"What the hell are you doing?! If you don't take this seriously, I swear I'll curse you!"
Buggy's frustrated voice carried over the sound of the calm waves as he glared at the two who had suddenly stood up.
Just as the words left his mouth, a massive figure began to emerge from the ocean depths behind him.
Kaizen pointed calmly, a slight smirk on his face. "Behind you."
"Huh? What's behind me?" Buggy asked, confused. He turned to look, and as soon as his eyes landed on the colossal creature rising behind him, his expression froze in terror.
"Sea! Sea King!" Buggy screamed, stumbling backward in fear.
"I believe we may have arrived in hell," Fujitora-san murmured, his face still half-hidden in shadow. But for the first time, the faint glimmer of excitement flickered on his stoic features.
The ship floated in a windless zone—a perilous and foreboding sea area. For anyone unlucky enough to cross it, encountering Sea Kings was almost inevitable.
"It's not so bad to tread through hell once in a while," Kaizen remarked, placing his hands on his hips with a carefree grin.
"Are you two mad?! We're about to be swallowed by that thing, and you're cracking jokes?!" Buggy's voice was almost a shriek as he clutched his head in despair.
Kaizen turned to him, smiling brightly. "Don't worry, Captain Buggy. Leave it to us."
"Y-you're just like that idiot Shanks! Always saying absurd things with a calm face in the middle of chaos!" Buggy cried, his tone laced with desperation. Tears welled in his eyes as he added, "I didn't expect the great Buggy-sama to die at sea so soon after setting out on my own! Captain Roger, I'm coming to join youuuu!"
The massive Sea King, towering over the ship, seemed to lose patience. With a blood-curdling roar, it lunged downward, jaws wide open to swallow the vessel whole.
"Ahhhh! I'm going to die! The legend of Buggy-sama ends here!" Buggy let out a scream so piercing it echoed across the otherwise silent sea.
---
After the Impact
Buggy opened his eyes cautiously, half-expecting to find himself in the afterlife. But to his shock, he was unharmed.
"Eh? What... happened?" Buggy muttered, his voice trembling.
Behind him, Kaizen stood casually, brushing his hands as though finishing an easy chore. "Your throat okay, Captain?" he teased, glancing over his shoulder.
Buggy turned to see the Sea King—or what remained of it. The once-terrifying creature had been shredded into unrecognizable chunks, its remains sinking into the sea.
"A-am I dreaming?! Was this Captain Roger's divine protection?!" Buggy stammered, touching his face to ensure he was still alive.
Kaizen raised an eyebrow. "Divine protection, huh? Sure, let's call it that."
"Hey! You two okay?" Buggy asked hesitantly, finally breaking out of his daze.
"I'm fine, except for the ringing in my ears from a certain someone's screaming," Kaizen replied with a sly grin, digging a finger in his ear.
Buggy puffed up his chest, attempting to regain his dignity. "Hmph! It's no big deal. I've seen Sea Kings even bigger than this one. You wouldn't believe the things I've experienced."
Kaizen chuckled. "Is that so? Well, maybe we'll see one of those soon."
Buggy froze, his face going pale. "W-what did you just say?"
---
Swarm of Sea Kings
Suddenly, Fujitora-san's calm voice broke through. "They're coming."
A cacophony of water splashes followed. One by one, monstrous Sea Kings emerged from the depths, surrounding the ship.
In seconds, the tiny vessel was encircled by dozens of gigantic creatures, each one more terrifying than the last. Buggy's face turned green with dread.
"Sea! Sea Kings! Dozens of them!" Buggy wailed, stumbling backward. "Not even Captain Roger could handle this!"
Kaizen smirked, standing casually with his hands in his pockets. "Quite the grand entrance, don't you think?"
Fujitora-san tilted his head slightly, his tone contemplative. "They're angry. One of their companions fell to us. The sorrow and rage—they cannot accept such a cruel twist of fate."
Buggy's fear turned to outrage. "You idiots! How can you be so calm?! And why are you chatting so casually when we're about to die?!"
Fujitora-san's sword rested against his chest as he closed his eyes. "Kaizen, don't use your Conqueror's Haki just yet. If you end this too quickly, I won't get my chance to fight."
Kaizen raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So you want... a showstopper of a battle?" His grin widened, understanding Fujitora's intent.
Fujitora nodded. "Even though I'm no longer a young man, there are moments when the fire of youth resurfaces. And right now, I thirst for battle."
The air around Fujitora shifted as he unsheathed his blade. A powerful aura radiated from him, rippling through the air.
"Oi! Old man, what do you think you're going to do with that sword? You can't even scratch these monsters!" Buggy shouted, though the pressure emanating from Fujitora's Haki made him shiver.
Kaizen chuckled. "Don't worry, Captain. My master's just giving these 'little guys' a proper farewell."
"Little guys?! Are you blind, too?! Those things are giants!"
Kaizen ignored the outburst and shouted to the Sea Kings, "Hey! You beasts! Listen up! This ship belongs to the great Buggy-sama—the future richest man in the seas! Bow down and flee if you value your lives!"
The Sea Kings roared in response, their massive forms lunging toward the ship in unison.
Buggy broke into a cold sweat. "Kaizen! Stop provoking them! You're going to get us killed!"
But Kaizen merely stepped back, watching Fujitora with an amused expression. The blind swordsman raised his blade high, his voice calm and resolute.
"Gravity Blade: Wind King (重力刀・風王)!"
With a single swing, the atmosphere shifted violently. Gravity itself seemed to warp, and the roar of the Sea Kings was drowned out by the thunderous force of Fujitora's attack.
---
The sea fell silent once more, save for the sound of waves splashing against the sinking remnants of the Sea Kings.
Buggy stared, his jaw slack. "W-what just happened...?"
Kaizen patted him on the shoulder, smirking. "Welcome to the New World, Captain."