The Greatest Disgrace in Marine History

"I..."

Kuzan's face flushed red as he opened his mouth, trying to say something.

"Shut up."

Sakazuki and Darren cut him off coldly, their voices overlapping.

Kuzan looked utterly wronged. His chest swelled with indignation as he pointed at Darren.

"What does this have to do with me!? Didn't you hear? They're all here for Darren!"

Darren: "…"

There was no way to respond to that.

But before Darren could even think of defending himself, Kuzan suddenly froze, a shudder running through him.

"The three legendary pirates... all targeting Darren...?"

Darren's eyelid twitched.

Just as expected, Kuzan's eyes lit up as he stared at Darren, stars of awe sparkling in them. His face brimmed with excitement.

"As expected of my 'eternal rival'! This is just too cool!!"

The thought alone ignited a wildfire of fighting spirit in Kuzan's chest, blazing like a roaring inferno.

"In that case, I've gotta step up too...!"

He muttered under his breath, then suddenly raised his arm high. Standing tall and proud, he pointed toward the sky where three terrifying figures loomed like gods or demons, and shouted:

"Bring it on, pirates!!"

"Today, with the four 'monsters' of Marine HQ present, the noble justice we carry burns like raging fire... Your evil will never prevail!!"

Would you just shut up already...

Darren groaned and covered his forehead in pain.

"Jihahahahaha!! You clueless little Marine brats!!"

Kuzan's taunt hit the mark. The Golden Lion burst into a twisted laugh, his fury turning to a gleeful, bloodthirsty grin.

His body began to rise into the sky. With both hands gripping his twin blades, he prepared to attack—

But Kaido was faster.

No—he was even more impatient.

"Wororororo!! Then try and survive this, damn you!!"

The colossal dragon soaring through the heavens unleashed a thunderous roar. His mountainous head jerked upward, jaws splitting wide open with terrifying exaggeration.

Then he inhaled—deeply.

In that instant, the air visibly distorted as it was sucked into his massive belly like a hurricane.

Terrifying waves of destruction began to coalesce inside the dragon's maw, swirling with lightning and howling winds. Crimson light flared with searing intensity.

This is...

Darren's pupils shrank.

That move!

"DARREN!! I'm going to kill you today!!"

Kaido's roar echoed like a demon's curse. A sinister, suffocating killing intent rolled out from his enormous form as flames erupted from his throat in a catastrophic blast.

"Heat Breath!!"

A massive torrent of blazing flame burst from the sky, like a crimson galaxy crashing down from above. The heat was so intense it seemed to melt the very air.

The dark red glow illuminated the stormy sky in a hellish hue.

The blazing inferno expanded in Darren and the others' eyes, growing larger and larger. The scorching heatwave scorched their skin, made their breath catch dry in their throats.

"HAHAHAHAHA!! Fire? That's all!? You're underestimating us!!"

Kuzan laughed fearlessly.

"Right, Darren? Isn't that so!?"

"We're Marines, bearers of justice! There's no way we're backing down!!"

Frost began to emanate from Kuzan's body, instantly chilling the scorching currents around him.

"Anyone who backs down now... is a disgrace to the Marines!!"

With pride, he stepped forward.

But then, he paused. Something felt off.

Just as the flames were about to rain down—

Darren wrapped an arm around Toki's waist and shot backward through the air.

Borsalino grinned lazily as his body split into photons, vanishing in a streak of golden light.

Sakazuki glanced impassively at Kuzan, then vanished with a sharp whoosh, using Soru.

Leaving only Kuzan...

Standing alone, staring blankly at the hellfire crashing toward him.

"…"

Kuzan's smile froze.

He controlled ice—yes, it countered fire to a degree.

But this scale of flames? There was no way he could hold it back alone!

At that moment—

Tap.

A steady, forceful footstep echoed from behind him.

Before Kuzan could react—

A tall, broad-shouldered figure stepped in front of him.

Messy strands of vibrant purple hair whipped in the storm of heat. A thick, heavy white cloak fluttered behind him, and on its back, the jet-black kanji for "Justice" danced like a raging dragon.

Kuzan's eyes widened.

That figure stepped directly into the oncoming torrent of flame—enough to annihilate a town—with unwavering composure.

Armament Haki surged like living fluid, coating his muscular arm in jet black.

His hand clenched into a fist.

And that fist—thunderous, unstoppable—struck forward!

Black Arm: Meteor!

BOOM!!

The earth-shaking shockwave tore through the sky, colliding head-on with Kaido's Heat Breath.

A deafening explosion split the heavens. The ground for hundreds of meters rippled like an ocean wave, and flaming buildings were torn from their roots.

The Marines held on for dear life, clinging to whatever was bolted down, eyes wide in awe.

Because before them stood a man who stopped a dragon's fire with a single punch.

With just his presence, he brought with him an overwhelming sense of security—as if with that steadfast figure standing tall, victory was not only possible, but inevitable.

Flames scattered, smoke billowed.

The man extended his arm and casually snuffed out the remaining sparks and embers.

Then he turned back to Kuzan and grinned.

"How many times have I told you, boy? Think before you act."

"Z-Zephyr-sensei...!"

Kuzan stared blankly at the man before him, eyes shining with adoration.

"That was... just too cool!!"

Zephyr: "…"

Well, that's as good as saying nothing.

He sighed and shook his head, muttering:

"Took a bit of time rallying reinforcements."

From all directions, figures converged rapidly.

They bore sabers, wore Marine uniforms, and exuded a fierce, ruthless air. One after another, they landed behind Zephyr.

"Vice Admiral Davosger, Marine HQ—reporting, sir!"

"Rear Admiral Novi, Marine HQ—reporting to Zephyr-sir!"

"Commodore Snyder… reporting to Mr.Zephyr!"

"…"

High-ranking officers from every stronghold had arrived, eyes fixed on Zephyr's back with undisguised awe and burning emotion, gripping their sabers tightly.

"Davosger, Novi, Snyder…"

Zephyr's gaze swept across their familiar faces. A bold, fearless smile tugged at his lips.

"It's been a long time since we last fought side by side, hasn't it?"

The dozens of Marine officers snapped to attention, eyes fierce and determined, voices thunderous with rising battle spirit.

"Five years!"

"Yes... five years."

Zephyr let out a soft sigh, a flash of emotion flickering in his eyes.

These were the very men who once fought beside him on countless battlefields.

"Never thought this old retired man would take to the battlefield again."

"With Kong and Sengoku gone… Marineford must be protected by me now."

He clenched his fist, lifting his head to glare at the three pirate kings in the sky. A fearless grin spread across his face.

"Come, then. Let this old man lead you once more—

—to war!"

---

To be continued…