The midday sun was bathing the beach in golden warmth, casting long, lazy shadows across the smooth sand of the Long Ring Long Island's coast. Waves were lapping gently at the shore in a rhythm that seemed content and slow, like the world had finally taken a deep breath and chosen to take a rest. Overhead, a few puffy clouds lazed about in the bright sky, content to drift and watch the antics below.
The Strawhat pirates were scattered along the beach in varying states of relaxation, chaos and getting sunburnt. They had chosen to spend the break of their journey in the embrace of the ocean, get some rest in the wide and inviting beach, away from the marines, warlords and other pirates breathing down their necks.
The old man–named Tonjit, but called 'Gramps' by Luffy–and the cheerful and lovely horse Sherry had been roped into this impromptu beach day by none other than Luffy himself. He had invited them along, mostly because, as Luffy had loudly declared earlier that morning, "If I can't eat that cheese you gave me, then you gotta come and eat Sanji's cooking instead!"
Indeed, Sanji had taken it as a personal challenge to make Luffy forget the cheese the old man was offering, mostly because he was afraid of how a decade old cheese would affect his captain. Because he certainly refused to lose the grinning idiot to food poisoning of all things.
And so, here they all were. The sun hung high above them and the sea sparkled with a strange energy, almost like it was too happy. There were no enemies, no rush. Just the blue skies, the lapping waves, the cherry laughters, and the rarest treasure of all, peace.
And the best of all was Luffy's laughter, which was resounding, bringing peace and joy. Despite the clear worry in the eyes of his crew, he was running, skipping and laughing. He had climbed on top of Zoro's broad shoulders and declared himself the king of the beach.
He was wearing a lightweight red open hoodie, which was draped over his sun-kissed shoulders, the fabric thin and breezy, just enough to keep the sun from roasting his skin without smothering him in heat–not that it was needed. The sleeves hung loosely around his arms, rolled a little at the elbows. Underneath, he wore nothing at all, letting the sea breeze roll over his slender, bare chest. His blue shorts were simple and rugged, frayed a bit at the edges, perfect for wading into the tides or sprinting across the sand.
His iconic strawhat sat jauntily atop his head, tilted slightly to the side as he clung to Zoro's shoulders like a little monkey.
"Zoro, go faster!" Luffy grinned, giggling, kicking his heels like he was enjoying every moment of it.
"I ain't a damn horse!" Zoro grumbled, though he still trudged across the beach with Luffy on his shoulders, dodging flung seaweed, the occasional wet sandball from the sniper of their crew and the hurled insults and the occasional water balloons from Sanji.
"Oi, mosshead! Stop encouraging him!"
"Make me, love-cook."
"Tag! You're it!" Chopper squealed, racing past with flailing arms and a wild laugh, only to trip over his own hooves and face-plant in the sand.
Robin watched from under a parasol, a cocktail glass of chilled pineapple juice in her hand, one elegant leg crossed over the other. She was smiling faintly, occasionally glancing toward Luffy, eyes warm. Nami, meanwhile, sat on a large beach towel with her back to the breeze, polishing her orange-painted toenails and keeping count of Luffy's laughter.
He was laughing a lot today. That was good.
Her gaze slid over to where Sanji had set up a full beach barbecue. Smoke curled up from the grill, and the scent of roasted meat, fish skewers, and spiced pineapples wafted over. She sighed. He was doing his best, and she had to admit, it all looked incredibly delicious.
But maybe after this beach party, there won't be much left in their pantry. But for now, they didn't have to worry. They had acquired huge sacks of gold from Skypiea, which needed to be cashed out later.
Her eyes softened as she watched Luffy leap off Zoro's back, land on the sand in a roll, and come up beaming.
"Oi! Sanji! I want chicken legs! All of them!"
Sanji saluted with a pair of tongs teasingly. "Anything for you, Captain!"
"EHHH?! What about me?!" Usopp complained.
"You get whatever's left, liar-boy," Sanji said sweetly.
Meanwhile, Tonjit, wearing a ridiculous hat far too big for his head, was starting to tell whoever was listening to him–mainly Chopper, Robin and Usopp–about an ancient breed of sea rabbits while Sherry practiced skimming shells across the tide using her mouth. Luffy saw her and raced over, excited by the idea itself.
"Let's find shells!" he announced.
"Huh?" Chopper blinked.
"Competition time!" Luffy declared, puffing out his chest. "Whoever gets the prettiest seashells wins!"
