"Get down here."
Roy aimed his hand at Ryokugyu, unleashing his Conqueror's Haki to pull him down from the sky.
"No!!"
In that moment, Ryokugyu felt his body being dragged down, desperately trying to break free. Just as he decided to transform to escape, Roy had already charged forward.
"The future… changed?!"
Ryokugyu's eyes widened. He had seen a glimpse of the future and wanted to change it, but Roy had also seen the future and accounted for it.
"You're thinking one step ahead. I'm five. You won't escape me."
Roy's fist, wreathed in black lightning, shot forward.
"Thorn of Hatred!"
Seeing the situation, Ryokugyu knew there was no dodging; it was do or die.
He raised his arm, transforming it into a branch, and thrust it toward Roy's body.
In critical moments, people can erupt with hidden strength. That's why they say, no matter the outcome, anyone who survives a decisive battle will grow stronger.
A veteran can inspire ten rookies. A single battle, survived, could forge a legend.
In this most perilous moment, facing the threat of death, Ryokugyu unleashed a fighting will stronger than anything he'd shown in years. That fear was his pillar now.
"If I want to live… I have to strike back!!"
His fighting would hold him up; he would not bow his head. Against pirates, evil had to be eradicated without mercy.
"FLEET ADMIRAL SAKAZUKI!!"
Ryokugyu roared the name of his idol, the current Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, drawing strength from the very embodiment of Absolute Justice.
Even against the strongest Emperor, he would not surrender.
"Die!!!"
The sharp spike on his transformed arm shot toward Roy's chest. At the same time, Roy's fist slammed into his head.
Ryokugyu's head twisted unnaturally, his glasses shattered, his eyes bulged, and blood spurted from his nose and mouth.
The branch pierced through Roy's body, draining moisture from him; his muscles shriveled slightly, but quickly returned to normal.
"Big bro!!!"
Atmos, recovering somewhat, sat up and saw the branch through Roy's chest, eyes wide with disbelief.
Bang!
Ryokugyu crashed to the ground, his arm still raised toward the sky, the tip of the branch stained with blood.
Hovering in the air, Roy looked down at his chest, grabbed the branch, and squeezed hard.
Crack!
The branch snapped, but a segment still pierced his body.
As he descended, blood dripped from the corner of his mouth and chest.
"BIG BRO!!"
Atmos ran to him frantically. He had never seen Roy injured, not even in fights against Garp or Kaido, had he been hurt like this.
Now… he was actually bleeding, for the first time Atmos had seen.
"I'm fine."
Roy glanced at his chest, noting the clean through-and-through wound.
"As expected, never underestimate anyone with fighting will. The stronger the belief and resolve, the more extraordinary power it can unleash in critical moments."
This wound wasn't fatal, but it was the worst he had suffered in thirty years.
You can't take anyone lightly. This was a lesson not to place blind faith in his current physical strength.
"Bring me seastone," Roy told King and Queen.
The two stared at the defeated Ryokugyu lying at Roy's feet in disbelief.
Yes, Roy was injured, and in Atmos's eyes, seriously.
But to them… Roy had just taken down a Marine Admiral.
This had never happened before: an Admiral defeated and about to be captured by pirates.
King quickly brought a pair of seastone cuffs and locked them on Ryokugyu. Even if he was still conscious, he had no strength to resist. He had lost a one-on-one duel against an Emperor, and all he had managed was to inflict a small wound.
Soon, Atmos returned with Ace, Deuce, and Loxus.
Hearing Roy was injured, the three were deeply worried; they couldn't imagine who could hurt him.
"Uncle Atmos, how did my father get hurt? Could it be… Red-Hair?" Loxus asked.
"No, it was Admiral Ryokugyu," Atmos replied.
"Admiral Ryokugyu?!!" The three were stunned.
"Mhm."
"How's big bro?" Ace asked anxiously.
It was the first time he'd heard of Roy being injured, someone who could kill him with a glance… now wounded?
"He's fine, just a scratch. Deuce can fix it," Atmos said.
"That's good. Still, the opponent was an Admiral. He must've used some dirty trick to hurt big bro," Deuce said.
"No, it was in a head-on fight," Atmos corrected.
"To hurt big bro in direct combat… is Ryokugyu really that strong?" Deuce exclaimed.
"He's strong, but he's in no shape either," Atmos replied.
"What about Ryokugyu?" Rosho asked.
"Big bro defeated him; he's been captured and sent to Udon Prison," Atmos said.
The three froze. An Admiral… captured alive?
This was shocking. In all of Navy history, Admirals had been symbols of invincibility; never had one been captured by pirates.
They could be killed in battle, yes, but never taken alive.
A new page in history had been written, an Admiral caught by pirates.
The three suddenly found Roy's injury easier to accept. It didn't seem that big of a deal now, especially after seeing the wound, it could be healed by the Phoenix flames.
But the Admiral's defeat and capture was the truly staggering news.
"Big bro, bear with me a bit," Deuce said, standing before Roy.
"If Shiki can live with a ship rudder on his head, this is nothing." Roy pulled the wooden fragment out of his chest.
Blood flowed along the wood. Deuce immediately used his regenerative flames to heal the wound.
Roy didn't use Haki; he let the wound heal slowly.
The regenerative flame could regrow limbs; this wound would heal quickly. The only cost was essentially shaving off a bit of lifespan.
But in Roy's current state, it barely mattered; his body was strong enough to recover the loss.
"All done, big bro," Deuce said, removing the flame.
"It's fine. Atmos, you alright?"
"I'm fine."
"Take me to the Flower Capital."
...
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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