waiting a whole year!"
After the two clashes between Sanders and Kaido, Whitebeard had anticipated a challenge from Sanders. The battle-hardened Yonko knew that anyone daring enough to clash with Kaido twice would eventually seek him out.
But a year had passed, and Sanders had seemingly vanished from the seas.
If not for the occasional sightings of the Thunder God Pirates' members in Dressrosa, Whitebeard might have assumed Sanders had perished in some violent storm.
"Tell the ships to let him through," Whitebeard ordered.
"Understood!"
Marco turned and left, a spark of excitement visible on his usually calm face.
The other division commanders quickly gathered on the deck after hearing that Sanders might be approaching.
Like Marco, they were eager to see the man who had once stirred the seas into chaos, only to disappear without a trace.
Anyone bold enough to challenge Whitebeard would have to face them first.
On the small ship nearing the Moby Dick, Sanders stood on the deck, his coat draped over one shoulder. His sharp gaze fixed on the massive flagship in the distance.
Even from afar, he could make out the figures of the Whitebeard Pirates' division commanders standing along the railings.
The unmistakable presence of Marco the Phoenix, Diamond Jozu, and Flower Sword Vista—each a legend in their own right—stood ready.
Before Sanders could close the distance, a voice called out to him.
"Thunder God Sanders?"
Marco's tone carried a mix of uncertainty and curiosity. He'd never met Sanders in person, having only seen his photo.
"Yes, it's me," Sanders replied coolly.
"What brings you here?"
Though Marco was curious, his tone remained polite. After all, there was always a chance Sanders wasn't here to fight.
"To have a drink," Sanders said, his expression relaxed.
Marco's demeanor softened at this, but then Sanders added with a faint smirk:
"And to have a fight with Whitebeard."
As the last word left his lips, a ferocious wave of Conqueror's Haki erupted from Sanders.
The sheer force of his will swept over the surrounding ships, shaking the air and water. Pirates with weaker wills fell unconscious where they stood, their bodies hitting the deck like dominos.
The division commanders tensed, their expressions sharpening as they felt the unmistakable weight of Sanders' Haki.
On the Moby Dick, Whitebeard chuckled deeply, gripping his massive bisento as he rose to his feet.
"Gurararara! This is going to be fun."
The atmosphere shifted. What had started as a calm gathering now bristled with the electric tension of an impending storm.
The Thunder God had come, and the Sea Emperor was ready.
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T/N:
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