"Winner gets what?" Usopp asked, suspicious.
Luffy thought for a moment. "All the ice cream Sanji made!"
"YOU DIDN'T EVEN ASK ME!" Sanji screamed from behind the grill.
But it was too late. Chopper had already transformed into his smaller form and dashed toward the waves, while Usopp used his sniper goggles to scan the beach. Luffy took off at a run, bare feet slapping against wet sand.
But unlike the others, someone had an edge. And that someone was none other than Luffy, whose mother was the sea. She was already carrying small, pearly, beautiful shells closer to his path, rolling them gently within his reach like an offering, like a gift. No one noticed it, not a single soul present on the beach saw as Luffy 'cheated' his way through the self proclaimed competition unknowingly.
By the time the competition ended, if it could even be called that, Luffy was holding a massive pile of vibrant, multi-colored seashells in the hem of his top, far more than Chopper, Sherry and Usopp combined. They were even glimmering, almost glowing.
"Look, look!" he grinned, running to Chopper and Usopp. "Beat that!"
Chopper stared at Luffy's hoard in awe, "How did you find so many?! I only found three…"
"I got five," Usopp mumbled. "But I let you win. As captain. You know."
Luffy didn't reply. He just beamed and flopped down on the towel next to Nami, scattering some of the shells onto her feet.
"Oi! You're getting sand all over me!"
"Heh. Sorry."
But she didn't sound too mad. Especially not when Chopper started adorning the shells into Luffy's hair with giggles. Robin joined in, weaving tiny ones into the strawhat band.
"There," she said. "Fit for a king."
"Pirate King," Luffy corrected, cheeks stretching wide, and beaming at the attention.
"You look like a festival float," Zoro commented, dropping down beside them, while tossing Luffy a bottle of juice.
Luffy caught it and grinned. "Thanks, Zoro!"
The swordsman didn't answer. But his eye lingered on the soft look on Luffy's face for a second longer than usual. Trying to find if he was truly okay now. He looked that way but Zoro could still see the slight abnormalities in his posture and grin.
Sanji finally called them over for food, laying out plates on a long table made from driftwood. Everything looked perfect. Grilled meats, fruit skewers, fried dumplings, a massive bowl of icecream for the seashell winner and a whole carved watermelon.
"Eat to your heart's content, everyone," Sanji said with a bow.
Luffy sat in the middle, cheeks puffed with meat, surrounded by the others. Nami scolded him to slow down. Chopper kept wiping his face with a napkin, trying to get rid of the sand. Usopp tried to steal from his plate. Zoro drank straight from a bottle and got yelled at. Robin made sure Luffy had enough rice.
At some point, Sherry had a coconut with a flower straw in her mouth and brought it to Luffy from the table. "For you!" she neighs giddily.
Luffy took it with both hands. "Yay! Thanks, Sherry!"
The old man chuckled, sipping his own drink. "This crew's somethin' else."
"They're mine," Luffy said simply. "My nakama."
.
The laughter of the Strawhat crew continued to echo faintly through the cover, caught in the arms of the sea breeze and carried over the gentle rise and fall of the waves. Luffy had just declared his claim over a skewer of fish and a mango slice, earning a mock gasp from Usopp and a resigned sign from Nami. He was even about to take a sip of Zoro's sake, when Sanji decisively switched it with another drink, Zoro could only grumble threats in retaliation.
The sun was still lazily sinking on the horizon, dipping low like a sleepy lantern, nearly out of fuel but not wanting to go away yet. It was a wonderful day, filled with laughter and cheers even if the start was one heck of an ordeal. But even amid the joy, a slight twitch passed through Luffy's fingers as he held the skewer. His head tilting a fraction, his eyes lidding ever so slightly.
He felt it.
A presence. Not heavy like rage, not dark like hatred, but cold, calm and absolute.
A low protective hum built in his chest once again. That faint, indistinct drum of the world that echoed in his heart, beating ever so beautifully, wanting to beat louder and louder and louder. But Luffy calmed it out, his golden eyes narrowing beneath the brim of his hat, unseen by others, and just for a breath of time, the winds, the clouds, the waves, everything around him sharpened.
Because out there, just beyond the horizon, was a bike. Pedaling leisurely across the ocean's surface as though it were solid earth with mud and dirt, a tall figure was approaching. His coat was draped loosely over his shoulders, head ducked against the light, and his eyes hidden behind tinted round glasses. From afar, he just looked like a lazy tourist with ice fruit powers enjoying a slow ride across the ocean.
But Luffy knew better. And what he saw wasn't just a man. It was an admiral in flesh. Approaching them. Gauging them from afar. Studying their every move.
Ice wasn't merely coating his path, it was obeying him. The sea was stiffening beneath each tire turn, crystalline and flawless. And though Nika's mother naturally rippled to meet her son, she hesitated around this man, almost contemplative. As if she didn't want the man, the marine, to be anywhere near Luffy.
Luffy's brows furrowed as he studied the man, his eye flashing gold, letting him see more then what should be humanly possible. Aokiji now follows lazy justice, he had once followed fired-up justice, which he changed after seeing all the injustices committed by the World Government itself. But still, Luffy flattened his aura. He made his presence small. His haki, flowing and leaking, retreated behind layers of silence.
Though seated between Zoro and Chopper, the change in Luffy was sudden. The silence was chilling. And Robin noticed it first. She cast him a sideways glance, studying the now-still Luffy, whose strawhat had dipped lower to shadow his eyes.
"Luffy?" she asked softly.
He didn't answer, but Chopper suddenly stiffened beside him, he could feel his fur rise. "Did.. did the temperature drop just now?"
Zoro lifted his head from where it had rested on his arms, looking up at the sky to find the clouds hiding the sun, and then scanning the sea. "..Someone's coming," his hand rested on his katana immediately, ready to protect and kill.
At that moment, Usopp's voice piped up nervously, "Um.. is that guy.. riding a bicycle across the ocean?"
Sanji stopped mid-sip of a tropical drink. Nami frowned. The old man blinked. Sherry tilted her head. And Robin? She stiffened.
The man was pedaling closer now, nonchalant, unhurried, as though the vast sea wasn't beneath him. As if he had no appointment, and was following no mission. As though he were out on a vacation.
Yet no one could ignore the faint, unnatural chill that now tinged their skin.
"He's.. wearing a marine coat," Nami whispered, her voice sharp.
That word alone snapped the Strawhats into a quiet but immediate alert. They didn't want to deal with Marines right now.
"Something wrong with the marines?" The old man, Tonjit, questioned, looking around in confusion.
No one answered.
Zoro's jaw tightened. Sanji slowly slid off his seat and stood tall. Usopp's words were stuck in his throat, as fear was taking hold. Even Robin's fingers were hovering, every muscle of her prepared to summon limbs from the sand.
"Relax, guys," Luffy finally spoke. He didn't want to fight just yet, but if the admiral came for them, he was going to fight with everything he got–minus his godly powers and Haki, of course.
Each of the Strawhats did their best to look relaxed, unconcerned with the new arrival. They even sat back down in exaggerated ways, like actors caught mid-scene. Usopp was smiling too widely, all the while sweating. Chopper had nervously buried himself in the fruit bowl, trying not to pay attention to the marine.
It was painfully awkward.
Luffy still hadn't moved. But his eyes remained on the man now less than fifty meters away.
Kuzan. One of the three Admirals. Also known as Admiral Aokiji. Or Aokiji the Blue Pheasant.
Not a threat yet, but maybe in the future.
Kuzan finally rolled onto the beach. The ice under his tires stopped forming as soon as they hit sand. He pedaled a little further before slowing to a graceful halt, swinging one long leg off the bicycle and walking it lazily up the sand.
Not a word was exchanged. Not a rush to his step. He just glanced at the group with a sleepy sort of squint, then leaned the bicycle against a tall tree and turned slightly, facing the crew but making no threatening move.
His voice was low, lazy but strangely polite, "I hate to interrupt you all.. go on, continue having fun. I'm just taking a small break from biking for so long. Also–" his head tilted, his gaze sweeping each of them. "–is this everyone? I expected more people.."
That sentence hit like a thunderclap, making half of them shudder and stiffen in realization. He knew. He knew about the newspaper, the reports, the whispers of the 3C's, the G-8 chaos and the storm.
The man knew.
Luffy remained seated for a few more seconds, before standing up. His hat was still casting a long shadow across his face, concealing the glint of gold in his now normally red eyes. But his smile bloomed like mischief incarnate as he stepped out ahead of the crew.
"Hey!" he grinned, voice loud and chirpy. "You're the cold guy my old gramps told me about! What're you doing here?"
Kuzan didn't react instantly. For the first time, something in his jaw flexed. He had expected posturing. Fear, like Robin was showing. Maybe a confrontation like the swordsman and the blonde haired teen looked ready to have. Not this.. barefoot kid who shouldn't be looking this happy in front of an admiral like him. Maybe the kid did not recognise him as an admiral, he supposes he could use that to his benefit.
Kuzan stared. And Luffy stared back, head tilted.
The silence stretched, not hostile, but too thick to be easy.
Kuzan's brows drew down slightly. He couldn't read the kid. He couldn't place his posture. It wasn't normal. It wasn't strong or weak or defiant or submissive. It was just.. there. It was chaotic. Almost dangerous. But for the love of his ice, he couldn't figure out anything properly. Yet, he refused to show his frustration.
Instead, he let out a low, thoughtful breath and scratched the back of his head, his voice mild. "Oh? I can only wonder what he said," Kuzan murmured, knowing completely well that the kid was referring to Garp. "Hopefully nothing too embarrassing.."
Luffy tilted his head, that mysterious grin spreading across his face again, looking toothy, boyish and impossible to pin down completely. It was almost unfair how much warmth it held. But Kuzan wasn't paying attention to just the smile. It was the way the boy's mouth moved. It was like deja vu for the ice admiral.
"Ararara," the ice user breathed. "You really do smile just like your grandpa."
That necessarily didn't mean a compliment. But there was an odd shift in the air, almost imperceptible but there and the crew felt it. Something invisible coiling in the atmosphere, cool and dry, like breath over fresh ice.
Kuzan turned his head, then, his eyes, cold and lazy, slid toward one person in particular.
Nico Robin, The Devil Child. The woman, who was already breathing sharply and was already half into panic mode, with a reindeer pet trying to calm her down. Even so her eyes never left the admiral's. Her fingers were trembling, barely visible. Every muscle in her body was screaming at her to flee, to run, but she didn't move. She couldn't move. Not even an inch. She had this tiny hope that Aokiji won't say anything about her, but seeing the look in his eyes, that hope vanished.
"Anyway," Kuzan said, voice lazier than it had any right to be, "your little peace won't last with her around."
That was the moment everything stopped. Robin inhaled sharply. And the others reacted instantly.
Zoro's swords were unsheathed before his next breath. Sanji's cigarette hissed as it hit the sand, his leg coiled to strike. Chopper scrambled to shield Robin's side with wide eyes, finally understanding the cause of her fear. Nami stepped in front of her, her climatact clenched in her fists, her stance not combat ready but defensive. Even Usopp had his slingshot drawn and loaded with steady fingers, though shaky legs.
None of them said anything. They didn't need to. The sheer conviction in their movements was enough. But still they were confused by Robin's reaction towards the man, but they didn't utter a word. While Robin stood frozen behind them all, her eyes wide.
Kuzan made no move to attack. He merely observed. Still slouched, still casual and lazy. As if this were nothing more than a visit to a beach stall. But even though his words came measured and cold.
"Everyone around her.." he began, "has ended up wiped out. She is the sole survivor," he continued, with the sound of sand hissing under a shifting boot being the only interruption. "Time and time again. She flees. She leaves. She runs. She's run from the Marines, from bounty hunters, from kingdoms and captains, and now she has run here."
Robin's hands shook harder.
"You may think she's a quiet, gentle, good woman," Kuzan uttered. "But I have seen it. I've seen what's left in her wake every time. Whole ships burning. Men turned to stone by the fear of her name. A demon. An unfortunate woman. A walking bad omen. That's what she is," he nonchalantly proclaims. "And one day," he added. "You'll regret having her with you."
The words weren't angry. They weren't vengeful. They were factual.
Zoro's grip on Wado had tightened. Sanji's eyes had lost their usual fire and turned to steel. Nami was pale. Chopper visibly quivered in anger. Usopp visibly frowned.
But Luffy was still standing there, his hands in the pocket, hat tilted low, face still unreadable. He hadn't flinched even once. He hadn't even looked surprised as if he knew it all from the very beginning. And yet none of the Strawhats could understand why he wasn't reacting. Why wasn't he already shouting, defending, screaming like he always did when someone got hurt.
Robin, who was now outright shaking, bit her lip hard enough to draw blood. Why? Why was he.. quiet? Why? Did he argee? Did he know?
Luffy was calm, unnaturally calm. But inside his bones, inside his heart and soul, something rattled. The kind that didn't boil like anger but coiled like a storm cloud, waiting for the right crack of thunder. He knew this wasn't about Robin. Not really. The man cared enough about her, even if slightly.
Kuzan's tone was too steady. His body language too loose. The weight of his haki, though subtle, wasn't oppressive, it was a test, and Luffy hated tests. He held on, he really did try, but he was tired. He was sore. He was at the end of his short patience, which he had earned through his past lives' loneliness and the family's training.
Luffy clicked his tongue and tilted his head. "Can you shut up already?" he said, loud enough to break the tension like glass. "Who cares about all that crap?"
The crew blinked, even Robin gasped as Luffy stepped forward, finally lifting his head enough for his strawhat to reveal the firelight in his eyes, not glowing gold but burning steadily red.
"Robin is part of my crew," he declares. "And she's under my protection." he jabbed a finger forward. "She ain't someone to be thrown away! She's cool! She knows all sorts of things about rocks and ancient stories!" his foot hit the sand hard. "If you don't shut up, I'll shut you up since no one talks to my friends like that."
Robin's lips trembled. She had felt sick while Aokiji was talking crap, but now she was filled with hope once again, from Luffy, who was standing up for her right to stay in the crew, even if the way is by killing her old savior.
Her lips trembled, but she steadied herself. "Treinta Fleur: Clutch."
Hands erupted from the ground. The sand beneath Kuzan bloomed with thirty pale arms that snaked around his limbs, spine and shoulder, before cracking it with a horrifying sound. Resulting in the admiral's body shattering like a statue, with ice shards flying into the air.
For one breath, no one moved, that is, until Usopp freaked out, "ROBIN JUST ASSASSINATED A MARINE–!!"
"An admiral to be exact," Luffy interrupted with a grin, though knowing that the man wasn't finished.
"–WHAT THE FUCK?! ROBIN JUST ASSASSINATED AN ADMIRAL?! WE'RE GONNA DIE!!!" Usopp screamed at the top of his lungs, making everyone in the area, except Luffy who was laughing loudly, start panicking.
"Did you kill him!?" The old man questioned, horrified and already planning to escape. He liked the company of the group, but well, he needed to run now.
"We need to RUN!!" Nami shrieked.
"HE EXPLODED INTO CUBES! CUBES!" Chopper shouted, panicking like a headless chicken.
Sanji grabbed the grill. Chopper grabbed the first aid kit. Zoro looked at Robin, then at the pile of ice, his sword half-drawn. But then from behind them, a soft crunching sound came from the shattered pieces.
A blue mist swirled, before the ice reformed. And bit by bit, like puzzle pieces guided by an invisible hand, Kuzan reassembled, limb by limb, until he stood whole again, brushing a flake of snow from his coat sleeve.
"GHOSSTTT!!!!" Usopp, Chopper and Nami shouted at once.
But Aokiji didn't give them any thought as he just bent slightly, plucked a handful of wild grass growing near the palm tree and then straightened. He lifted the blades, then breathed on them. The air crystallized around the leaves–the cold blooming outward in beautiful, deadly veins–and from them, he pulled a jagged ice saber. Blue, glinting, and whispering frost into the wind.
Robin took a step back along with Usopp, Chopper and Nami, while Zoro, Sanji and Luffy stood before them like a shield, ready to protect.
Kuzan didn't raise the blade. He didn't threaten anyone with it. Not yet. But he simply considered. After all, he had seen Robin join and leave crews without any hesitation. He had seen her getting discarded, when the crew faced enemies, or almost getting sold to the marines for mere berries on her head. He still remembered the names of the latter who had tried to turn her in. Captains who had sold her for bounty slips. Mercenaries who looked at her with hunger in their eyes. 'Friends' who had turned the moment it was profitable.
He had watched her learn to survive by severing trust, to step away before others could step away from her. Again and again, she fled, she ran, destroying the crews and organizations she had joined prior.
Maybe he was doing a favor to her now. Maybe testing this crew–the Strawhat Pirates'–capabilities and willingness to protect Robin wasn't just for the sake of duty. Maybe it was for the truth of what happened in the G-8 base this morning. Maybe by pressurizing these individuals, he could get the 3C's to come out, because he has his suspicions about the 3C's being somehow allied with this small group of pirates, especially the captain.
But now that Kuzan was looking at Robin, she seemed different than all the other times, especially with the people surrounding her. Standing for her. Vowing to protect her.
But how long would the crew hold her? Or would they break soon? Would the line of defense–the three people–drop to their knees and run? Leave Robin like the others had done?
The ice admiral let the tip of his ice saber trail along the sand as he took a step forward. Just one measured stride, with no pretense of stealth, no effort to catch them by surprise. He simply walked, each step unnaturally silent. He wanted to just test the waters today. He wanted to see what the crew before him was willing to risk in order to protect Robin. He wanted to see the courage in the ones standing in front of Robin.
Three people. Swordsman, captain and cook. The former green haired swordsman, Roronoa Zoro, had his blades drawn low, his eyes steady and fixated at her. The latter blonde haired cook, Sanji, stood with his cigarette gone and his foot twitching, like he was waiting for a reason to attack. And the captain, Monkey D. Luffy, stood at the center, still with his hat shadowing his eyes, with no fighting stance, no fists clenched. But every fiber of the air around him buzzed.
Kuzan, with a warning, moved. Not with killing intent–nothing close to that–but his form vanished in a soft burst of wind and reappeared mid dash, coat fluttering behind him. His saber rose, not to kill, not yet, but to test–blunt and aimed for Robin's shoulder with the precision of someone who had done this a thousand times.
Yet, before the blade could reach her, a blade of steel met his saber with such force that the impact hissed like a hot blade dipped into ice water. Sparks flew as the pirate hunter stood firm in the Admiral's path, the edge of his katana meeting the frozen blade head on. His gaze was burning and Kuzan had to blink at what he found… The man was trying to use his.. Haki. It wasn't much. Not yet. It wasn't focused, not honed, but it was there. A subtle pressure leaking from the swordsman's frame, which he truly hadn't expected from someone who hadn't even touched the New World.
"That's interesting," he muttered aloud, voice still slow and mellow, but now tinged with curiosity. But his moment of stillness was shattered as Sanji came barreling in from the left. There was no time wasted, as the chef launched into a blinding spin, the back of his foot catching the length of Kuzan's ice saber mid turn. Exploding the saber under the force, with its shards flying like glass in the sun.
"You don't get to lay a finger on her, Admiral or not," Sanji snapped, his voice sharp like broken flint, as he landed beside Zoro.
Zoro, still holding his sword out, let out a low breath and added coolly, "Try again. I'll cut that stick of yours to the hilt next time."
"Ararara.. Fiery, aren't you?" Kuzan muttered, almost amused.
The two men didn't answer, but instead stood to attack once again, only for the captain–who had been standing still all this while–to break the silence. The kid captain had shouted a command, one not born out of desperation but out of knowledge.
"Don't touch him! Don't let him touch you!"
Perhaps, the kid's grandfather had told him about his abilities too.
Kuzan had barely turned when he saw the blur of motion. Of Luffy shooting across the space like a spring let loose without warning, his body stretching mid air, looping around his crewmates. He had snagged Robin first, then Sanji and Zoro in quick succession, before they could even make any contact with him. And before anyone could process it, they were airborne, twisting and spinning through the air in a controlled fall.
"W-Whoa–! Luffy?!" Zoro cursed.
"Wh-What the he-hell?!" Sanji croaked.
Luffy twisted his body to take the burnt of the impact, shielding them in his grip with such calculated care that none of them hit the ground hard, the sand scattering beneath them like smoke. His arms were trembling as he held them all. His bones were screaming he wasn't healed yet. But he gritted his teeth and refused to show any of it.
The landing cratered the beach behind them, but Luffy rolled with the momentum, arms tightening until the last jolt passed through his back and not theirs. The crew had landed in a heap of limbs and tangled breaths and Luffy, breathless but grinning, sat up with sand in his hair and dust on his skin. The others looked at him in shock, not from the fall but from the realization of what fate they had been rescued from. Robin gasped, her face pale. Zoro scowled, his brow furrowed in silent questions. Sanji cursed under his breath, looking back toward where they'd been moments ago.
"Luffy..?" Chopper whispered from the side, wanting to check Luffy.
But Luffy wasn't looking at them anymore. He was looking at the ones he'd missed–Nami, Chopper had already begun running at his command, but the others hadn't. Yet, someone was missing. And it was none other than Usopp, who was running, flailing wildly, ducking behind rocks as waves of cold mist surged after him.
The sniper was trying to scramble away, still talking to himself, stumbling over beach towels and half eaten coconuts. "I'm gonna die! I'm gonna die! I knew it! He's an ice zombie! A glacial ghost!"
Behind him, Kuzan followed, not running, just walking. He didn't look angry. He didn't even look focused. He looked as if he were following a stray chicken to its family through a garden. But Luffy knew better. Even if Kuzan wasn't trying to kill. Not yet. His movements were too calculated, but still something about the way the Admiral's fingers twitched with every misfire sent warning bells screaming in Luffy's skull.
Because somewhere Luffy had realized that the admiral now knew that even Usopp could access Observation Haki, since quite a few times he dodged hits from the ice admiral without even looking. Even though it wasn't clean, it wasn't graceful, but enough. His legs were scrambling with the desperation of prey, but his body twisted and ducked exactly when the ice slashed too close.
Luffy watched, his mouth parting slightly, before turning into a smile. "Way to go Usopp!" he cheered on. The observation haki was weak, barely there, but it had started to bloom. He needs to up Usopp's exercises soon. Maybe adding two or more rounds–
Usopp screamed, startling Luffy out of his pride upon his sniper. The guy had pulled his slingshot, trying to launch a pellet that bounced harmlessly off the admiral's chest. But as a result, his own legs got tangled mid stride and with a yelp, he had crashed face first into the sand.
"Usopp!!" Luffy rushed to get up, but it was already too late. The cold had caught him before he could even rise. It moved fast, first the ankle, then his legs, then his chest. The frost raced like wildfire across Usopp's body until, within seconds, Usopp was locked in place, frozen, preserved with his mouth open in mid-yell, expression frozen in pure terror.
And amidst it all, Kuzan treaded forward, towards the frozen icicle of Usopp. His intentions clearly written on his face.
Robin screamed in terror, scared for Usopp.
"Usopp!" Chopper gasped.
"Oi! Don't you dare–!" Zoro shouted, but was interrupted by none other than the admiral monster.
"Look," Aokiji started, glancing sideways at Robin. "Now because of you, one of your crewmates has turned to ice. Just a breath away from being shattered." His foot hovered over Usopp's chest, not pressing too hard yet. It was like he was testing her, measuring her resolve. But the horror in her eyes and the panicky breath rising in her chest was all too much to tell.
Robin was horrified. Every part of her felt like it was reliving the last day of Ohara. Ice beneath her feet. Flames on the sea. Her mother calling for her from behind collapsing buildings. All of it, here again, echoing in this man's presence.
"You've seen this before, haven't you?" Kuzan asked, quietly. "Is this what you want to happen again? Because it will. You always attract it." he was waiting for Robin to run, to abandon this crew too, but he could see her hesitate. He could see the shaky will of her wanting to stay with the crew. Her new 'friends'. "And now because of you, someone else is gonna die once again." he said, his voice slipping into a whisper before his foot began to fall.
He never saw Robin or Luffy move. But the former's limbs instantly bloomed from his back like flowers from snow.
"Seis Fleur: Restraint."
Six arms latched onto Kuzan's body at once, gripping his shoulders, waist, and legs in a burst of tension. He paused mid-step, body shifting under the restraint—but not resisting yet. Robin gritted her teeth as the contact sent stinging cold crawling up the arms, through the link, and directly into her real body. Her body was screaming in pain, her arms freezing but she summoned more hands still, lashing out with every ounce of defiance she had left.
At the same moment, Luffy had dashed forward, with wind whistling in his ears as he launched across the sand and scooped Usopp's frozen form from under Kuzan's descending leg in one swift, clean motion. Ice crackled where his hands met the frozen surface, but he twisted his body to shield Usopp and found himself flipping backward once midair before planting his feet hard on the far side of the beach.
He stopped only when he had fully shielded Usopp beneath his chest, his breathing heavy.
"RUN!" Luffy's voice snapped through the chaos, loud and absolute. "TAKE USOPP AND ROBIN WITH YOU! I'LL BE COMING SOON! I JUST HAVE TO DEAL WITH AN ICY BASTARD FOR A SEC!" Luffy roared to his crew, ordering them.
The entire crew hesitated for a moment, more so Sanji and Zoro. For just a moment, the idea of leaving Luffy on his own, again, seemed like treason. But that voice.. that command wasn't a request. It was an order. Captain's order.
Before either could argue, Luffy planted both feet in the sand and with a grunt of effort, rolled Usopp's frozen body like a carefully handled bowling ball across the beach. The form tumbled forward, ice scraping in arcs as it bounced towards the waiting crew, before Sanji caught him before the next rock could crack the outer casing.
Luffy exhaled once in relief, before turning his gaze back towards Kuzan, noticing Zoro coming to aid. His hand adjusted the brim of his strawhat slowly, tilting it downward to shadow his face again, it seems his habit from being Cyra still persisted. He didn't want Kuzan to see his eyes. Not yet. While his smile returned, wide and deceptively light, his stance shifted to something rooted and steady.
Zoro jogged back to his side, his swords already drawn and glinting faintly from the sun's last light and his bandana tied back on his head. There was no comment between them. No smirk or cocky promise. But only the quiet understanding of shared resolve.
Luffy cracked his knuckles once. "Two-on-one," he said casually. "Seems fair."
Kuzan shrugged. His shoulders rolled like water over stone, with no resistance. "Sure," he muttered. "If you think that helps."
Luffy lunged forward, without wasting a single moment. It was clean, controlled and aimed. His fists were coiled back, body low and almost grazing the sand as he shot forward with every intention to break all the bones of the ice admiral. But as he neared, he was reminded of a promise–Don't use Haki. Not in Paradise. Not where the world can see–ripple in the back of his mind. And so, in the very last fraction of a second, he twisted and redirected the punch into a slide past Kuzan's left arm, evading the Admiral's incoming reach by inches. In doing so, he acted as a distraction.
Zoro took that moment to unleash his attack, "Oni–" Three blades arced like meteor trails as Zoro appeared behind Kuzan with his muscles coiled and eyes narrowed. "–Giri!"
The swords cut through the Admiral's body like a heated knife through snow. The ice scattered across the beach as the upper and lower halves of Kuzan fell apart mid stride, sliding in two directions. But even as the pieces fell, the mists regathered. Once again.
"Not done yet!" Luffy growled.
The ice admiral, at this point, knew that the crew did indeed care for Robin and that the vice versa also seemed to be true. But he still had a lesson to teach to the crew. So, he lunged forward, aiming for Zoro, trying to grab his arm before the swordsman could fall back.
Luffy saw it. He didn't think. He just moved. He barrelled between them, his fists swinging up with an uppercut that caught Kuzan beneath the ribs just as the Admiral reached for Zoro. The impact had landed clean. Luffy's fist had connected squarely with Kuzan's ribs, freezing it instantly. Making his hand look like it was just gloved in ice, jagged and crawling with winter's touch.
While Kuzan had staggered back from the blow, not far, but far enough for it to be noticeable. His head turned slowly toward his torso, where the fist had connected.. and a bruise was already forming there. Faint, purple, spreading like ink through paper. The kind of mark that shouldn't exist, not from someone like Monkey D. Luffy. Not from a boy who couldn't possibly have used Haki. Not from someone whose own hand was frozen upon immediate contact.
'Garp's grandson.. No doubt about that.'
But that didn't unsettle him. That punch hadn't felt like it was laced with willpower or the beginnings of Haki or any other technique. It felt solid. Grounding. Almost like it had been touched by something far more troublesome.
'..Like seastone.'
But Kuzan wasn't given the time to process his thoughts. He didn't have the time to chase it because as he looked up at the boy, he saw steam. The ice that had enveloped Luffy's hand was melting. The heat rising from the boy's skin was unnatural. Maybe the kid ate a devil fruit that consequently raised his body temperatures?
Luffy tilted his head slightly, knowing that his opponent was distracted. He took this as a chance and landed a second punch hard in a downward smash that connected with Kuzan's temple in a blow and echoed like thunder through the frozen air. Behind him, Zoro moved too, with no words or warning. Just a flash of steel into the dying light, before his blades sliced clean through the Admiral's arms, severing them mid-pivot, then followed up with a clean cut across both knees. Aokiji could have easily dodged but that wasn't the point, this was nothing more than a test, he's allowed to be lazy. It's not like Garp would have told Luffy his title as an admiral, he isn't that kind of person.
The Admiral's form collapsed like melting ice in snowdrift, arms and legs littering the shore.
"We're leaving," Luffy uttered, turning to Zoro, with that familiar grin, which didn't reach his eyes.
Zoro gave a tight nod. There was no need to say more. Because both of them knew this wasn't a win. This was a message. They knew that the man would be back again but right now wasn't the right time to fight with him. Not with the way they were. Not yet.
So, they ran.
The Going Merry was already waiting by the shoreline, with Robin and Usopp huddled in a cloak, held between Nami and Chopper in a hug, while Sanji rushed to and fro to provide hot drinks to warm their bodies.
Luffy glanced back once towards the ship, where the ice admiral stood whole once again, his body reformed and arms folded. He wasn't pursuing them. He simply watched and Luffy watched back, until the island was no longer clearly visible through naked eyes.